The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast

Latest Episodes:

REBOOT: #457 Cold and Flu Season: Upper Respiratory Infections Sep 01, 2025

Show notes

We have a classic episode for you. Dive deep into upper respiratory viral infections with Dr Amber Bird, MD (Penn). Feel confident on when to order testing, recommend symptom relieving treatments, and avoid unnecessary antibiotics.
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#496 Hotcakes: Cannabidiol (CBD)-induced liver injury, IV iron for HFrEF, bedtime BP meds, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & RA, & Finerenone for HFpEF Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

Join us as we review recent practice-changing articles on cannabidiol (CBD)-induced liver injury, IV iron for HFrEF, bedtime administration of blood pressure meds, carpal tunnel syndrome & rheumatoid arthritis , & FDA approval of finerenone for HFpEF. Fill your brain hole with a delicious stack of hotcakes! Featuring Paul Williams (@PaulNWilliamz), Rahul Ganatra (@rbganatra), Nora Taranto (@norataranto) and Matt Watto (@doctorwatto).
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Credits

Written and Hosted by: Rahul Ganatra MD, MPH; Nora Taranto MD, Paul Williams, MD, FACP, Matthew Watto MD, FACP
Cover Art: Rahul Ganatra MD, MPH
Reviewer: Emi Okamoto, MD
Technical Production: Pod Paste
Showrunners: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP

Show Segments

Intro, disclaimer
CBD-induced liver injury
IV Iron in HFrEF
Bedtime administration of BP medications
Carpal tunnel syndrome and RA
FDA approves Finerenone for HFpEF
Outro

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#495 Fungal Infections -Histo/Blasto/Cocci with Dr. Andrej Spec Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

Why we need to stop calling them “endemic” mycoses & more fungi fun!
Feeling muddled about endemic mycoses? We tackle the clinical presentation of diseases like histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis, the importance of testing, and how to diagnose fungal infections with our esteemed guest Dr. Andrej Spec, MD!
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Show Segments

Introduction and icebreaker, Fish Club?! 00:00
Case 1 from Kashlak 07:27
Diagnostic framework for dimorphic fungi 11:58
Imaging presentations for fungal pneumonia, diagnostic schemas 18:23
Testing options 27:48
Treatment options 35:44
Dimorphic Fungi Mnemonics 45:50
Retail testing for mold 48:47
Case 2 from Kashlak 56: 42
Takeaways and Conclusions 1:05:19

Credits

Producer, Writer, Show Notes: Beth “Garbs” Gasperlin MD
Infographic and Cover Art: Zoya Surani
Hosts: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP, Beth Gasperlin MD
Reviewer: Leah Witt Gaspard MD
Showrunners: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP
Technical Production: PodPaste
Guest: Andrej Spec MD

Disclosures

Dr. Spec reports no relevant financial disclosures. The Curbsiders report no relevant financial disclosures.
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#494 C. diff, Diarrhea, the Microbiome, and New Therapies with Dr. Cynthia Sears. Live from Johns Hopkins Grand Rounds Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

Dominate C. diff! Learn to distinguish colonization from infection, select first-line therapies, and counsel patients on recurrence prevention and microbiome recovery. We’re joined by IDSA past president and expert on foodborne and intestinal infections, Dr. Cindy Sears (Johns Hopkins University) for a comprehensive update on Clostridioides difficile (C. diff, Cdiff, CDAD, CDI).
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Show Segments

00:00 Intro
03:00 Guest bio and hobby
04:25 Case of Charles Fleur Fontaine
06:00 Risk factors and epidemiology
08:00 Antibiotic hierarchy of risk
10:00 Diagnosis, testing strategies
14:00 Defining severity
17:30 Treatment options
20:00 Microbiome recovery strategies
24:00 Probiotics and postbiotics
27:00 Infection control counseling
30:00 C. diff and colon cancer
32:00 Recurrent C. diff strategies
35:00 Why some FMT and bezlotoxumab were discontinued
38:00 Microbiota replacement therapies
43:00 Prophylaxis strategies
45:00 Future therapies and ongoing research
47:00 Audience Q&A
52:00 Outro

Credits

Written and Produced by: Matthew Watto, MD, FACP
Cover Art and Infographic by:
Hosts: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP
Reviewer: Sai S Achi MD,MBA,FACP
Showrunners: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP
Technical Production: PodPaste
Guest: Cynthia Sears MD

Disclosures

Dr. Sears reports no relevant financial disclosures. Dr. Williams financial relationships disclosed include a Merck grant or research support. This relationship has not ended.

