Evidence over anxiety: Preemies, plastics in the NICU and the myth of zero risk: Part 1

Host Chethan Sathya, MD, sits down with David Feinberg, MD, chairman of Oracle Health, to trace his path from aspiring pediatrician to child psychiatrist to health system executive. Dr. Feinberg shares the stories that shaped his career and reflects on how far mental health treatment has come while noting the stigma that still lingers. He also explains how an unplanned turn into hospital administration at UCLA set him on the path to Oracle. Northwell is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, host Sandra Lindsay, DHSc, MBA, sits down with Annemarie Stroustrup, MD, MPH, senior vice president and chair of pediatric services at Northwell Health, to talk about phthalates — a large family of plasticizers found throughout NICU equipment — and what her research reveals about their effect on preterm babies long after they leave the hospital. She explains how these chemicals work, which findings have been most revealing and why assessing their true impact means following children well into adolescence. The conversation also moves beyond the hospital to the makeup, flooring and food containers that put phthalates in nearly everyone's body — and the small changes that can limit exposure, especially for anyone pregnant or planning to be. Northwell is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

Risk is never zero — not in the NICU, and not anywhere else in medicine. In Part 2 of their conversation, Sandra and Dr. Stroustrup discuss how families and clinicians weigh risk against benefit, from life-saving neonatal equipment to the childhood vaccine schedule. Dr. Stroustrup addresses the most persistent vaccine myths, shares how new RSV immunizations drove a 65% drop in admissions at Cohen Children's in a single season, and offers practical advice on finding health information you can trust. Northwell is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

This year marks 25 years since 9/11 — remembered for the lives lost that day, but also for a health crisis still unfolding for those exposed to Ground Zero's toxic dust and debris. Jacqueline Moline, MD, who helped launch medical surveillance for 9/11-exposed patients within weeks of the attacks, joins Sandra Lindsay, DHSc, MBA, to describe the earliest symptoms she saw — including the relentless "WTC cough" — the far wider range of people affected beyond firefighters and police, from construction workers to Lower Manhattan residents, and how the health toll unfolded in waves over the following decades. Northwell is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

What has 25 years of monitoring revealed about 9/11's long-term health toll — from rising cancer rates to newer risks like early cognitive decline and autoimmune disease? In part 2, Dr. Moline explains how scientific understanding evolved, why the biggest barrier to care is awareness rather than access, and what lessons this disaster holds for responding to future public health crises. Northwell is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

The field of sports medicine isn’t just for serious athletes: The Nicholas Institute for Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma (NISMAT), Northwell’s sports injury clinic, has made sports medicine better, more accessible, and grounded in research. On this episode, the 20-Minute Health Talk team pays a visit to NISMAT to talk to Tak Fukunaga, DPT, sports physical therapist and NISMAT’s Manager of Rehabilitation Services, and Michael Zacchilli, MD, orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital to shed light on what they do to treat people at all levels of physical activity. Northwell is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

How do you solve problems as complex as drug pricing or childhood obesity? Chelsea Clinton, vice chair of the Clinton Foundation, pulls back the curtain on data-driven methodology. She and host Chethan Sathya, MD, discuss how the foundation moves beyond good intentions, relying on hard evidence and measurable outcomes to prove impact. Central to this strategy is forging public-private partnerships — even with "unlikely allies" such as major corporations — to create systemic change. Clinton explains why pragmatism and rigorous analysis are essential tools for tackling the world’s most pressing health challenges, ensuring that every initiative is both sustainable and effective. Northwell is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

In part 2, host Chethan Sathya, MD, and guest Chelsea Clinton discuss how to convert hope into action. Their conversation shifts to the future, exploring what it takes to cultivate the next generation of leaders in a world facing immense challenges. She details her work with the Clinton Global Initiative, a platform that empowers young people with the tools to create tangible change. While warning of the threat posed by misinformation, Clinton shares her perspective as a mother on what fuels her drive. Ultimately, she argues for active engagement and the profound responsibility we all have to inspire and build a more optimistic, equitable future. Northwell is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

Cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of both women and men in the United States. Most of us will need to see a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon at some point in our lives. But, how do you find the best doctor who is right for you? In this episode, three experts representing different subspecialties within cardiovascular health offer advice to patients asking: How do I pick a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon? Jeffrey Kuvin, MD, is executive director and senior vice president of cardiology at Northwell Health. He is also co-executive director of the Northwell Cardiovascular Institute. Alan Hartman, MD, is senior vice president and executive director of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Northwell Health. He is also chair of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Varinder Singh, MD, is senior vice president of cardiology for Northwell’s Metro Market and the Guenther Chair for the Department of Cardiology at Lenox Hill Hospital. Chapters: 00:01 - Intro 01:09 - Who should see a cardiologist? 02:19 - Start with your primary care doctor 03:01 - Is the doctor Able? Affable? Available? 03:29 - Connecting with your doctor 05:38 - Finding the right cardiac surgeon 07:18 - Quality ratings 09:45 - The importance of trust 12:!7 - General vs interventional cardiology 14:14 - What is your vascular age? 15:44 - Why volume matters 17:00 - Does gender play a factor Further references: Learn more about quality ratings for cardiac surgery NYS Department of Health (DOH) 2026 report on adult cardiac surgery US News & World Report rankings Society of Thoracic Surgeons reports Northwell Cardiovascular Institute 2025 Annual Report Northwell is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

What motivates a physician to revolutionize health care from a new vantage point? Host Chethan Sathya, MD, speaks with physician-technologist, chief medical officer and author Geeta Nayyar, MD, about her unique professional journey and the critical role of innovation in health care transformation. Dr. Nayyar recounts her "accidental" transition from practicing rheumatologist to a leader in health technology, driven by a desire to impact systemic issues that hindered patient care. She shares how she leveraged her clinical experience to improve digital health workflows at major companies like AT&T and Salesforce, demonstrating the power of a physician’s voice in tech. The conversation also provides invaluable advice for health care workers looking to pivot their careers and make a broader impact beyond one-on-one patient care. Northwell is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.