Show Notes
Hollywood's cutting-edge technology is revolutionizing medical education, bridging the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice. Learn how VR is helping students explore 3D models of the human body, practice complex procedures in a risk-free environment, and simulate patient encounters. Through immersive digital scenarios, medical students are refining their skills and gaining hands-on experience for real-world challenges. Featured experts include Matthew Hoerth, M.D., medical director of the Multidisciplinary Simulation Center at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and Dan Munnerley, executive director of the Next Lab at Arizona State University. Get the latest health information from Mayo Clinic's experts, subscribe to Mayo Clinic’s newsletter for free today: https://mayocl.in/3EcNPNc
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What if the milk you are drinking could help fight cancer? In this episode of Tomorrow's Cure, we explore cholangiocarcinoma and a surprising new approach to targeting it using milk‑derived nanoparticles and precision aptamer‑based delivery. Host Lindsey Seavert is joined by surgical oncologist Dr. Rory Smoot and long‑term survivor and advocate Melinda Bachini to unpack why this cancer is so challenging, what symptoms and treatment paths patients typically face, and how emerging gene‑delivery platforms and AI‑driven discovery are opening new possibilities when standard therapies fall short. Through Melinda’s 16‑year survivorship story and Dr. Smoot’s lab work that literally starts with skim milk from the Mayo Clinic cafeteria, listeners hear how “chemical antibodies” called aptamers can act as molecular keys to deliver therapy directly to cholangiocarcinoma cells, and how computational tools are accelerating the search for new targets. Together, they discuss the emotional and practical realities of living at the edge of what medicine can do today, the expanding landscape of clinical trials, and why innovation in this rare cancer may ripple out to colon, lung and other hard‑to‑treat tumors.