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JAMA Medical News

JAMA Network·Hosted by Jennifer Abbasi, Kate Schweitzer, Rita Rubin and Samantha Anderer·285 episodes

HealthFitnessMedicineScienceMedical newsShort episodesWeeklyEvidence-basedClinician-friendlyHealth policy

Discussions of timely topics in clinical medicine, biomedical research, public health, health policy, and more, featured in the Medical News section of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Why listen

JAMA Medical News turns JAMA's medical reporting into concise conversations about the research, policy shifts, and public health stories clinicians are talking about. Jennifer Abbasi and other JAMA Network editors and writers unpack topics like GLP-1 drugs, infectious disease outbreaks, cancer screening, clinical AI, and guideline changes in episodes short enough for a commute. It is especially useful for health professionals, science-minded listeners, and anyone who wants credible medical context without a long lecture.

Series(1)

Episodes

4 min
Jun 5, 2026
New Insights on HFpEF in Patients With Severe Obesity

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer discuss "HFpEF May Be a Different Disease in Patients With Severe Obesity." Related Content: HFpEF May Be a Different Disease in Patients With Severe Obesity

6 min
May 29, 2026
Ebola Outbreak Update

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer discuss "A Rare Ebola Virus Is Spreading in the DRC—Here's What to Know." Related Content: A Rare Ebola Virus Is Spreading in the DRC—Here's What to Know

17 min
May 29, 2026
Is There a Doctor on the Ship?

Joining from quarantine, Stephen Kornfeld, MD, discusses his experience stepping in as the ship's physician when hantavirus transformed his vacation cruise into a global public health concern. Related Content: Hantavirus Outbreak: First Test of US Public Health Response After WHO Withdrawal When Hantavirus Sickened the Ship's Physician, Stephen Kornfeld, MD, Stepped Up

4 min
May 22, 2026
Bangladesh's New Measles Crisis

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Staff Writer Samantha Anderer discuss "More Than 19 000 Measles Cases in a Month—What the Current Outbreak in Bangladesh Signals to the World." Related Content: More Than 19 000 Measles Cases in a Month—What the Current Outbreak in Bangladesh Signals to the World

6 min
May 15, 2026
New Obesity Definition Stirs Debate

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer discuss "Experts Debate How Obesity Should Be Defined and Diagnosed." Related Content: Experts Debate How Obesity Should Be Defined and Diagnosed

6 min
May 8, 2026
Multi-Cancer Blood Tests Have Arrived

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Lead Senior Staff Writer Rita Rubin discuss "These Blood Tests May Detect Dozens of Cancers, but Will They Save Lives?" Related Content: These Blood Tests May Detect Dozens of Cancers, but Will They Save Lives?

5 min
May 1, 2026
Why GLP-1 Drugs Affect Patients Differently

JAMA Medical News Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer and Staff Writer Samantha Anderer discuss "Weight Loss, Adverse Effects With GLP-1 Medications May Be Influenced by Genetics." Related Content: Weight Loss, Adverse Effects With GLP-1 Medications May Be Influenced by Genetics

3 min
Apr 24, 2026
Treating Methamphetamine Use Disorder With an Antidepressant

JAMA Medical News Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer and Staff Writer Samantha Anderer discuss "Could a Common Antidepressant Help Treat Methamphetamine Use Disorder?" Related Content: Could a Common Antidepressant Help Treat Methamphetamine Use Disorder?

