In this episode, Brendan speaks with Dr. Daniel Ackil, Director of Simulation Education and Assistant Professor to the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Vermont Health Network Larner College of Medicine, and Dr. Randy D’Amico, a neurosurgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital at Northwell Health, about the impact virtual reality is having on healthcare today.

Welcome to Season 2 of ‘That’s Understandable’! In this episode, Brendan welcomes guests Dr. Cartier Esham of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Pam Traxel of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Diane, a cancer survivor in a conversation around drug pricing and medical innovation.

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is a proactive voice of science and for science that is driving a “bio revolution” to cure patients, protect our climate and nourish humanity.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. ACS CAN advocates for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. It engages volunteers throughout the US to advocate at every level of government.

In the final episode of Season 1, Brendan is joined by Dr. Salvatore Alesci of the National Minority Quality Forum and Karla, a clinical trial participant, for a meaningful conversation on the critical need for diversity among clinical trial participants to ensure treatments are as effective as possible for all patients.


The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is the largest minority healthcare research, education and advocacy organization in the United States. Its mission is to reduce patient risk of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, disabilities and death, while also improving high-quality, long lives – particularly for the most vulnerable. For more information, please visit nmqf.org.

For more information about clinical trials and your eligibility to participate, please visit clinicaltrials.gov.