In honor of Latin AIDS Awareness Day on Oct. 15, April and Alicia bring in an expert to discuss mass infectious disease and the brave researchers who cure it. Meet Dr. Roberta Luskin-Hawk, a Chicago-based Sound Physicians clinical leader and infectious disease specialist whose fascination with curing patients placed her at the center of the 1980s American AIDS/HIV epidemic. Hear about her journey to the top of her field and the stigmas she broke along the way.

For the love of the cure | feat. Dr. Roberta Luskin-Hawk

In a previous episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti explored the importance of challenging dogma, particularly when the supporting evidence is weak or absent. Today, he continues that discussion by examining critical care practices that persist despite a lack of strong scientific validation. He's joined by Dr. Mervyn Singer, an internationally recognized leader in critical care medicine. Dr. Singer is a professor of intensive care medicine at University College London and a distinguished clinician, researcher, and educator. Through his research, publications, and dynamic presentations, he has inspired Dr. Zanotti — and countless intensivists worldwide — to think critically, challenge conventions, and push the boundaries of our field.

Additional resources:
Challenging management dogma where evidence is non-existent, weak, or outdated: part II. DA Hofmaennner and M. Singer. Intensive Care Med2024: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go 

Challenging management dogma where evidence is non-existent, weak, or outdated. DA Hofmaennner and M. Singer. Intensive Care Med 2022: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35303116/ 

Biomarker-Guided Antibiotic Duration for Hospitalized Patients with Suspected Sepsis. The ADAPT-Sepsis Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2025: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39652885/  

Hyperglycemic Crises in Adults with Diabetes: A Consensus Report. Diabetes Care 2024: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38907161/ 

Books and music mentioned in this episode.
Influenza: The Hundred-Year Hunt to Cure the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic. By. Jeremy Brown: https://amzn.to/3Ftb0mO

Beethoven: 9 Symphonies / Karajan 1963: https://amzn.to/3R1M9ZO

Challenging dogma in the ICU (Part II)

Sound Physicians

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