GW Integrative Medicine

GW Integrative Medicine
  • 4.8 (20)
  • SCIENCE
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Welcome to GW Integrative Medicine, a podcast about using an integrative approach to disease prevention and health promotion. We look forward to sharing the latest news and research on Integrative Medicine – where the best practices of conventional medicine and evidence-based complementary medicine meet. This podcast is brought to you by the Office of Integrative Medicine and Health, the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, in collaboration with the university's Integrative Medicine Programs and the IMPACT Initiative.

  1. FEB 17

    The Tip of the Trauma Iceberg: Adverse Childhood Experiences

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that preventing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) like abuse, neglect, household dysfunction could reduce the number of adults with depression by as much as 44%. ACEs are critical to identify and understand because they are highly common that cause lasting toxic stress that fundamentally changes brain development and health outcomes across a lifespan. Understanding them is crucial for preventing chronic diseases, mental health disorders, and, through early intervention, breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma. On today's show, we’re discussing ACEs with Clare Anderson, MSW, Senior Policy Fellow Emeritus at Chapin Hall, a policy research institution in Chicago that focuses on child welfare and family well-being. Clare is a national expert on child welfare policy and practice and national thought leader on economic and concrete supports. She was among the chief architects of the effort to address trauma, ACEs, and toxic stress in children known to the child welfare system. Also joining us for the conversation is Michelle Clausen, PhD, a nurse midwife, researcher, and fellow with the Primary Care Research Training Program and post-doctoral scholar at the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Her research focus is on developing interventions that incorporate trauma-informed strategies and spirituality to improve health outcomes. ◘ Related Links: CDC's About Adverse Childhood Experiences page, https://www.cdc.gov/aces/about/index.html; Adverse California Surgeon General’s Clinical Advisory Committee' Childhood Experience Questionnaire for Adults, https://bit.ly/4aUJewT; California Department of Health Care Services' ACEs Aware information website, https://www.acesaware.org/; Navigating Economic Shocks: Public Policy Can Support or Stress Families with Clare Anderson, https://bit.ly/3ZH3dsA; Chapin white papers about ACEs, https://bit.ly/4kCQsc2 ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

    46 min

  2. JAN 30

    The Gut-Brain-Dementia Connection

    A new study by a GW-led research team suggests gut bacteria may be linked to memory decline in mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, and some dementia diseases. Published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, the scoping review is shedding light on the growing evidence that gut microbiome imbalances—known as dysbiosis—may play a key role in the development and progression of MCI and Alzheimer’s disease. Today, we have with us two of the study’s lead authors—Drs. Leigh Frame and Alison Warren of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Frame-Corr Lab. Dr. Frame is an expert on the gut microbiome, co-leader of the lab, executive director of the Office of Integrative Medicine & Health, and an associate professor here at GW. Dr. Warren is a doctoral student in the Translational Health Sciences PhD Program here at GW and an adjunct assistant professor. She is collaborating with the Frame-Corr Lab in microbiome studies associated with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Drs. Frame and Warren are all on the faculty of the Institute for Brain Health & Dementia at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. Dr. Misha Kogan, an integrative geriatrician, expert on dementia diseases, and also institute faculty, is the co-host on this episode. ◘ Related Links: GW Press Release: https://bit.ly/3NXSZ4l; Journal Article: The microbiota–gut–brain axis in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a scoping review of human studies, https://bit.ly/3ZsPmWV; Frame-Corr Lab: https://framecorrlab.smhs.gwu.edu/ ◘ Transcript: bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

    36 min

  3. JAN 9

    The New Dietary Guidelines for Americans: It's a Mixed Bag

    The USDA and HHS just released new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. We dig into the new guidelines with Dr. Leigh Frame, our favorite nutrition scientist, co-host of the pod, and co-director of the Frame-Corr Lab here at George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. An Associate Professor in the departments of Clinical Research & Leadership and Physician Assistant Studies, Leigh combines nutrition and immunity through translational research, leveraging extensive experience in biomedical research and education. Dr. Frame earned her PhD in Human Nutrition and MHS in Immunology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and graduated with Distinction in Biochemistry from Mary Baldwin College. An expert on Integrative Medicine and the gut microbiome, she’s also the Executive Director of the GW Office of Integrative Medicine & Health. ◘ Related Links: New Food Guidelines for Americans, https://realfood.gov/; Harvard Healthy Eating Plate, https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-eating-plate/; Dr. Frame's Nutrition Guide, https://rwc.smhs.gwu.edu/nutrition-guide; Canada's Food Guide, https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/ ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

    35 min

  4. 12/10/2025

    What the Hemp?

    We talk with Peter Grinspoon, MD—an internationally renowned expert on medical cannabis, drug policy, and addiction—about the U.S. Congress recriminalizing most hemp-derived products. The measure is set to take effect one year from enactment — around November 12, 2026. Dr. Grinspoon is a primary care physician and cannabis specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. A certified Health and Wellness Coach, he has provided medical cannabis care for patients for two decades. He is a board member of the advocacy group Doctors for Drug Policy Reform and an advisor to the Parabola Group, which advocates for social justice in the cannabis space. He spent two years as an associate director of the Massachusetts Physician Health Service, treating and monitoring hundreds of physicians with addiction. Dr. Grinspoon is the author of "Free Refills: A Doctor Confronts His Addiction," “Seeing Through the Smoke: A Cannabis Specialist Untangles the Truth About Marijuana,” and he has a new book coming out in May 2026—"Aging Well with Cannabis: Feel Better, Sleep Better, and Live Better with Marijuana and CBD." ◘ Related Links: Dr. Grinspoon's website, www.petergrinspoon.com ◘ Transcript: bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

