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The Fundamentals
Can AI Make Us Healthier Humans?
Dr. Jody Platt. She is an Associate Professor of Learning Health Sciences at the University of Michigan Medical School. Trained in medical sociology and health policy, her research focuses on issues at the intersection of informatics and ethics. She is interested in understanding what makes data-driven health trusted, and the pathways for earning, achieving, and sustaining trust across stakeholders. Dr. Platt is the Academy Health and ABIM Foundation Senior Scholar in Residence advising on issues of measuring and building trust.
You can learn more about Dr. Platt here, and you can follow Dr. Platt @jeplatt and U-M Learning Health Sciences @umichDLHS on X.
You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.
A transcript of this episode can be found here.
Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:
Learn more about other exciting research happening at the University of Michigan, by checking out Health Lab, Michigan Medicine's daily online publication featuring news and stories about the future of healthcare.
The Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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3. The Questions That Shape the Future of Medicine
25:32||Season 4, Ep. 3On this episode of The Fundamentals, we talked to Dr. Thomas J. Wang, dean of the University of Michigan Medical School, about the fundamental questions that have shaped his career and continue to drive biomedical research.Dean Wang discusses his work in cardiovascular research, the enduring impact of the Framingham Heart Study, the potential of AI and emerging health data, and the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. He also shares advice for the next generation of scientists and physicians and explains why sustained investment in biomedical research is essential to improving human health.Episode TranscriptBe sure to check out our third launch episode and our entire back catalog on The Fundamentals website, or on your favorite podcast player.The Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
2. The Future of Cell and Gene Therapies
30:23||Season 4, Ep. 2On this episode of The Fundamentals, we talked to physician scientist, Dr. Monalisa Ghosh, assistant professor of medical oncology and internal medicine, who is looking to expand CAR-T's application from cancer to autoimmune disorders and beyond.Episode TranscriptBe sure to check out our second launch episode and our entire back catalog on The Fundamentals website, or on your favorite podcast player.The Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
1.2. The Bioethics of Data and A.I. in Healthcare
29:26||Season 4, Ep. 1.2Season four of The Fundamentals is here, and we're celebrating by doing a special two-episode release to launch the season!On this episode of the Fundamentals, we talked to Professor Kayte Spector-Bagdady, the George E. Wantz Professor of Bioethics, about the use of massive amounts of data, artificial intelligence, and more. Episode TranscriptBe sure to check out our second launch episode and our entire back catalog on The Fundamentals website, or on your favorite podcast player.The Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
1.1. The Race to Uncover the Hidden Causes of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
31:56||Season 4, Ep. 1.1Season four of The Fundamentals is here, and we're celebrating by doing a special two-episode release to launch the season!On this episode of The Fundamentals, we talk to two clinician scientists determined to unlock the mysteries of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Dr. Marc Peters-Golden and his mentee, Dr. Sean Fortier, discuss their research and the race to uncover the hidden causes of IPF to offer new hope to patients. Episode TranscriptBe sure to check out our second launch episode and our entire back catalog on The Fundamentals website, or on your favorite podcast player.The Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
8. How Can We Achieve Health Equity?
26:52||Season 3, Ep. 8In today's episode of The Fundamentals, we talk with Dr. John Ayanian, director of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. Dr. Ayanian's research explores underlying factors that contribute to persistent health disparities between minoritized groups and their white counterparts, as well as strategies for ending inequity in health care and improving overall health outcomes for everyone.Episode TranscriptLearn more about The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
7. Researching Psychedelics for Potential Therapeutic Use
19:33||Season 3, Ep. 7Recently, interest in psychedelic research has seen a resurgence, strengthened by better designed and controlled clinical trials and the use of neuroimaging, examining psychedelics' potential therapeutic use for PTSD, addiction, anxiety, and depression. On today’s episode, we talk with Dr. George Mashour, professor of anesthesiology and pharmacology and founder of the Michigan Psychedelic Center about using rigorous scientific methods to unlock the mysteries of psychedelics and investigate their potential as therapeutics. Episode TranscriptLearn more about the Global Psychedelic Survey 2025, launching 5/1/25Learn more about The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
6. Using A.I. and Bioinformatics to Reveal Hidden Networks of the Brain
30:22||Season 3, Ep. 6There are an estimated 86 billion neurons in the human brain. Neuroscientists are actively exploring the importance of single or small groups of neurons versus networks of billions of neurons in the processing of sensory information, storage of memories, generation of movement, and everything else the brain does. Until recently, it simply wasn't possible to study billions of neurons at once. In today's episode, we talk with U-M's Dr. Anne Draelos, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and assistant professor of computational medicine and bioinformatics, who is using A.I. and bioinformatics to reveal the hidden networks of the brain, and exploring how gaining this understanding could improve lives.Episode TranscriptDr. Anne DraelosDraelos LabLearn more about The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
5. Epigenetics, Inflammation and the Human Immune System
21:00||Season 3, Ep. 5People with diabetes often have a host of other conditions including cardiovascular disease and kidney disease driven by inflammation. On today's episode, we talk with Dr. Katherine Gallagher, professor of surgery, professor of microbiology and immunology, and the Leland Ira Doan Research Professor of Vascular Surgery at U of M, who is looking at how epigenetics - the influence of environmental factors and behaviors impact on gene expression - might explain changes in the immune system in people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other conditions related to inflammation. Episode TranscriptDr. Katherine GallagherLearn more about The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
4. Psoriasis, Diabetes and Other Inflammatory Conditions
20:39||Season 3, Ep. 4Today on The Fundamentals, we have a conversation with Dr. Sonya Wolf-Fortune, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, whose work focuses on investigating the underlying mechanisms of psoriasis, diabetes, and other inflammatory conditions. Dr. Wolf-Fortune is trying to uncover what sets off the cascades of inflammation related to these conditions and related diseases.Episode TranscriptDr. Wolf-Fortune ProfileLearn more about The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.