The Podcast by KevinMD

Healthcare strategist Dana Lujan, an expert in primary care models, dives into the challenges facing direct primary care amidst economic downturns. She discusses the financial strain on middle-class families, contrasting retail models with employer-sponsored options. Lujan highlights the importance of aligning medical business strategies with community financial realities and suggests diversifying towards employer contracts for stability. Her insights on the risks and sustainability of retail DPCs offer valuable lessons for a changing healthcare landscape.

Otolaryngologist Alan P. Feren and patient advocate Joyce Griggs discuss their article "Why health self-advocacy is an essential life skill." Alan and Joyce share the personal journey of becoming a "chief health executive" and explain why managing medical care should be treated with the same seriousness as financial planning. They outline the eight core pillars of advocacy, ranging from health literacy to financial navigation, and argue for the creation of condition-agnostic tools that help patients regardless of their specific diagnosis. The conversation highlights how preparation and organization not only reduce anxiety for caregivers but also save time for clinicians and improve overall outcomes. Join us to find out how you can build the confidence to navigate a complex system effectively. This episode is presented by Scholar Advising, a fee-only financial advising firm specializing in providing advice for DIY investors. If you want clear, actionable strategies and confidence that your financial decisions are built on objective advice without AUM fees or commissions, Scholar is designed for you. Physicians often navigate complex compensation structures, including W-2 income, 1099 work, production bonuses, and practice ownership. Scholar's highly credentialed advisors guide high-earners through decisions like optimizing investments for long-term tax efficiency and expert strategies for financial independence. Every recommendation is tailored to the financial realities physicians face. VISIT SPONSOR → https://scholaradvising.com/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Medical oncologist, geriatrician, and physician scientist GJ van Londen and Chief of Genetic and Genomic Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Gerald Vockley discuss the article "FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients." GJ and Gerald explore the complex regulatory impasse where the U.S. Food and Drug Administration denied standard approval for elamipretide despite a positive advisory committee vote, creating a financial crisis that threatens to cut off supply for everyone. GJ shares his personal journey from treating cancer to living with primary mitochondrial myopathy, while the conversation emphasizes the critical need for the agency to use the flexibility granted by the Orphan Drug Act to save a treatment that has already proven its worth. Join us to understand the life-or-death stakes hidden behind administrative decisions. This episode is presented by Scholar Advising, a fee-only financial advising firm specializing in providing advice for DIY investors. If you want clear, actionable strategies and confidence that your financial decisions are built on objective advice without AUM fees or commissions, Scholar is designed for you. Physicians often navigate complex compensation structures, including W-2 income, 1099 work, production bonuses, and practice ownership. Scholar's highly credentialed advisors guide high-earners through decisions like optimizing investments for long-term tax efficiency and expert strategies for financial independence. Every recommendation is tailored to the financial realities physicians face. VISIT SPONSOR → https://scholaradvising.com/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Leah M. Howard, President and CEO of the National Psoriasis Foundation, dives into pressing health care reforms. She critiques the recent rise of direct-purchase drug programs, arguing that they can't substitute for systemic legislative change. Howard champions the Safe Step Act, emphasizing its potential to protect patients from expensive step therapy practices. The discussion highlights the need for transparent pharmacy benefit manager reforms and systemic solutions that prioritize patient health over corporate profits.

Samah Khan, a premedical student and author, highlights the global physician shortage and the impact of brain drain on vulnerable communities. She draws parallels between the medical exodus in Pakistan and California's Central Valley, revealing that low pay and inadequate infrastructure drive doctors away. Samah discusses the importance of local recruitment programs and community investment in healthcare. She emphasizes the need for systemic changes to retain talent, ensuring that patients receive timely care and that healthcare providers are anchored back to their communities.

We have a special sponsored episode from MagMutual. We welcome William Kanich. He's an emergency physician and currently the executive chairperson of MagMutual Insurance Company. We explore how physicians can navigate unexpected medical outcomes while preserving trust with their patients. Through Dr. Kanich's clinical and leadership experience, the conversation examines common challenges, practical approaches, and the role of structured support programs like the Preserve Program. The discussion also looks ahead to how the healthcare industry can continue evolving to better support physicians in maintaining strong patient relationships. VISIT SPONSOR → https://www.magmutual.com/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Health care executive Jason Griffin discusses his article "The digital divide in rural health care." Jason explains how rural providers in the U.S. face critical infrastructure failures and staffing shortages that threaten their ability to serve communities. He explores why standard one-size-fits-all technological solutions often fail these hospitals and advocates for a collaborative model that prioritizes long-term strategic partnerships over temporary fixes. The conversation highlights the economic importance of keeping rural facilities open and the urgent need to listen to local leaders to bridge the digital gap effectively. Join us to learn how we can build resilient systems that ensure equitable access for everyone. This episode is presented by Scholar Advising, a fee-only financial advising firm specializing in providing advice for DIY investors. If you want clear, actionable strategies and confidence that your financial decisions are built on objective advice without AUM fees or commissions, Scholar is designed for you. Physicians often navigate complex compensation structures, including W-2 income, 1099 work, production bonuses, and practice ownership. Scholar's highly credentialed advisors guide high-earners through decisions like optimizing investments for long-term tax efficiency and expert strategies for financial independence. Every recommendation is tailored to the financial realities physicians face. VISIT SPONSOR → https://scholaradvising.com/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Christina Johns, a pediatric emergency physician and health care executive, dives into the pressing issue of clinician burnout due to administrative overload. She advocates for harnessing AI to streamline documentation, allowing more time for meaningful patient interactions. Christina emphasizes the need for human oversight in AI tools and discusses practical applications like AI scribes and automated refills. She also stresses that technology should enhance, not replace, the human connection in medicine, urging clinicians to actively participate in product development.

Kenneth Rowe, an emergency physician and author of 'Prime, How to Win the Second Half,' delves into the unique challenges faced by midlife men. He discusses how many seek hormone tests when their struggles are rooted in identity loss rather than clinical issues. Kenneth critiques the medical system for missing vital psychosocial factors and the impact of a stoic culture on men's health. He emphasizes the importance of asking deeper questions and reframing midlife from a crisis to a journey toward purpose and fulfillment.

In this insightful discussion, Jessie Mahoney, a board-certified pediatrician and certified coach, delves into the profound impact of the 'eldest daughter syndrome' on physician burnout. She highlights how firstborn women are often conditioned to shoulder excessive responsibilities, leading to stress and resentment. Jessie connects these early roles to burnout in healthcare, emphasizing the need for self-awareness and setting boundaries. Practical steps for reclaiming balance are shared, making this conversation a crucial listen for those navigating the challenges of caregiving in medicine.