Episodes

Practicing oncologist, adjunct professor at Duke University, and chief medical officer at AccessHope Yousuf Zafar discusses his article " Remote second opinions for equitable cancer care ." Yousuf explains how a patient's zip code often dictates their survival odds despite biology showing that rural and urban patients have identical potential for recovery when given the same protocols. He details how the explosion of precision oncology has made cancer care vastly more complex, leaving community ...

Physical therapists Ziya Altug and Shirish Sachdeva discuss their article "." Ziya and Shirish explore how the ambiance of a medical office significantly impacts patient anxiety and emotional well-being before treatment even begins. They examine...

Triple board-certified physician in adult and geriatric psychiatry and addiction medicine, and the founder of The Aging Parent Coach Barbara Sparacino discusses her article " Why caring for a parent is hard for doctors ." Barbara shares the personal struggle of navigating end-of-life care for her own parents despite her extensive professional training. She explains the "prophet in your own country" paradox where family members often dismiss medical advice from their own relatives. The conversati...

Nationally recognized psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article " How deprescribing in psychiatry offers a path to safer care ." Muhamad explores the growing movement to reduce unnecessary medications in mental health care, a practice that has long been established in geriatrics but is now gaining traction in psychiatry. He describes the "prescribing cascade" where side effects are treated with more drugs, leading to patients feeling trapp...

Palliative care physician and certified physician development coach Christie Mulholland discusses her article " 5 things health care must stop doing to improve physician well-being ." Christie challenges the pervasive narrative that younger physicians lack work ethic and argues that their boundary-setting is a rational response to an untenable system. The conversation explores why well-being initiatives fail when they are treated as volunteer hobbies without budget or authority. Christie explain...

Physician, former health care executive, certified coach, speaker, and organizational consultant Laura Suttin discusses her article " Why the 4 a.m. wake-up call isn’t for everyone ." Laura shares her personal struggle with the popular productivity advice that claims early rising is the only path to high performance. She describes the fog and misery she experienced while trying to force her body into a rhythm that did not match her natural energy patterns. The conversation highlights the dangers...

Nationally recognized psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article " Physician legal rights: What to do when agents knock ." Muhamad shares a terrifying but essential guide for any doctor facing an unexpected visit from federal agents or investigators. He explains why the physician's natural instinct to educate, reassure, and be helpful is actually a liability that can lead to a prison sentence. The conversation highlights the critical legal ...

Fertility specialist and founder of Montgomery Fertility Center Oluyemisi (Yemi) Famuyiwa discusses her article " Infertility public health: the WHO's new global guideline ." Oluyemisi examines the historic release of global guidelines that reframe infertility as a matter of social justice rather than a luxury concern. The conversation highlights the practical strengths of these recommendations for low-resource settings while acknowledging critical gaps regarding environmental toxins and cultura...

Internal medicine physician Earl Stewart, Jr. discusses his article "." Earl examines the devastating pattern of pancreatic cancer claiming Black cultural icons like John Lewis and Aretha Franklin while the medical establishment fails to implement...

Health care attorney Dennis Hursh discusses his article "." Dennis explains the critical distinction between a guaranteed salary and a draw against future earnings where failure to meet production targets can lead to clawbacks. The discussion covers...

Internal medicine and functional medicine physician Shiv K. Goel discusses his article "." Shiv explores the limitations of conventional medical models that focus solely on acute intervention while ignoring the emotional roots of chronic conditions....

Saravanan Kasthuri, medical director at Northwest Endovascular Surgery, and Jason McKitrick, executive director at the Office Based Facility Association, discuss their article " Medicare payment is failing rural health ." Saravanan and Jason analyze the critical economic forces dismantling independent medical practices and threatening patient access in underserved areas. They highlight the personal story of Mr. G to illustrate the human cost of broken reimbursement models while explaining how th...

Family physician Tod Stillson discusses his article "." Tod explains how his career evolution revealed that artificial intelligence is not a threat to the medical profession but a necessary tool for reshaping care delivery. He argues that physicians...

Surgeon and health tech strategist Sarah Matt discusses her article "." Sarah analyzes the friction between efficient digital health tools and an outdated payment system that rewards activity over quality. She proposes replacing analog metrics like...

Urologist William Lynes discusses his article "." William examines the medical plausibility of a former president being diagnosed with widespread metastatic prostate cancer just months after leaving office. He explains why the slow growth of this...

Fertility specialist Oluyemisi Famuyiwa discusses their article "." Oluyemisi explores the transition to "Genetic Carrier Screening 3.0," a new era where expanded panels reveal hidden complexities that defy simple positive or negative interpretations....

Professor and coach Kathleen Muldoon discusses their article "." Kathleen explores the dangerous misconception that peace in health care means silence or compliance. The conversation highlights how teaching medical students to smooth their edges and...

Obstetrician-gynecologist Priya Panneerselvam discusses their article "." Priya discusses how the quiet deference observed in their mother's generation continues to manifest in patients who apologize for their pain and hesitate to ask questions. The...

Health care executive Dave Wessinger discusses their article "." Dave explains why organizations must move beyond the hype of artificial intelligence to focus on measurable goals like driving growth and improving quality. The conversation highlights...

Urologist Tracy Gapin discusses their article "" Tracy explores the paradox of achieving professional success while feeling trapped in a demoralizing and insurance-driven health care system. The conversation highlights how factors like short visits...

Kenneth Botelho, founding director of the doctor of medical science (DMSc) program at The College of St. Scholastica and a physician assistant, discusses his article " Federal graduate-loan caps threaten rural health care access ." Kenneth explains how impending borrowing limits for physician assistant and nurse practitioner programs create an insurmountable barrier for students from the very communities that need providers most. He illustrates the paradox where government grants aim to stabiliz...

Psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article "." Muhamad opens with the tragic losses of Dr. Nolan R. Williams and Dr. Charles Szyman to illustrate the devastating toll of the profession on even...

Professor and senior associate dean of engagement Janet A. Jokela discusses her article "." Janet shares harrowing memories from her time as a medical student in the mid-1980s, recalling the fear and stigma that surrounded the early days of the AIDS...

Health care strategist Dana Y. Lujan discusses her article "" Dana explains how the rising cost of living and subscription fatigue are challenging the retail model of direct primary care for middle-class families. She contrasts this fragility with the...