AHN Med Talks

For patients with advanced kidney disease, the timing of a transplant referral can shape both access and outcomes. Khaled Nashar, MD, chief of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Allegheny General Hospital, explains when to begin evaluation, why preemptive and living donor transplantation can offer important advantages, and how AHN’s multidisciplinary approach helps more patients move toward transplant. He also dis...

Which symptoms or documented arrhythmias should prompt a specialist referral? Mati Friehling, MD, Director of Electrophysiology at Forbes Hospital, Allegheny Health Network, explains which findings matter most. He discusses symptomatic arrhythmias such as AFib, SVT, ventricular tachycardia, and symptomatic bradycardia, what tests (echo, Holter) referring clinicians can obtain first, and when earlier electrophysiology input can chan...

In this episode of AHN MedTalks, Dorian Kusyk, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, discusses when referring physicians should consider earlier referral to a movement disorder specialist and deep brain stimulation evaluation for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Learn what DBS can—and cannot—offer, what makes AHN’s DBS workup unique, and how recent advances may help improve care planning for appropriate...

Learn how modern cath lab techniques and device therapies reduce the need for open surgery and speed recovery for high-risk patients. Dr. Ashish Dua, Medical Director of the Cardiac Cath Lab at Forbes Hospital, describes TAVR, mitral clips, drug-coated balloon angioplasty, carotid stenting, and next-generation device therapies. The discussion covers peripheral interventions, pulmonary embolism treatment, circulatory support includi...

This episode explains how Allegheny Health Network delivers individualized spine care—from conservative management to advanced surgery—and why matching the right treatment to the right patient improves recovery and long-term outcomes. Guest Dr. Kyle Holmberg, orthopedic spine surgeon at Allegheny Health Network, discusses shared decision-making and multidisciplinary pathways that support patient-centered outcomes. Liste...

This episode explores modern advances in hand surgery — from WALANT (wide awake local anesthesia, no tourniquet) to nerve transfers and emerging thumb replacement options — and why early referral matters for better outcomes. Guest Dr. Peter Tang, MD, Professor at Drexel University College of Medicine, Chief of the Hand Division and Program Director of Hand, Upper Extremity & Microvascular Surgery Fellowship at AHN, ...

This episode breaks down the entire care pathway from an abnormal CT or screening-detected nodule through staging and resection, highlighting minimally invasive techniques and the role of nurse navigators. Guest Mathew Van Deusen, MD explains step-by-step nodule evaluation, staging strategies, and treatment decision-making to help referring clinicians optimize patient flow and outcomes. Keywords: lung cancer screening, thoracic sur...

This episode walks referring clinicians through early signs of multiple sclerosis, why timely referral matters, and practical steps for evaluation and collaboration. Featuring Troy Desai, MD, co‑director of the Allegheny Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center, the discussion covers MS diagnosis, when to order imaging, and considerations for disease‑modifying therapy and vaccination. Keywords: multiple sclerosis, MS diagnosis, referrin...