
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

Aug 23, 2024 • 19min
An inspirational journey through chemotherapy and immunotherapy
Join Deborah C. Smith, a nurse who shares her courageous battle with T-cell lymphocytic leukemia and aplastic anemia. Diagnosed in 2017, Deborah navigated extreme fatigue, frequent transfusions, and challenging chemotherapy regimens before finding hope in ATGAM equine immunotherapy. Despite facing severe side effects and a subsequent diagnosis of congestive heart failure, Deborah's resilience and unique perspective as both a nurse and a patient shine through. Her story offers valuable insights into managing serious illness and underscores the importance of patient advocacy and informed decision-making. Deborah C. Smith is a nurse. She discusses the KevinMD article, "Battling aplastic anemia: my journey with ATGAM equine therapy." Our presenting sponsor is Nuance, a Microsoft company. Together, Microsoft and Nuance are leveraging their rich digital technology and advanced AI capabilities to tackle some of health care's biggest challenges. AI-driven technology promises to revolutionize patient and provider experiences with clinical documentation that writes itself. The Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience, or DAX for short, is a voice-enabled solution that automatically captures patient encounters securely and accurately at the point of care. DAX Copilot combines proven conversational and ambient AI with the most advanced generative AI in a mobile application that integrates directly with your existing workflows. Physicians who use DAX have reported a 50 percent decrease in documentation time and a 70 percent reduction in feelings of burnout, and 85 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational. Discover AI-powered clinical documentation that writes itself. Visit https://nuance.com/daxinaction to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. VISIT SPONSOR → https://nuance.com/daxinaction 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

Aug 22, 2024 • 19min
Tax-free income with the Augusta rule
In this episode, we explore the Augusta Rule, a unique tax strategy that allows homeowners to rent out their property for up to 14 days annually without paying taxes on the rental income. Our guest, Alexis E. Gallati, a tax strategist, will break down the fundamentals of the Augusta Rule, its benefits, and how homeowners can implement this strategy while complying with IRS regulations. Alexis will share insights on setting competitive rental rates, documenting compliance, and maximizing the potential of this tax exemption. Alexis E. Gallati is a tax strategist. She discusses the KevinMD article, "How doctors can use the Augusta Rule to save on taxes." Our presenting sponsor is Nuance, a Microsoft company. Together, Microsoft and Nuance are leveraging their rich digital technology and advanced AI capabilities to tackle some of health care's biggest challenges. AI-driven technology promises to revolutionize patient and provider experiences with clinical documentation that writes itself. The Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience, or DAX for short, is a voice-enabled solution that automatically captures patient encounters securely and accurately at the point of care. DAX Copilot combines proven conversational and ambient AI with the most advanced generative AI in a mobile application that integrates directly with your existing workflows. Physicians who use DAX have reported a 50 percent decrease in documentation time and a 70 percent reduction in feelings of burnout, and 85 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational. Discover AI-powered clinical documentation that writes itself. Visit https://nuance.com/daxinaction to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. VISIT SPONSOR → https://nuance.com/daxinaction 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

Aug 21, 2024 • 39min
Consider Texila American University in Guyana for medical school
In today's special sponsored episode, we feature Texila American University College of Medicine (TAUCOM) in Guyana. Dr. Dheeraj Bansal, dean of medicine, and Dr. Nisarg Patel, director of admissions. provide an in-depth look into why TAUCOM is a compelling choice for aspiring medical students. They discuss the university’s unique curriculum, which includes dual clinical rotations in both the U.S. and Guyana, and emphasize the significance of TAUCOM’s accreditations. Additionally, they highlight how TAUCOM supports its students beyond academics with comprehensive career counseling, ample research opportunities, and robust mental health services. Learn more about why Texila American University College of Medicine could be the right fit. VISIT SPONSOR → https://tau.edu.gy/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

Aug 20, 2024 • 21min
From marathoner to heart health advocate
We dive into the intriguing world of endurance exercise and cardiovascular health with our guest, John C. Hagan III, an ophthalmologist and veteran endurance athlete. John shares his personal journey with long-distance running and the unexpected health challenges he encountered. We explore the latest research on the potential risks of excessive endurance exercise, the evolving medical perspectives on physical activity, and how Type-A personalities, common in the medical field, can find a healthier balance. Learn about the coronary artery calcium score (CACS), the concept of the "Goldilocks Zone" for exercise, and practical advice for maintaining cardiovascular health. John C. Hagan III is an ophthalmologist. He discusses the KevinMD article, "From marathons to moderation: Rethinking endurance exercise." Our presenting sponsor is Nuance, a Microsoft company. 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 care provided. Nuance, a Microsoft company, is committed to helping clinicians restore the balance with Dragon Ambient eXperience – or DAX for short. DAX is an AI-powered, voice-enabled solution that helps physicians cut documentation time in half. DAX Copilot combines proven conversational and ambient AI with the most advanced generative AI in a mobile application that integrates directly with your existing workflows. DAX Copilot can be easily enabled within the workflow of the Dragon Medical application to bring the power of ambient technology to more clinicians faster while leveraging the proven and powerful capabilities used by over 550,000 physicians. Explore DAX Copilot today. Visit https://nuance.com/daxinaction to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. Discover clinical documentation that writes itself and reclaim your work-life balance. VISIT SPONSOR → https://nuance.com/daxinaction 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

