

Medicine Redefined
Darsh Shah, DO and Altamash Raja, 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Medicine Redefined challenges outdated conventions by elevating conversations around what health truly means.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

May 6, 2024 • 1h 15min
154. The Attractiveness of Functional Medicine & Avoiding Sick Care Mentality | Joseph Carchedi, MD
Joseph Carchedi, MD, is a Board Certified Practitioner of the world renown Institute of Functional Medicine and founder of the Lower Gwynedd Functional Medicine Institute.
Dr. Carchedi earned his medical degree at Università degli Studi di Roma la Sapienza-Facoltà di Medicina in Rome and completed his residency at Finch University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School in Chicago, IL. He is board certified and has 25 + years of experience in Internal and Emergency Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Carchedi is a medical marijuana certifying physician.
Dr. Carchedi provides an integrative, functional approach to identifying the underlying causes of disease, rather than the traditional method of diagnosing and prescribing. He addresses and treats issues with immunity, disease prevention, and energy problems such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, hormonal imbalance, women’s health, cancer issues, and weight management. Dr. Carchedi also addresses and treats issues with anxiety, chronic pain, and depression with non-drug based treatments. His focus is patient-centered utilizing holistic healing by treating the mind, body, and spirit. This approach includes gene analysis (Genomics), sophisticated nutritional strategies, herbal remedies and supplements, IV therapies and the recent state of the art Platelet Rich Plasma injections, and if required, traditional pharmaceuticals. Dr. Carchedi is an avid athlete and cyclist who was also the team medical physician for various professional cycling teams from 1990’s to the present.

Apr 29, 2024 • 1h 22min
153. Succeeding in Dating and Marriage & Raising Mentally Strong Kids | Amy Morin, LCSW
Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, mental strength trainer and an international bestselling author. Her books in the 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do series have sold more than 1 million copies and been translated into more than 40 languages. She's the award-winning host of the Mentally Stronger podcast and she gave one of the most popular TEDx talks of all time. The Guardian dubbed her the "self-help guru of the moment" and Forbes refers to her as "a thought leadership star.
Follow Amy:
Website
Instagram
TED Talk
Books
Mentioned in the show:
Gottman's 4 Horseman of Conflict
Indian Matchmaking - Netflix

Apr 22, 2024 • 1h 12min
152. Why Humans Suffer, Exploring Philosophies & Understanding Growth Throughout Life
Ravi Hariprasad, MD, MPH, is the founder and CEO of Intuitive Mental Health, a start up focused on partnering with primary care physicians to deliver comprehensive and personalized mental health support. Dr. Hariprasad obtained his medical degree of the University of Pennsylvania and completed his Masters in Public Health as well as his psychiatry residency at Harvard University. Dr. Hariprasad is well versed in both Western medicine as well as holistic and complementary perspectives such as Ayurveda. His early experience as an engineer and an entrepreneur have helped him understand system design, root cause analysis, and solution development and implementation.
Mentioned in the show:
Buddhism
Existentialism
Jean-Paul Sartre
Being and Nothingness
Logotherapy
Viktor Frankl
Man's Search for Meaning
Stocism
Gabor Mate
Bhagavad Gita

Apr 15, 2024 • 1h 7min
151. Foot Health, Transition Protocol to Minimalist Shoes & Footwear in Athletes | Irene Davis, PhD, PT
Irene Davis, PhD, PT, is a Professor in the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science in the Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida. Prior to this, she was the founding Director of the Spaulding National Running Center in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Davis received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Massachusetts, and in Physical Therapy from the University of Florida. She earned her Masters degree in Biomechanics from the University of Virginia, and her PhD in Biomechanics from Pennsylvania State University. Her research is focused on the relationship between lower extremity structure, mechanics and injury and extends to the development of interventions to alter faulty mechanics through gait retraining. Her interests also include the effect of minimal footwear on mechanics and injury. She has given over 350 lectures both nationally and internationally and authored 160 publications on the topic of lower extremity mechanics during walking and running gait. She has been named one of the 50 Most Influential People in Running. She is the current President of the American College of Sports Medicine.
In this episode, we discuss:
Buying a minimalist shoe online or in the store
Transition protocol into minimalist shoes or barefoot
core
Biomechanics of the Nike Vaporfly (4% show)
Advantages and disadvantages of a carbon foot plate
The role of athletic footwear
Why older people should consider minimalist shoes
Mentioned in the show:
Vivobareboot
Xero Shoes
Merrell Shoes
Nike Vaporfly (4%) Shoes
Carbon Fiber Plate - Bone Stress Injuries
Pickleball
LeBron James Feet