5 min
Apr 17, 2026
Cicada, the SARS-CoV-2 Variant With a Surprising Trajectory

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Lead Senior Staff Writer Rita Rubin discuss "What to Know About Cicada, or BA.3.2, the Latest SARS-CoV-2 Variant Under Monitoring." Related Content: What to Know About Cicada, or BA.3.2, the Latest SARS-CoV-2 Variant Under Monitoring

6 min
Apr 10, 2026
Cancer-Treating Vaccines Are on the Horizon

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Lead Senior Staff Writer Rita Rubin discuss "How mRNA Vaccines Could Help Treat Cancer." Related Content: How mRNA Vaccines Could Help Treat Cancer

20 min
Apr 10, 2026
Highlights From the American College of Cardiology's 2026 Scientific Sessions

Hear the latest on PCSK9 inhibitors, cardiorenal benefits of GLP-1 drugs, and other clinical research in this interview with Katie Berlacher, MD, MS, chair of this year's annual ACC meeting. Related Content: PCSK9 Inhibitors in Diabetes, Tirzepatide's Cardiorenal Effects, Shingles Vaccine, and More From ACC

5 min
Apr 3, 2026
What Happens When Patients With Decompensated Cirrhosis Stop Drinking?

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer discuss "New Hope for Patients With Advanced Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis Who Stop Drinking." Related Content: New Hope for Patients With Advanced Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis Who Stop Drinking

5 min
Mar 27, 2026
What's New in the Updated Lipid Guidelines?

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer discuss "What to Know About the New Lipid Guidelines." Related Content: What to Know About the New Lipid Guidelines

4 min
Mar 20, 2026
The Health Costs of EPA's Heavy Metal Air Pollution Rollbacks

JAMA Medical News Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer and Staff Writer Samantha Anderer discuss "Why the EPA's Reversal on Heavy Metal Air Pollution Is Cause for Concern." Related Content: Why the EPA's Reversal on Heavy Metal Air Pollution Is Cause for Concern

6 min
Mar 13, 2026
PrEP Prevents HIV—If Patients Can Get It

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer discuss "After a Decade of Progress Against HIV, PrEP Enters a Precarious Era." Related Content: After a Decade of Progress Against HIV, PrEP Enters a Precarious Era

6 min
Mar 6, 2026
AI Tools for Patients Have Arrived

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Lead Senior Staff Writer Rita Rubin discuss "Are AI Tools Ready to Answer Patients' Questions About Their Medical Care?" Related Content: Are AI Tools Ready to Answer Patients' Questions About Their Medical Care?

4 min
Feb 27, 2026
Why the Low Carb vs Low Fat Debate Misses the Point

JAMA Medical News Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer and Staff Writer Samantha Anderer discuss "In the Low-Carb vs Low-Fat Debate, Study Suggests Food Quality Matters More for Heart Health." Related Content: In the Low-Carb vs Low-Fat Debate, Study Suggests Food Quality Matters More for Heart Health

5 min
Feb 20, 2026
What's New in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans?

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer discuss "What Nutrition Experts Say About the New Dietary Guidelines for Americans." Related Content: What Nutrition Experts Say About the New Dietary Guidelines for Americans

6 min
Feb 13, 2026
ICE Raids Are Jeopardizing Health Care Access

JAMA Medical News Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer and Lead Senior Staff Writer Rita Rubin discuss "US Patients Getting ICE-d-Out of Health Care." Related Content: US Patients Getting ICEd-Out of Health Care

5 min
Feb 6, 2026
Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine–Associated Myocarditis

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer discuss "Mechanisms Are Emerging for COVID-19 Vaccine−Associated Myocarditis." Related Content: Mechanisms Are Emerging for COVID-19 Vaccine−Associated Myocarditis

6 min
Jan 30, 2026
What's Next in Weight-Loss Drugs?

JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Lead Senior Staff Writer Rita Rubin discuss "Data on 3 New GLP-1 Drugs for Weight Loss That May Be Approved This Year." Related Content: Data on 3 New GLP-1 Drugs for Weight Loss That May Be Approved This Year

4 min
Jan 23, 2026
How Stress May Connect Mental Health and Cardiovascular Disease

In this week's roundup, Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer and Lead Senior Staff Writer Rita Rubin discuss "Stress May Link Depression and Anxiety to Cardiovascular Disease." Related Content: Stress May Link Depression and Anxiety to Cardiovascular Disease

5 min
Jan 16, 2026
FDA Approves the First Oral GLP-1 Drug for Obesity

In this week's roundup, JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer discuss "What to Know About the Wegovy Pill for Obesity" and more. Related Content: What to Know About the Wegovy Pill for Obesity

5 min
Jan 9, 2026
Understanding the World Health Organization's GLP-1 Guidelines

In this week's roundup, JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer discuss "What to Know About the WHO's New GLP-1 Guideline" and more. Related Content: What to Know About the WHO's New GLP-1 Drug Guideline

5 min
Jan 2, 2026
Are Nicotine Pouches a Safer Alternative to Cigarettes?

In this week's roundup, JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and staff writer Samantha Anderer discuss "Can Nicotine Pouches Help People Quit Smoking?" and more. Related Content: Can Nicotine Pouches Help People Quit Smoking?

5 min
Dec 19, 2025
The Push for Geriatrics Education

In this week's roundup, JAMA Medical News Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer and freelance writer and Harvard medical student Emily Harris discuss "A Growing Movement Aims to Prepare All Physicians to Care for Older Adults" and more. Related Content: A Growing Movement Aims to Prepare All Physicians to Care for Older Adults

16 min
Dec 12, 2025
JAMA Research of the Year With Editor in Chief Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo

In this episode, JAMA Editor in Chief Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, and Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi discuss the journal's inaugural Research of the Year roundup. Related Content: Research of the Year 2025

6 min
Dec 5, 2025
Alzheimer Disease Blood Test Approved for Primary Care

Correction: an earlier version of this podcast misstated the phosphorylated tau analyte measured by the Roche blood biomarker test. It is p-tau181, not p-tau217. In this week's roundup, JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Lead Senior Staff Writer Rita Rubin discuss "Alzheimer Disease Blood Test Cleared for Primary Care, but Questions Remain About Its Use" and more. Related Content: Alzheimer Disease Blood Test Cleared for Primary Care, but Questions Remain About Its Use

9 min
Dec 5, 2025
Cardiovascular Highlights From AHA Scientific Sessions 2025

Updates on coffee and AFib, a polypill approach for HFrEF, the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor, vitamin D supplementation for secondary prevention, and more: Joanna Chikwe, MD, chair of the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions conference and of the Department of Cardiac Surgery in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, shares clinical research highlights from the recent meeting. Related Content: Coffee and AFib, Oral PCSK9 Drugs, an HFrEF Polypill, and Vitamin D Post-MI—Highlights From AHA 2025

5 min
Nov 21, 2025
US Governors Form a Public Health Alliance

In this week's roundup, JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer discuss "US Governors Are Forming a Public Health Alliance Amid Federal Funding Cuts and Shifting Guidance" and more. Related Content: US Governors Are Forming a Public Health Alliance Amid Federal Funding Cuts and Shifting Guidance

16 min
Nov 21, 2025
Highlights From Kidney Week 2025

Updates on SGLT2 inhibitors, fish oil and hemodialysis, GLP-1 drugs, and more: Katherine R. Tuttle, MD, education committee co-chair of Kidney Week 2025 and a professor of medicine at the University of Washington, shares clinical research highlights from the recent meeting. Related Content: SGLT2 Inhibitors, Fish Oil in Hemodialysis, GLP-1 Drugs, and More—Highlights From Kidney Week

6 min
Nov 14, 2025
The Common Liver Disease You've Never Heard Of

In this weekly roundup, JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Lead Senior Staff Writer Rita Rubin discuss "MASLD—The Chronic Liver Disease That Affects Tens of Millions of US Adults but Flies Under the Radar" and more. Related Content: Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Adults MASLD—The Chronic Liver Disease That Affects Tens of Millions of US Adults but Flies Under the Radar ------------------------ jamamedicalnews.com

4 min
Nov 7, 2025
Are Peanut Allergies Finally on the Decline?

