The Podcast by KevinMD

Latest Episodes:

Precision and personalization: Charting the future of cancer care May 14, 2025

Show notes

Hematology-oncology physician Yousuf Zafar discusses his article, "The personalization of cancer care in 2025." He traces the evolution of cancer treatment over the past two decades, moving through waves of cytotoxic chemotherapy, biologic therapies, immunotherapies including groundbreaking CAR-T therapy, and now precision oncology, which targets treatments to the specific molecular profile of a patient's cancer. While these advancements have significantly improved survival and quality of life, Yousuf highlights the resulting increase in care complexity and the widening gap in outcomes between specialized centers (where only 20 percent of U.S. patients are treated) and community practices (where 80 percent of care occurs), particularly impacting rural areas where 66 percent of counties lack an oncologist. The conversation explores how digital health solutions, such as remote case reviews connecting community oncologists with subspecialists, can help bridge this divide and improve access. Importantly, Yousuf stresses that personalized care extends beyond treatment to encompass vital patient support for financial burdens, mental well-being, and survivorship. Actionable takeaways emphasize the need for collaboration, resources for community oncologists, investment in digital health tools, and a continued focus on patient-centered support throughout the cancer journey.

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

Rethinking patient payments: Why billing is the new frontline of patient care May 13, 2025

Show notes

Health care executive Blake Walker discusses his article, "From caregivers to collectors: Navigating the new landscape of patient payments." He describes a perfect storm impacting provider groups: the significant rise in patient financial responsibility due to high-deductible health plans, the growth of health care consumerism where patients demand better experiences (with up to 50 percent willing to switch providers over billing issues), and the overwhelming administrative burden placed on staff using outdated systems not designed for patient collections. Blake argues that traditional practice management systems, prioritizing insurance reimbursement, are ill-equipped for today's landscape, leading to lost revenue and patient frustration. The conversation emphasizes the need to unbundle patient billing from these systems and adopt modern, consumer-friendly solutions offering automation, transparency, clear communication (like omnichannel options recovering 70 percent of payments quickly), and multiple payment methods. Actionable takeaways include recognizing patient billing as a critical touchpoint, investing in technology that improves the patient financial experience, and automating routine tasks to free up staff and improve collections.

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 funding cuts to academic medical centers impact all of us May 12, 2025

Show notes

Orthopedic surgeon Adil S. Ahmed discusses his article, "Academic medical centers under threat: the impact of funding cuts." He outlines the essential, multifaceted roles of academic institutions in educating future doctors, conducting vital biomedical research, and providing complex care, often for underserved populations—functions distinct from private equity-driven health care models. The conversation highlights the critical dependence of these centers on funding, grants, and donations, particularly from government sources like the NIH, HHS, and CDC, to sustain their tripartite mission. Adil argues that recent government funding cuts, driven by political shortsightedness and a potentially misleading focus on "efficiency," pose a direct threat to medical training opportunities, scientific advancement, and the capacity to care for the most complex patients. Actionable takeaways focus on recognizing the long-term societal value of academic medical centers and the potential dangers of reducing their funding, urging support for policies that bolster science and 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

Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put May 11, 2025

Show notes

Cardiologist Stanley Liu discusses his article, "5 steps to ride out a non-compete without uprooting your family." He shares his personal experience of being bound by an 18-month, 20-mile non-compete clause after leaving an academic cardiology position and outlines the strategic steps he took to navigate this period without relocating his family. Key points include the critical importance of building a substantial worst-case scenario fund for financial security during negotiations or unemployment, defining clear personal and professional goals for the career transition to maintain focus, and exploring diverse income streams like locum tenens work or non-clinical roles that align with those goals. Stanley also emphasizes the necessity of creating contingency plans (Plan B and C) for potential setbacks and the importance of maintaining professional goodwill by managing the departure process gracefully. Actionable takeaways involve proactive financial planning, intentional career design focused on personal well-being, and strategic navigation of contractual limitations.

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

Mindful negotiation: practical strategies for physician self-advocacy May 10, 2025

Show notes

Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article, "Why physicians find negotiating challenging—and what they can do to negotiate better." She explores why negotiation often feels stressful for physicians, linking it to medical training that emphasizes service, self-sacrifice, and conflict avoidance over self-advocacy, particularly impacting women. Drawing from her own experiences and coaching work, Jessie shares eleven actionable strategies designed to help physicians negotiate more effectively and mindfully. These tips include using breathwork to stay calm, clearly asking for what you want, conducting thorough research, understanding your value and bottom line (including the willingness to walk away), framing requests as mutual solutions, leveraging patience and silence, managing emotions like resentment, and celebrating successful outcomes without guilt. The conversation reframes negotiation not just as a business necessity but as a vital skill for physician well-being, energy protection, and building a sustainable career.

