The Podcast by KevinMD

Physical therapist and food allergy advocate Lianne Mandelbaum discusses her article, "Flying with food allergies: Combating misconceptions and advocating for safety." Sharing harrowing personal experiences with dismissive airline staff that ignited her advocacy work with No Nut Traveler, she highlights the pervasive fear and inadequate safety measures faced by food-allergic passengers globally. Lianne discusses concerning findings, such as a study showing 31 percent of passengers sometimes don't disclose allergies fearing penalties, over a third experiencing unprofessional staff behavior, 70 percent not receiving promised accommodations, and over 12 percent being removed or denied boarding. The conversation critiques misleading media coverage, the dismissal of non-fatal reactions, the alarming lack of required easy-to-use epinephrine (like auto-injectors or nasal sprays) in many airline medical kits as of 2025, and insufficient allergen labeling on U.S. flights. Lianne urges passengers to report incidents and calls upon airlines for better policies and training, and the medical community to counsel patients proactively and advocate strongly for systemic changes, including mandatory epinephrine stocking. 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

Internal medicine physician Kara Pepper discusses her article, "From burnout to balance: 5 stages of career transformation." Drawing from her own journey away from burnout and her experience coaching hundreds of physicians, she outlines five predictable stages doctors often traverse when seeking more autonomy, purpose, and sustainability in their work. Kara describes the progression from Stage 1: Stuck, where burnout feels inescapable, through Stage 2: Noticing, acknowledging the need for change and identifying misalignments; Stage 3: Discovery, actively exploring alternatives and embracing self-compassion; Stage 4: Data Collection, analyzing options like job adjustments or starting a practice and addressing practicalities like finances; to Stage 5: Action, making concrete moves toward a new career path. Throughout the conversation, Kara offers actionable advice for each stage, such as seeking external support, identifying core values, researching possibilities, planning meticulously, and surrounding oneself with supportive peers, ultimately encouraging physicians to take manageable steps toward creating a career that aligns with their well-being. 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 Atharva Joshi discusses his article, "How the system hunts physicians who refuse to kneel." He argues that the health care system often targets minority physicians not through overt actions but via subtle, bureaucratic processes—a form of systemic discrimination based on culture or perceived difference, which he terms a "hunt." Drawing from personal experience and observations, Atharva contends this marginalization is a widespread issue affecting many physicians deemed "Other." Rather than simply enduring, he advocates for strategic resistance, outlining five provocative tactics: the Chameleon Principle (becoming quietly indispensable), Weaponized Absence (allowing one's removal to create a disruptive void), Reputation Obfuscation (diversifying one's professional identity), Narrative Supremacy (controlling one's story proactively), and the Yamdoot Doctrine (strategically releasing documented evidence of injustice when cornered). The discussion centers on empowering targeted physicians to fight back deliberately against systemic bias. 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

Management consultant and author Roger A. Gerard discusses his article, "10 ways health care leaders sabotage their own success—and how to stop." He identifies common, often unintentional, ways health care leaders undermine their credibility and effectiveness, frequently due to a lack of formal leadership training. Roger outlines ten key pitfalls, including failing to clarify priorities, attempting to motivate rather than listen to already dedicated staff, treating professionals as liabilities, leading remotely instead of observing frontline work, permitting blame, breaking promises, and ignoring the wisdom of those doing the daily tasks. To counter these tendencies, Roger proposes five promises every leader should make and keep—focused on listening, support, growth, compensation, and backing staff—along with two crucial actions: "Go and see" the work being done and "Go and do" what's needed to remove barriers and improve processes, ultimately fostering trust and a high-performing culture. 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

Pediatric neurologist Paige Kalika discusses her article, "Why ADHD kids struggle and how we can truly help," sharing insights from her perspective as a pediatric neurologist and parent of a child with ADHD. She outlines compassionate ways to talk to children about ADHD, starting by validating their efforts ("Are you trying harder?") and explaining that ADHD affects focus, not intelligence or worth. Paige emphasizes the importance of diagnosis as a tool to counteract negative self-labels ("lazy," "bad") that children internalize, reframing ADHD as having a brain that works differently, using analogies like the "Ferrari brain with bicycle brakes." The conversation addresses common parental concerns about medication, countering the "natural vs. unnatural" debate and explaining medication's role in addressing neurotransmitter differences, comparing it to "glasses for the brain" or a "bag with a hole" for scattered thoughts ("marbles"). Paige offers practical advice on finding the right medication, stressing that the goal is to empower "neurospicy" children to understand their unique brains and thrive. 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