Aug 19, 2024 • 23min
Balancing values and metrics: the modern physician's dilemma
Join us for an insightful podcast episode featuring Shideh Shafie, an emergency physician. We'll delve into the profound values that drive physicians to serve humanity and alleviate suffering, and discuss the impact of corporate-driven metrics on the medical field. Shideh shares her experiences and strategies for balancing institutional pressures with a commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered care. Shideh Shafie is an emergency physician. She discusses the KevinMD article, "Navigating profit-driven metrics: Upholding core values in medicine." Our presenting sponsor is Nuance, a Microsoft company. 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 care provided. Nuance, a Microsoft company, is committed to helping clinicians restore the balance with Dragon Ambient eXperience – or DAX for short. DAX is an AI-powered, voice-enabled solution that helps physicians cut documentation time in half. DAX Copilot combines proven conversational and ambient AI with the most advanced generative AI in a mobile application that integrates directly with your existing workflows. DAX Copilot can be easily enabled within the workflow of the Dragon Medical application to bring the power of ambient technology to more clinicians faster while leveraging the proven and powerful capabilities used by over 550,000 physicians. Explore DAX Copilot today. Visit https://nuance.com/daxinaction to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. Discover clinical documentation that writes itself and reclaim your work-life balance. VISIT SPONSOR → https://nuance.com/daxinaction 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

Aug 18, 2024 • 18min
Access to uterine artery embolization for all women
Join Nikki Keefe, an interventional radiologist, as we delve into the complexities of uterine fibroids and the disparities in treatment access. Despite uterine fibroids affecting up to 70 percent of women and causing severe symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and infertility, many, especially Hispanic and rural patients, are unaware of uterine artery embolization (UAE), a minimally invasive and effective treatment option. Nikki will discuss the various treatment options, the benefits of UAE, and the significant barriers to awareness and access, highlighting the urgent need for improved education and health care equity. Nikki Keefe is an interventional radiologist. She discusses the KevinMD article, co-authored by Matt Patetta, MD, Maureen Kohi, MD, Gloria Salazar, MD, Kira Griffith, and Josh Walker, "Overcoming disparity in access to uterine artery embolization." Our presenting sponsor is Nuance, a Microsoft company. 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 care provided. Nuance, a Microsoft company, is committed to helping clinicians restore the balance with Dragon Ambient eXperience – or DAX for short. DAX is an AI-powered, voice-enabled solution that helps physicians cut documentation time in half. DAX Copilot combines proven conversational and ambient AI with the most advanced generative AI in a mobile application that integrates directly with your existing workflows. DAX Copilot can be easily enabled within the workflow of the Dragon Medical application to bring the power of ambient technology to more clinicians faster while leveraging the proven and powerful capabilities used by over 550,000 physicians. Explore DAX Copilot today. Visit https://nuance.com/daxinaction to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. Discover clinical documentation that writes itself and reclaim your work-life balance. VISIT SPONSOR → https://nuance.com/daxinaction 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

Aug 17, 2024 • 22min
Battling burnout in pediatric intensive care
We delve into the critical issue of physician burnout with Jillian Bybee, a pediatric intensive care physician. Jillian shares her firsthand experiences from the front lines of health care, discussing the unique challenges faced by pediatric intensivists and the broader implications for medical professionals. Tune in as we explore strategies for managing stress, the importance of support systems, and innovative approaches to maintaining well-being in the high-pressure world of critical care. Jillian Bybee is a pediatric intensive care physician. She discusses the KevinMD article, "5 lessons for a better life: observations from a front row seat for the highs and lows." Our presenting sponsor is Nuance, a Microsoft company. 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 care provided. Nuance, a Microsoft company, is committed to helping clinicians restore the balance with Dragon Ambient eXperience – or DAX for short. DAX is an AI-powered, voice-enabled solution that helps physicians cut documentation time in half. DAX Copilot combines proven conversational and ambient AI with the most advanced generative AI in a mobile application that integrates directly with your existing workflows. DAX Copilot can be easily enabled within the workflow of the Dragon Medical application to bring the power of ambient technology to more clinicians faster while leveraging the proven and powerful capabilities used by over 550,000 physicians. Explore DAX Copilot today. Visit https://nuance.com/daxinaction to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. Discover clinical documentation that writes itself and reclaim your work-life balance. VISIT SPONSOR → https://nuance.com/daxinaction 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

