
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

Oct 21, 2024 • 17min
How pharmacy benefit companies are making fertility treatments even harder for patients
We sit down with Oluyemisi (Yemi) Famuyiwa, a fertility specialist and founder of Montgomery Fertility Center, to explore the hidden barriers patients face when accessing fertility medications. We delve into the complex role of pharmacy benefit companies and discuss how their influence can create unexpected challenges, delays, and additional stress for those undergoing fertility treatments. Oluyemisi (Yemi) Famuyiwa is a fertility specialist and founder, Montgomery Fertility Center. She discusses the KevinMD article, "The hidden impact of pharmacy benefit companies on fertility treatments." Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft. DAX Copilot, by Microsoft, is your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows. DAX Copilot allows physicians to do more with less and turn their words into a powerful productivity tool. DAX Copilot automates clinical documentation—making it available in the EHR within minutes—and clinical workflows, including referral letters, after-visit summaries, style and formatting customizations, and more. 70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences. Discover AI-powered solutions for clinical documentation and workflows. Click here to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. 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

Oct 20, 2024 • 20min
Inside the courtroom: a doctor’s battle against a fraud investigation
We sit down with Muhamad Aly Rifai, a practicing internist and psychiatrist, to explore the complexities of health care fraud investigations and the profound impact these cases have on physicians' lives and careers. Muhamad shares his firsthand experience of enduring a seven-year federal investigation that ultimately resulted in a "not guilty" verdict, highlighting the flawed legal system that targets dedicated health care professionals. We delve into the systemic issues within the justice system, the role of jury trials, and the urgent need for reforms to protect physicians from overzealous prosecutions. Muhamad Aly Rifai is a practicing internist and psychiatrist in the Greater Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. He is the CEO, chief psychiatrist and internist of Blue Mountain Psychiatry. He discussed the KevinMD article, "The continued unjust prosecution of physicians." Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft. DAX Copilot, by Microsoft, is your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows. DAX Copilot allows physicians to do more with less and turn their words into a powerful productivity tool. DAX Copilot automates clinical documentation—making it available in the EHR within minutes—and clinical workflows, including referral letters, after-visit summaries, style and formatting customizations, and more. 70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences. Discover AI-powered solutions for clinical documentation and workflows. Click here to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. 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

Oct 19, 2024 • 19min
Near-death experiences: What doctors need to know but aren’t taught
In this episode, we delve into a fascinating yet often overlooked medical phenomenon—near-death experiences (NDEs)—with John C. Hagan III, an ophthalmologist and expert on the subject. Despite being reported by as many as one in five patients who survive critical medical events, NDEs remain absent from most medical curricula, leaving physicians unprepared to recognize and support patients through these transformative experiences. John discusses the key features of NDEs, their impact on patients and families, and why it’s crucial for health care professionals to ask, listen, validate, and educate. John C. Hagan III is an ophthalmologist. He discusses the KevinMD article, "What you need to know about near-death experiences." Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft. DAX Copilot, by Microsoft, is your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows. DAX Copilot allows physicians to do more with less and turn their words into a powerful productivity tool. DAX Copilot automates clinical documentation—making it available in the EHR within minutes—and clinical workflows, including referral letters, after-visit summaries, style and formatting customizations, and more. 70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences. Discover AI-powered solutions for clinical documentation and workflows. Click here to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. 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

Oct 18, 2024 • 20min
Why rural America’s health care crisis is getting worse—and what it means for retirees
We sit down with Banu Symington, a hematology-oncology physician, to explore a looming health care crisis affecting rural America. As more retirees move to rural communities, the number of health care providers is not keeping pace. Banu sheds light on the growing disparity between rural and urban health care access, the financial challenges threatening the survival of rural hospitals, and the flawed plan to turn these hospitals into triage-only facilities. We discuss the urgent need for sustainable solutions to prevent a worsening two-tiered health care system and ensure that rural patients have access to comprehensive medical care. Banu Symington is a hematology-oncology physician. Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft. DAX Copilot, by Microsoft, is your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows. DAX Copilot allows physicians to do more with less and turn their words into a powerful productivity tool. DAX Copilot automates clinical documentation—making it available in the EHR within minutes—and clinical workflows, including referral letters, after-visit summaries, style and formatting customizations, and more. 70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences. Discover AI-powered solutions for clinical documentation and workflows. Click here to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. 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

Oct 17, 2024 • 21min
Why the future of depression treatment may be magnetic
We speak with Heather Luing, a psychiatrist specializing in treatment-resistant depression. As depression rates in the U.S. have tripled over the last year, we explore why traditional treatments may not work for everyone and discuss innovative therapies like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Heather sheds light on how TMS offers hope for patients struggling with ongoing symptoms, the science behind it, and why it's still underutilized despite its effectiveness. Heather Luing is a psychiatrist. She discusses the KevinMD article, "Can a magnet treat depression?" Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft. Do you spend more time on administrative tasks like clinical documentation than you do with patients? You’re not alone. Clinicians report spending up to two hours on administrative tasks for each hour of patient care. Microsoft is committed to helping clinicians restore the balance with DAX Copilot, an AI-powered, voice-enabled solution that automates clinical documentation and workflows. 70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences. Help restore your work-life balance with DAX Copilot, your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows. 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

Oct 16, 2024 • 20min
Why collaboration is the key to solving health care burnout
We’re joined by Wael Saasouh, an anesthesiologist; Lisa Scardina, a health care executive; and Kim Downey, a physician advocate and physical therapist, to discuss the urgent need to restore human connections in health care. From tackling clinician burnout and moral injury to enhancing collaboration across silos, our guests share powerful insights on creating a supportive environment that values well-being and deepens the physician-patient relationship. Wael Saasouh is an anesthesiologist. Lisa Scardina is a health care executive. Kim Downey is a physician advocate and physical therapist. They discuss the KevinMD article, "Fighting burnout with deeper human connections." Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft. DAX Copilot, by Microsoft, is your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows. DAX Copilot allows physicians to do more with less and turn their words into a powerful productivity tool. DAX Copilot automates clinical documentation—making it available in the EHR within minutes—and clinical workflows, including referral letters, after-visit summaries, style and formatting customizations, and more. 70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences. Discover AI-powered solutions for clinical documentation and workflows. Click here to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. 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

Oct 15, 2024 • 17min
Why calling nurse practitioners "doctor" undermines the nursing profession
Join us for an enlightening conversation with Joseph Lanctot, a nurse practitioner, as he explores the significance of professional identity in healthcare. Joseph shares his personal experiences of being mislabelled as a doctor and explains why embracing the title of nurse is essential for preserving the unique legacy of nursing. Delving into the distinct skills and versatile roles that nurse practitioners bring to patient care, Joseph highlights the challenges and triumphs of advocating for respect and recognition within the medical community. Joseph Lanctot is a nurse practitioner. He discusses the KevinMD article, "Stop calling me 'doctor': the nurse practitioner’s fight for recognition." Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft. DAX Copilot, by Microsoft, is your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows. DAX Copilot allows physicians to do more with less and turn their words into a powerful productivity tool. DAX Copilot automates clinical documentation—making it available in the EHR within minutes—and clinical workflows, including referral letters, after-visit summaries, style and formatting customizations, and more. 70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences. Discover AI-powered solutions for clinical documentation and workflows. Click here to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. 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

Oct 14, 2024 • 21min
From patients to clients: the tragic business of mental health care explained
We sit down with Nicholas Rosenlicht, psychiatrist and author of My Brother’s Keeper: The Untold Stories Behind the Business of Mental Health―and How to Stop the Abandonment of the Mentally Ill. Dr. Rosenlicht unpacks the troubling shift from viewing individuals with mental health issues as "patients" to labeling them as "clients," revealing how this change in language has eroded rights, altered care, and reframed the therapeutic relationship. Nicholas Rosenlicht is a psychiatrist and author of My Brother’s Keeper: The Untold Stories Behind the Business of Mental Health―and How to Stop the Abandonment of the Mentally Ill. He discusses the KevinMD article, "The dangerous shift in mental health: Are we clients or patients?" Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft. DAX Copilot, by Microsoft, is your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows. DAX Copilot allows physicians to do more with less and turn their words into a powerful productivity tool. DAX Copilot automates clinical documentation—making it available in the EHR within minutes—and clinical workflows, including referral letters, after-visit summaries, style and formatting customizations, and more. 70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences. Discover AI-powered solutions for clinical documentation and workflows. Click here to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. 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

Oct 13, 2024 • 20min
How food marketing to kids is harming their health and what we can do
Join Manuel Arango, the director of Health Policy & Advocacy at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. We dive into the pressing issue of food marketing to children, exploring how these strategies impact kids' health and dietary habits. Manuel shares insights into the ongoing efforts to regulate unhealthy food and beverage marketing in Canada, why it's crucial for the government to act, and how parents can navigate the challenges posed by aggressive marketing tactics. Manuel Arango is the director of Health Policy & Advocacy at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. He discusses the KevinMD article, "Why my 5-year-old is helping with my PhD thesis." Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft. Do you spend more time on administrative tasks like clinical documentation than you do with patients? You’re not alone. Clinicians report spending up to two hours on administrative tasks for each hour of patient care. Microsoft is committed to helping clinicians restore the balance with DAX Copilot, an AI-powered, voice-enabled solution that automates clinical documentation and workflows. 70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences. Help restore your work-life balance with DAX Copilot, your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows. 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

Oct 12, 2024 • 23min
How this pediatrician overcame cerebral palsy and discrimination in medicine
We welcome Ron M. Aryel, a pediatrician who shares his powerful journey through medical school and residency as a physician with cerebral palsy. Facing discrimination, ableism, and hostility from colleagues and superiors, Ron persevered and built a remarkable career. Join us as we discuss the challenges of navigating medical hierarchies, the importance of empathy, and the need for systemic changes to support physicians with disabilities in the medical field. Ron M. Aryel is a pediatrician. He discusses the KevinMD article, "How a doctor with cerebral palsy defied the odds and transformed health care." Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft. Do you spend more time on administrative tasks like clinical documentation than you do with patients? You’re not alone. Clinicians report spending up to two hours on administrative tasks for each hour of patient care. Microsoft is committed to helping clinicians restore the balance with DAX Copilot, an AI-powered, voice-enabled solution that automates clinical documentation and workflows. 70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences. Help restore your work-life balance with DAX Copilot, your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows. 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