Research scientist Nichole Cubbage discusses her article, "The silent grief of vanishing twin syndrome: Why words matter in health care." She explains that Vanishing Twin Syndrome (VTS), the loss of one fetus in a multiple pregnancy, often leads to unique and isolating grief, frequently unacknowledged by health care providers. Nichole shares findings from her research indicating significant dissatisfaction among patients regarding provider communication and the information received about VTS, with over half reporting negative experiences. The conversation highlights how provider language—using terms like "insignificant" or medically unclear phrasing—profoundly affects patients' emotional processing and underscores the lack of standardized clinical guidelines for VTS diagnosis and counseling. Nichole points to initiatives like the Butterfly Project as models for providing structured support and emphasizes actionable steps for providers: including normalizing discussions about chorionicity, acknowledging the emotional impact, offering resources, and referring to support systems, ultimately stressing that compassionate communication is crucial for improving VTS care. 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

Historian and ethicist Nigel Cameron discusses his article, "C. Everett Koop's fearless fight against the tobacco industry," drawn from his biography of the former U.S. surgeon general. He recounts how C. Everett Koop, initially facing ridicule and expected to be ineffective, strategically used the 1982 Surgeon General's report on smoking to dramatically reshape his public image and intensify the fight against Big Tobacco. Nigel details the pivotal press conference where Koop forcefully presented the report's findings, overshadowing his superiors, declaring smoking "society's chief cause of preventable death," and refuting industry claims. This event marked a turning point, transforming Koop's relationship with the press, establishing his "bully pulpit," and escalating what Koop viewed as an "all-out war" against the tobacco industry's "sleaze," fundamentally altering the government's stance on smoking. 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

Physician executive Grace E. Terrell discusses her article, "Physicians must innovate and focus on medicine's core, not chores." She introduces the concept of "core vs. chore," urging health care workers to distinguish essential patient care duties from the administrative tasks that often dominate their time, exemplified by an incident where staff prioritized EHR procedures over immediate patient needs. Grace highlights how poorly designed technology like EHRs, regulatory demands, and inefficient workflows contribute significantly to physician burnout, administrative burden, and information chaos, noting that physicians spend nearly twice as much time on EHR and desk work as they do on direct patient care. The conversation explores solutions such as redesigning care delivery models to delegate non-essential tasks, utilizing technology-enabled support teams, and enabling clinicians to practice at the top of their license, ultimately aiming to recenter health care on its core mission, reduce costs, and improve both patient and clinician experiences. 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

Nurse anesthetist Christine King discusses her article, "The heartbreaking pandemic story I will never forget." Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic five years later, she shares the profound impact of collective trauma through personal and professional lenses. Christine recounts a moving encounter with a musician patient who endured extreme isolation and depression during the pandemic, revealing that only his responsibility towards his cats kept him from suicide. She discusses the emotional toll on health care workers, including witnessing troubling shifts in colleagues' attitudes towards the pandemic's severity and vaccine science due to misinformation, alongside her own grief from losing her mother during visitor restrictions and feelings of betrayal over community vaccine refusal. Despite the lingering pain and disillusionment, Christine holds onto hope for a future with more mutual listening, trust in science, and appreciation for one another. 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

Family physician Jay K. Joshi discusses his article, "Why patients and doctors are ditching insurance for personalized care." He explains that as traditional insurance becomes less accessible and covers fewer proactive and preventive services, both patients and physicians are seeking alternatives. Jay outlines a direct-pay model, often focused on functional medicine approaches like metabolic optimization, hormone therapy, and advanced diagnostics, which strategically integrates financial planning into the care itself. This model utilizes tools like educating patients on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), offering flexible payment plans through third-party financing, and implementing subscription-style payments for longitudinal care. Jay stresses the importance of empathetic, transparent communication about costs, framing them as investments and normalizing financial tools to reduce stress and improve adherence. He argues that such direct-pay structures empower patients, enhance clinical decision-making autonomy, and represent a vital evolution in health care delivery focused on accessibility and 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