Aug 16, 2024 • 21min
AI and empathy: Transforming cancer patient support
Join us in this insightful episode as we sit down with Isabelle Tran, a medical student and writer, to explore the intersection of technology and health. Inspired by her poem "AI Ally," Isabelle delves into the emotional journey of patients receiving a serious diagnosis like thyroid cancer. We discuss how AI and search engines can be both a lifeline and a source of anxiety, the balance between digital and human support, and the role of narrative medicine in understanding patient experiences. Isabelle Tran is a medical student. She discusses the KevinMD article, "A modern tale of thyroid cancer: AI, haikus, and healing." Our presenting sponsor is Nuance, a Microsoft company. 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 care provided. Nuance, a Microsoft company, is committed to helping clinicians restore the balance with Dragon Ambient eXperience – or DAX for short. DAX is an AI-powered, voice-enabled solution that helps physicians cut documentation time in half. DAX Copilot combines proven conversational and ambient AI with the most advanced generative AI in a mobile application that integrates directly with your existing workflows. DAX Copilot can be easily enabled within the workflow of the Dragon Medical application to bring the power of ambient technology to more clinicians faster while leveraging the proven and powerful capabilities used by over 550,000 physicians. Explore DAX Copilot today. Visit https://nuance.com/daxinaction to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. Discover clinical documentation that writes itself and reclaim your work-life balance. VISIT SPONSOR → https://nuance.com/daxinaction 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

Aug 15, 2024 • 15min
Compensation for mentoring residents
Join us as we delve into the evolving landscape of physician employment agreements with Dennis Hursh, an attorney. Discover the significance of the new Individual Specialty Residency Program Agreements that compensate physicians for mentoring residents. We explore the potential long-term impacts on medical education, the challenges of implementing these agreements, and their implications for physician morale and job satisfaction. Gain valuable advice on negotiating employment contracts and understand how these changes reflect a broader recognition of physicians' professionalism and contributions beyond direct patient care. Dennis Hursh is a veteran attorney with over 40 years of experience in health law. He is founder, Physician Agreements Health Law, which offers a fixed fee review of physician employment agreements to protect physicians in one of the biggest transactions of their careers. He can also be reached on Facebook and LinkedIn. He discusses the KevinMD article, "The tiniest ray of hope for reasonable physician compensation?" Our presenting sponsor is Nuance, a Microsoft company. 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 care provided. Nuance, a Microsoft company, is committed to helping clinicians restore the balance with Dragon Ambient eXperience – or DAX for short. DAX is an AI-powered, voice-enabled solution that helps physicians cut documentation time in half. DAX Copilot combines proven conversational and ambient AI with the most advanced generative AI in a mobile application that integrates directly with your existing workflows. DAX Copilot can be easily enabled within the workflow of the Dragon Medical application to bring the power of ambient technology to more clinicians faster while leveraging the proven and powerful capabilities used by over 550,000 physicians. Explore DAX Copilot today. Visit https://nuance.com/daxinaction to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. Discover clinical documentation that writes itself and reclaim your work-life balance. VISIT SPONSOR → https://nuance.com/daxinaction 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

Aug 14, 2024 • 21min
Challenging the legal barriers of cross-state telemedicine
Join radiation oncologists Shannon MacDonald and Sean McBride as they delve into the evolving landscape of telemedicine in oncology. They discuss the significant improvements telemedicine brought during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges and legal barriers now faced with cross-state telemedicine, and how these restrictions impact patient care, particularly for those in rural areas or who frequently travel. With a focus on potential legislative changes and ethical considerations, Shannon and Sean offer their expert perspectives on how we can shape a more accessible and equitable future for cancer care. Shannon MacDonald is a radiation oncologist specializing in proton therapy, pediatrics, sarcoma, and skull base tumors. She pioneered the use of proton therapy for locally advanced breast cancer. She can be reached on X @shannonmacdonmd and Instagram @shannon_mcdonald18. She practices as Mass General Brigham, Boston, MA. Sean McBride is a radiation oncologist. They discuss the KevinMD article, "Why saving interstate telehealth should matter to you." Our presenting sponsor is Nuance, a Microsoft company. 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 care provided. Nuance, a Microsoft company, is committed to helping clinicians restore the balance with Dragon Ambient eXperience – or DAX for short. DAX is an AI-powered, voice-enabled solution that helps physicians cut documentation time in half. DAX Copilot combines proven conversational and ambient AI with the most advanced generative AI in a mobile application that integrates directly with your existing workflows. DAX Copilot can be easily enabled within the workflow of the Dragon Medical application to bring the power of ambient technology to more clinicians faster while leveraging the proven and powerful capabilities used by over 550,000 physicians. Explore DAX Copilot today. Visit https://nuance.com/daxinaction to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. Discover clinical documentation that writes itself and reclaim your work-life balance. VISIT SPONSOR → https://nuance.com/daxinaction 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