The Language of Evidence

“At what age should I get a colonoscopy?” “Will this treatment help me, and what are the side effects?” This is where medical evidence comes in. It is our time machine, our crystal ball. We take learnings from the past - experiences of generations of people who came before us, and their medical providers - and use those learnings to support our beliefs about the future. Evidence is nonpartisan and not controversial. We all need to dig deeper. Not stopping at our beliefs, but trying to understand what justifies our beliefs - that's what evidence is. It's a language we all need to learn - "The Language of Evidence." Why is modern medicine so expensive? How do we address horrific disparities in care? How do we choose the right diet and exercise for us and our loved ones? How do we think about Indigenous, Complementary and Alternative medicine? And critically, how do we collaborate with our healthcare providers - how to prepare for office visits, what questions to ask, how to grapple with limitations of medical knowledge, and how to be better advocates for ourselves and our families. Finally, the healthcare community itself - both the “generators of evidence,” i.e. clinical research professionals, and “consumers of evidence,” healthcare workers - will be curious about the history and the future of this field. In this Podcast, we will attempt to engage, include and reconcile. Maybe one trusts science, maybe one does not. Maybe one believes that misinformation is spread by social media, or maybe by the government. And yes, there is a call to action. Status quo is not acceptable. Care gaps are too wide, and largely unknown. Misunderstanding and mistrust run deep. Healthcare experts and nonexperts alike will be captivated by a unifying solution so simple yet profound: The Language of Evidence.