The Podcast by KevinMD

Health care attorney Dennis Hursh discusses his article "wRVU threshold risks in physician contracts." Dennis explains the critical distinction between a guaranteed salary and a draw against future earnings where failure to meet production targets can lead to clawbacks. The discussion covers how employers often set unrealistic wRVU thresholds that exceed historical data or MGMA benchmarks while failing to provide adequate marketing support to meet those goals. Dennis highlights the importance of ensuring new physicians have guaranteed income during their ramp-up period and warns against contract language that credits productivity only when billed rather than when services are rendered. Listen to learn how to protect your financial future by identifying and negotiating these treacherous contract provisions before signing on the dotted line. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Internal medicine and functional medicine physician Shiv K. Goel discusses his article "Mind-body connection in chronic disease: Why traditional medicine falls short." Shiv explores the limitations of conventional medical models that focus solely on acute intervention while ignoring the emotional roots of chronic conditions. He shares the compelling story of Linda whose physical ailments were deeply connected to decades of suppressed grief and trauma. The conversation delves into the science of psychoneuroimmunology and how unprocessed emotions get stored in the body's tissues eventually manifesting as disease. Shiv explains why true healing involves not just medication but also meditation and somatic therapy to rewrite the body's internal narrative. Listen to discover how changing your consciousness can fundamentally alter your biological reality. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Saravanan Kasthuri, medical director at Northwest Endovascular Surgery, and Jason McKitrick, executive director at the Office Based Facility Association, discuss their article "Medicare payment is failing rural health." Saravanan and Jason analyze the critical economic forces dismantling independent medical practices and threatening patient access in underserved areas. They highlight the personal story of Mr. G to illustrate the human cost of broken reimbursement models while explaining how the outdated Physician Fee Schedule forces doctors to sell to hospitals or private equity firms. The conversation details how consolidation inflates costs without improving quality and proposes the implementation of a technical fee schedule as a vital policy solution. Listen to understand why preserving office-based care is essential for the survival of the rural health care system. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Family physician Tod Stillson discusses his article "Why AI in medicine elevates humanity instead of replacing it." Tod explains how his career evolution revealed that artificial intelligence is not a threat to the medical profession but a necessary tool for reshaping care delivery. He argues that physicians must actively lead the integration of AI to ensure that clinical judgment is amplified rather than overridden by automation. The conversation covers the necessity of digital fluency, the shift toward structured asynchronous data collection, and how these technologies can actually restore the human connection by relieving administrative burdens. Listen to discover why the next generation of doctors must master both stethoscopes and software to meet evolving patient expectations. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Surgeon and health tech strategist Sarah Matt discusses her article "Why fee-for-service reform is needed." Sarah analyzes the friction between efficient digital health tools and an outdated payment system that rewards activity over quality. She proposes replacing analog metrics like visit volume with shadow KPIs that track actual health outcomes such as time-to-resolution and preventable hospitalizations. The discussion outlines a practical strategy to utilize existing billing codes for remote patient monitoring while simultaneously gathering data to negotiate shared savings agreements. Listen to learn how clinicians can drive the transition toward a more logical health care economy. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Urologist William Lynes discusses his article "A urologist's perspective on presidential health transparency." William examines the medical plausibility of a former president being diagnosed with widespread metastatic prostate cancer just months after leaving office. He explains why the slow growth of this disease means it almost certainly existed during the presidency and challenges the narrative that it went undetected despite world-class health care. The discussion covers the standard of care regarding PSA screening and hormonal therapy while highlighting how symptoms like bone pain would likely have been obvious to any competent medical team. William ultimately questions the ethics of Dr. Kevin O'Connor and argues that concealing such a diagnosis constitutes a severe violation of the physician's code of conduct. Listen to understand the grave implications of medical transparency at the highest levels of government. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Fertility specialist Oluyemisi Famuyiwa discusses their article "Why carrier screening results are complex." Oluyemisi explores the transition to "Genetic Carrier Screening 3.0," a new era where expanded panels reveal hidden complexities that defy simple positive or negative interpretations. The conversation highlights how specific variations in genes like CFTR and SMN1 can lead to unexpected clinical consequences, such as male infertility or silent carrier status in spinal muscular atrophy. By examining the nuances of hemoglobinopathies and X-linked conditions, Oluyemisi explains why being a "carrier" often has direct health implications for the parents themselves, particularly mothers. This episode emphasizes the urgent need for expert interpretation and counseling to ensure patients truly understand the genetic information in their hands. Advanced science demands advanced communication to protect your family's future. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Professor and coach Kathleen Muldoon discusses their article "Why humanity in medicine requires peace with a spine." Kathleen explores the dangerous misconception that peace in health care means silence or compliance. The conversation highlights how teaching medical students to smooth their edges and avoid conflict often leads to burnout, moral injury, and emotional numbness. By redefining peace as an active skill that requires a spine, Kathleen outlines how clinicians can navigate hierarchy and uncertainty without erasing their own humanity. This episode examines the vital difference between keeping the peace and protecting dignity in high-pressure clinical environments. Real professionalism demands the courage to pause and stay present when the room feels chaotic. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Obstetrician-gynecologist Priya Panneerselvam discusses their article "How medicine reflects women's silence." Priya discusses how the quiet deference observed in their mother's generation continues to manifest in patients who apologize for their pain and hesitate to ask questions. The conversation explores the cultural and national forces that suppress female voices, linking personal family history to the broader political landscape regarding women's rights and leadership. By examining the cost of this inherited silence, Priya advocates for speaking out as an act of rebellion and gratitude for those who could not. Breaking this cycle is necessary to honor the past while securing a freer future. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Health care executive Dave Wessinger discusses their article "How to adopt AI in health care responsibly." Dave explains why organizations must move beyond the hype of artificial intelligence to focus on measurable goals like driving growth and improving quality. The conversation highlights specific high-value applications in documentation and patient intake while emphasizing the critical need for a clinician in the loop approach to ensure patient safety. By prioritizing administrative automation over clinical decision-making initially, leaders can build trust and avoid the risks associated with imperfect technology. This episode explores how to shape AI as a practical tool that enhances rather than replaces human judgment. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Urologist Tracy Gapin discusses their article "Is your medical career a golden cage?" Tracy explores the paradox of achieving professional success while feeling trapped in a demoralizing and insurance-driven health care system. The conversation highlights how factors like short visits and administrative burdens contribute to physician burnout and alarmingly high rates of suicide among doctors. By identifying the limiting beliefs that hold medical professionals hostage in their careers, Tracy outlines a path toward freedom through a cash-based precision medicine model. This episode examines the necessity of prioritizing personal well-being over systemic demands and encourages doctors to reinvent how they practice to find purpose again. Redefining your medical career might be the only way to save your life. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Kenneth Botelho, founding director of the doctor of medical science (DMSc) program at The College of St. Scholastica and a physician assistant, discusses his article "Federal graduate-loan caps threaten rural health care access." Kenneth explains how impending borrowing limits for physician assistant and nurse practitioner programs create an insurmountable barrier for students from the very communities that need providers most. He illustrates the paradox where government grants aim to stabilize rural health care while loan policies simultaneously cut off the supply of future clinicians. The conversation highlights the urgent need to align financial aid with public health goals to prevent a rise in mortality rates in underserved areas. Join us to understand why financial barriers to education are becoming a matter of life and death for rural America. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article "Physician suicide prevention: a call to action." Muhamad opens with the tragic losses of Dr. Nolan R. Williams and Dr. Charles Szyman to illustrate the devastating toll of the profession on even its most accomplished members. He examines the alarming data showing suicide as a leading cause of death among medical residents and outlines specific, actionable steps for trainees, program directors, and hospital executives to build safety nets rather than barriers. The conversation emphasizes the importance of using neutral language like "died by suicide," removing intrusive credentialing questions, and creating a culture where seeking help is viewed as an asset rather than a liability. Join us to learn how we can protect the people who dedicate their lives to healing others. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Professor and senior associate dean of engagement Janet A. Jokela discusses her article "Reflecting on the significance of World AIDS Day from the 1980s to now." Janet shares harrowing memories from her time as a medical student in the mid-1980s, recalling the fear and stigma that surrounded the early days of the AIDS epidemic. She traces the evolution of treatment from a time of hopelessness to the revolutionary arrival of protease inhibitors and the global impact of PEPFAR. The conversation highlights touching patient stories that illustrate how a diagnosis once considered a death sentence has become a manageable condition, allowing people to live full and service-oriented lives. Join us to honor those lost and celebrate the resilience of the human spirit in the face of a terrifying disease. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Health care strategist Dana Y. Lujan discusses her article "Is direct primary care sustainable in a downturn?" Dana explains how the rising cost of living and subscription fatigue are challenging the retail model of direct primary care for middle-class families. She contrasts this fragility with the stability of employer-sponsored models where organizations absorb the cost to ensure consistent access for their workforce. The conversation highlights the critical need to align medical business models with the actual economic capabilities of the communities they serve rather than relying solely on ideological goals. Join us to explore how financial strategy determines the longevity of patient care. This episode is presented by Scholar Advising, a fee-only financial advising firm specializing in providing advice for DIY investors. If you want clear, actionable strategies and confidence that your financial decisions are built on objective advice without AUM fees or commissions, Scholar is designed for you. Physicians often navigate complex compensation structures, including W-2 income, 1099 work, production bonuses, and practice ownership. Scholar's highly credentialed advisors guide high-earners through decisions like optimizing investments for long-term tax efficiency and expert strategies for financial independence. Every recommendation is tailored to the financial realities physicians face. VISIT SPONSOR → https://scholaradvising.com/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Otolaryngologist Alan P. Feren and patient advocate Joyce Griggs discuss their article "Why health self-advocacy is an essential life skill." Alan and Joyce share the personal journey of becoming a "chief health executive" and explain why managing medical care should be treated with the same