
The Podcast by KevinMD
Social media's leading physician voice, Kevin Pho, MD, shares the stories of the many who intersect with our health care system but are rarely heard from. 15 minutes a day. 7 days a week. Welcome to The Podcast by KevinMD.
Latest episodes

Mar 27, 2025 • 19min
Mastering the language of medicine
Pediatric neurologist Paige Kalika discusses her article, "Learning the language of medicine: from student to fluent physician." Paige compares mastering medicine to learning a language, from grasping basic vocabulary like anatomy to becoming conversational during clinical rotations and fluent in residency. She highlights the challenge of translating complex medical jargon into plain English for patients, emphasizing that true fluency lies in effective communication. Paige offers actionable takeaways, urging aspiring physicians to immerse themselves in specialties and refine their ability to connect with patients clearly and compassionately. 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–and it's 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

Mar 26, 2025 • 22min
Why doctors love AI scribes—and the risks they bring
Urologist David Canes discusses his article, "Why AI scribes are changing medicine and the hidden risks you must know." He shares insights from using AI scribes in over 3,000 clinical encounters, noting how they save time, reduce burnout, and enhance patient interactions. David also highlights challenges like technical glitches, over-reliance on AI, and potential documentation errors. He suggests clinicians always review AI notes and keep manual skills sharp to balance benefits and risks effectively. 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–and it's 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

Mar 25, 2025 • 17min
Protecting immigrant families: a pediatrician's call to action
Developmental pediatrician Fiorella Castillo discusses her article, "Advocating for immigrant children: a doctor's perspective." Fiorella shares her firsthand experiences supporting immigrant families as they navigate developmental disabilities like autism and ADHD in a climate filled with fear of deportation and family separation. She explores the emotional and behavioral toll on children—ranging from anxiety and PTSD to struggles with social skills—and stresses the critical need for systemic change to protect these vulnerable communities. Fiorella offers actionable insights, such as supporting organizations like the Immigrant Legal Resource Center or The Legal Aid Society, and contacting elected officials to push for policies ensuring family unity and immigrant rights. Join us to discover how healthcare professionals and advocates can drive meaningful change for immigrant children and their families. 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–and it's 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

Mar 24, 2025 • 26min
Transforming patient care with motivational interviewing
Gastroenterologist Steven Pearce, health care consultant Bruce A. Berger, and physician advocate Kim Downey discuss their article, "How motivational interviewing transforms patient care and outcomes." They explore the transformative power of motivational interviewing (MI), an evidence-based, patient-centered approach that enhances patient engagement and adherence by exploring motivations rather than persuading or correcting. Bruce shares practical strategies for clinicians to connect authentically with patients, Steven reveals how seeing patients' "loving essence" reshaped his practice, and Kim emphasizes MI's role in fostering meaningful health care relationships. Listen to discover actionable insights that can elevate your patient interactions and improve outcomes. 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–and it's 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

Mar 23, 2025 • 23min
Essential skills for physician leaders in health care
Health care executive Susannah Eastwick discusses her article, "Advancing health care through physician leadership: 5 skills for changing health care." Susannah explores the evolving health care landscape in 2025, where physicians face growing corporate control and reduced autonomy. She identifies five critical skills for physicians to regain influence: mastering business language, understanding financial operations, improving operational efficiency, partnering and negotiating effectively, and advocating for systemic change. Through real-world examples—like a physician turning a $15 million clinic deficit into a surplus and another streamlining a hospital's phone system—Susannah demonstrates how these skills enhance patient care and organizational performance. She offers actionable strategies for physicians to navigate the business side of medicine and lead meaningful change. 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–and it's 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

Mar 22, 2025 • 17min
Adventure as medicine: the wellness benefits of travel
Physician Stacey Funt discusses her article, "The healing power of travel: How adventure transforms mind, body, and spirit." Stacey explores how travel serves as a potent remedy for physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. She highlights how wellness adventure travel integrates lifestyle medicine principles—movement, whole foods, relaxation, and community—while often promoting restorative sleep. Stacey shares inspiring stories, like a woman who lost fifty pounds preparing for a life-changing trip and another who embraced fitness through active travel. She emphasizes the emotional uplift from group connections and the spiritual renewal sparked by nature's awe-inspiring moments. Offering practical advice, Stacey encourages listeners to use travel as a self-care catalyst, drawing from her own healing trek in Nepal after personal loss. 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–and it's 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

Mar 21, 2025 • 15min
Match Day 2025: Safeguarding the future of medical students amid crisis
Janet A. Jokela, an infectious disease physician, discusses her article, "Match Day 2025: Protecting our students' futures." She explores the unprecedented challenges facing medical students, including a U.S. measles outbreak, censorship at the CDC, disrupted research grants, and threats to biomedical research and public health infrastructure. Janet emphasizes physicians' responsibility to support graduating students and their future patients, highlighting actions by medical journal editors, professional societies like the American College of Physicians, and colleagues advocating for science and health care. Listeners will discover practical ways to contribute, such as engaging in pro-science advocacy and supporting international medical graduates vital to the U.S. health care system. 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–and it's 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

Mar 20, 2025 • 14min
Pain as a messenger: What your skin is telling you
Osteopathic physician Amelia L. Bueche discusses her article, "From skin to soul: What pain reveals about our health." In this episode, Amelia delves into the skin's role as the body's largest organ and its rich network of nociceptors, which alert us to pain as a signal of both external threats and internal imbalances. Drawing from her experiences as both a patient and physician, she illustrates how surface-level pain can reflect deeper physical and emotional issues, from stress-induced eczema to pancreatic cancer manifesting as rib discomfort. Amelia highlights the importance of listening to these bodily messages and adopting a holistic approach to uncover root causes, offering listeners practical insights into enhancing their health through curiosity and awareness. 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 GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE → https://www.kevinmd.com/cme I'm partnering with Learner+ to offer clinicians access to an AI-powered reflective portfolio that rewards CME/CE credits from meaningful reflections. Find out more: https://www.kevinmd.com/learnerplus

Mar 19, 2025 • 18min
Why abuse in health care is forcing doctors to leave the profession
Psychiatrist Devina Maya Wadhwa discusses her article, "How abuse in health care is driving doctors out of medicine." In this episode, Devina shares her experiences as a physician working in acute care settings, where she encounters racial, verbal, and physical abuse while treating vulnerable patients. She delves into how prolonged wait times, outdated hospital policies, and systemic pressures create environments ripe for abuse, driving physician burnout and prompting many to exit the profession. Devina explores the emotional toll on doctors, the decline in patient care quality, and the urgent need for solutions like anti-abuse policies, enhanced medical training, and public awareness campaigns. Listeners will discover actionable steps—such as fostering safer workplaces and promoting mutual respect—to protect physicians and strengthen the health care system. 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 GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE → https://www.kevinmd.com/cme I'm partnering with Learner+ to offer clinicians access to an AI-powered reflective portfolio that rewards CME/CE credits from meaningful reflections. Find out more: https://www.kevinmd.com/learnerplus

Mar 18, 2025 • 23min
Why leaving medicine feels like escaping a cult
Former OB/GYN resident and physician coach Chelsea Turgeon discusses her article, "Why does leaving medicine feel like escaping a cult?" In this episode, Chelsea shares her personal journey of resigning from residency and explores the cult-like aspects of the medical profession that make leaving feel so taboo. She highlights the financial burdens, debilitating work routines, and the culture of shame that keep many physicians trapped, even when their well-being is at stake. Listeners will gain insight into the pressures faced by medical professionals and the importance of prioritizing mental health. Chelsea encourages reflection on whether staying in the profession is truly serving one's happiness and offers a powerful message for anyone feeling stuck in their career. 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 GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE → https://www.kevinmd.com/cme I'm partnering with Learner+ to offer clinicians access to an AI-powered reflective portfolio that rewards CME/CE credits from meaningful reflections. Find out more: https://www.kevinmd.com/learnerplus