In this weekly roundup, JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi and Staff Writer Samantha Anderer discuss "Peanut Allergies Appear to Be on the Decline Following Early Introduction Guidelines" and more. Related Content: Peanut Allergies Appear to Be on the Decline Following Early Introduction Guidelines

20 min
Oct 31, 2025
Dementia's Cultural Narratives

Dementia is still a highly stigmatized condition. Nancy Berlinger, PhD, a senior research scholar at The Hastings Center for Bioethics, discusses a new report about the cultural narratives of dementia and how they can affect the quality of life and the care of patients with the condition. Related Content: Living With Dementia Report Emphasizes That Even Those With Advanced Disease Have Stories to Share

10 min
Oct 31, 2025
October 2025 Medical News Summary

State Laws Aim to Bring Internationally Trained Physicians to Underserved Areas, but Barriers Abound; Oral Microbiome Composition Linked to Pancreatic Cancer Risk Related Content: Oral Microbiome Composition Linked to Pancreatic Cancer Risk State Laws Aim to Bring Internationally Trained Physicians to Underserved Areas, but Barriers Abound

20 min
Oct 24, 2025
Understanding Cardiac Long COVID

A new European Society of Cardiology clinical consensus statement deals with cardiovascular disease prevention and management in COVID-19, including cardiac long COVID. The report's lead author, Vassilios Vassiliou, MBBS, PhD, MA, discusses the guidance and key questions that remain about COVID-19 and the heart. Related Content: New Guidance on Cardiovascular Disease and COVID-19—From Infection to Long COVID to Vaccination

16 min
Sep 29, 2025
Acetaminophen Use in Pregnancy and Risk of Autism

Epidemiologist Brian Lee, PhD, discusses his study on acetaminophen use during pregnancy and children's risk of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in this interview with JAMA Deputy Editor Linda Brubaker, MD. Related Content: Acetaminophen Use in Pregnancy—Study Author Explains the Data

11 min
Sep 26, 2025
September 2025 Medical News Summary

Ultraprocessed Foods and Cardiometabolic Health—New Report on a "Growing Public Health Challenge"; New Analysis of Women's Health Initiative Data Aims to "Clear the Air" Over Menopausal Hormone Therapy Related Content: New Analysis of Women's Health Initiative Data Aims to "Clear the Air" Over Menopausal Hormone Therapy Ultraprocessed Foods and Cardiometabolic Health—New Report on a "Growing Public Health Challenge"

17 min
Sep 19, 2025
Cardiovascular Highlights From ESC 2025

Updates on GLP-1 drugs in heart failure, β-blockers after myocardial infarction, the shingles vaccine, and more: Felix Mahfoud, MD, chair of the Department of Cardiology at University Hospital Basel, shares clinical research highlights from the recent European Society of Cardiology Congress. Related Content: GLP-1 Drugs in Heart Failure, β-Blockers After MI, the Shingles Vaccine, and More From ESC 2025

23 min
Sep 11, 2025
How Did Cystic Fibrosis Go From Fatal to Treatable?

Pulmonologist Michael J. Welsh, MD, is the co-recipient of the 2025 Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award for his research on cystic fibrosis. In this interview, he discusses his early clinical encounters with the disease, the foundational work that led to the lifesaving drug Trikafta, and future directions for cystic fibrosis treatment. Related Content: How Cystic Fibrosis Went From Fatal to Treatable Rewriting the Chapter on Cystic Fibrosis

15 min
Aug 29, 2025
August 2025 Medical News Summary

What Is 7-OH?; Real-World Experience With Antiamyloid Therapies for Alzheimer Disease; FDA Panel on SSRIs and Pregnancy Lacked Nuance, Experts Say Related Content: What to Know About 7-OH, the New Vape Shop Hazard Treating Alzheimer Disease With Antiamyloid Therapies—The Real-World Experience Grows FDA Panel Casts SSRIs During Pregnancy as Risky—Many Experts Disagree

18 min
Jul 25, 2025
July 2025 Medical News Summary

The Effects of Newly Changed Guidance on COVID-19 Shots During Pregnancy; Heart Disease Deaths Have Changed; Progress Toward a Norovirus Vaccine Related Content: The CDC No Longer Recommends COVID-19 Shots During Pregnancy—Now What? New Research Finds Long-Term Shifts in Heart Disease Mortality Is There a Norovirus Vaccine on the Horizon?

