Physician executive Aiden Feng discusses the article, " Rising ER wait times signal larger health system challenges ." In this episode, Aiden examines how increasing ED wait times reflect deeper systemic issues in the U.S. health care system, including staffing shortages, fragmented digital health solutions, and declining operational efficiencies since the pandemic. He explores the impact of isolated point solutions versus integrated technology approaches and emphasizes actionable strategies suc...
Mar 16, 2025•20 min
Internal medicine physician Ryan McCarthy discusses the article, " What The Far Side taught me about belonging in science ." In this episode, Ryan reflects on the unexpected inspiration he found in Gary Larson's comic strip The Far Side and how it shaped his journey in science and medicine. He explores themes of belonging, the value of embracing one's uniqueness in the scientific community, and the role of humor in bridging the gap between popular culture and medical practice. Actionable takeawa...
Mar 15, 2025•17 min
Family physician Dan Muntean discusses the article, " The heart of family medicine: a doctor's journey of compassion and care ." In this episode, Dan shares his personal journey through 30 years of practice in family medicine, reflecting on the lessons learned from his upbringing in Romania, his diverse training experiences, and the deep connections formed with his patients. He emphasizes the importance of listening, empathy, and sacrifice in patient care, and discusses actionable insights for n...
Mar 14, 2025•16 min
Lianne Mandelbaum, a leading advocate for airline safety measures to protect food-allergic passengers, discusses the article, " Navigating the uncertainty of food allergies in air travel: a call for compassion and change ." In this episode, Lianne shares personal insights into the challenges faced by travelers with food allergies, highlighting inconsistent airline policies, societal skepticism, and the urgent need for standardized procedures. She explains how simple accommodations—like pre-board...
Mar 13, 2025•21 min
Family physician Tony Gerk discusses the article, " Even medical practices aren't immune from the high cost of employer-provided health insurance ." In this episode, Tony explains the challenges small medical practices face due to skyrocketing employer-provided health insurance costs. He details the constraints imposed by reimbursement rates, the impact of facility fees on patient care, and the difficult choices small business owners must make between profits, patient access, and employee benefi...
Mar 12, 2025•21 min
Internal medicine physician Corinne Rao discusses the article, " The Faustian bargain of modern medicine ." In this episode, Corinne explores the modern health care system's trade-offs, comparing the traditional independence of private practice to the constraints of employed settings that offer financial stability and reduced administrative burdens at the cost of professional autonomy. She examines how these compromises affect the patient-physician relationship, contribute to burnout, and challe...
Mar 11, 2025•17 min
Board-certified pediatric endocrinologist, field medical director for type 1 diabetes immunology (T1D) at Sanofi, and T1D survivor Shara Bialo discusses the article, " Improving type 1 diabetes screening awareness among women is critical. Here's why ." In this episode, Shara explains the importance of early T1D screening, shares personal insights from her experience as both a doctor and a mom, and discusses key statistics revealing the gender gap in screening awareness. The conversation highligh...
Mar 10, 2025•20 min
Neurohospitalist and clinical neurophysiologist Franklyn Rocha Cabrero discusses the article, " Missing prescription: long-term parental leave for fathers in medicine ." In this episode, Franklyn delves into the systemic and societal barriers that hinder male physicians from taking full advantage of parental leave, explores the benefits of longer leave on family well being, and highlights actionable strategies for balancing demanding medical careers with family responsibilities in the field of h...
Mar 09, 2025•19 min
Health law attorney Dennis Hursh discusses his article, " Doctors beware: How vague contracts put your job at risk ," revealing how poorly defined termination clauses in physician employment agreements leave doctors vulnerable to arbitrary dismissals. Dennis shares alarming cases where physicians were terminated for dubious reasons, including personal attire choices and missing a shift due to a family emergency. He highlights the risks of "crappy doc" termination clauses and the severe career co...
Mar 08, 2025•11 min
Cardiology and preventive medicine fellow Anand Shah discusses his article, " The role generative AI can play in cardiovascular education for patients ," exploring how artificial intelligence can revolutionize patient education and prevention strategies. Anand highlights the challenges patients face in understanding and adhering to cardiovascular disease prevention plans, emphasizing the limitations of brief clinical visits and generic lifestyle recommendations. He explains how generative AI can...
