The Bone Health Basement Tapes - A Conversation About The Future of Bone Health

Bone health is the foundation of movement, longevity, and quality of life—but are we doing enough to protect it? The Bone Health Basement Tapes explores cutting-edge osteoporosis prevention, AI-driven diagnostics, and breakthrough bone health technologies. Hosted by experts, each episode features researchers, clinicians, and tech pioneers reshaping how we assess, monitor, and deliver bone health care.

Join us as we decode the future of bone health—one conversation at a time.

Welcome to The Basement.

Season 2 / Episode 3 - A European View of Orthopedic Centered Bone Health Innovation

In this international edition of The Bone Health Basement Tapes, we welcome Dr. Jo De Schepper, a leading voice in musculoskeletal health from St. Niklaas, Belgium. As an orthopedic surgeon with a sub-practice focus on treating osteoporosis, Dr. De Schepper brings a uniquely integrated European perspective to the evolving role of bone health in surgical care.

Together, we explore three major themes shaping the future of osteoporosis management in his practice:

1. The Orthopedic Surgeon as a Bone Health Leader – Why Europe places orthopedic surgeons at the center of prevention and treatment, and how U.S. systems might evolve similarly.

2. Osteoporosis as a Chronic Disease, Not a Life Stage – A reframing of bone fragility as a long-term, manageable condition—akin to diabetes—that affects more than just the elderly.

3. A Total Innovation Package: Surgery + Digital Tools – As Principal Investigator of an injectable bone-strengthening agent currently in use in Europe, to emerging digital health platforms for longitudinal care, Dr. De Schepper discusses how comprehensive solutions—not isolated technologies—are the key to progress.

This cross-continental conversation offers new insights for U.S. providers looking to expand the scope of osteoporosis care, integrate new technologies, and align surgical practice with proactive skeletal health.

Season 2 / Episode 2 - The Originals Series—Histology, Discovery, and the Architecture of Bone

The inaugural episode of the Bone Health Basement Tapes: Originals Series delves into the rich history of bone health research through the lens of one of its most influential figures: Dr. David W. Dempster, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University and Senior Research Fellow at the Regional Bone Center of Helen Hayes Hospital, where Dr. Dempster has been at the forefront of bone biology research for over four decades.

Dr. Dempster's journey began with a First-Class Honors degree and PhD from the University of Glasgow, followed by postdoctoral studies in Switzerland and France. His pioneering work in bone histomorphometry has provided critical insights into the pathophysiology and treatment of bone diseases, particularly osteoporosis. With over 200 research publications and continuous support from the National Institutes of Health for the past 30 years, his contributions have shaped our understanding of bone remodeling and the effects of various therapies on bone structure.

Beyond his research, Dr. Dempster has held prominent positions such as Past President of the International Society of Bone Morphometry and has served on the Scientific Advisory Council of the National Osteoporosis Foundation. His iconic micrographs of osteoporotic bone have been widely recognized, including permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution. As Editor-in-Chief of the fifth edition of the authoritative textbook Osteoporosis (affectionately known as “Big Red”), he continues to influence the field's direction. 

This episode offers listeners an intimate exploration of Dr. Dempster's career, highlighting the evolution of bone health research and the enduring impact of his work on current and future generations in the field.

Season 2 / Episode 1 - From Vision to Platform: A Blueprint for Virtual Bone Health

In this episode of The Bone Health Basement Tapes, we’re joined by the team from MiCare Path, ASOP’s strategic partner in building the Bone Health Optimization Platform. Together, we dive into the real-world creation and performance of Bone Health Virtual Care Service Lines— separating fact from fiction and addressing common misconceptions around how virtual care codes actually work.

MiCare Path brings a proven track record from other healthcare verticals like cardiology and chronic care management, where their platform has demonstrated strong patient engagement and outcomes and successful reimbursement strategies. Now, they’re bringing that playbook to bone health and orthopedics — helping providers harness Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) and Principal Care Management (PCM) to extend care beyond the clinic walls and support patient chronic care management between visits.

We'll explore:

  • Why RTM and PCM are more than just a billing tool — and how it's transforming musculoskeletal care.

  • What orthopedic and osteoporosis providers can learn from virtual care service line success stories in other specialties.

  • How to navigate RTM and PCM codes effectively and avoid the pitfalls of misaligned expectations.

  • The vision behind the Bone Health Optimization Platform and where this collaboration is headed next.

Whether you're a clinician, health system leader, or digital health skeptic, this episode offers practical insights into how virtual care service lines — when done right — can power better bone health outcomes.

