Using Stem Cells to Build Mini Hearts with Colin O'Hern | The Physician’s Mind
Fri Feb 06 2026
In this episode of The Physician’s Mind, I sit down with Colin O'Hern, a DO-PhD student at Michigan State University, to explore the rapidly evolving world of heart organoid research and how it could reshape the future of cardiac medicine.
Colin shares his journey as a physician-scientist, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how lab-grown heart organoids are created and used to model complex cardiac conditions like atrial fibrillation. We break down the science in a way that’s accessible, while also diving into the real-world challenges of translational research, from lab limitations to ethical considerations surrounding stem cell science.
We also discuss what this research means for the future of personalized medicine, how disease modeling could transform how physicians approach treatment, and why bridging clinical practice with scientific discovery is more critical than ever.
Whether you’re a physician, medical student, researcher, or simply curious about where medicine is headed, this conversation offers a powerful glimpse into how innovation is shaping the next generation of cardiac care.
Read the Manuscript: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1934590925003674
✅ Key Takeaways:
• What heart organoids are and how they’re created in the lab
• How organoids are being used to model atrial fibrillation and other cardiac conditions
• The role of the physician-scientist in advancing modern medicine
• Ethical considerations surrounding stem cell and organoid research
• Why personalized medicine may depend on disease modeling technologies
• The challenges of turning lab discoveries into real-world clinical impact
• Why integrating research and clinical care is essential for the future of cardiology
🔗 Learn More & Connect:
🌐 Website
📖 Related Blog Post
🎓 Free Networking Mini-Course
📸 Instagram
📺 YouTube
More
In this episode of The Physician’s Mind, I sit down with Colin O'Hern, a DO-PhD student at Michigan State University, to explore the rapidly evolving world of heart organoid research and how it could reshape the future of cardiac medicine. Colin shares his journey as a physician-scientist, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how lab-grown heart organoids are created and used to model complex cardiac conditions like atrial fibrillation. We break down the science in a way that’s accessible, while also diving into the real-world challenges of translational research, from lab limitations to ethical considerations surrounding stem cell science. We also discuss what this research means for the future of personalized medicine, how disease modeling could transform how physicians approach treatment, and why bridging clinical practice with scientific discovery is more critical than ever. Whether you’re a physician, medical student, researcher, or simply curious about where medicine is headed, this conversation offers a powerful glimpse into how innovation is shaping the next generation of cardiac care. Read the Manuscript: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1934590925003674 ✅ Key Takeaways: • What heart organoids are and how they’re created in the lab • How organoids are being used to model atrial fibrillation and other cardiac conditions • The role of the physician-scientist in advancing modern medicine • Ethical considerations surrounding stem cell and organoid research • Why personalized medicine may depend on disease modeling technologies • The challenges of turning lab discoveries into real-world clinical impact • Why integrating research and clinical care is essential for the future of cardiology 🔗 Learn More & Connect: 🌐 Website 📖 Related Blog Post 🎓 Free Networking Mini-Course 📸 Instagram 📺 YouTube