In this episode of The Vitals, guest host Raja Flores, MD, joins New York State Senator Michael Gianaris and Mount Sinai Queens President and COO Cameron Hernandez, MD, to celebrate the opening of a new advanced ICU at Mount Sinai Queens in Astoria.

The panel discusses how critical care has grown more complex over the last decade—including expanded services like cardiac catheterization and care for higher-acuity patients—requiring specialized nursing and new technologies.

Sen. Gianaris explains why improving ICU access in Western Queens was a priority and how he secured $6 million in state funding after shifting focus from a proposed bridge project to the ICU.

Dr. Hernandez outlines how the ICU expands capacity from 8 to 21 beds, can surge during future pandemics, adds a procedure room, and improves patient and family experience with single rooms, bathrooms, and sleep space for families.

They also discuss reducing transfers to Manhattan, easing ED boarding, and building trust in local, high-quality care.

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt

What if the goal isn't simply to live longer—but to live better, for longer?

In this special kickoff episode of The Vitals Healthspan Miniseries, guest host Shruti Naik sits down with Mount Sinai experts Fiorina Kyritsi, MD, Miriam Merad, MD, PhD, and Zahi Fayad, PhD to explore the science of aging—and why the future of medicine may be less about extending lifespan and more about expanding health span.

The panel breaks down:

• what aging actually is
• why scientists still don't fully understand "healthy aging"
• how emerging research is helping identify the biomarkers that may one day predict—and potentially improve—our aging trajectories.

The panel also separates evidence from hype, tackling supplements, social-media longevity trends, personalized medicine, and the promise of large-scale research initiatives like the XPRIZE Healthspan competition.

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt

How did ketamine evolve from an anesthetic to one of the most important mental health treatment breakthroughs in decades?

In this episode of The Vitals, guest host Dennis Charney, MD sits down with specialists James Murrough , MD, PhD, and Adriana Feder, MD, to explore the science behind ketamine treatment for depression and PTSD—and why it may offer hope for patients who have not responded to traditional therapies.

The conversation traces the origins of ketamine research to the pioneering clinical work conducted at Mount Sinai. The doctors explain how ketamine differs from standard antidepressants, why it can work within hours instead of weeks, and how it is helping patients with treatment-resistant depression and suicidal thinking.

The panel also discusses:

• How ketamine became the FDA-approved treatment Spravato
• Why researchers believe ketamine increases neuroplasticity in the brain
• The growing evidence for ketamine in treating PTSD
• How psychotherapy may enhance ketamine’s long-term effects
• Why patients should not lose hope, even after years of severe symptoms

To learn more about Mount Sinai’s Depression and Anxiety Center or to book an appointment with a Mount Sinai expert, visit the Mount Sinai Health System’s website: https://icahn.mssm.edu/research/depression-anxiety-center

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt