
Medicine and the Machine
Join Medscape editor-in-chief Eric Topol, MD, and master storyteller and clinician Abraham Verghese, MD, as they interview experts on the hottest topics in healthcare ranging from COVID-19 to social determinants of health to bringing humanity back to medicine.
Latest episodes

May 20, 2022 • 39min
How Medicine Is Failing a Nation in Pain
Pain is central to every specialty, and we all played a part in the opioid crisis, says Dr Haider Warraich, author of The Song of Our Scars: The Untold Story of Pain. This podcast is intended for US healthcare professionals only. To read a full transcript of this episode or to comment please visit: https://www.medscape.com/features/public/machine Eric J. Topol, MD, Director, Scripps Translational Science Institute; Professor of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Abraham Verghese, MD, Physician, author, and educator; Professor and Vice Chair, Theory & Practice of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California Haider Warraich, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Associate Director, Heart Failure Program, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA The Song of Our Scars: The Untold Story of Pain. https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/haider-warraich/the-song-of-our-scars/9781541675292/ You may also like: Medscape's Chief Cardiology Correspondent Dr John M. Mandrola's This Week In Cardiology https://www.medscape.com/twic Discussions on topics at the core of cardiology and the practice of medicine with Dr Robert A. Harrington and guests on The Bob Harrington Show https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington For questions or feedback, please email: news@medscape.net

Apr 21, 2022 • 34min
Animal Reservoirs, Immunocompromised Hosts: COVID Dangers Ahead
Stanford's Benjamin Pinsky on the potential for even more transmissible and pathogenic versions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to arise. This podcast is intended for US healthcare professionals only. To read a full transcript of this episode or to comment please visit: https://www.medscape.com/features/public/machine Eric J. Topol, MD, Director, Scripps Translational Science Institute; Professor of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Abraham Verghese, MD, Physician, author, and educator; Professor and Vice Chair, Theory & Practice of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California Benjamin Pinsky, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine and Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine; Director, Clinical Virology Laboratory; Associate Director, Clinical Pathology for COVID-19 Testing, Stanford Health Care, Stanford Children's Health, Stanford, California You may also like: Medscape's Chief Cardiology Correspondent Dr John M. Mandrola's This Week In Cardiology https://www.medscape.com/twic Discussions on topics at the core of cardiology and the practice of medicine with Dr Robert A. Harrington and guests on The Bob Harrington Show https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington For questions or feedback, please email: news@medscape.net

Apr 8, 2022 • 22min
Eric Topol: 'I Still Have My Guard Up'
Why we should be shifting into high gear on treatments for long COVID and a pan-beta-coronavirus vaccine. This podcast is intended for US healthcare professionals only. To read a full transcript of this episode or to comment please visit: https://www.medscape.com/features/public/machine Eric J. Topol, MD, Director, Scripps Translational Science Institute; Professor of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Abraham Verghese, MD, Physician, author, and educator; Professor and Vice Chair, Theory & Practice of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California You may also like: Medscape's Chief Cardiology Correspondent Dr John M. Mandrola's This Week In Cardiology https://www.medscape.com/twic Discussions on topics at the core of cardiology and the practice of medicine with Dr Robert A. Harrington and guests on The Bob Harrington Show https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington For questions or feedback, please email: news@medscape.net

Mar 25, 2022 • 39min
The Medical Model Doesn't Work for Mental Health
Former NIMH Director Tom Insel explains how the medical model has failed the field of psychiatry. This podcast is intended for US healthcare professionals only. To read a full transcript of this episode or to comment please visit: https://www.medscape.com/features/public/machine Eric J. Topol, MD, Director, Scripps Translational Science Institute; Professor of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Abraham Verghese, MD, Physician, author, and educator; Professor and Vice Chair, Theory & Practice of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California Tom Insel, MD, President, Mindstrong Health, Palo Alto, California Healing: OUR PATH FROM MENTAL ILLNESS TO MENTAL HEALTH By Thomas Insel, MD https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/670329/healing-by-thomas-insel-md/ You may also like: Medscape's Chief Cardiology Correspondent Dr John M. Mandrola's This Week In Cardiology https://www.medscape.com/twic Discussions on topics at the core of cardiology and the practice of medicine with Dr Robert A. Harrington and guests on The Bob Harrington Show https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington For questions or feedback, please email: news@medscape.net

Mar 9, 2022 • 46min
Why Test to Treat is Imperative Now
Epidemiologist-engineer Michael Mina thinks diagnostics belong in the hands of the people. This podcast is intended for US healthcare professionals only. To read a full transcript of this episode or to comment please visit: https://www.medscape.com/features/public/machine Eric J. Topol, MD, Director, Scripps Translational Science Institute; Professor of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Abraham Verghese, MD, Physician, author, and educator; Professor and Vice Chair, Theory & Practice of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California Michael Mina, MD, PhD, Chief Science Officer, eMed Digital Healthcare, Miami, FL You may also like: Medscape's Chief Cardiology Correspondent Dr John M. Mandrola's This Week In Cardiology https://www.medscape.com/twic Discussions on topics at the core of cardiology and the practice of medicine with Dr Robert A. Harrington and guests on The Bob Harrington Show https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington For questions or feedback, please email: news@medscape.net

Feb 25, 2022 • 34min
'Historic Botched Job': The Narrative Mechanics of Failed COVID Communication From CDC and Elsewhere
Randy Olson on what science can learn from Hollywood about communicating with the masses. This podcast is intended for US healthcare professionals only. To read a full transcript of this episode or to comment please visit: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/969151 Eric J. Topol, MD, Director, Scripps Translational Science Institute; Professor of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Randy Olson, PhD, MFA, Independent filmmaker You may also like: Medscape's Chief Cardiology Correspondent Dr John M. Mandrola's This Week In Cardiology https://www.medscape.com/twic Discussions on topics at the core of cardiology and the practice of medicine with Dr Robert A. Harrington and guests on The Bob Harrington Show https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington For questions or feedback, please email: news@medscape.net

Feb 17, 2022 • 38min
COVID Vaccines for the Under 5's: The 'Finish Line' We Need
'Your Local Epidemiologist' Katelyn Jetelina translates the COVID science for millions. This podcast is intended for US healthcare professionals only. Eric J. Topol, MD; Abraham Verghese, MD; Katelyn K. Jetelina, PhD, MPH Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) Newsletter: https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/about You may also like: Medscape's Chief Cardiology Correspondent, Dr. John M. Mandrola's, This Week In Cardiology https://www.medscape.com/twic Discussions on topics at the core of cardiology and the practice of medicinewith Dr. Robert A. Harrington and guests on the Bob Harrington Show https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington For questions or feedback, please email: news@medscape.net

Jan 13, 2022 • 33min
Dr. Glaucomflecken on Why We Can All Use a Laugh Right Now
Two bouts with cancer and a cardiac arrest at age 35 haven't stopped this ophthalmologist-comedian from becoming a social media phenomenon for hilariously poking fun at medicine and himself. This podcast is intended for US health professionals only. Eric J. Topol, MD, Director, Scripps Translational Science Institute; Professor of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Abraham Verghese, MD, Physician, author, and educator; Professor and Vice Chair, Theory & Practice of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California William E. Flanary, MD, EyeHealth NW, Portland, Oregon You may also like: Medscape’s Chief Cardiology Correspondent, Dr. John M. Mandrola's, This Week In Cardiology https://www.medscape.com/twic Discussions on topics at the core of cardiology and the practice of medicine with Dr. Robert A. Harrington and guests on the Bob Harrington Show https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington For questions or feedback, please email: news@medscape.net

Dec 22, 2021 • 28min
2021: Where We Succeeded, Where We Failed in Pandemic Year Two
Eric Topol and Abraham Verghese reflect on 2021's extraordinary podcast guests, and how we excelled in science and healthcare but were tripped up by the vagaries of human behavior. This podcast is intended for US healthcare professionals only. For more episodes of Medicine and the Machine https://www.medscape.com/features/public/machine Eric J. Topol, MD, Director, Scripps Translational Science Institute; Professor of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Abraham Verghese, MD, Physician, author, and educator; Professor and Vice Chair, Theory & Practice of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California You may also like: Medscape's Chief Cardiology Correspondent, Dr. John M. Mandrola's, This Week In Cardiology https://www.medscape.com/twic Discussions on topics at the core of cardiology and the practice of medicine with Dr. Robert A. Harrington and guests on the Bob Harrington Show https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington For questions or feedback, please email: news@medscape.net

Dec 14, 2021 • 44min
Former White House COVID Advisor: We Can All Safely Experience Joy This Holiday Season
Andy Slavitt believes we've made real progress, despite overselling vaccines and the public's dismay with rapidly changing science. This podcast is intended for US healthcare professionals only. Eric J. Topol, MD, Director, Scripps Translational Science Institute; Professor of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Abraham Verghese, MD, Physician, author, and educator; Professor and Vice Chair, Theory & Practice of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California Andy Slavitt, General Partner, Town Hall Ventures; Former Senior Advisor to the Biden Administration COVID Response Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165/preventable You may also like: Medscape's Chief Cardiology Correspondent, Dr. John M. Mandrola's, This Week In Cardiology https://www.medscape.com/twic Discussions on topics at the core of cardiology and the practice of medicine with Dr. Robert A. Harrington and guests on the Bob Harrington Show https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington For questions or feedback, please email: news@medscape.net