The Podcast by KevinMD

The Podcast by KevinMD

Social media's leading physician voice, Kevin Pho, MD, shares the stories of the many who intersect with our health care system but are rarely heard from. 15 minutes a day. 7 days a week. Welcome to The Podcast by KevinMD.

Recent Episodes

July 7, 2025

Why the U.S. mental health care system is failing and how to fix it

Internal medicine physician and author Robert C. Smith discusses his article, ." He reveals the shocking disparity in care, where only 25 percent of patients with mental illness receive any treatment compared to 70 percent for physical conditions....

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July 3, 2025

From Founding Fathers to modern battles: physician activism in a politicized era

Psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article, "." Muhamad calls for a remembrance of the five physician-patriots—Dr. Benjamin Rush, Dr. Josiah Bartlett, Dr. Lyman Hall, Dr. Matthew Thornton, and...

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July 1, 2025

A physician's reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief

Hospitalist Jasminka Vukanovic-Criley discusses her article, "." Jasminka shares a deeply personal account of a Saturday morning where unexpected news of the passing of two friends, Natasa's mother Mirjana and her friend Thomas, both from cancer,...

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June 30, 2025

Addressing U.S. vaccine inequities in vulnerable communities

Medical students Kaitlynn Esemaya, Anamaria Ancheta, and Annique McLune discuss their article, "." They highlight how social determinants of health drive pervasive inequities in vaccination rates among marginalized U.S. communities, exacerbated by the...

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June 29, 2025

How organizational culture drives top talent away

Surgeon Suhaib J. S. Ahmad discusses his article, "." Suhaib explores the phenomenon of highly competent and once-passionate health care professionals disengaging and leaving their roles, often without overt complaint. He argues that this "silent...

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June 28, 2025

Why are medical students turning away from primary care?

Medical students Vineeth Amba and Archita Goyal discuss their article, "" They share the widespread discouragement medical students encounter regarding primary care careers, despite initial aspirations to serve communities. Vineeth and Archita...

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June 27, 2025

Combating physician burnout with a coaching leadership style

Family physician and certified executive leadership coach Lisa Herbert discusses her article, "." Lisa shares her personal journey with physician burnout, a crisis affecting 54 percent of physicians, and how discovering coaching revolutionized her...

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June 25, 2025

Your only client is the truth: Navigating the space between medicine and law

Nephrologist Saad S. Alshohaib discusses his article, "." The conversation provides a profound reflection on his decade of experience serving as a medical expert witness, a role he describes as walking a "narrow bridge between medicine and the law."...

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June 24, 2025

When credibility is your only asset: the cautionary tale of DrKoop.com

Historian and ethicist Nigel Cameron discusses his article, "." The conversation chronicles the dramatic history of the iconic dot-com era company, from its modest beginnings as a personal medical record system to its meteoric rise as the world's top...

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June 23, 2025

How to speak the language of leadership to improve doctor wellness

Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article, "." The conversation focuses on why physicians must shift their advocacy for well-being from a reactive, moral argument to a strategic one that aligns with institutional...

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June 22, 2025

How Gen Z is transforming mental health care

Entrepreneur, AI enthusiast, and wellness advocate Vaishali Jha discusses her article, "" The conversation explores the vital need for new perspectives in health care, arguing that the system often overlooks the voices of young people. Vaishali...

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June 21, 2025

Why the fear of being forgotten is stronger than the fear of death

Retired surgeon, psychotherapist, and author Patrick Hudson discusses his article, "." The conversation explores the profound difference between the biological act of dying and the existential fear of vanishing from the story of the world. Patrick...

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June 20, 2025

How home-based AI can reduce health inequities in underserved communities

Physician executive Sreeram Mullankandy discusses his article, "." The conversation highlights that while the future of health care delivery is moving into patients' homes, this shift risks leaving the most vulnerable populations behind. Sreeram...

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June 19, 2025

When your dream job becomes a nightmare

Pediatrician Sarah Webber discusses her article, "." The conversation is a vulnerable look into her personal experience with burnout just nine months into what she thought was her dream job as a pediatric hospitalist. Sarah shares her journey of...

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June 18, 2025

Why physician voices matter in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation

LGBTQ+ journalist BJ Ferguson discusses the article, "." The conversation serves as a call to action for medical professionals, arguing that their duty to protect patient health now extends beyond the clinic and into the legislative arena. BJ outlines...

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June 17, 2025

How to survive a broken health care system without losing yourself

Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article "." Jessie discusses the profound changes in the practice of medicine that no longer align with traditional training models. She identifies outdated beliefs prevalent in medicine,...

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June 15, 2025

Why what doctors say matters more than you think

Physician Scott Abramson discusses his article "." Scott shares two compelling scenarios illustrating the profound impact of a physician's communication. He recounts a family conference where a doctor's use of medical jargon like "lesion" completely...

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June 14, 2025

Inside human trafficking: a guide to recognizing and preventing it

Public policy analyst Julia Drydyk discusses her article "." Julia clarifies the crucial distinction between human smuggling and human trafficking, explaining that trafficking involves exploitation through coercion regardless of geographic movement,...

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June 13, 2025

Improving patient encounters: time-saving strategies for physicians

Endocrinologist Michael Morkos discusses his article "." Michael shares practical strategies for optimizing the patient encounter to enhance both efficiency and patient satisfaction. He delves into effective documentation techniques, emphasizing the...

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June 12, 2025

Essential questions about nurse practitioner liability insurance

Nurse practitioner Surani Hayre-Kwan discusses her article "." Surani discusses the critical need for nurse practitioners to secure their own professional liability insurance, highlighting how relying solely on employer-provided coverage can leave...

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June 11, 2025

Reassessing the impact of CDC's opioid guidelines on chronic pain care

Internal medicine and pediatric physician Charles LeBaron discusses his article "." Charles discusses the 2016 CDC opioid guideline, initially framed as a solution to over-prescription and overdose deaths, and critically examines its actual impact. He...

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June 10, 2025

Professional identity: a new narrative for medical education

Otolaryngologist Kevin C. McMains discusses his article "." Kevin discusses the ongoing crisis of burnout and mental health issues in medical training, critically examining traditional educational and environmental interventions. He identifies a gap...

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