Mar 07, 2025•17 min
Physician and author Kate Dee discusses her article, " Medspa madness: How illegal practices are putting patients in peril " and book, Med Spa Mayhem: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly Secrets of the Aesthetics Industry , exposing the alarming rise of unregulated med spas operating without proper medical oversight. Kate highlights cases of illegal Botox and filler injections, unlicensed individuals performing medical procedures, and the increasing use of counterfeit products leading to serious inju...
Mar 06, 2025•25 min
Family physician Pamela Buchanan discusses her article, " How poor communication is killing patients and burning out doctors ," exploring the devastating impact of unclear or avoided conversations in health care. Pamela shares firsthand experiences from the emergency room, where patients often arrive not just for treatment but for clarity about their diagnoses and prognoses. She highlights the systemic failure of communication between specialists and patients, leading to unnecessary ER visits an...
Mar 05, 2025•12 min
Health care executive Cecil Pineda discusses his article, " Under siege: the escalating ransomware crisis in health care ," examining the alarming rise in cyberattacks on hospitals and health systems. Cecil highlights the growing frequency and financial toll of ransomware attacks, with major incidents affecting patient care, disrupting operations, and costing billions. He explores the ethical dilemma of whether to pay ransom demands, the importance of cybersecurity investments, and the role of l...
Mar 04, 2025•22 min
Janet A. Jokela, an infectious disease physician, discusses her article, " Doctors, grounded in our oath, must act now more than ever ," reflecting on the physician's solemn commitment to patient care, integrity, and advocacy. With increasing challenges to public health institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and World Health Organization (WHO), physicians must decide how to uphold their oath amid political and systemic disrupt...
Mar 03, 2025•19 min
Physician executive Shamar Young discusses his article, " Geographic disparities in advanced cancer care: a call for innovation ," highlighting the uneven access to emerging cancer treatments across different health care systems. Shamar explores the impact of geography on advanced therapies like theragnostics and transarterial radioembolization (TARE), emphasizing how disparities in expertise, technology, and resources limit patient options. He discusses how specialized third-party services, suc...
Mar 02, 2025•14 min
Physician executive Timothy McDonald discusses his article, " How innovative partnerships are transforming patient safety in health care ," highlighting the role of collaboration in reducing preventable harm. Timothy explores how data sharing within and across health systems can uncover insights to enhance safety measures, emphasizing the importance of Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) in identifying patterns of medical errors. He also discusses the impact of public-private partnerships (PPPs)...
Mar 01, 2025•21 min
Family physician Pamela Buchanan discusses her article, " The ER doctor who became the new PCP ." In this compelling conversation, Pamela explains her transition from emergency medicine back to primary care, driven by a growing shortage of primary care providers that leaves many patients with no choice but to seek care in the ER. She highlights the strain on both patients and health care workers and emphasizes the importance of prevention and making primary care a more attractive career path for...
Feb 28, 2025•15 min
Pediatrician John D. Michael discusses his article, " How attention therapy transforms speech delay in young children ." In this engaging conversation, John explains that sustained attention is crucial for developing effective speech and conversation skills in young children. He outlines how attention therapy teaches children to focus on adults rather than screens and toys, thereby enhancing their ability to respond, follow instructions, and build foundational language skills. John offers action...
Feb 27, 2025•20 min
Pediatrician Gary Kirkilas discusses his article, " Cannabis advertising takes a page from the tobacco playbook ." In this conversation, Gary explains how legal cannabis companies are adopting tactics once used by tobacco companies to target young users, drawing parallels between historical cigarette advertising and current cannabis marketing practices. He highlights the significant health risks of early cannabis use, including memory impairment and negative mental health outcomes, and calls for...
Feb 26, 2025•18 min
Physician advocate Kim Downey and family physician Todd Otten discuss their article, " Long-term impacts of physician suicide on patients and doctors ." In this engaging conversation, Kim shares her personal experiences with the departure of trusted health care professionals and the resulting emotional impact on patient care, while Todd reflects on systemic challenges, burnout, and the urgent need for change in our approach to provider well-being. Kim and Todd offer actionable takeaways that inc...