    39 min

  5. 11/28/2025

    The Longevity Nutrient

    Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, who co-discovered the C15 essential fatty acid, returns to the podcast to discuss her new book “The Longevity Nutrient: The Unexpected Fat That Holds the Key to Healthy Aging.” In The Longevity Nutrient, She unveils the science behind the first essential fatty acid to be discovered in nearly a hundred years. Research on this ingredient shows that is may be crucial for combating chronic aging-associated diseases. Dr. Venn-Watson is a veterinary epidemiologist with more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 70 patents. She is the co-founder and CEO of Seraphina Therapeutics, a company that develops and sells health and wellness products based on the C15 fatty acid. She discovered the health benefits of C15 while working for the U.S. Navy to continually improve the long-term health of Navy bottlenose dolphins. While seeking to understand why some dolphins were aging at slower rates than others, Dr. Venn-Watson applied an advanced technology called metabolomics on archived dolphin serum to discover which molecules predicted the healthiest aging dolphins. Here, she discovered C15. ◘ Related Links: The Longevity Nutrient: The Unexpected Fat That Holds the Key to Healthy Aging By Stephanie Venn-Watson, https://bit.ly/4a43w75; GW Integrative Medicine podcast: What Do Dolphins Have to Do with Anti-aging?, https://bit.ly/4aljzxx ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

    33 min

  6. 11/11/2025

    What is Swedish Death Cleaning?

    Chris Palmer, author of "Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life, gave a wellness talk on Swedish death cleaning, or "döstädning" during the GW Office of Integrative Medicine & Health's A Mindfulness Experience. Swedish death cleaning is a trend resulting from the Swedish cultural tradition of decluttering and organizing one's life before passing away. Chris is also an activist, wildlife filmmaker, conservationist, retired American University professor, and grandfather. He is a hospice volunteer, runs an aging, death, and dying group for the Bethesda Metro Area Village, and is obtaining a certificate in End-of-Life Care. ◘ Related Links: Chris Palmer's website: chrispalmeronline.com; Chris' handouts, including a free copy of his book and info on decluttering your home, how to write an ethical will (legacy letter), and more: bit.ly/4poQ4iT. ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

    30 min

  7. 10/08/2025

    Integrating Medical Cannabis Into Medical Education

    An estimated three million Americans use cannabis for medical purposes, primarily for chronic pain, muscle spasms, anxiety, nausea, seizures, and other conditions. Yet, most healthcare practitioners and students in the health professions report feeling unprepared to counsel patients or integrate cannabis into care. Currently, standardized education on the therapeutic use of medical cannabis remains absent from most medical school curricula. On this episode of the GW Integrative Medicine podcast, we discuss a new study published in JAMA on the importance of standardizing and integrating medical cannabis into the medical education curricula. We have three of the article’s co-authors here with us today. • Dr. Ethan Russo is a neurologist, preeminent psychopharmacology researcher, and founder and CEO of CReDO Science. A renowned global expert, Dr. Russo is author of some of the most influential and scientifically important books within the field of medical cannabis research. He has been actively researching medical cannabis and cannabinoids for nearly 30 years. • Dr. Leslie Mendoza Temple is the chair of the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board for the Illinois Department of Public Health. Dr. Temple is the and Owen L. Coon Chair of Integrative Medicine, Medical Director of the Integrative Medicine Program at Endeavor Health and a clinical professor of Family Medicine at the University of Chicago Pritzker (PRIT-skur) School of Medicine. • Dr. Misha Kogan, chief medical officer of the GW Center of Integrative Medicine, co-author of “Medical Marijuana: Dr. Kogan's Evidence-Based Guide to the Health Benefits of Cannabis and CBD,” and an associate professor of Medicine here at GW. His specific area of interest is utilizing cannabis as a solution to reduce polypharmacy in the geriatric patient population. He is a renowned international speaker in the field of medical cannabis. ◘ Developing Medical Cannabis Competencies: A Consensus Statement (JAMA Article) https://bit.ly/4o82GtM ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

    47 min

  8. 09/25/2025

    Ultraprocessed Foods: Health Implications and How to Talk to Patients

    Research has shown that diets high in ultraprocessed foods are linked to more than 30 health conditions, according to an umbrella review of meta-analyses that was published in The British Medical Journal. Meanwhile, more exposure to ultraprocessed foods was associated with a higher risk of dying from any cause. Ultraprocessed foods now account for nearly 60% of U.S. adults’ calorie consumption. Among American children, that portion is close to 70%. In other words, ultra-processed food is starting to overwhelm the American diet. On this episode of the GW Integrative Medicine podcast, John Neustadt, ND, gives a lecture on “Ultra-Processed Foods: Health Implications and How to Talk to Patients.” Dr. Neustadt has been recognized by the world's largest medical publisher, Elsevier, as one of the Top 10 Cited Authors in the world for his work. He's spent decades researching the underlying causes of disease and working with clinicians and patients to improve health outcomes through natural and Integrative Medicine. ◘ Slide presentation https://bit.ly/4pxiQ1o ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

    58 min
See All (116)

4.8
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Welcome to GW Integrative Medicine, a podcast about using an integrative approach to disease prevention and health promotion. We look forward to sharing the latest news and research on Integrative Medicine – where the best practices of conventional medicine and evidence-based complementary medicine meet. This podcast is brought to you by the Office of Integrative Medicine and Health, the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, in collaboration with the university's Integrative Medicine Programs and the IMPACT Initiative.

Information

  • Creator
    GW Integrative Medicine
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    116
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    GW Integrative Medicine

You Might Also Like