One diagnosis turned into goodbye. And it didn't just change her life. It rewired how I see medicine. What happens when the caregiver disappears first? That question cracked everything open. And it led to a new idea - the "rested healer." Developmental behavioral pediatrician Roxanne Almas discusses her article "The…
Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article "Dealing with physician negative feedback." Jessie validates the pain that comes with criticism, noting that it hurts not because physicians are weak, but because they are human and deeply invested in their patients. The conversation explores the physiological response to negative…
Should doctors ever admit they struggle too? Not to make it about them. Just one honest sentence that says, I get it. Some patients feel safer instantly. Others might lose trust just as fast. Where's the line between helpful honesty and oversharing? Professor of clinical psychiatry Michael F. Myers discusses…
In this special sponsored episode from Eli Lilly and Company, I am joined by Dr. Lee James, senior vice president of oncology medical affairs at Lilly, to discuss the importance of lung cancer screening, early detection, and advances in biomarker testing. We explore how low-dose CT screening can reduce mortality,…
Some patients add kratom on top of opioids. It seems harmless until the receptors get hit twice. Then dependence tightens fast. And getting off is not a quick taper. It can mean long-term maintenance just to unwind the mess. Before you "supplement," hear this warning. Psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine…
He just sat there. Right after winning. No rushing. No pushing through. He took it in. And that tiny pause says a lot about what we never let ourselves feel. Watch the moment that changes everything. Developmental behavioral pediatrician Roxanne Almas discusses her article "The making of a rested healer."…
Patient advocate Richard A. Lawhern, PhD, discusses the article "U.S. opioid policy history: How politics replaced science in pain care." Richard argues that for decades, public policy on pain treatment has been driven by sociopolitical factors rather than medical science. He traces the history from the "business corruption" phase of…
Medical student Umayr R. Shaikh discusses his article "The impact of CDC’s new childhood immunization guidance." Umayr argues that recent CDC changes, moving vaccines like flu, Hep B, and meningococcal from universal recommendation to shared decision making, risk normalizing preventable illness. He highlights how his medical training now focuses on…
One med student's depression wasn't just private pain. It came with pressure no one should carry. Academic trouble turned into something darker. And in a school with very few Black students, the silence got louder. This is the moment that made people finally speak up. Professor of clinical psychiatry Michael…
Retired emergency department nurse Amy Dinaburg discusses her article "Lowercase PTSD: Why emergency staff are still hypervigilant." Amy reflects on the relentless pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic where nurses were forced to override their nervous systems to keep patients alive. She describes the concept of "Lowercase PTSD" as the result…
A huge chunk of patients take unregulated supplements regularly. Most never list them with their meds. So doctors miss them. And the interactions can be serious. Next time you see a convenience store bottle, ask one question first. Psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article…
Internal medicine and functional medicine physician Shiv K. Goel discusses his article "Agentic AI in medicine: the danger of automating the doctor." Shiv analyzes the new ARPA-H "ADVOCATE" program which aims to deploy autonomous AI agents for heart disease care within three years. The conversation highlights the critical difference between…
Most doctors want to help, no matter what. But what happens when "helping" quietly becomes unpaid labor? And when you're told to just keep going anyway? This moment draws a hard line between caring and burnout. Internal medicine physician Corinne Sundar Rao discusses her article "Physician on-call compensation: the unpaid…
Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article "Why physician wellness programs must evolve beyond institutions." Jessie reflects on her seventeen years leading in-house wellness initiatives and argues that while institutional programs provide legitimacy, they are ultimately insufficient for deep healing. She explains that true recovery requires stepping away…
It starts as "healthy," then the rules tighten. Soon every meal feels like a test. It is not even an official diagnosis, yet it can take over your life. The most surprising part is who often misses it. What if your "discipline" is actually anxiety in disguise? Internal medicine physician…
Occupational medicine physician and life coach Claudine Holt discusses her article "Nervous system dysregulation vs. stress: Why 'just relaxing' doesn’t work." Claudine challenges the common advice to treat burnout with self-care like massages or vacations. She explains that for many, stress is not a mindset issue but a physiological state…
Some doctors get labeled "poor communicators" when they are actually the ones carrying the system. The moment you question a broken norm, the label can appear fast. But what if that label says more about the system than you? And what if it is not a "you" problem at all?…
Hematologist-oncologist Khushali Jhaveri discusses her article "What the research really says about infrared saunas." Khushali shares her personal journey from skepticism to advocacy after experiencing the profound physiological shifts of infrared heat therapy. The conversation dives into the science of heat shock proteins, explaining how thermal stress helps the body…
They kept tracing their exhaustion back to one word. Not hours. Not patients. Not paperwork. A "calling." But then someone said the quiet part out loud. What if "call" is just a nicer word for free labor? Internal medicine physician Corinne Sundar Rao discusses her article "Physician on-call compensation: the…
Intensivist Cristin Mount and business operations lead Steve Lettrich from All Levels Leadership discuss their article "A 6-step framework for new health care leaders." The authors address the common challenge where clinicians step into leadership roles with little formal training. They outline a practical framework designed to help new leaders…
A routine health chat can quietly trigger fear. Before you talk diet, ask this. Have you ever been afraid of gaining weight? That answer can change everything you say next. Internal medicine physician Sally Daganzo discusses her article "The hidden epidemic of orthorexia nervosa." 🩺 Search "The Podcast by KevinMD"…
Double board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist Erica Bove discusses her article "A clinician’s guide to embryo grading in IVF." Erica breaks down the complex metrics used to evaluate embryo quality, a subject often reserved for subspecialty fellowship training. The conversation guides listeners through the critical developmental milestones…
How long can someone keep helping patients with little or no compensation? At what point does dedication turn into burnout? This moment exposes the real pain point nobody wants to say out loud. And why the current system just is not doable. Internal medicine physician Corinne Sundar Rao discusses her…
Family physician and health care entrepreneur Tod Stillson discusses his article "AI in medicine: Why it won’t replace doctors but will redefine them." Tod argues that the binary debate between AI as a savior or a threat misses the point. The real issue is that modern medical complexity has outgrown…