The Podcast by KevinMD

Internal medicine-pediatric physician Chrissie Ott discusses her article "When the pediatrician is the parent: a personal reckoning with childhood obesity." Chrissie shares the deeply personal story of her own child's struggles with weight, the bullying and shame that compounded them, and the tension she felt balancing her medical knowledge with her role as a parent. She explains how reframing obesity as a relapsing, remitting neur...

Physician-scientist Diego R. Hijano discusses his article "How humor builds trust in pediatric oncology." Diego shares how personal loss and his own cultural and linguistic experiences shaped his approach to care, teaching him that laughter can be a bridge in even the darkest hospital rooms. Through stories of playful exchanges with children, language slips, and inside jokes with families, he explains how humor softens fear, restor...

Primary care physician Jerina Gani discusses her article "My journey to loving primary care again." Jerina shares her deeply personal story of nearly walking away from medicine after burnout, exhaustion, and endless administrative burdens drained the joy from her work. She explains how a shift in mindset — treating her role not just as physician but as CEO of her own practice — helped her reclaim time, energy, and fulfillment. By t...

Chief nursing officer Rhonda Collins discusses her article "Nurse-initiated protocols for sepsis: a strategic imperative for patient care and hospital operations." Rhonda explains why sepsis, the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals and a $62 billion annual burden, demands the same urgency as stroke and STEMI. She highlights the power of nurse-initiated standing orders to speed recognition and treatment, reduce ED congestion, i...

Physician leader Janet A. Jokela discusses its article "Collective action as a path to patient-centered care." The piece reflects on the evolution of physician unions since the 1980s, beginning with housestaff associations focused on scut work and duty hours, through the Libby Zion case that transformed resident supervision, to today's growing movement of resident and employed physician unions across major institutions. The article...

Health care executive Ashish Mandavia discusses his article "Why U.S. health care pricing is so confusing—and how to fix it." Ashish explains how systemic misaligned incentives, opaque insurance practices, and weak enforcement drive up patient costs and mistrust in the health care system. He outlines the emotional and financial toll of surprise medical bills and argues for stronger accountability, technology-driven transparency, an...

Urologist Fara Bellows discusses her article "When recurrent UTIs might actually be bladder cancer." Fara shares the story of a 91-year-old patient whose recurrent urinary infections masked an underlying bladder cancer diagnosis, illustrating how easily symptoms can be misattributed. She explains risk factors such as smoking, prior radiation, and occupational exposures, and highlights the alarming statistics that nearly 20,000 wome...

Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article "Why so many physicians struggle to feel proud—even when they should." Jessie explains how medical training conditions doctors to downplay success, deflect compliments, and equate pride with arrogance. She shares her own journey of learning to name and celebrate achievements, and how creating space for physicians to express pride can foster authenticity, confiden...

Psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article "Why kratom addiction is the next public health crisis." Muhamad explains how kratom, a botanical imported from Southeast Asia, has rapidly spread across the U.S., marketed as a natural remedy for pain and opioid withdrawal. He warns that its potent alkaloids act directly on opioid receptors, leading to dependence, withdrawal, psychos...

Licensed counselor and certified coach Mary Remón discusses her article "How doctors can turn criticism into collaboration." Mary explains why physicians often react defensively to suggestions from colleagues, citing hierarchy, malpractice fears, time pressures, and challenges to expertise. She reframes criticism as a "gift," using analogies like apples and pears to show how doctors can acknowledge input without necessarily adoptin...

Clinical psychologist Faust Ruggiero discusses his article "How to rewire your brain with positive language." Faust explains how the words we use internally shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and why negative self-talk can reinforce cycles of anger and dissatisfaction. He introduces a simple but powerful two-step process: consciously shutting down angry thoughts as they arise and replacing them with positive statements. F...

Maternal-fetal medicine fellow Frank I. Jackson discusses his article "Affordable postpartum hemorrhage solutions every OB/GYN should know." Frank explains how postpartum hemorrhage remains a leading cause of maternal mortality, especially in low-resource settings where advanced devices like the JADA® System are inaccessible. He introduces two innovative, low-cost techniques—FOCUS (Foley catheter for uterine suction) and STUT (suct...

Family physician Amir Atabeygi discusses his article "Building trust in dyad leadership partnerships." Amir explains why trust is the foundation of successful dyads, highlighting how implicit follow-through and consistent communication turn a partnership into a cohesive leadership unit. He shares practical strategies for over-communicating, maintaining situational awareness, and ensuring that each partner can speak for the dyad wit...

Physician Jessie Mahoney discusses her article "Learning to trust your body again: Healing the hidden wounds of medical training," exploring how the culture of medicine conditions physicians to ignore their basic bodily needs in the pursuit of excellence. Jessie explains how this disconnection erodes trust in self, contributes to burnout, and undermines both personal well-being and professional leadership. She shares how rebuilding...

Medical student Devin Behjatnia discusses his article "The case for a standard pre-med major in U.S. universities." Devin outlines why he believes a unified pre-medical studies major would better prepare students for the rigor of medical school while also providing a valuable degree for those who choose alternative medical careers. He explains how the curriculum could balance core sciences, general education, and community-focused ...

Health care executive David Fischel discusses his article "How robotics are reshaping the future of vascular procedures." David explains how robotic-assisted systems are overcoming long-standing challenges in endovascular care by improving precision, reducing variability, and easing the physical strain on clinicians. He outlines the technical and practical barriers that limited earlier adoption, from workflow inefficiencies to high...

Health care executive Max Rollwage discusses his article "The promise and perils of AI in health care: Why we need better testing standards." Max highlights the risks of relying on AI systems that are evaluated through artificial scenarios or even other AI models, emphasizing the dangers of circular validation in high-stakes environments like emergency care. He discusses why true readiness requires real-world clinical trials, exper...

Cardiologist Stanley Liu discusses his article "The business lesson new doctors must unlearn." Stanley explains why the habits of being a "good soldier" during residency—such as accepting excessive workloads, never questioning compensation, and suppressing dissatisfaction—can harm physicians as they transition into attending roles. He discusses the importance of reframing one's professional identity from soldier to CEO, emphasizing...

Physician Jessie Mahoney discusses her article "Why physicians struggle with caregiving and how to cope with grace," reflecting on the unique challenges doctors face when caring for aging parents and ill family members. Jessie explains how medical training, far from easing the role, can intensify stress through hyperawareness, overresponsibility, and self-judgment. She shares how mindfulness and coaching provide physicians with too...