How can medical schools build stronger, more meaningful partnerships with the communities they serve? In this episode of the UB Medicine Podcast, host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, explores how the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is working alongside community organizations, advocates, patients, and neighbors to advance health, opportunity, and better outcomes across Western New York.

The transition from high school to college is one of the most exciting—and challenging—periods in a young person’s life. For students pursuing careers in medicine, health care, and science, the first year often brings new academic expectations, greater independence, and important questions about identity, belonging, and purpose.

This episode of the UB Medicine Podcast explores perimenopause and menopause — an inevitable stage of life that affects half the population, yet remains widely misunderstood. Host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, is joined by Sarah Berga, MD, professor and chair of obstetrics and gynecology, to bring clarity, context and science to a topic often shaped by confusion and myth.

The future of pediatrics is powered by the evolving landscape of medicine — from simulation-based training for high-acuity care to technologies transforming diabetes management. Guests Benny Joyner, MD, MPH, and Lucy Mastrandrea, MD, PhD, join Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, to discuss and explore changes in pediatric care and new avenues for collaboration all focused on improved outcomes for children and families.

Guests Kara Kelly, MD and Andrew Rogers, PhD join Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, to discuss how pediatric cancer care is being transformed through scientific discovery, collaborative care and a deep commitment to supporting children and their families at every stage of the journey.

Melissa McCartney, PhD, and Jennifer Surtees, PhD, join host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, to explore how scientific identity, education and community engagement shape who enters and succeeds in STEM careers. Their conversation highlights how inclusive, hands-on learning and community-connected research are essential to building a trusted, prepared scientific workforce and advancing health equity.

In this episode, Leslie J. Bisson, MD and Karen Bisson, BSN share how their leadership is transforming CPR access and saving lives across Western New York through community-driven outreach and education. Discover why expanding CPR literacy, especially in underserved communities, may be one of the most powerful and achievable public health solutions today.

The addiction crisis continues to evolve rapidly. The drug supply is growing increasingly unpredictable, with potent synthetic opioids and adulterants like xylazine and medetomidine contributing to overdose risk across populations. Western New York remains profoundly affected. Want to see how emergency medicine–led innovations are reshaping access to care at a moment when both national trends and local realities demand urgent, coordinated response? Experts Joshua J. Lynch, DO, and Brian Clemency, DO, speak with host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA.

Population health looks beyond the treatment of individual patients to understand the community, regional and system-level forces shaping health outcomes. That includes inequities driven by race, socioeconomic status, geography, and structural barriers that influence how people live, work, and access care. Host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, welcomes two guests who are leading this work nationally and here at UB, helping define the future of population health in our region: Leonard E. Egede, MD, and Rebekah J. Walker, PhD.

Aging science is one of the most important areas of medical research. Alzheimer’s disease — affecting more than 6 million Americans — remains one of the most pressing challenges facing older adults and their families, and a key driver of innovation in prevention, diagnosis and care. Listen to guests Ralph H. Benedict, PhD, and Kinga Szigeti, MD, PhD, to learn about UB’s meaningful history in Alzheimer’s research and patient care. And see how UB researchers and clinicians are advancing early detection, expanding access to innovative therapies, and strengthening dementia care across Western New York.

Rare diseases — more than 7,000 conditions affecting 30 million people in the U.S. — are often misdiagnosed or misunderstood because of low prevalence and complex presentations. Listen to a discussion with guests Mark D. Hicar, MD, PhD, and Meagan Collins Hutchinson to find out how the Jacobs School is nurturing a culture that centers on awareness, advocacy, research and community partnership around rare diseases.

Behind high-contact sports, there’s an important story about player safety and the science of brain health. The NFL reported more than 90 concussions during the 2025 season. Countless more were sustained by athletes at all levels around the world, and that's a cause for concern due to potential long-term damage that can occur from a brain injury. Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, is joined by two UB experts whose groundbreaking research is transforming how we diagnose and treat concussions: John J. Leddy, MD, and Nadir Haider, MD, PhD.

Explore the evolving landscape of medical education and the Jacobs School’s commitment to preparing future physicians through innovation, mentorship and holistic support! Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, interviews Alan J. Lesse, MD, and Jennifer A. Meka, PhD.

Artificial intelligence is changing the game in medical research, from modeling molecules to predicting disease risk. Listen to an exciting episode exploring how AI is shaping the future of health care in Western New York. Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, interviews two Jacobs School faculty members: Thomas D. Grant, PhD, and Vincent M. Tutino, PhD!

Listen for a compassionate look at how individuals and communities navigate emotional wellness during the holiday season. Allison Brashear , MD, MBA, hosts a heartfelt conversation with Beth A. Smith, MD, and Susan M. Orrange, MEd, PhD. They explore the intersection of grief, mental health and resilience, highlighting the Jacobs School’s commitment to fostering a culture of compassion and supporting caregivers, students and health care professionals through challenging times.

Tear into the newest frontiers of neurology with two of the Jacobs School’s clinical and research leaders — Daniel Woo, MD, and Melissa L. Rayhill, MD! Together with host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, these neurology experts break down innovations in stroke prevention and recovery, push into the evolving science of migraines, and spotlight how interdisciplinary collaboration and fearless mentorship are reshaping the future of neurology.

Ready to dive into the momentum of the Jacobs School’s biomedical research scene? Through our biomedical research enterprise, faculty, learners and partners are turning big ideas into breakthroughs. Host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, and her guest, Marc Halterman, MD, PhD, sit down for an unfiltered look at how research is driving discovery, advancing education, and raising the bar for health across Western New York.

Host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, and her guests — David A. Milling, MD, and Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD — highlight the need for primary care investment in Buffalo and the Jacobs School’s response through curriculum redesign, policy leadership and strategic partnerships.

These aren’t your average doctors. Host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, and her guests fire up the mic with unexpected insights as they introduce the podcast, explore where the Jacobs School is headed, and delve into how the school helps address health disparities in the Buffalo and greater Western New York area. Guests are Heather M. Gardiner, PhD, and Timothy F. Murphy.