IMA (Formerly FLCCC Alliance)

*/ ?>

Latest Episodes:

#267 (Sep. 23, 2026) 'How Genomics can Guide Clinical Care for Long COVID/Long Vax' IMA (formerly FLCCC) Weekly Update Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Sign up for weekly webinars: https://imahealth.org/weekly-webinars/ign up for weekly webinars: Weekly Webinars - Independent Medical Alliance

What role does genetics play in how our bodies respond to complex illness?

IMA President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Varon was joined by Harvard-trained physician Dr. Sharon Hausman-Cohen to explore how genetics may help explain why patients experience different symptoms and respond differently to illness.

They discussed:

• How genomic differences may influence symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, POTS, mast cell activation, heart rhythm changes, and abnormal clotting

• How genomic testing can help identify biological pathways that may be contributing to a patient’s symptoms

• How these insights may help clinicians develop more personalized approaches to care

• The discussion was geared primarily toward clinicians caring for patients with Long COVID and post-vaccine symptoms, while also offering useful information for patients interested in this emerging area of care.

The Independent Medical Alliance (formerly FLCCC) is a healthcare nonprofit on a mission to restore trust, integrity, and the doctor-patient relationship. Get involved by clicking below:

• Donate: Support IMA: Donate for Advancements in Patient Care https://imahealth.org/donate/

• Follow: Connect with Us - https://imahealth.org/contact/

• Weekly Webinars: - https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/

• Treatment Protocols: - https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/

• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/

#266 (Sep. 16, 2026) 'From A to Zinc, Part 2: Beyond the Basics' IMA (formerly FLCCC) Weekly Update Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Does it matter when you take a supplement, what you take it with, or which form you use?

Dr. Ryan Cole was joined by Dr. Kristina Carman, IMA Senior Fellow in Nutritional and Holistic Health, for From A to Zinc, Part 2: Beyond the Basics. Together, they explored the details that can influence how the body absorbs and uses nutrients, including:

• Supplement dose, form, and timing

• Medication-related nutrient depletion

• Nutrients that work together or compete

• Iron absorption and the hepcidin cycle

• How to evaluate multivitamins, blends, and complexes

• Practical ways to build a more effective supplement routine

Watch Part 1, From A to Zinc: What Your Body Is Really Missing: https://imahealth.org/from-a-to-zinc-what-your-body-is-really-missing/

The Independent Medical Alliance (formerly FLCCC) is a healthcare nonprofit on a mission to restore trust, integrity, and the doctor-patient relationship. Get involved by clicking below:

• Donate: Support IMA: Donate for Advancements in Patient Care https://imahealth.org/donate/

• Follow: Connect with Us - https://imahealth.org/contact/

• Weekly Webinars: - https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/

• Treatment Protocols: - https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/

• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/

#265 (Sep. 09, 2026) 'Understanding Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)' IMA (formerly FLCCC) Weekly Update Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

What happens when the immune cells meant to protect you start overreacting?

In this episode, Dr. Ryan Cole, IMA Head of Medical and Scientific Affairs, was joined by Dr. Keith Berkowitz, IMA founding member and founder and medical director of the Center for Balanced Health, to discuss mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS).

The conversation covered:

• What mast cells do and how MCAS differs from allergies.

• Common symptoms, triggers, and the diagnostic process.

• Possible mast-cell involvement in long COVID and persistent post-vaccination symptoms.

• Treatment options, diet, and the evidence and safety considerations behind complementary approaches.

Watch the full episode.

The Independent Medical Alliance (formerly FLCCC) is a healthcare nonprofit on a mission to restore trust, integrity, and the doctor-patient relationship. Get involved by clicking below:

• Donate: Support IMA: Donate for Advancements in Patient Care https://imahealth.org/donate/

• Follow: Connect with Us - https://imahealth.org/contact/

• Weekly Webinars: - https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/

• Treatment Protocols: - https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/

• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/

#264 (Sep. 02, 2026) 'Oral Medicine: The Missing Link in Whole-Body Health' IMA (formerly FLCCC) Weekly Update Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

Your mouth may be telling you more about your overall health than you realize.

Dr. Ryan Cole was joined by Dr. Jennifer Hibberd for a closer look at why oral health should be viewed as an essential part of whole-body health—not as a separate branch of medicine.

