The Podcast by KevinMD

Medical student Chuka Onuh and orthopedic surgery resident Ogechukwu Onuh discuss their article, "A sibling's guide to surviving medical school." They share lessons learned as siblings navigating medical training, focusing on the critical need to be intentional with time and avoid the "illusion of productivity." Chuka and Ogechukwu emphasize that study habits must be adaptable (like switching from Anki to practice questions for USMLE exams) and that students must learn to advocate for themselves. The conversation also explores the biggest challenge of the medical school journey: protecting your identity outside the white coat, prioritizing relationships, and building resilience to avoid burnout. Learn the habits and mindset shifts necessary to survive medical school with your sense of self intact. 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

Retired nurse practitioner Heidi Sykora discusses her article, "The case for regulating, not banning, kratom." She provides an evidence-based perspective on why kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) should not be treated as a dangerous opioid, clarifying the significant pharmacological difference between the natural kratom leaf and the potent, synthesized 7-OH. Heidi explains that while kratom dependence is possible, its addiction and withdrawal profile is much milder than classical opioids, and that severe psychiatric risks are rare and often linked to adulterated products. This discussion centers on the failure of prohibition and advocates for sensible regulation, like the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), to ensure consumer safety, product purity, and accurate labeling. Learn the science-based facts about kratom regulation and why banning it might increase public health dangers. 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

Family physician Rebecca Thompson discusses her article, "The weight of genetic testing in a family," an excerpt from her book. She shares a profoundly personal story from the memoir about a woman who is a carrier of the Huntington's disease mutation and an expectant mother facing the agonizing wait for her baby's genetic test results. Rebecca explores this powerful narrative, the emotional detachment used as a shield during the pregnancy, and the devastating impact of Huntington's disease on the family described, particularly the grandmother. The discussion explores the complex, personal ethics of genetic testing, the burden of knowledge, and the stark memory of a young boy in a neurology clinic that shaped the protagonist's views on motherhood and this incurable disease. Learn about the impossible choices and emotional weight carried by families facing a devastating genetic mutation. 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

Emergency physician Resa E. Lewiss and health care executive Jake Horowitz discuss their article, "Why women ER doctors earn $21,000 less than men." They reveal staggering new data that shatters the myth that the gender pay gap does not exist in emergency medicine, showing how it persists even after controlling for hours, experience, and patient volume. Resa and Jake explore the hard numbers: women ER physicians earn $21,000 less annually, a salary disparity that widens to over $40,000 late in their careers. This is not about output, it is about systemic inequity in the health care system that contributes directly to physician burnout and attrition among women physicians. The discussion moves beyond the problem to focus on solutions, highlighting the critical need for pay transparency, hospital audits, and collective action to demand pay equity. Learn how data can expose the truth and finally help fix the systemic issues robbing women doctors of millions in career earnings. 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

Nationally recognized psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article, "How insulin resistance may cause Alzheimer's disease." Muhamad introduces the paradigm-shifting concept of Alzheimer's as "Type 3 diabetes," arguing that insulin resistance in the brain is the root cause. He explains how this metabolic dysfunction starves neurons (especially in the memory-critical hippocampus), leading to the toxic beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles associated with cognitive decline. Muhamad highlights the crucial link between diabetes and Alzheimer's risk and discusses breakthrough diagnostic tools (like new blood tests) that can identify the disease before memory loss begins. Discover the practical lifestyle and medical interventions (from diet to new diabetes medications) that may prevent, manage, or even reverse cognitive decline by treating its metabolic underpinnings. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. 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

Health care executive Ronke Lawal discusses her article, "Digital mental health's $20 billion blind spot." Ronke explains how the booming digital mental health industry is systematically failing 40 percent of the U.S. population (racial and ethnic minorities), ignoring a $20 billion market opportunity. She argues that the "one-size-fits-all" model, based on Western-centric care, is a product failure that leads to algorithmic bias, misdiagnosis in diverse patients, and culturally incompetent artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. This failure in digital mental health doesn't just alienate users; it creates real financial consequences for health systems, including higher emergency department use and readmission rates. Ronke makes the ironclad business case for embedding "cultural intelligence" into technology, arguing it's the only way to fix systemic bias and build effective digital mental health tools. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. 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

Fertility specialist Oluyemisi (Yemi) Famuyiwa discusses her article, "How timing affects chemical exposure risks." Yemi introduces her fascinating concept of "chrono-exposomics," explaining how the time of day you are exposed to environmental chemicals may be as important as the dose. She reveals how our body's circadian rhythms (like liver detoxification and skin permeability) change over 24 hours, meaning the same exposure at 8 p.m. is not the same as at 8 a.m. Using the example of a manicure, Yemi explores how endocrine-disrupting chemicals (like phthalates and TPO) in nail products might be absorbed more heavily in the evening, posing a unique risk to fertility and hormonal health. Learn the practical, evidence-informed adjustments you can make to align your self-care routines with your body's natural schedule. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. 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

Psychiatrist and author Arthur Lazarus discusses his article, "Finding integrity at the end of a career." Arthur shares the poignant narrative of Dr. Raul Morales, a community internist facing retirement with a deep sense of despair, questioning if his forty-year medical career truly mattered. Through the powerful fable of the "cracked pot," Arthur explores how a physician's perceived failures, regrets, and "leaks" are often the unrecognized source of their greatest impact and legacy. This episode reframes the concept of professional integrity: moving it away from perfection and toward the simple, profound act of presence. Learn how to find meaning in a long medical career and see the flowers that grew from your own "cracked pot." Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. 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

Health care strategist Dana Y. Lujan discusses her article, "Grief and leadership in health care." Dana shares her devastating personal story of losing both her son's father and, six years later, her only son, Joey, and how this profound grief exposed the failures of the health care system when faced with pain that cannot be captured by a diagnostic code. She describes her own experience (including a suggested 72-hour psychiatric hold) and how the system offered labels like complicated grief and PTSD but not true understanding. Dana contrasts this with her career in health care leadership, arguing that true compassion and resilience must be redefined by those who have experienced profound loss. She explains why leadership must move beyond metrics to address the hidden grief in our clinics and boardrooms and how persistence is about surrendering to growth, not just "pushing through." Discover how she learned to lead herself through unimaginable pain and turn that perspective into purpose. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. 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

Oncologist and health care executive Yousuf Zafar discusses his article, "When cancer costs too much: Why financial toxicity deserves a place in clinical conversations." Yousuf explains the concept of "financial toxicity," a severe burden caused by both direct medical bills and indirect costs (like time off work or child care) associated with cancer treatment. He reveals the sobering statistic that over forty percent of patients deplete their savings within two years, but emphasizes that this distress is more than just a financial problem: it directly compromises treatment adherence, forcing some to skip appointments or forgo prescriptions. Yousuf highlights the critical lack of cost transparency in oncology and makes the case for why clinicians must proactively screen for financial strain just as they would for physical side effects. Discover why these difficult conversations about the cost of cancer are essential for improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. 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