The Podcast by KevinMD

Latest Episodes:

How political polarization causes real psychological trauma Dec 26, 2025

Show notes

Psychiatrist Farid Sabet-Sharghi discusses his article, "The psychological trauma of polarization." Farid explains how the human psyche is evolutionarily wired for connection, making the current climate of hostility and division deeply traumatic. He connects the panic and anxiety seen in his clinic to the reactivation of childhood wounds, where global discord mimics the volatility of a troubled family system. The discussion highlights the visceral impact of the 24-hour news cycle and offers clinical strategies for reclaiming agency through setting boundaries. Learn why unity is not just a social ideal but a fundamental psychological necessity for mental health.

A doctor's humbling journey through prostate cancer recovery Dec 25, 2025

Show notes

Interventional physiatrist Francisco M. Torres discusses his article, "A doctor's own prostate cancer recovery." He shares his vulnerable story of undergoing a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and the unexpected shame and "erosion of dignity" caused by severe urinary incontinence. Francisco explains how his medical assumption that anatomical knowledge would ensure a fast recovery was wrong, and how pelvic floor physical therapy with biofeedback finally restored his function. The conversation advocates for a systemic shift toward "prehabilitation," arguing that men should start pelvic floor training weeks before surgery rather than being sent home with a pamphlet and diapers.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

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Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust.

Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Saving limbs from the silent threat of peripheral artery disease Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

Vascular surgeon Xzabia Caliste discusses her article, "The silent disease causing 400 amputations daily." She shares the heartbreaking personal story of witnessing both her aunt and uncle lose their limbs to peripheral artery disease (PAD), a preventable condition that causes over 400 amputations every day in the U.S. Xzabia explains how PAD restricts blood flow and why symptoms like leg pain or non-healing wounds are often dangerously dismissed as simple aging. The discussion addresses the critical "confidence gap" in primary care, where eighty percent of providers feel unprepared to diagnose vascular disease, and highlights the urgent need for early screening for those with risk factors like diabetes and smoking. Learn how to recognize the subtle warning signs of vascular disease and advocate for the specialized care that can save your mobility and independence.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Catching type 1 diabetes before it becomes life-threatening Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

Pediatric endocrinologist Shara Bialo discusses her article, "Why type 1 diabetes screening should be part of back-to-school." She highlights that back-to-school visits are a critical window to screen for type 1 diabetes (T1D), a disease where sixty-two percent of new cases currently result in life-threatening hospitalizations. Shara shares her personal perspective as both a doctor and a mother with T1D, addressing the guilt and stigma that often stops parents from screening for autoantibodies. The discussion emphasizes that ninety percent of diagnoses happen with no family history, making universal awareness and early detection vital to preventing complications like diabetic ketoacidosis. Learn how a simple conversation during a routine checkup can change the trajectory of a child's health.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Why high-quality embryos sometimes fail to implant Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

Double board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist Erica Bove discusses her article, "Why do high-quality IVF embryos fail." Erica explores the heartbreaking reality of recurrent implantation failure, challenging the assumption that it is a rare phenomenon. She analyzes the physical factors often missed in standard studies, such as chronic endometritis, silent endometriosis, and adenomyosis, while explaining why the endometrial receptivity analysis is losing favor in the field. The conversation also highlights a critical, often overlooked variable: the role of stress and mental health in fertility outcomes. Erica advocates for a holistic approach that combines rigorous medical guidelines with emotional support to help patients navigate the complex journey of IVF. Learn what to do when the science says it should work but the result is still negative.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Leadership buy-in is the key to preventing burnout Dec 21, 2025

Show notes

Physician advocate and physical therapist Kim Downey and counselor Shari Morin-Degel discuss their article, "Why burnout prevention starts with leadership." Shari shares her personal journey from a trauma-exposed mental health professional to a burned-out leader who initially expected her team to just "push through." The conversation highlights how she reached a breaking point and realized that true recovery requires more than just individual resilience, it requires systemic support. Kim and Shari explore the data behind the "My Work BALANCE" initiative, revealing that employee engagement with wellness tools soars only when leaders actively model participation and provide paid time for it. They discuss critical research on behavior change and argue that tools alone are useless without a culture of visible norms and psychological safety. Learn how to shift from a culture of survival to one where teams can actually thrive.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Understanding the unseen role of back-to-school diagnostics Dec 20, 2025

Show notes

Health care executive Kevin King discusses his article, "How to stay safe from back-to-school illnesses." Kevin explains why the return to classrooms often triggers a surge in respiratory illnesses (like the flu, COVID-19, and RSV) and how diagnostic tests are a critical tool for managing them. He highlights how rapid diagnostics are essential for getting the right treatment quickly, such as antivirals, and perhaps more importantly, for preventing the wrong treatment, which helps combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Kevin also offers insight into how epidemiologists predict outbreaks by monitoring school absenteeism and data from the Southern Hemisphere, providing a fascinating look at community health surveillance. Discover how early and accurate testing serves as our frontline defense in protecting vulnerable populations and managing respiratory illnesses this school season.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click.

Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's built on a foundation of trust.

It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

A pediatrician's reckoning with applied behavior analysis Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

Developmental-behavioral pediatrician Ronald L. Lindsay discusses his article, "A pediatrician's reckoning with behavior therapy." He shares his profound professional and personal pivot, moving from a decades-long focus on measurable goals to understanding the deep trauma and harm caused by applied behavior analysis (ABA). Ronald explains why he now supports the #BanABA initiative, detailing how the therapy often prioritizes compliance over communication and normalization over neurodiversity, particularly for nonspeaking autistic individuals. He calls for a shift away from coercive behavioral interventions, which were driven by insurance mandates, toward dignity-centered alternatives like DIR/Floortime and robust AAC support. Learn why this pediatrician is unbuilding his legacy to advocate for autistic voices and ethical, trauma-informed care.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Why learning specialists are central to medical education Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

Assistant professor of professional practice Adrian Reynolds discusses his article, "What is professional identity formation in medicine?" He explores how a student's frustrated question, "Did I get dumber?" reveals the deep crisis of professional identity formation (PIF) in medical education. Adrian argues that the role of academic coaches and learning specialists is often misunderstood as remedial, when in fact their "hidden work" in teaching metacognition, self-regulated learning, and growth mindset is the true backbone of the curriculum. This discussion reframes PIF by focusing on the non-clinical specialists who guide students, navigating their own identity dissonance and role ambiguity in a hierarchical system. Learn why the curriculum "stands on the shoulders" of these educators and how they are central to transforming medical education.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Why your migraine might be causing your tinnitus Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

Otolaryngologist Brian F. Worden discusses his article, "The surprising link between migraine and tinnitus." He reveals that for the 26-47 percent of tinnitus patients who also report migraines, the tinnitus may actually be an atypical migraine symptom, even without a headache. Brian explains how migraine, a complex neurological disorder, activates the trigeminal nerve, which can affect the inner ear and amplify sensory hypersensitivity, putting existing auditory hyperactivity into "overdrive." He outlines how to identify fluctuating, migraine-related tinnitus (which worsens with stress or sleep disruption) versus constant tinnitus. The discussion covers practical migraine-specific therapies that can reduce tinnitus severity, including trigger avoidance, nutritional supplements, and medications. Learn how treating the underlying neurological disorder, not just the ear, may be the key to managing tinnitus.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

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