Episode 4 - The Foundation Matters — Preoperative Bone Health Optimization with Dr. Paul Anderson

We all know that surgical success depends on precision, skill, and planning—but what about the quality of the bone itself? For too long, the role of bone health in surgical outcomes has been under appreciated. Yet, poor bone quality can lead to hardware failure, delayed healing, and avoidable complications—especially in spine and orthopedic surgeries. The good news? We can do something about it before the first incision is made.

Our guest today is someone who’s been leading that charge. Dr. Paul Anderson is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and a globally recognized expert in spinal surgery and musculoskeletal care. He’s also one of the early champions of integrating bone health assessments into surgical planning—helping develop dedicated Bone Health Optimization (BHO) clinics that are reshaping the standard of care for surgical patients.

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore how to identify at-risk patients, what pre-surgical interventions can make a difference, and why surgeons and healthcare teams need to optimize before heading to the OR.

Episode 3 - AI in Osteoporosis & Bone Health: The Challenges of Integration and Culture in the Adoption of Digital Healthcare Applications

In this special episode of The Bone Health Basement Tapes, we bring together two leading experts to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health applications are reshaping osteoporosis care.

Our guests are Elizabeth Krupinski, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at Emory University,

and

Gina Woods, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine and Co-Chief, Division of Endocrinology, UC San Diego, Osteoporosis Clinic Director, UCSD Health; Associate Program Director, UCSD Endocrinology Fellowship.

We will discuss insights from Dr Krupinski’s extensive research on integrating telemedicine and digital healthcare tools into clinical practice, highlighting challenges in adoption, workflow integration, and cultural acceptance.

Dr. Woods will help frame these insights within the bone health provider community, drawing from her expertise in osteoporosis management, densitometry, and clinical decision-making in endocrinology. She also is engaged in imaging research specific to applying MRI in bone density measurements.

Together, we will explore the opportunities and hurdles in bringing AI and digital technologies into the world of osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment.

As osteoporosis remains significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated, AI-and digital health driven solutions will play a critical role in improving screening, monitoring, and patient outcomes. But technology alone is not the answer—success depends on how well digital tools are integrated into existing clinical workflows, the cultural acceptance among providers, and the trust patients place in these innovations.

Concepts discussed during episode:

Your Medical Mind: How to Decide What Is Right for You: by Jerome Groopman (Author), Pamela Hartzband MD(Author) https://a.co/d/eEzcR5E

Links to key research publications from Dr. Krupinski, Ph.D.:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7671820/

https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/2/1/115

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4934470/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33084506/

https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/12035/0000/In-between-are-the-doors-of-perception/10.1117/12.2620369.full

Episode 2 - Is it time to move beyond traditional T-score measurements and instead focus on comprehensive risk assessment, value-based care, and sustainable bone health outcomes?

We have a fantastic discussion lined up featuring Jared Torkelson, PA-C, Minnesota Orthopedic APP Supervisor at Mayo Clinic Health Systems, Instructor of Orthopedics at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. Jared is also President of the American Society of Osteoporosis Providers (ASOP).

Also joining us is Dudley Phips, PA-C, CEO and Executive Director of ASOP.

Despite decades of effort, osteoporosis care has remained stagnant in many ways. Is it time to move beyond traditional T-score measurements and instead focus on comprehensive risk assessment, value-based care, and sustainable patient outcomes? Today, we’ll try to answer that question and discuss the coming transformation bone health from a reactive approach to a proactive, system-wide healthcare model.

Episode 1 - Why Did We Start ASOP?

In this episode, we discuss the critical gaps in osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment, the need for a dedicated society like ASOP, and how advocacy, education, and technology can reshape the future of bone health. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, or someone passionate about improving patient outcomes, this conversation is for you.

Guests:

Dr. Anne F. Lake is a board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in osteoporosis management at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. As the director of the Fracture Liaison Service, she leads efforts to improve care for patients at high risk for fractures. A recognized expert in bone health, she serves as an advisor for national organizations and speaks nationally on best practices for osteoporosis care. Passionate about early intervention and quality improvement, Dr. Lake is dedicated to advancing bone health initiatives and patient-centered care.

Dudley Phipps is a nationally recognized bone health expert and Certified Clinical Densitometrist (ISCD), specializing in Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) implementation. With a career spanning from paramedicine to hospital and insurance roles since 1980, he is driven by a passion for improving lives through better bone health—both locally and nationwide.

Moderator: Peter Bianco