The Podcast by KevinMD

Latest Episodes:

Diagnosis: malformation of a health care system Nov 04, 2021

Show notes

"The diagnosis is well-established. A cure is within our reach, and the wisest among our practitioners of the healing arts are offering valuable counsel. When the U.S. government and science, in its most principled form, work together, insulated from a culture of insidious and invidious profiteering, they can put a man on the moon, and launch a helicopter on Mars. They can also deliver better health care in a much more equitable and cost-effective way. It is time for the patient to listen to her best doctors. They are giving it to her straight."

Jeffrey Fraser is a neurologist.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Diagnosis: malformation of a health care system." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/07/diagnosis-malformation-of-a-health-care-system.html)

Professional gay: Charting a career in LGBTQ health Nov 03, 2021

Show notes

"After much searching, I was fortunate to find a fellowship that though inexperienced in LGBTQ health recognized an opportunity. Faculty and mentors worked from a growth mindset rooted in finding what I needed to succeed rather than what they knew they had to offer at that moment. With their and others' support, despite the discouragement and fears of being "superficial," I now try to serve as an example to other students and trainees who wish to pursue a career that weaves their personal and professional interests in LGBTQ health.

Carl Streed, Jr. is an internal medicine physician.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Professional gay: Charting a career in LGBTQ health." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/professional-gay-charting-a-career-in-lgbtq-health.html)

How medical training teaches doctors to be financially unhealthy Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

"We physicians must come to terms with the trauma caused by the financial insecurity built into our training and the ripple effect it has even after we finish training, both as a way to repair ourselves individually and as a way to assure that our profession survives.

The cost of medical education is high, but the cost of the financial lessons learned in the course of obtaining that education is even higher. It may be a price too high for future doctors to bear."

Elizabeth Hughes is a dermatologist.

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How medical training teaches doctors to be financially unhealthy." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/how-medical-training-teaches-doctors-to-be-financially-unhealthy.html)

How to heal and revitalize our beloved profession Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

"We have to heal ourselves first. That begins with caring for our own minds and bodies, and souls. It means not avoiding (as I did) caring for our own physical and especially our mental health. It means we must be a part of the lives of our families and loved ones as well.

Once that is accomplished, then and only then can we move on effectively to heal and revitalize our beloved profession. And likewise, that is not a battle that can be shouldered alone. We must join with and support each other. We must arm ourselves with knowledge and motivation by taking advantage of mentors and coaches. And perhaps most importantly, we must be aware of when we need to be the mentor and when to be the protégé. Only then will we heal ourselves.

Randy Cook is a surgeon and physician coach.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "How to heal and revitalize our beloved profession." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/09/how-to-heal-and-revitalize-our-beloved-profession.html)

Family meals' surprising power Oct 31, 2021

Show notes

"If you are encountering families with feeding concerns, I strongly encourage you to ask them if sitting down together for meals is part of their regular routine. The more prescriptive 'eat this, not that' or calorie counting model that has been traditionally used in medicine is clearly not working well. As we see continue to see increased obesity and disordered eating alongside decreased resilience in our children, a return to the daily 'ritual' of the family meal may be the most beneficial first step for some of our struggling families. Encourage them to start small if necessary. If they are currently not eating together set the goal of one meal per week. If they are already doing it, suggest that they do so with more verve and intention. Educate yourself on the overwhelming benefits of the family meal for children and parents alike. Practice it in your own home so that you too may know the magic of this simple act. Family meals are a small change that is accessible and manageable for just about anyone— and maybe just what the doctor ordered."

Kristin Saxena is a pediatrician.

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The surprising power of family meals." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/09/the-surprising-power-of-family-meals.html)

Taking care of yourself during medical school Oct 30, 2021

Show notes

"Like some insidious conditions, feelings can fester. They can spread like cancer, and sap the spirit of nourishment until it starts to die, riddled with doubt and sensations of inadequacy. They can degrade the soul, as though it were suffering from a systemic inflammatory disease. But this progression, like many conditions of the flesh, is treatable. With early detection, the process can be arrested and cured. Talking about feelings, journaling, praying, or finding an outlet in wellness activities that channel joy is as essential to academically thriving as studying, practicing, and pushing to meet the demands of a health care provider."

Stephanie Wottrich is a medical student.

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Joy is our antibiotic. Let not your stings fester." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/joy-is-our-antibiotic-let-not-your-stings-fester.html)

I bought into the stigmas about the mentally ill, until I became one of them Oct 29, 2021

Show notes

"Bipolar runs in my family, so I knew the harsh realities of this untreated illness. A family member faked his own death after a counterfeiting spending spree. My grandfather told people that I would die in a car accident, and he would take my body up to the mountain and bring me back to life.

When I was younger, surrounded by this family chaos, it was easy to tell myself, 'They are crazy!' I bought into many of the stigmas of mental illness — that those with mental illness are unpredictable, incompetent, and have trouble holding down a job.

I thought I was different. I was married to a hospital CEO, attended charity events, lived in a beautiful home, and had three healthy children. Yet, life felt unbearable. The stigmas around mental illness kept me from getting the help I desperately needed, so I continued to suffer in silence."

Sonja Wasden is a mental health advocate and co-author of An Impossible Life.

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "I bought into the stigmas about the mentally ill, until I became one of them." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/06/i-bought-into-the-stigmas-about-the-mentally-ill-until-i-became-one-of-them.html)

Tomgirl and tomboy: Rethinking gender stereotypes Oct 28, 2021

Show notes

"How do we create a world where all of us can express our unique selves the way we choose without derisiveness and shame? I am not here to criticize the wonderful parents and caregivers who are reading this – they only love their children. Common sense must prevail. I only ask with respect that parents and caregivers let their kids explore freely so we all can find a way to live together with our differences celebrated.

What a wonderful day that will be."

Craig Pomranz is a vocalist and actor.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Tomgirl and tomboy: Rethinking gender stereotypes." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/tomgirl-and-tomboy-rethinking-gender-stereotypes.html)

I do not want to be resilient Oct 27, 2021

Show notes

"We all know watching a module on resilience, sitting in a lecture about mindfulness, being told to practice more yoga and breathing techniques does not make you feel less burnout. It's having the support and buy-in from your workplace, to actually have the time to do the things that feed your soul and fill your cup. Adding more onto an already overflowing plate of life's stressors only makes it heavier and more overwhelming.

I want support. I want authentic connection and compassion. I want someone invested in my well-being who prioritizes my self-care to prevent me from having to be perpetually resilient. I want someone who values my heartiness and helps to cultivate an environment that fosters continued growth for myself and others."

Michelle Owens is a palliative care physician.

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "I do not want to be resilient." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/i-do-not-want-to-be-resilient.html)

Why now is the time to get patients back to in-person routine care Oct 26, 2021

Show notes

"As the next wave of the pandemic unfolds, the rise in cases is once again straining health care systems. But that's not the only reason hospitals and health systems could experience an influx of emergency or critical care visits. Findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging based at the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation revealed that nearly one in three Americans between the ages of 50 and 80 put off an in-person appointment for medical care in 2020 because they were worried about potential COVID-19 exposure, and with the emergence of new variants, that trend could continue.

There is a growing concern that patients will either see a relapse in their illness or will experience new complications as a result of waiting too long to visit the doctor. Put simply, there could essentially be two health crises crowding the system: those who have tested positive for the coronavirus, and those who delayed routine preventative and ongoing care for ailments such as chronic disease or mental health."

Matt Dickson is a health care executive.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Why now is the time to get patients back to in-person routine care." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/why-now-is-the-time-to-get-patients-back-to-in-person-routine-care.html)

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