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

Understanding therapy beyond crisis management May 09, 2025

Show notes

Anesthesiologist and psychotherapist Maire Daugharty discusses her article, "Why real therapy isn't just about crisis." She challenges the common misconception that therapy is only necessary or effective during acute crises ("crisis-hopping"), explaining that this view can lead to premature termination—a "flight to health"—when underlying work remains. Maire emphasizes that periods of calm in therapy are essential for integrating positive changes, processing accomplishments, and solidifying shifts in perspective and self-structure. The conversation also explores the critical importance of respecting patient autonomy and boundaries in both therapeutic and medical settings, acknowledging that clinicians cannot fully know a patient's inner world. Furthermore, Maire clearly distinguishes the deep, exploratory work of psychotherapy, which often involves confronting difficult truths ("approaching the shattered mirror") and altering implicit assumptions, from the explicit skill-building and goal-oriented approach of coaching, which works with the existing self-structure.

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

Misconceptions about food allergy safety in the skies May 08, 2025

Show notes

Physical therapist and food allergy advocate Lianne Mandelbaum discusses her article, "Flying with food allergies: Combating misconceptions and advocating for safety." Sharing harrowing personal experiences with dismissive airline staff that ignited her advocacy work with No Nut Traveler, she highlights the pervasive fear and inadequate safety measures faced by food-allergic passengers globally. Lianne discusses concerning findings, such as a study showing 31 percent of passengers sometimes don't disclose allergies fearing penalties, over a third experiencing unprofessional staff behavior, 70 percent not receiving promised accommodations, and over 12 percent being removed or denied boarding. The conversation critiques misleading media coverage, the dismissal of non-fatal reactions, the alarming lack of required easy-to-use epinephrine (like auto-injectors or nasal sprays) in many airline medical kits as of 2025, and insufficient allergen labeling on U.S. flights. Lianne urges passengers to report incidents and calls upon airlines for better policies and training, and the medical community to counsel patients proactively and advocate strongly for systemic changes, including mandatory epinephrine stocking.

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

Navigating the path from physician burnout to career balance May 07, 2025

Show notes

Internal medicine physician Kara Pepper discusses her article, "From burnout to balance: 5 stages of career transformation." Drawing from her own journey away from burnout and her experience coaching hundreds of physicians, she outlines five predictable stages doctors often traverse when seeking more autonomy, purpose, and sustainability in their work. Kara describes the progression from Stage 1: Stuck, where burnout feels inescapable, through Stage 2: Noticing, acknowledging the need for change and identifying misalignments; Stage 3: Discovery, actively exploring alternatives and embracing self-compassion; Stage 4: Data Collection, analyzing options like job adjustments or starting a practice and addressing practicalities like finances; to Stage 5: Action, making concrete moves toward a new career path. Throughout the conversation, Kara offers actionable advice for each stage, such as seeking external support, identifying core values, researching possibilities, planning meticulously, and surrounding oneself with supportive peers, ultimately encouraging physicians to take manageable steps toward creating a career that aligns with their well-being.

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

Survival strategies for marginalized physicians May 06, 2025

Show notes

Family physician Atharva Joshi discusses his article, "How the system hunts physicians who refuse to kneel." He argues that the health care system often targets minority physicians not through overt actions but via subtle, bureaucratic processes—a form of systemic discrimination based on culture or perceived difference, which he terms a "hunt." Drawing from personal experience and observations, Atharva contends this marginalization is a widespread issue affecting many physicians deemed "Other." Rather than simply enduring, he advocates for strategic resistance, outlining five provocative tactics: the Chameleon Principle (becoming quietly indispensable), Weaponized Absence (allowing one's removal to create a disruptive void), Reputation Obfuscation (diversifying one's professional identity), Narrative Supremacy (controlling one's story proactively), and the Yamdoot Doctrine (strategically releasing documented evidence of injustice when cornered). The discussion centers on empowering targeted physicians to fight back deliberately against systemic bias.

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

Avoiding leadership pitfalls: strategies for success in health care May 05, 2025

Show notes

Management consultant and author Roger A. Gerard discusses his article, "10 ways health care leaders sabotage their own success—and how to stop." He identifies common, often unintentional, ways health care leaders undermine their credibility and effectiveness, frequently due to a lack of formal leadership training. Roger outlines ten key pitfalls, including failing to clarify priorities, attempting to motivate rather than listen to already dedicated staff, treating professionals as liabilities, leading remotely instead of observing frontline work, permitting blame, breaking promises, and ignoring the wisdom of those doing the daily tasks. To counter these tendencies, Roger proposes five promises every leader should make and keep—focused on listening, support, growth, compensation, and backing staff—along with two crucial actions: "Go and see" the work being done and "Go and do" what's needed to remove barriers and improve processes, ultimately fostering trust and a high-performing culture.

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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