seriousness as financial planning. They outline the eight core pillars of advocacy, ranging from health literacy to financial navigation, and argue for the creation of condition-agnostic tools that help patients regardless of their specific diagnosis. The conversation highlights how preparation and organization not only reduce anxiety for caregivers but also save time for clinicians and improve overall outcomes. Join us to find out how you can build the confidence to navigate a complex system effectively. This episode is presented by Scholar Advising, a fee-only financial advising firm specializing in providing advice for DIY investors. If you want clear, actionable strategies and confidence that your financial decisions are built on objective advice without AUM fees or commissions, Scholar is designed for you. Physicians often navigate complex compensation structures, including W-2 income, 1099 work, production bonuses, and practice ownership. Scholar's highly credentialed advisors guide high-earners through decisions like optimizing investments for long-term tax efficiency and expert strategies for financial independence. Every recommendation is tailored to the financial realities physicians face. VISIT SPONSOR → https://scholaradvising.com/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Medical oncologist, geriatrician, and physician scientist GJ van Londen and Chief of Genetic and Genomic Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Gerald Vockley discuss the article "FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients." GJ and Gerald explore the complex regulatory impasse where the U.S. Food and Drug Administration denied standard approval for elamipretide despite a positive advisory committee vote, creating a financial crisis that threatens to cut off supply for everyone. GJ shares his personal journey from treating cancer to living with primary mitochondrial myopathy, while the conversation emphasizes the critical need for the agency to use the flexibility granted by the Orphan Drug Act to save a treatment that has already proven its worth. Join us to understand the life-or-death stakes hidden behind administrative decisions. This episode is presented by Scholar Advising, a fee-only financial advising firm specializing in providing advice for DIY investors. If you want clear, actionable strategies and confidence that your financial decisions are built on objective advice without AUM fees or commissions, Scholar is designed for you. Physicians often navigate complex compensation structures, including W-2 income, 1099 work, production bonuses, and practice ownership. Scholar's highly credentialed advisors guide high-earners through decisions like optimizing investments for long-term tax efficiency and expert strategies for financial independence. Every recommendation is tailored to the financial realities physicians face. VISIT SPONSOR → https://scholaradvising.com/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

President and chief executive officer of the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) Leah M. Howard discusses her article "Pharmacy benefit manager reform vs. direct drug plans." Leah analyzes the recent emergence of direct-purchase drug programs and argues that while innovative thinking is welcome, it cannot replace the need for deep systemic change. She advocates for bipartisan legislative solutions such as the Safe Step Act to address the root causes of high costs in the U.S. health care system rather than relying on siloed fixes that may not help everyone. The conversation emphasizes that true relief for patients with chronic diseases requires transparent pharmacy benefit manager reform and a move away from profit-driven incentives that punish the sick. Join us to learn how we can push for lasting policies that prioritize patient health over corporate profits. This episode is presented by Scholar Advising, a fee-only financial advising firm specializing in providing advice for DIY investors. If you want clear, actionable strategies and confidence that your financial decisions are built on objective advice without AUM fees or commissions, Scholar is designed for you. Physicians often navigate complex compensation structures, including W-2 income, 1099 work, production bonuses, and practice ownership. Scholar's highly credentialed advisors guide high-earners through decisions like optimizing investments for long-term tax efficiency and expert strategies for financial independence. Every recommendation is tailored to the financial realities physicians face. VISIT SPONSOR → https://scholaradvising.com/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Premedical student Samah Khan discusses her article "The crisis of physician shortages globally." Samah draws a powerful parallel between the medical exodus in Pakistan and the doctor deserts of California's Central Valley, revealing how structural neglect drives providers away from the communities that need them most. She explores the root causes of this brain drain, from low wages to limited residency spots, and argues that health care systems must reshape their values to retain talent. The conversation highlights promising solutions like local recruitment tracks while emphasizing that without systemic change, patients will continue to suffer the cost of delayed care. Join us to understand why doctors leave and how we can anchor them back home. This episode is presented by Scholar Advising, a fee-only financial advising firm specializing in providing advice for DIY investors. If you want clear, actionable strategies and confidence that your financial decisions are built on objective advice without AUM fees or commissions, Scholar is designed for you. Physicians often navigate complex compensation structures, including W-2 income, 1099 work, production bonuses, and practice ownership. Scholar's highly credentialed advisors guide high-earners through decisions like optimizing investments for long-term tax efficiency and expert strategies for financial independence. Every recommendation is tailored to the financial realities physicians face. VISIT SPONSOR → https://scholaradvising.com/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

We have a special sponsored episode from MagMutual. We welcome William Kanich. He's an emergency physician and currently the executive chairperson of MagMutual Insurance Company. We explore how physicians can navigate unexpected medical outcomes while preserving trust with their patients. Through Dr. Kanich's clinical and leadership experience, the conversation examines common challenges, practical approaches, and the role of structured support programs like the Preserve Program. The discussion also looks ahead to how the healthcare industry can continue evolving to better support physicians in maintaining strong patient relationships. VISIT SPONSOR → https://www.magmutual.com/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended