

Medicine Redefined
Altamash Raja, DO and Darsh Shah, DO
Medicine Redefined challenges outdated conventions by elevating conversations around what health truly means. Hosts Dr. Darsh Shah and Dr. Altamash Raja spotlight clinicians, scientists, thought leaders, and reformers who are reshaping how we think about physical, mental, metabolic, and systemic health. While the healthcare system focuses on treating disease, our guests focus on optimizing human potential. From sleep and nutrition to stress resilience and lifestyle medicine, discover how forward-thinking practitioners are putting the health back in healthcare.
Episodes
Mentioned books

7 snips
Mar 3, 2025 • 1h 1min
169. Feeling Stressed is Optional: Redefining Burnout, Identity & Purpose | Robyn Tiger, MD
Dr. Robyn Tiger, a board-certified physician and founder of StressFreeMD, shares her transformative journey from burnout to well-being. She discusses the importance of identifying beyond labels like 'doctor' to enhance personal growth. Dr. Tiger explores the dual nature of stress, emphasizing healthy, motivating stress over chronic distress. She provides practical self-care strategies for busy professionals and advocates for a deeper connection to purpose, encouraging healthcare workers to prioritize mental health and resilience.

Feb 17, 2025 • 1h 29min
168. Rewiring the Brain: Unlocking the Secrets to Neurodegenerative Disease Prevention | Leonaura Rhodes, MBChB
Today, we are honored to welcome Dr. Leonaura Rhodes, a physician, public health expert, neurotherapist, and certified brain health coach. With over three decades of experience, she has dedicated her career to helping individuals optimize brain function, manage stress, and design fulfilling lives. Dr. Rhodes combines her expertise in medicine, coaching, and neuroscience to empower people with actionable strategies for peak health and longevity.In this episode, we explore neurodegenerative diseases, the lifestyle factors that influence brain health, and practical steps to protect cognitive function as we age. Topics include:• Understanding neurodegenerative diseases: causes, progression, and common types like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and vascular dementia.• The role of genetics vs. lifestyle—can we prevent cognitive decline?• The 11 key factors that influence brain aging and cognitive function.• The power of exercise, sleep, and diet in maintaining long-term brain health.• How stress, inflammation, and gut health contribute to neurodegeneration.• The latest insights on supplements like creatine and their impact on brain performance.• How to build a resilient mind and optimize mental well-being through mindfulness and stress management.

7 snips
Feb 3, 2025 • 56min
167. Hype vs. Reality: The Biggest Health Trends of 2025
Explore the 2025 health trends that are set to shape the future, from the rise of AI in healthcare to a shift away from traditional insurance models. Discover the truth behind wearables and the hype around biohacking. Hear a personal story about surgical recovery, detailing lessons on nutrition and muscle loss. Learn about the importance of sleep regularity and the emerging trends in pain management alternatives. Plus, insights on the comeback of walking and the rise of alcohol alternatives make this a must-listen!

Jan 20, 2025 • 1h 26min
166. Bridging Health and Design Through Architecture and Sustainable Agriculture | Denzel Hill
Denzel Hill is an architectural designer with a unique perspective, aiming to connect the built world with nature to create healthier communities. He is the founder of Under One Sun Creative Consulting, an architectural design and visualization company. His company focuses on providing architectural drawings for custom residential builders and affordable home developers, emphasizing sustainability and communication. Denzel's vision focuses on designing healthy spaces with an emphasis on food security and a high quality of life. He is passionate about incorporating agriculture into the residential landscape, envisioning homes and communities that integrate elements for food production. Denzel is also committed to teaching and mentorship, believing it is key for progress. His journey is also informed by his background as a student-athlete at Columbia University, where he developed resilience, discipline, and perseverance
Mentioned in the show:
Tower Garden
The Biggest Little Farm
What The Health
Social media:
Substack
Instagram
Linkedin

Jan 6, 2025 • 48min
165. Can We Rebuild Trust in Healthcare After the COVID-19 Pandemic? | Heather Hammerstedt, MD, MPH
Dr. Heather Hammerstedt is an emergency medicine physician, lifestyle medicine coach, and founder of Wholist Health. With over 20 years of experience in acute and chronic care, she has dedicated her career to addressing the root causes of illness through integrative approaches. Dr. Hammerstedt’s unique perspective combines her frontline emergency medicine work with her passion for coaching patients on nutrition, mindfulness, and movement.
In this episode, we discuss:
Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and its ongoing impact on healthcare inefficiencies.
The growing distrust between patients and providers and its implications for care.
Alarmism in health messaging and the role of social media health experts.
Who should lead public health conversations: clinicians, influencers, or multidisciplinary teams?
Strategies for clinicians to navigate systemic barriers and moral injury.
Simple lifestyle changes—nutrition, sleep, and movement—that can transform health.
Resources mentioned in the show:
JAMA Network Open: Proposed Nutrition Competencies for Medical Students and Physician Trainees
Wholist Health
Dr. Matt Ramsey’s Podcast: 43cc

Dec 26, 2024 • 58min
164. Health Hijacked: Insurance Greed, Therapy Culture, and Alarmist Health Experts
Altamash and Darsh are back to discuss current events. Topics covered in the episode include:
Current insurance industry issues - Brian Thompson, BCBS
Therapy Culture
"Health Experts"
Resources mentioned in the show:
Mark Manson episode
Tangle News on CEO Shooting - Must Read

Dec 26, 2024 • 1h 12min
163. Is Medicine Overlooking the Role of Psilocybin and Psychedelics? | Lida Fatemi, DO, MPH
Dr. Lida Fatemi, DO, MPH is a board-certified internal medicine physician, educator, speaker, certified physician coach, and founder of the Conscious Physician Method. A best-selling author and leader in the integration of psychedelics into medicine, Dr. Fatemi has gained national recognition for her innovative approach to healing trauma, burnout, and mental health challenges. Her work combines evidence-based medicine with holistic practices, focusing on helping healthcare professionals and patients rediscover vitality, joy, and balance.
Dr. Fatemi’s personal experiences, including growing up under a terrorist regime in Iran and surviving war, deeply inform her passion for alternative healing methods and her commitment to changing the healthcare landscape. As a trailblazer in the use of psilocybin and other integrative therapies, she has spent over a decade educating others on the potential of these treatments to transform lives and redefine care.
In this episode, we explore Dr. Fatemi’s journey into medicine and psychedelics, the science and culture of psilocybin, and its applications in addressing mental health, addiction, and burnout. We’ll also discuss how these therapies can be integrated into mainstream healthcare, overcoming stigma, and the future of psychedelics in medicine.
Mentioned in the show:
Psilocybin
MAPS
Social Media:
Instagram
Conscious Physician Podcast

Dec 26, 2024 • 1h 2min
162. Should Nature Be The 7th Pillar of Lifestyle Medicine? | Melissa Sundermann, DO
Dr. Melissa Sundermann (aka Doctor Outdoors) is a plant-based physician, double board certified in both Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine and has been practicing medicine for over 20 years. She also has training in Integrative Medicine through the University of Michigan and has completed a Professional Training Program in Mind Body Medicine through the Center for Mind Body Medicine based in Washington, DC. She has been featured in several Lifestyle Medicine articles and podcasts as well as an invited speaker for health/medical events.
Dr. Sundermann currently practices concierge medicine at LifeSpan Medicine. She does her best to practice what she preaches and enjoys running, biking, hiking, skiing and spending time outdoors and creating adventures with her husband, 2 college-age children and 2 dogs. She is a 10x Boston Marathon finisher, and 3x Full Ironman Triathlon finisher.
Social Media:
Instagram
LinkedInMentioned in the show:Lifestyle Medicine PillarsNature as the 7th PillarForest BathingSun ExposureWater Exposure

Dec 26, 2024 • 1h
161. Navigating Student Loans Amidst The Chaos | Meagan McGuire
Meagan McGuire is back on the show to break down the current landscape of student loans. Meagan Landress is a student loan consultant for Student Loan Planner. She obtained her finance degree at The Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University. In March 2017, Meagan started her practice, Financial Coach Meagan, to help people begin their financial planning journey with student loan debt in the mix.
In this episode, we discuss:
Recent court rulings and injunctions against the SAVE plan
What the election results may mean for student loans and borrowers
The state of PSLF longterm
PSLF buyback program
Contingency planning

Dec 26, 2024 • 49min
160. Progress Note #19: The Return of Medicine Redefined, Life Updates & Discussing Alex Hormozi x Chris Williamson
We're baaaccckkk!!
In this episode, we provide some life updates over the last 4 months. We'll also dive into the topics of work, success, and personal development through the lens of a couple podcasts we listed to with Alex Hormozi on Chris Williamson's Modern Wisdom podcast.
24 Controversial Truth About Success & Failue
21 Brutally Honest Lessons to Improve Your Life