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Bonus: Hypermobility Q&A with Bendy Bodies Dr. Linda Bluestein Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

In this special bonus episode, Dr. Linda Blustein (Bendy Bodies https://bit.ly/m/BendyBodies) addresses listener questions about Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders.
00:00 – Introduction
00:59 – Can PCPs diagnose hEDS without a geneticist?
03:19 – Limitations of the Beighton Score
05:40 – 2017 hEDS criteria & upcoming revisions
10:29 – How to find a knowledgeable provider
12:52 – SVT vs POTS in a patient with EDS family history
19:53 – How to ask your provider if they’re comfortable treating dysautonomia
22:17 – MTHFR variants and hEDS
29:23 – Celiac, gluten sensitivity & EDS
31:48 – Food allergy vs sensitivity testing
34:11 – Lipoedema and hypermobility
39:00 – LDN, Ketotifen, and Cromolyn
43:41 – Medication sensitivity in EDS/POTS/MCAS patients
45:47 – Wrap up and resources

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REBOOT: #452 NAFLD/MASLD with Dr. Elliot Tapper Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

We have a classic Curbsiders episode for you. Expert guest Dr. Elliot Tapper (@ebtapper) shares his framework for approaching NAFLD/MASLD and the treatment tools he recommends including lifestyle modifications and medications.

#493: Joint Pain in Older Adults with Dr. Una Makris Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Intro
Case 1 from Kashlak
General approach to joint pain in older adults
Diagnosing osteoarthritis
Management of osteoarthritis in older adults
- Non-pharmacological interventions
- Pharmacological interventions: topicals, orals, injectables
- When to refer for joint replacement
Case 2 from Kashlak
Diagnosis of Late onset rheumatoid arthritis (LORA)
- Differential Diagnosis and Distinguishing features
- Lab work/Imaging
- When to refer to rheumatology
Approach to managing LORA
- The 5Ms framework
- Initial treatment with glucocorticoids
- Ageism as a driver of undertreatment in older adults
- Treating to target
Key takeaways
Outro

Credits

Producers, Writers and Show Notes: Joseph (Lee) Young, MD, Leah Witt, MD, Rachel Miller, MD
Cover Art and Infographic: Leah Witt, MD
Hosts: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP
Reviewer: Emi Okamoto, MD
Showrunners: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP
Technical Production: PodPaste
Guest: Dr. Una Makris

Disclosures
Dr. Makris reports no relevant financial disclosures. The Curbsiders report no relevant financial disclosures.

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REBOOT: #454 Kidney Boy on Managing Diabetes and Hypertension in CKD Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

Here is a classic Curbsiders episode with one of our favourite guests of all time, Dr Joel Topf.
Learn how to manage diabetes and hypertension in chronic kidney disease with expert tips from Kidney Boy, Kashlak’s Chief of Nephrology, Dr. Joef Topf @kidney_boy.
Finerenone is FDA approved for managing CKD in patients with diabetes. **Update as of July 2025: The non-steroidal mineralocorticoid recepter antagonist, finerenone is now FDA approved to treat heart failure with LVEF at or above 40% based on results of the FINEARTS-HF trial. **
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If you care about patient safety, team performance, and building a culture of readiness, subscribe to In the Heart of Care. Available now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Quince
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#492 Hair and Nails with Helena Pasieka MD MS Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

Combing through common dermatologic complaints in Primary Care
Hone your framework for assessing generalized and patchy hair loss and learn how to counsel patients about the hair loss advice they hear on social media. We discuss useful tests and treatments, psychosocial factors in relation to hair loss, variations in hair types and mention relevant nail conditions.
Claim CME for this episode at curbsiders.vcuhealth.org!
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Show Segments

Intro
Examination of hair and nails, ethnic hair types and cultural hair styles and practices.
Lab tests- clinically useful tests, and those to avoid
Telogen Effluvium
Scaly itchy scalp, seborrheic dermatosis, psoriasis
Androgenic alopecia and age-related hair loss
Topical and oral treatments
Examining the nails, conditions related to nail polishes and prosthetics
Patchy hair loss, alopecia areata, Discoid Lupus Erythematosis
Dr Pasieka’s take home points
Outro

Credits

Written & Produced by: Kate Grant MBChB, MRCGP
Show Notes, Infographic & Cover Art : Kate Grant MBChB, MRCGP
Hosts: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP
Reviewer: Leah Witt MD
Showrunners: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP
Technical Production: PodPaste
Guest: Helena Pasieka MD MS

Disclosures

Dr. Pasieka reports no relevant financial disclosures. Dr. Pasieka’s views are her own and do not represent those of her employer or the department of defense.
The Curbsiders report no relevant financial disclosures.

Sponsor: Continuing Education Company

Curbsiders listeners get 45% off select online courses—that’s the biggest discount CEC has ever offered, and it’s exclusive to you with promo code Curb45, through July 30. You can also use Curb30 for 30% off all webcasts and on demand replay courses. Check it all out at CMEmeeting.org/curbsiders.
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PATREON UNLOCKED #39 Exclusive! Travel Medicine Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

Matt and Paul recap top pearls from a recent episode on Travel Medicine with Dr. Boghuma Titanji (audio version) and share their picks of the week. Below are links to the original interview & show notes.
#449 Travel Medicine
Picks of the week:
Paul recommends: Clutch - Psychic Warfare; Harry Nilsson - The Point
Watto - Mr. McMahon (Netflix Docuseries)

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