Feb 25, 2025•26 min
Family physician Laura Suttin discusses her KevinMD article, " An argument against time management ." In this episode, Laura explores the pressures physicians face in trying to adhere to strict time management practices, which often lead to feelings of inadequacy and burnout. She shares her personal struggles with balancing work and personal life, highlighting the importance of aligning one’s energy with natural rhythms rather than rigid schedules. Laura emphasizes the value of authenticity, sel...
Feb 24, 2025•17 min
Practicing internist and psychiatrist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his KevinMD article, " The criminal enforcement of HIPAA ." In this episode, Muhamad delves into the escalating electronic breaches of protected health information and the lack of accountability for large organizations responsible for these violations. He highlights several high-profile cases where physicians have faced criminal charges for HIPAA breaches, while health system executives and insurers have not been similarly prosecu...
Feb 23, 2025•17 min
Fertility specialist Oluyemisi Famuyiwa discusses her KevinMD article, " The rise of at-home hormone tests: a double-edged sword for patients ." In this episode, Yemi explores the surge in popularity of at-home hormone testing kits and the complexities they introduce to patient health care. She highlights how these tests can lead to confusion, unnecessary stress, and harmful interventions due to the lack of medical oversight and the nuanced understanding required for hormone fluctuations and syn...
Feb 22, 2025•15 min
Orthopedic surgeon Yoshihiro Katsuura discusses his KevinMD article, " It’s not a normal job, folks: How 3 elemental forces of reality shape the profession of medicine ." In this episode, Yoshihiro, along with premedical students Andrew Roos and Rebecca Hu, explores the cultural, economic, and natural forces that uniquely burden physicians, leading to high rates of burnout and workforce attrition. Together, they analyze how these elemental forces exacerbate the demands on medical professionals a...
Feb 21, 2025•27 min
Dermatologist Michael Sherling discusses his KevinMD article, " Where physicians need to implement AI first ." In this episode, Michael examines the potential of artificial intelligence to alleviate administrative burdens in health care, such as documentation management and patient collaboration. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing AI tools that deliver high value with minimal risk, starting with patient-facing applications that streamline appointment scheduling and routine inquiries. M...
Feb 20, 2025•19 min
Pediatrician Christina Suh discusses the KevinMD article, " More than just the flu: Helping families and doctors prepare for pan-respiratory viruses ." In this episode, Christina addresses the challenges of the current pan-respiratory season, including RSV, COVID, and the flu, emphasizing the critical role of vaccines in saving lives. She explores the concept of closing the intention gap to support individuals who want to get vaccinated by making the process easier, rather than focusing solely o...
Feb 19, 2025•15 min
Emergency physician Drew Remignanti discusses his KevinMD article, " High tech should not replace high talk and high touch in health care ." In this episode, Drew examines the limitations of artificial intelligence and high-tech solutions in addressing the complexities of the U.S. health care system. He emphasizes the irreplaceable value of compassionate, personal interactions between patients and physicians, highlighting how technology can supplement but never substitute the human touch essenti...
Feb 18, 2025•18 min
Psychotherapist and litigation stress coach Gail Fiore discusses her KevinMD article, " Recognizing and addressing medical malpractice stress syndrome (MMSS) ." In this episode, Gail explores the prevalence of MMSS among physicians, the common misconceptions surrounding it, and the significant impact it has on both individual doctors and their legal cases. She highlights the need for specialized litigation stress coaching as a practical solution to help physicians manage anxiety, depression, and...
Feb 17, 2025•21 min
Internal medicine physician Melvin Speisman discusses his KevinMD article, " How AI is transforming medicine faster than ever before ." In this episode, Melvin explores the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence within health care, including the approval of over 950 AI medical devices by the FDA as of October 2024, the deployment of AI algorithms in hospitals, and the significant impact of AI in radiology and cardiology. He also delves into the pioneering work in ophthalmology and the rec...
Feb 16, 2025•23 min
Internal medicine physician and psychiatrist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses the KevinMD article " The role of social credit scores in the enforcement of health care regulations ." They explore the expansion of predictive algorithms like Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) in health care, the emergence of social credit scores as tools for assessing physician trustworthiness, the risks of systemic bias and reputational damage, and potential solutions to ensure fair and just enforcement pract...
Feb 15, 2025•18 min
