The Podcast by KevinMD

Pediatrician and certified life and weight coach Karla Lester discusses her article, "An effective treatment using an effective care delivery model: Using telehealth to treat adolescents with obesity with GLP-1 medications." She shares her frustration with traditional in-person obesity programs that see high attrition and offer few effective treatments beyond surgery. Karla explains how she founded her own practice, Metabolic Telehealth, to implement the latest AAP guidelines by combining a new care delivery model with new medical treatments. The conversation explores her initial data, which shows how telehealth can reduce barriers like weight stigma and travel time, leading to better patient retention. It also highlights the effectiveness of GLP-1 medications, with 95 percent of her long-term patients seeing a BMI reduction. However, she also reveals a critical obstacle: over half of all insurance prior authorizations for these vital medications are denied, forcing many families to pay out of pocket. The core message is that while this telehealth model is effective, systemic change is needed to ensure all adolescents have access to this life-changing care. Careers by KevinMD is your gateway to health care success. We connect you with real-time, exclusive resources like job boards, news updates, and salary insights, all tailored for health care professionals. With expertise in uniting top talent and leading employers across the nation's largest health care hiring network, we're your partner in shaping health care's future. Fulfill your health care journey at KevinMD.com/careers. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/careers Discovering disability insurance? Pattern understands your concerns. Over 20,000 doctors trust us for straightforward, affordable coverage. We handle everything from quotes to paperwork. Say goodbye to insurance stress – visit Pattern today at KevinMD.com/pattern. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/pattern SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Cardiologist Monzur Morshed discusses the article, "Why South Asians in the U.S. face a silent heart disease crisis." Drawing from his direct experience treating the Bangladeshi-American community in New York City, Monzur explains why people from South Asia are disproportionately at risk for developing heart disease 5 to 10 years earlier than other populations, often despite having normal cholesterol levels. The conversation delves into specific, often overlooked risk factors like the "thin-fat" phenotype, genetic predispositions such as elevated lipoprotein(a), and cultural barriers including diet and the stigma around mental health. They provide actionable clinical tips for health care providers and patients, emphasizing that standard risk assessments are failing this vulnerable community. The key takeaway is a call for a paradigm shift: clinicians must treat South Asian patients as high-risk by default and utilize culturally sensitive, aggressive screening to close the equity gap in cardiovascular care. Careers by KevinMD is your gateway to health care success. We connect you with real-time, exclusive resources like job boards, news updates, and salary insights, all tailored for health care professionals. With expertise in uniting top talent and leading employers across the nation's largest health care hiring network, we're your partner in shaping health care's future. Fulfill your health care journey at KevinMD.com/careers. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/careers Discovering disability insurance? Pattern understands your concerns. Over 20,000 doctors trust us for straightforward, affordable coverage. We handle everything from quotes to paperwork. Say goodbye to insurance stress – visit Pattern today at KevinMD.com/pattern. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/pattern SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation co-founder Corey Feist and physician advocate Kim Downey discuss their article, "Health workers deserve care too: How to protect their mental health." They highlight the ongoing mental health crisis facing the health care workforce, where CDC data shows mental health is worse than in any other segment, yet only 38 percent of those in distress seek care. Kim shares personal anecdotes that reveal the immense pressure and stigma physicians face, while Corey outlines the systemic barriers that prevent healers from getting help. The conversation centers on the six crucial actions from their "Health Workers Have The Right, Too" initiative, providing a concrete roadmap for employers and policymakers. Corey and Kim argue for practical solutions like confidential peer support, the removal of invasive mental health questions on licensing applications, and accessible, affordable care that works for a 24/7 workforce. Their core message is clear: To ensure patient safety, we must first build a system that protects the well-being of our health care workers. Careers by KevinMD is your gateway to health care success. We connect you with real-time, exclusive resources like job boards, news updates, and salary insights, all tailored for health care professionals. With expertise in uniting top talent and leading employers across the nation's largest health care hiring network, we're your partner in shaping health care's future. Fulfill your health care journey at KevinMD.com/careers. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/careers Discovering disability insurance? Pattern understands your concerns. Over 20,000 doctors trust us for straightforward, affordable coverage. We handle everything from quotes to paperwork. Say goodbye to insurance stress – visit Pattern today at KevinMD.com/pattern. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/pattern SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Addiction medicine physician Safina Adatia discusses her article, "Why gambling addiction is America's next health crisis." She warns that following the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling to overturn sports gambling bans, the U.S. is facing a potential epidemic with tens of millions at risk. Safina explains that unlike substance use disorders, problem gambling lacks sufficient research, effective treatments, and public health infrastructure. The conversation explores how the ease of access through smartphones and ubiquitous, predatory marketing campaigns are fueling what she calls a "runaway train," with data suggesting a widespread issue, particularly among young people. Safina argues for a multi-layered clinical approach combining therapy and medication, similar to models for opioid use disorder, and calls for urgent legislative action. She advocates for Congress to fund research, for lawmakers to curb advertising like they did for tobacco, and for a surgeon general's warning on gambling platforms to protect the public from this avoidable crisis. Careers by KevinMD is your gateway to health care success. We connect you with real-time, exclusive resources like job boards, news updates, and salary insights, all tailored for health care professionals. With expertise in uniting top talent and leading employers across the nation's largest health care hiring network, we're your partner in shaping health care's future. Fulfill your health care journey at KevinMD.com/careers. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/careers Discovering disability insurance? Pattern understands your concerns. Over 20,000 doctors trust us for straightforward, affordable coverage. We handle everything from quotes to paperwork. Say goodbye to insurance stress – visit Pattern today at KevinMD.com/pattern. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/pattern SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Clinical research physician Khutaija Noor discusses her article, "Why clinical research is a powerful path for unmatched IMGs." She addresses the intense pressure and profound disappointment International Medical Graduates (IMGs) face when they go unmatched for a residency spot in the U.S. Drawing from her own experience, Khutaija reframes this perceived setback as an opportunity, detailing her pivot into the world of clinical research. She challenges the outdated view of research as a non-clinical detour, describing her hands-on role as a clinical trial lead where she serves as an advocate and primary medical contact for vulnerable patients. Khutaija highlights the immense purpose found in contributing to pivotal studies for new treatments, arguing that clinical research is not a consolation prize but a powerful and rewarding field. She offers an empowering message for all IMGs facing uncertainty: Your skills are desperately needed in medical innovation, and your journey is far from over. Careers by KevinMD is your gateway to health care success. We connect you with real-time, exclusive resources like job boards, news updates, and salary insights, all tailored for health care professionals. With expertise in uniting top talent and leading employers across the nation's largest health care hiring network, we're your partner in shaping health care's future. Fulfill your health care journey at KevinMD.com/careers. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/careers Discovering disability insurance? Pattern understands your concerns. Over 20,000 doctors trust us for straightforward, affordable coverage. We handle everything from quotes to paperwork. Say goodbye to insurance stress – visit Pattern today at KevinMD.com/pattern. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/pattern SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article, "In medicine and law, professions that society relies upon for accuracy." He argues that labeling AI errors as "hallucinations" is a dangerous euphemism that trivializes real psychiatric conditions and downplays the serious threat these errors pose to professions built on trust. He insists on using the term "fabrications" to accurately describe the plausible-sounding but often entirely false information generated by large language models. Citing alarming examples, including a study where 47 percent of AI-generated medical citations were fake and a legal case built on invented precedents, Muhamad explains how these fabrications directly threaten patient safety and justice. With no clear accountability for algorithmic errors, he calls for urgent action, including rigorous education on AI's limitations, mandatory disclosure of its use, and a commitment to terminology that reflects the ethical gravity of the problem. Careers by KevinMD is your gateway to health care success. We connect you with real-time, exclusive resources like job boards, news updates, and salary insights, all tailored for health care professionals. With expertise in uniting top talent and leading employers across the nation's largest health care hiring network, we're your partner in shaping health care's future. Fulfill your health care journey at KevinMD.com/careers. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/careers Discovering disability insurance? Pattern understands your concerns. Over 20,000 doctors trust us for straightforward, affordable coverage. We handle everything from quotes to paperwork. Say goodbye to insurance stress – visit Pattern today at KevinMD.com/pattern. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/pattern SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Leading food allergy advocate Lianne Mandelbaum discusses her article, "What one diagnosis can change: the movement to make dining safer." She explains how for millions of people living with food allergies, dining out is often an exercise in survival rather than a joy, filled with anxiety about cross-contact and lack of ingredient transparency. Lianne highlights a powerful advocacy movement, driven by the personal stories of those with lived experience, that is creating systemic change. She focuses on California's ADDE Act (SB 68), a bill that would require restaurants to list the top nine allergens on their menus, framing it not as a burden but as a significant business opportunity. By increasing transparency, restaurants can win the trust and business of the food-allergic community and the large groups of friends and family who dine with them. Drawing parallels between her own advocacy for airline safety and this new legislative effort, she illustrates how parent-driven passion is reshaping public policy to make the world safer and more inclusive for everyone. California Medical Professionals: Urge Governor Newsom to Sign the ADDE Bill (SB 68) Into Law: https://www.votervoice.net/AAFAmerica/campaigns/129000/respond Careers by KevinMD is your gateway to health care success. We connect you with real-time, exclusive resources like job boards, news updates, and salary insights, all tailored for health care professionals. With expertise in uniting top talent and leading employers across the nation's largest health care hiring network, we're your partner in shaping health care's future. Fulfill your health care journey at KevinMD.com/careers. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/careers Discovering disability insurance? Pattern understands your concerns. Over 20,000 doctors trust us for straightforward, affordable coverage. We handle everything from quotes to paperwork. Say goodbye to insurance stress – visit Pattern today at KevinMD.com/pattern. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/pattern SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Board-certified pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article, "Medicalizing burnout misses the real problem." She argues that the health care industry's current approach to physician burnout is failing because it treats a predictable cultural problem like a personal disease. By "medicalizing" wellness with endless surveys, modules, and screenings, institutions are trying to solve the issue using the very system that caused it, which only adds to physicians' burdens. Jessie asserts that physician unwellness is not a pathology but a natural outcome of a culture built on perfectionism and self-erasure. The true solution, she contends, is not another checklist but deep cultural healing. She calls on institutions to offer meaningful support that actually repletes and empowers physicians—such as coaching, connection, time, and space—so they can lead the change medicine so urgently needs. Careers by KevinMD is your gateway to health care success. We connect you with real-time, exclusive resources like job boards, news updates, and salary insights, all tailored for health care professionals. With expertise in uniting top talent and leading employers across the nation's largest health care hiring network, we're your partner in shaping health care's future. Fulfill your health care journey at KevinMD.com/careers. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/careers Discovering disability insurance? Pattern understands your concerns. Over 20,000 doctors trust us for straightforward, affordable coverage. We handle everything from quotes to paperwork. Say goodbye to insurance stress – visit Pattern today at KevinMD.com/pattern. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/pattern SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Physician coach and medical school professor Kathleen Muldoon discusses her article, "How motherhood reshaped my identity as a scientist and teacher." She explores what it means to be a "mother scholar" in academic and medical cultures that reward detachment and often view caregiving as a distraction. Drawing from her experience parenting a disabled child with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV), Kathleen explains how she was forced to bridge the gap between siloed clinical expertise and her son's lived reality. This journey reshaped her identity, teaching her to see the whole person, to value presence over performance, and to embrace the vulnerability of saying "I don't know." She argues that caregiving is not a liability but a profound lens that enhances her work, and makes a powerful call for medicine to realign with humanity by allowing practitioners to bring their full, authentic selves to the work of healing. Careers by KevinMD is your gateway to health care success. We connect you with real-time, exclusive resources like job boards, news updates, and salary insights, all tailored for health care professionals. With expertise in uniting top talent and leading employers across the nation's largest health care hiring network, we're your partner in shaping health care's future. Fulfill your health care journey at KevinMD.com/careers. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/careers Discovering disability insurance? Pattern understands your concerns. Over 20,000 doctors trust us for straightforward, affordable coverage. We handle everything from quotes to paperwork. Say goodbye to insurance stress – visit Pattern today at KevinMD.com/pattern. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/pattern SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Physician executive Bhargav Raman discusses his article, "Why fearing AI is really about fearing ourselves." He argues that the common doomsday predictions about artificial intelligence are a projection of our own human flaws and a misunderstanding of progress. Bhargav asserts that humanity has agency and the responsibility to instill a coherent value system into the AI we create, referencing Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics as a foundational concept. The fear, therefore, is not of the technology itself, but of our own history of violating our purported values. He challenges the anthropocentric view that an advanced AI would share human drives like ego, a need for scarce resources, or a desire for conflict. Even if an AI were to gain independence, he posits it would have little reason to harm humanity and would either collaborate with us or leave to pursue its own form of self-actualization in the universe. The conversation ultimately shifts from fearing a technological apocalypse to addressing the more immediate "human problem" of building and regulating AI responsibly. Careers by KevinMD is your gateway to health care success. We connect you with real-time, exclusive resources like job boards, news updates, and salary insights, all tailored for health care professionals. With expertise in uniting top talent and leading employers across the nation's largest health care hiring network, we're your partner in shaping health care's future. Fulfill your health care journey at KevinMD.com/careers. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/careers Discovering disability insurance? Pattern understands your concerns. Over 20,000 doctors trust us for straightforward, affordable coverage. We handle everything from quotes to paperwork. Say goodbye to insurance stress – visit Pattern today at KevinMD.com/pattern. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/pattern SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended