From Bench to Bedside

Drs. Matheu and Rubin
  • 4.9 (71)
  • Medicine

From Bench to Bedside is a science-forward medical podcast that cuts through the noise, the hype, and the misinformation. Hosted by Dr. Zachary Rubin, MD, a double board-certified pediatrician and allergist/immunologist, and Dr. Melanie Matheu, PhD, an immunologist, scientist and entrepreneur. This podcast brings you the combined perspectives of a medical doctor and PhD scientist on what’s actually happening in medicine, public health, and biomedical science. Each episode bridges the gap between what the research shows (“the bench”) and what patients experience in the real world (“the bedside”). We break down topics like vaccines, immune system myths, chronic illness claims, viral health trends, and breaking medical news using evidence, clinical reasoning, and scientific context. Whether you’re a clinician, scientist, student, or just someone trying to make sense of today’s health information landscape, From Bench to Bedside is here to help you think more clearly about health and medicine. 🎙️ New episodes regularly 📍 Educational content only; not medical advice

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 18 - Health Updates You May Have Missed: Outbreaks, Food Safety & Medical Breakthroughs

    In this episode of From Bench to Bedside, Dr. Zachary Rubin and Dr. Melanie Matheu take a rapid-fire look at some of the biggest recent developments in health, medicine, and public health. They discuss the ongoing Cyclospora outbreak and delays in tracing its source, a major beef recall involving products that bypassed import inspection, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, H5N1 bird flu in Australia, extreme heat, flesh-eating bacteria, and the changing geography of tick-borne diseases. They also examine an important ruling involving emergency pregnancy care in Idaho before turning to several promising scientific developments, including mRNA influenza vaccines, a new mechanism-based approach to treating narcolepsy, evidence showing the health benefits of reducing air pollution, and a new PET imaging tool for evaluating Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a wide-ranging health news roundup featuring both reasons for concern and reasons for optimism, with the science, context, and occasional chaos you expect from From Bench to Bedside. Hosted by Dr. Zachary Rubin and Dr. Melanie Matheu, PhD. Subscribe and let us know whether you’d like to hear more rapid-fire health news episodes like this one.

  2. 2d ago

    Episode 17 - Trump’s New Vaccine Executive Order: What Parents Need to Know

    President Trump has signed a sweeping executive order that could significantly reshape how childhood vaccines are recommended in the United States. In this episode of From Bench to Bedside, Dr. Zachary Rubin and Dr. Melanie Matheu read Executive Order 14420 section by section and examine what it actually says, and what the science says about the changes being proposed. The order proposes a new three-tier system for childhood vaccines, changes involving hepatitis A, hepatitis B, RSV and meningococcal disease, greater use of “shared clinical decision-making,” reconsideration of the timing of childhood vaccines, and a push to administer vaccines at separate medical visits whenever possible. Perhaps most strikingly, the order calls for the combined MMR vaccine to eventually be offered as three separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines. Drs. Rubin and Matheu explain why separating MMR could dramatically increase the number of injections and medical appointments families need to complete the same vaccine series without evidence that separating the vaccines provides a meaningful safety advantage. They also examine the administration’s argument that the United States is an international outlier in childhood vaccination. How comparable are countries such as Denmark or other European nations to the United States when their healthcare systems, demographics, disease prevalence and access to physicians can be dramatically different? The discussion also covers: • How vaccine recommendations are actually developed • Why the current childhood vaccine schedule exists • RSV prevention in infants • Why hepatitis B vaccination begins so early • The difference between a recommendation and a school vaccine requirement • Vaccine safety monitoring • Aluminum vaccine adjuvants • How legitimate vaccine safety signals have been handled historically • Medical and religious exemptions • Federal versus state authority over school vaccine requirements • The scientific method and the danger of designing research to reach a predetermined conclusion • Why physicians are increasingly worried about public distrust Most importantly, this executive order does not suddenly eliminate vaccines or prevent parents from vaccinating their children. Many of its provisions would require additional regulatory action, private-sector participation, state action or litigation before they could substantially change what happens in your pediatrician’s office. But the direction of childhood vaccine policy in America is changing, and families deserve clear information about what is happening.

  3. Aug 3

    Episode 16 - The Fauci Witch Hunt: Accountability or Political Theater?

