The Podcast by KevinMD

Health law attorney Dennis Hursh discusses his article, "Why hospitals are quietly capping top doctors' pay." For nearly 40 years, he has reviewed physician employment agreements and reveals a shocking recent trend: hospitals are increasingly capping physician salaries, often at the 90th or even 75th percentile of national benchmarks. Dennis explains that hospitals often justify this practice with the ludicrous claim that it prevents fraud, an argument that illogically presumes 10 to 25 percent of the top-earning physicians are breaking the law. The conversation details the legitimate reasons for high compensation—from top-tier productivity to practicing in undesirable locations—and exposes the flaw in allowing hospitals to use their own biased, in-house staff to determine "fair market value." Listeners will learn actionable advice on how to demand an independent, third-party valuation and the specific contract language needed to protect their compensation. Finally, Dennis warns how this practice has an insidious, long-term effect of artificially lowering salary benchmarks for all physicians, penalizing the very workhorses the health care system relies on. 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

Adjunct professor of psychiatry Arthur Lazarus discusses his article, "How inspiration and family stories shape our most meaningful moments," which presents a moving fictional story excerpted from his book. The narrative centers on Thad, a retired physician and aspiring writer, and his two daughters, one of whom is a new doctor herself. Arthur uses their dinner-table debate over creative license versus factual accuracy in Thad's writing to explore the nature of inspiration. The conversation delves into how we find authenticity in storytelling, with the father comparing his creative spark to Bruce Springsteen playing an unplanned song at a concert—arguing that fiction can reveal truths that reality obscures. The theme deepens as the family shares the powerful stories behind their names, revealing how a movie or a concert memory can create a legacy of meaning. Ultimately, the story culminates in the birth of a new baby, whose name connects a moment of shared joy between father and daughter, illustrating how inspiration is a spark that gets passed between generations, defining our most cherished connections. 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

Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article, "From burnout to balance: a neurosurgeon's bold career redesign." She shares the powerful story of a female neurosurgeon who, on the verge of leaving medicine for interior design, instead chose to completely redesign her career. Jessie explains how, through coaching and courage, the surgeon created a non-traditional model of working one week on and one week off, which allowed her to find deep fulfillment in both her personal and professional life. The conversation explores the profound role that shame and cultural conditioning play in keeping physicians, especially women, trapped in unhealthy and misaligned roles. Listeners will learn why feeling stuck is not a personal failure but often a sign that the system wasn't built for them, and how creativity, support, and questioning long-held assumptions can help any physician forge a more authentic and sustainable path in medicine. 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

Independent emergency physician Kenneth Ro discusses his article, "From survival to sovereignty: What 35 years in the ER taught me about identity, mortality, and redemption." He shares his deeply personal journey, from growing up as a bullied Korean American boy in Texas who used academic achievement as "armor," to a 35-year career on the front lines of the ER. Kenneth explains how the unprocessed trauma from his work—bookended by the AIDS and COVID-19 pandemics—led to a life of compartmentalization and addiction, creating two versions of himself: one who saved lives and one who sabotaged his own. The conversation explores his spiritual awakening and how he began to dismantle an identity built on perfection and pain. Kenneth introduces his new personal mission, the Nova Oath™, which evolves the Hippocratic principle of "do no harm" to "do more good" by prioritizing integrity, self-care, and presence over performance. This is a story of turning scars into scaffolding and choosing to consciously write a new, more honest chapter in life. 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

Certified coach Kathleen Muldoon discusses her article, "Choosing between care and country: a dual citizen's Independence Day reflection." As a dual U.S. and Canadian citizen and mother to a child with complex health care needs, she explores the profound tension of navigating two vastly different systems. Kathleen recounts the painful, personal decision to turn down a job in her native Canada after discovering its universal system, while philosophically aligned with her values, would likely fail to provide the timely, specialized support her son requires. The conversation delves into the "quiet grief" of choosing the fragmented but fast-moving U.S. system to meet her son's needs at the cost of her own well-being and a return to her homeland. Kathleen explains how this trade-off informs her work in medical humanities, highlighting how health care systems reflect deep cultural priorities about interdependence and worthiness, and the hidden emotional costs for the caregivers who must live within them. The key takeaway is that no system is perfect, and true citizenship involves loving a country enough to name its limits and bravely holding the tension of uncomfortable choices. 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

Infectious disease physician Janet A. Jokela discusses her article, "Measles is back: Why vaccination is more vital than ever." Recounting her own experience diagnosing a case in the 1990s, Janet contrasts that contained incident with the current crisis in 2025, which has seen over 1000 cases and the first pediatric deaths in the U.S. in 22 years. The conversation covers the critical 95 percent vaccination rate required for herd immunity, a threshold the country is falling below, and explains why measles is one of the most contagious diseases known. Janet dismantles dangerous misinformation about the MMR vaccine and ineffective alternative treatments, emphasizing that the vaccine is 97 percent effective and has saved millions of lives. For listeners, the key takeaways are to understand the severe, and sometimes fatal, complications of measles—such as pneumonia and encephalitis—and to recognize that the benefits of the MMR vaccine far outweigh any risks. 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

Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article, "Why judgment is hurting doctors—and how mindfulness can heal." She argues that the culture of medicine is steeped in judgment—from the language of "noncompliant" patients to the intense scrutiny of training—and that this culture is crippling physicians. Jessie explains that while judgment is often disguised as a tool for maintaining high standards, it actually drives shame, blame, and exhaustion rather than excellence. The conversation explores the high cost of this mindset, which drains energy and creates disconnection from patients and purpose. As a radical alternative, Jessie introduces the concept of Maitri, or unconditional friendliness, a mindfulness practice of replacing reflexive judgment with curiosity, compassion, and generosity. Listeners will learn practical ways to reframe feedback, opt out of the judgment cycle, and use mindfulness to protect their energy, build healthier teams, and begin to heal medicine from the inside out. 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

Nationally recognized psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article, "How deep transcranial magnetic stimulation is transforming mental health care." He shares his experience with deep TMS (dTMS), a non-invasive neuromodulation therapy that offers rapid relief for patients with severe depression, OCD, and other conditions that have resisted conventional treatment. Muhamad explains how recent accelerated protocols can condense weeks of therapy into a single five-day period, achieving remission rates as high as 79 percent. Contrasting this with the slow progress and side effects of many medications, he highlights the safety of dTMS, which requires no anesthesia and does not cause memory impairment like ECT. Through powerful patient stories, the conversation serves as a call to action for clinicians, patients, and policymakers to overcome insurance barriers and lack of awareness, advocating for a new standard of care where rapid, profound healing is not just an aspiration, but a reality. 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 and author Eric Topol discusses his article, "What super agers can teach us about longevity and health span," which is an excerpt from his new book, Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity. He introduces the critical difference between lifespan (total years lived) and health span (years lived in optimal health). Eric shares the surprising results of his "Wellderly" study, which sequenced the genomes of over a thousand healthy adults over age eighty. The study found that their exceptional health was not primarily due to protective genes, but was instead strongly correlated with lifestyle factors like being thinner, exercising more, and having robust social connections. Contrasting this group with the 60 percent of U.S. adults who have at least one chronic disease, he argues that the goal shouldn't just be a long life, but a long and healthy one. The conversation clarifies two paths to this goal—slowing aging itself or delaying disease—and makes the case that focusing on preventing and delaying chronic illness is the most evidence-based approach we can all take to maximize our health span. 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 Lauren Weber and critical care physician Jess Bunin, co-founders of All Levels Leadership, discuss their article, "Not all heroes wear capes: Sometimes they just speak up in meetings." They reframe medical heroism, arguing that the most courageous acts often happen not in a code blue, but in a conference room. Lauren and Jess define this as moral courage: the quiet bravery to question a dismissive attending, flag an unsafe policy, or challenge the status quo, even within the rigid hierarchy of medicine. Drawing on the work of thinkers like Ira Chaleff, they explore the role of the "courageous follower" and assert that true professionalism includes speaking up, not staying silent. The conversation makes the case that these small, uncomfortable acts of integrity create a "courageous contagion," empowering colleagues and building safer systems one conversation at a time, and that these everyday heroes deserve our full support and solidarity. 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