21 min
Jul 2, 2025
Socially Assistive Robots, Part 2

In this follow-up to a 2017 interview with JAMA Medical News, the University of Southern California's Maja Matarić, PhD, the computer scientist who pioneered the field of socially assistive robotics, discusses how artificial intelligence is advancing the field in areas ranging from autism to physical rehabilitation to anxiety and depression. Related Content: Social Robots That Help Support People's Health Are Getting a Boost From AI Socially Assistive Robots

25 min
Jun 27, 2025
June 2025 Medical News Summary

New NIH-FDA Partnership Targets Nutrition Research Gaps; First Blood Test for Alzheimer Biomarkers Receives FDA Clearance; A Growing Movement to Care for Caregivers Related Content: New Federal Program Seeks to Bridge Nutrition Research With Regulatory Policy What to Know About the First FDA-Cleared Blood Test for Alzheimer Biomarkers As the US Ages, a Growing Movement Aims to Care for Caregivers

19 min
Jun 27, 2025
Clinical Highlights From ASCO 2025

Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH, a JAMA associate editor and associate chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, shares highlights from the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting, including new research on diet, exercise, and cancer survival and the best time of day for treatment. Related Content: Lifestyle and Cancer Survival, the Best Time of Day for Treatment, and More—Highlights From ASCO

11 min
Jun 16, 2025
AI-Based Analysis for Parkinsonism

Delaying diagnosis of parkinsonism can mean delaying care. In a study recently published in JAMA Neurology, David Vaillancourt, PhD, and colleagues tested the ability of an AI model to differentiate between Parkinson disease and other neurodegenerative disorders when paired with MRI. He joins JAMA and JAMA+ AI Associate Editor Yulin Hswen, ScD, MPH to discuss. Related Content: A Large Proportion of Parkinson Disease Diagnoses Are Wrong—Here's How AI Could Help Automated Imaging Differentiation for Parkinsonism

23 min
May 30, 2025
May 2025 Medical News Summary

Federal Funds for Rural Health Care May Be Cut; Why the IV Fluid Shortage After Hurricane Helene Was Years in the Making; Surge in US Sports Betting Raises Public Health Concerns Related Content: Federal Funds for Rural Health Care Are on the Chopping Block—Here's What That Could Mean IV Fluid Shortages Persist Months After Hurricane Helene Hit a Supplier—Hospitals Have Had to Adapt The Hidden Health Costs Associated With Legalized Sports Gambling

21 min
May 16, 2025
When Do Nudges Help?

Susan Athey, PhD, of Standford University joins JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss her research on machine learning to target behavioral nudges for college students and their potential implications for health care. Related Content: How an Economist's Application of Machine Learning to Target Nudges Applies to Precision Medicine

13 min
Apr 25, 2025
Highlights From the American College of Cardiology's 2025 Scientific Session

Ajay J. Kirtane, MD, SM, a professor of medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, discusses late-breaking clinical research presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology in an interview with JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi. Related Content: Heart Health Highlights From ACC—Marathon Runners and Mortality, Oral GLP-1 Drugs, and More

15 min
Apr 25, 2025
April 2025 Medical News Summary

Axe Falls on Federal Health Workforce; Experts Say CDC Cuts Will Cost Lives Related Content: "Guaranteed Pandemonium" as HHS Secretary Slashes Federal Health Workforce Experts Say Abrupt and "Staggering" CDC Cuts Will Cost Lives