    Has Dr. Anthony Fauci become a scapegoat for every difficult decision made during the COVID-19 pandemic? Following Fauci’s contentious Senate testimony and his decision to invoke the Fifth Amendment, we examine what the hearing revealed—and what it ignored. We discuss Fauci’s scientific legacy, legitimate failures in pandemic messaging, vaccine adverse events, the HIV/AIDS crisis, the lab-leak debate, gain-of-function research, hospital overcrowding, lockdowns, and the enormous role social-media misinformation played in eroding public trust. The pandemic response was imperfect and deserves rigorous examination. But thousands of people and institutions made decisions at the federal, state, local, hospital, school, and community levels. Understanding what happened requires more than blaming one person. Join Dr. Melanie Matheu and Dr. Zachary Rubin for a candid conversation about accountability, revisionist history, and what we must learn before the next public-health emergency.

  4. Jun 28

    Episode 15 - How Tick Bites Can Trigger a Life-Threatening Meat Allergy

    Can a tick bite make you allergic to steak? In this episode of From Bench to Bedside, Dr. Zachary Rubin and Dr. Melanie Matheu explain Alpha-Gal Syndrome, a rapidly emerging food allergy caused by tick bites that can trigger delayed allergic reactions—even life-threatening anaphylaxis—hours after eating red meat. They discuss: • The immunology behind alpha-gal syndrome • Why symptoms are delayed • How the condition was first discovered • Current diagnostic strategies • Tick prevention • Emerging treatments under investigation • Common myths and misinformation surrounding alpha-gal As the geographic range of lone star ticks continues to expand, awareness of alpha-gal syndrome has never been more important. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast and share it with someone who spends time outdoors—or anyone interested in the science behind food allergies.

  5. Jun 18

    Episode 14 - Ebola is back in the headlines: How worried should we be?

    How concerned should we be about the current Ebola outbreak? In this episode of From Bench to Bedside, Dr. Zachary Rubin and Dr. Melanie Matheu explain what Ebola is, how it spreads, why experts are monitoring the current outbreak closely, and why strong public health systems remain essential for controlling infectious diseases. You'll learn: What Ebola virus disease isHow Ebola spreads (and why it is not airborne)Signs and symptoms of infectionWhy delayed outbreak detection is dangerousThe challenges facing health workers on the groundThe role of vaccines, surveillance, and global health infrastructureWhat the United States and international organizations are doing in response Join us for a thoughtful discussion grounded in science, medicine, and public health.

  6. Jun 14

    Episode 13 - Police Removed Scientists Out of the ADA Conference? What Really Happened

    A controversy at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions sparked national headlines after several prominent diabetes researchers were removed while distributing an editorial criticizing cuts and changes to U.S. biomedical research funding. Dr. Zachary Rubin and Dr. Melanie Matheu discuss what happened, examine the editorial at the center of the controversy, and explore broader concerns about NIH funding, scientific independence, peer review, and the future of American research. They also discuss how funding decisions today may impact patient care, medical innovation, and scientific progress for years to come.

  7. May 4

    Episode 11 - Ticked Off: What You Need to Know About Tick-Borne Diseases

    Ticks can do more than bite! They can trigger severe allergic reactions, chronic illness, and even life-threatening infections. Dr. Melanie Matheu and Dr. Zachary Rubin discuss what you need to know before your next hike.

  8. May 4

    Episode 12 - Seasonal Allergies Explained: What Actually Works (And What Doesn’t)

    In this episode, Dr. Zachary Rubin (board-certified allergist) and Dr. Melanie Matheu (immunologist) break down: ✔️ When to see an allergist ✔️ Why pollen seasons are longer ✔️ The truth about “botanical sexism” ✔️ Thunderstorm asthma ✔️ What treatments actually work If allergies are running your life, this is the episode you need.

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4.9
out of 5
71 Ratings

About

From Bench to Bedside is a science-forward medical podcast that cuts through the noise, the hype, and the misinformation. Hosted by Dr. Zachary Rubin, MD, a double board-certified pediatrician and allergist/immunologist, and Dr. Melanie Matheu, PhD, an immunologist, scientist and entrepreneur. This podcast brings you the combined perspectives of a medical doctor and PhD scientist on what’s actually happening in medicine, public health, and biomedical science. Each episode bridges the gap between what the research shows (“the bench”) and what patients experience in the real world (“the bedside”). We break down topics like vaccines, immune system myths, chronic illness claims, viral health trends, and breaking medical news using evidence, clinical reasoning, and scientific context. Whether you’re a clinician, scientist, student, or just someone trying to make sense of today’s health information landscape, From Bench to Bedside is here to help you think more clearly about health and medicine. 🎙️ New episodes regularly 📍 Educational content only; not medical advice

Information

  • Creator
    Drs. Matheu and Rubin
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Drs. Matheu and Rubin