Pediatric gastroenterologist Michele Cho-Dorado discusses her article, "Empowering our children with financial literacy: Raising bold thought leaders and compassionate changemakers." In this episode, Michele draws from her experience as a physician to highlight the financial struggles many doctors face—student debt, lifestyle inflation, and a lack of money management skills—despite years of sacrifice. She argues that teaching children financial literacy can break this cycle, equipping them with the tools to earn, save, invest, and give wisely. Beyond personal finance, Michele emphasizes integr ..read more

Physician executive Aiden Feng discusses the article, "Rising ER wait times signal larger health system challenges." In this episode, Aiden examines how increasing ED wait times reflect deeper systemic issues in the U.S. health care system, including staffing shortages, fragmented digital health solutions, and declining operational efficiencies since the pandemic. He explores the impact of isolated point solutions versus integrated technology approaches and emphasizes actionable strategies such as leveraging AI for triage and automating administrative processes. Aiden highlights the need for c ..read more

Internal medicine physician Ryan McCarthy discusses the article, "What The Far Side taught me about belonging in science." In this episode, Ryan reflects on the unexpected inspiration he found in Gary Larson's comic strip The Far Side and how it shaped his journey in science and medicine. He explores themes of belonging, the value of embracing one's uniqueness in the scientific community, and the role of humor in bridging the gap between popular culture and medical practice. Actionable takeaways include finding community in unexpected places, harnessing humor as a tool for resilience, and conf ..read more

Family physician Dan Muntean discusses the article, "The heart of family medicine: a doctor's journey of compassion and care." In this episode, Dan shares his personal journey through 30 years of practice in family medicine, reflecting on the lessons learned from his upbringing in Romania, his diverse training experiences, and the deep connections formed with his patients. He emphasizes the importance of listening, empathy, and sacrifice in patient care, and discusses actionable insights for new family doctors on embracing the true spirit of medical practice. Throughout the conversation, Dan h ..read more

Lianne Mandelbaum, a leading advocate for airline safety measures to protect food-allergic passengers, discusses the article, "Navigating the uncertainty of food allergies in air travel: a call for compassion and change." In this episode, Lianne shares personal insights into the challenges faced by travelers with food allergies, highlighting inconsistent airline policies, societal skepticism, and the urgent need for standardized procedures. She explains how simple accommodations—like pre-boarding cleaning and effective crew training—can make a critical difference in ensuring safe air travel. L ..read more

Family physician Tony Gerk discusses the article, "Even medical practices aren't immune from the high cost of employer-provided health insurance." In this episode, Tony explains the challenges small medical practices face due to skyrocketing employer-provided health insurance costs. He details the constraints imposed by reimbursement rates, the impact of facility fees on patient care, and the difficult choices small business owners must make between profits, patient access, and employee benefits. Tony also explores potential policy solutions such as capping facility fees and increasing price t ..read more

Internal medicine physician Corinne Rao discusses the article, "The Faustian bargain of modern medicine." In this episode, Corinne explores the modern health care system's trade-offs, comparing the traditional independence of private practice to the constraints of employed settings that offer financial stability and reduced administrative burdens at the cost of professional autonomy. She examines how these compromises affect the patient-physician relationship, contribute to burnout, and challenge the core values of medical practice, offering actionable insights for physicians seeking to balanc ..read more

Board-certified pediatric endocrinologist, field medical director for type 1 diabetes immunology (T1D) at Sanofi, and T1D survivor Shara Bialo discusses their article, "Improving type 1 diabetes screening awareness among women is critical. Here's why." In this episode, Shara explains the importance of early T1D screening, shares personal insights from her experience as both a doctor and a mom, and discusses key statistics revealing the gender gap in screening awareness. The conversation highlights the emotional impacts of T1D on women, the benefits of early diagnosis, and the need for tailored ..read more

Neurohospitalist and clinical neurophysiologist Franklyn Rocha Cabrero discusses their article, "Missing prescription: long-term parental leave for fathers in medicine." In this episode, Franklyn delves into the systemic and societal barriers that hinder male physicians from taking full advantage of parental leave, explores the benefits of longer leave on family well being, and highlights actionable strategies for balancing demanding medical careers with family responsibilities in the field of health care. Drawing from personal experiences as a self-employed practitioner, Franklyn offers pract ..read more

Health law attorney Dennis Hursh discusses his article, "Doctors beware: How vague contracts put your job at risk," revealing how poorly defined termination clauses in physician employment agreements leave doctors vulnerable to arbitrary dismissals. Dennis shares alarming cases where physicians were terminated for dubious reasons, including personal attire choices and missing a shift due to a family emergency. He highlights the risks of "crappy doc" termination clauses and the severe career consequences of National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) reports. Dennis outlines practical strategies for ..read more