Dr. Hibberd walked through the biology connecting the mouth to the rest of the body before sitting down with Dr. Cole to discuss what these connections may mean for patients and the future of integrative healthcare.

In this episode:

• Why the mouth can offer early clues about overall health

• The roles of saliva and the oral microbiome

• Connections between oral inflammation and systemic health

• Periodontal disease as a model for oral-systemic relationships

• How dentistry is moving toward more biological, preventive, and personalized care

Watch the full episode.

The Independent Medical Alliance (formerly FLCCC) is a healthcare nonprofit on a mission to restore trust, integrity, and the doctor-patient relationship. Get involved by clicking below:

• Donate: Support IMA: Donate for Advancements in Patient Care https://imahealth.org/donate/

• Follow: Connect with Us - https://imahealth.org/contact/

• Weekly Webinars: - https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/

• Treatment Protocols: - https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/

• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/

#263 (Aug. 26, 2026) 'From the Asia Pacific Symposium: A Global Vision for Patient-Centered Care' IMA (formerly FLCCC) Weekly Update Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Some of medicine’s most important lessons come from looking beyond our own healthcare system.

Dr. Joseph Varon took us inside the 30th Asia Pacific Symposium on Critical Care and Emergency Medicine in Bali, sharing conversations with physicians and experts from around the world.

Joined by Dr. Ryan Cole, IMA Head of Medical and Scientific Affairs, he explored what these global perspectives can teach us about better, more patient-centered care.

In this episode:

• Global lessons from critical care and the pandemic

• AI, telemedicine, and emerging medical technology

• Innovation in emergency and toxinology care

• Transparency, scientific integrity, and patient-centered medicine

Watch the full episode.

The Independent Medical Alliance (formerly FLCCC) is a healthcare nonprofit on a mission to restore trust, integrity, and the doctor-patient relationship. Get involved by clicking below:

• Donate: Support IMA: Donate for Advancements in Patient Care https://imahealth.org/donate/

• Follow: Connect with Us - https://imahealth.org/contact/

• Weekly Webinars: - https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/

• Treatment Protocols: - https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/

• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/

Sleep, Anxiety & #262 (Aug. 19, 2026) 'Sleep, Anxiety & Benzodiazepines: When Medications Help—and When They Harm' IMA (formerly FLCCC) Weekly Update Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Benzodiazepines can provide fast relief from anxiety and insomnia. But when short-term use becomes long-term use, questions about tolerance, dependence, withdrawal, and sleep quality become increasingly important.

Dr. Joseph Varon is joined by psychiatrist Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, IMA Senior Fellow in Psychiatry, former FDA Medical Officer, and CEO and Medical Director of TaperClinic.

They discuss:

• The difference between addiction, tolerance, and physical dependence

• Whether benzodiazepines improve healthy sleep or primarily produce sedation

• Rebound insomnia, anxiety, and withdrawal

• The risks of combining benzodiazepines with alcohol, opioids, and other sedating drugs

The Independent Medical Alliance (formerly FLCCC) is a healthcare nonprofit on a mission to restore trust, integrity, and the doctor-patient relationship. Get involved by clicking below:

• Donate: Support IMA: Donate for Advancements in Patient Care https://imahealth.org/donate/

• Follow: Connect with Us - https://imahealth.org/contact/

• Weekly Webinars: - https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/

• Treatment Protocols: - https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/

• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/

#261 (Aug. 12, 2026) 'mRNA Flu Shots, the Childhood Vaccine Schedule & the Fauci Files' IMA (formerly FLCCC) Weekly Update Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

From mRNA flu shots to new executive order news reshaping the vaccine conversation, public health policy is once again front and center. Dr. Ryan Cole sits down with Dr. Lynn Fynn and Dr. Kat Lindley to unpack the latest developments, examine the questions they raise, and discuss what patients and families should know.

They cover:

• mRNA flu shots and the questions surrounding their use

• The childhood vaccine schedule and current concerns

• The Fauci files and what they may reveal about past public health decisions

• The importance of informed consent and patient choice

• Why independent scientific discussion remains essential

From emerging vaccine technology to long-standing questions about public health policy, this is a conversation packed with the issues patients and families deserve to hear discussed openly.