Apr 8, 2024 • 1h 8min
150. Learning From Health Influencers and Documentaries, Nutrition in Mental Health and MSK Injuries & Revisiting Timeless Principles | EC Synkowski, MS
EC Synkowski is a nutritionist, CrossFit Level 4 Coach, and the owner of OptimizeMe Nutrition. EC is the creator of the #800gchallenge and #LazyMacros. Her podcast TheConsistencyProject is a medium for education where she elaborates on the nuances of nutrition and translates evidence-based scientific data into practical solutions for everyday success.
EC's academic background
BS in biochemical engineering
MS in environmental sciences
MS in Nutrition & Functional Medicine
Resources Mentioned in the show:
Chronic MSK Pain and Nutrition (PMID: 32086871)
You are what you eat (Netflix)
Blue Zones (Netflix)
Follow EC:
webstie
Instagram

Apr 1, 2024 • 40min
149. Progress Note #17: Fasted Cardio & Training, Optimizing Nutrition, Workouts, Sleep, and Stress During Ramadan
In this episode, Dr. Darsh and Dr. Altamash take a deep dive into fasted cardio and training. Is it beneficial? Or do we just think we are burning more fat?
Altamash also talks about his experience with training, sleep, stress, and nutrition during the holy month of Ramadan.
For anyone who is, was, or has thought about fasting in any capacity, this is the episode for you!
Studies mentioned in the show:
Breakfast Omission Reduces Subsequent Resistance Exercise Performance (PMID: 30707135)
Viscous placebo and carbohydrate breakfasts decrease appetite and increase resistance exercise performance (PMID: 32174286)
Starving Your Performance? Reduced Preexercise Hunger Increases Resistance Exercise Performance (PMID: 34872065)
The acute effect of fasted exercise on energy intake, energy expenditure, subjective hunger and gastrointestinal hormone release compared to fed exercise in healthy individuals: a systematic review and network meta-analysis (PMID: 3473283)
Does observance of Ramadan affect sleep in athletes and physically active individuals? A systematic review and meta-analysis (PMID: 34693577)

Mar 25, 2024 • 1h 23min
148. Physique Optimization: Psychology, Longevity & Lifestyle (Part 2) | Joe Farese
Joe Farese is a natural-for-life pro bodybuilder who has competed for the last 36 years consecutively. He has also worked over the past 36 years as a trainer and health coach for populations ranging from young athletes to seniors.
Joe's recent bodybuilding resume includes:
2021 WNBF Pro Mr. Universe winner
2021 and 2022 Pro Masters Mr. America winner
2023 Pro Mr. America lightweight class winner and Grandmasters (50+) Mr America class winner
In this episode, we discuss:
Sleep and distress tolerance in relation to physique transformation
The power of social connection
Longevity in bodybuilding
Injury prevention
Drug testing and steroids in bodybuilding
The psychology of bodybuilding
Body dysmorphia and body image
Resources mentioned in the show:
Mike Israetel on sleep for muscle growth (Modern Wisdom)
Joe on the three kinds of performance intelligence: mind, body, and emotion

Mar 18, 2024 • 1h 47min
147. Physique Optimization: Muscle Building & Fat Loss (Part I) | Joe Farese
Joe Farese is a natural-for-life pro bodybuilder who has competed for the last 36 years consecutively. He has also worked the past 36 years as a trainer and health coach for populations ranging from young athletes to seniors.
Joe's recent bodybuilding resume includes:
2021 WNBF Pro Mr. Universe winner
2021 and 2022 Pro Masters Mr. America winner
2023 Pro Mr. America lightweight class winner and Grandmasters (50+) Mr America class winner
In this episode, we discuss:
-Background in bodybuilding and coaching
-Competing at a high level
-Pros/Cons of “bodybuilding mentality”
-Specific training philosophies
-Traditional bodybuilding vs “functional” training
-Bodybuilding nutrition

Mar 11, 2024 • 1h 13min
146. The Rise of the Self-Determined Physician | Jimmy Turner, MD
Dr. Jimmy Turner is an academic anesthesiologist, entrepreneur, author, and life coach. He obtained his medical degree from Wake University and then completed an Anesthesia residency at the same institution. Subsequently, he completed a Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine fellowship. After his training, he stayed on within the Department of
Anesthesia and now holds the title of Associate Professor.
Dr. Turner is passionate about teaching doctors how to create the time, financial
freedom, and mindset shifts they need to create a life they love, which he does
through books, podcasts, and his coaching program.
In this episode, we discuss:
Jimmy's origin story
Disability insurance
The arrival fallacy
Shift from physician burnout to entrepreneur burnout
the importance of setting boundaries
Jimmy’s hell yes policy
Revamping medical education to empower physicians, help promote autonomy, and minimize the risk of burnout
What makes a self-determined physician
Jimmy's FREE Book
Find Jimmy Turner:
Money Meets Medicine
The Physician Philosopher
Podcasts
Books
Coaching

Mar 4, 2024 • 35min
145. Progress Note #16: Osteopathic (DO) vs. Allopathic (MD) Medicine & The Bias Against DOs
Drs. Altamash and Darsh are both DOs - osteopathic physicians. They break down the recent biases against this branch of medicine and explain the education process as well as similarities and differences to their allopathic (MD) peers.
Mentioned in the show:
Hasan Minhaj Stand-Up
"Somebody who does something other than osteopathy"