The Independent Medical Alliance (formerly FLCCC) is a healthcare nonprofit on a mission to restore trust, integrity, and the doctor-patient relationship. Get involved by clicking below:

• Donate: Support IMA: Donate for Advancements in Patient Care https://imahealth.org/donate/

• Follow: Connect with Us - https://imahealth.org/contact/

• Weekly Webinars: - https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/

• Treatment Protocols: - https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/

• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/

#260 (Aug. 05, 2026) 'How to Buy Better Healthcare for Less' IMA (formerly FLCCC) Weekly Update Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

Healthcare may be one of the only major purchases people are expected to make without knowing the price first.

Dr. Kat Lindley was joined by Dr. Mollie James and healthcare plan expert Christine Price for a practical discussion about how patients, physicians, and employers can buy better healthcare for less.

Together, they examined why insurance does not always protect families from high costs, how employers may have more control over their health plans than they realize, and why buying care directly can sometimes lead to better service at a more transparent price.

The conversation explored:

• Hospital billing and inflated medical prices

• Employer-sponsored plans and reference-based pricing

• Direct primary care, concierge medicine, and cash-pay services

• Practical ways to buy better care for less

The Independent Medical Alliance (formerly FLCCC) is a healthcare nonprofit on a mission to restore trust, integrity, and the doctor-patient relationship. Get involved by clicking below:

• Donate: Support IMA: Donate for Advancements in Patient Care https://imahealth.org/donate/

• Follow: Connect with Us - https://imahealth.org/contact/

• Weekly Webinars: - https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/

• Treatment Protocols: - https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/

• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/

#259 (July 29, 2026) 'The Hidden Drivers of Inflammatory Bowel Disease' IMA (formerly FLCCC) Weekly Update Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

Learn more: https://imahealth.org/weekly-webinars/

What if Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are caused by more than genetics alone?

Dr. Yusuf “JP” Saleeby, IMA Senior Fellow in Functional and Integrative Medicine, was joined by gut health specialist Josh Dech for a closer look at what may contribute to inflammatory bowel disease, also known as IBD. The two recently co-authored a new paper published in the Journal of Independent Medicine.

They discussed:

• Why the usual explanation of IBD may not tell the whole story

• How food, environment, and gut bacteria may affect inflammation

• Why having a certain gene does not always mean someone will develop IBD

• Why IBD rates can rise when families move to a new country

• Whether the immune system may be reacting to something in the gut

• New research on ultra-processed foods and IBD risk

The conversation explored how genetics, diet, gut health, and the environment may work together to affect Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

The Independent Medical Alliance (formerly FLCCC) is a healthcare nonprofit on a mission to restore trust, integrity, and the doctor-patient relationship. Get involved by clicking below:

• Donate: Support IMA: Donate for Advancements in Patient Care https://imahealth.org/donate/

• Follow: Connect with Us - https://imahealth.org/contact/

• Weekly Webinars: - https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/

• Treatment Protocols: - https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/

• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/

#258 (July 22, 2026) 'Why The Healthcare System Resists Change' IMA (formerly FLCCC) Weekly Update Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

HWhy is meaningful healthcare reform so difficult, even when patients, physicians, and employers agree that the current system is too expensive and confusing?

IMA Senior Fellow Dr. Kat Lindley joins Harvard-trained epidemiologist and former White House health policy advisor Dr. Katy Talento for a remote conversation examining the incentives and structural barriers that protect the healthcare status quo.

Topics include:

• Inflated healthcare prices and hospital consolidation

• Limited transparency and misaligned financial incentives

• A payment system that often rewards services and procedures over prevention

• The financial impact of chronic illness

• Informed consent and better communication of risks and benefits

• The role of independent physicians and facilities

• Practical reforms that could lower costs and increase patient control

The Independent Medical Alliance (formerly FLCCC) is a healthcare nonprofit on a mission to restore trust, integrity, and the doctor-patient relationship. Get involved by clicking below:

• Donate: Support IMA: Donate for Advancements in Patient Care https://imahealth.org/donate/

• Follow: Connect with Us - https://imahealth.org/contact/

• Weekly Webinars: - https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/

• Treatment Protocols: - https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/

• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/