The Podcast by KevinMD

What happens when your deepest religious convictions collide with a patient suffering from metastatic cancer and no miracle in sight? Medical student Jonah Rocheeld shares the raw tension between his Orthodox Jewish upbringing and the medical ethics he is learning in clinical training, based on his KevinMD article, "End-of-life care and religion: Reconciling Jewish law and medicine." He unpacks the distinction Jewish law draws between withholding and withdrawing care, why that boundary feels certain in a classroom but fractures at the bedside, and how a heated debate with a fellow Jewish medical student forced him to confront where faith ends and patient suffering begins. You will hear why he believes any mature faith must evolve from rules-based absolutism toward nuanced moral reasoning, and what advice he offers religious medical students struggling to separate personal identity from clinical duty in end-of-life care. If you have ever wrestled with where your own ethics stop and your obligations as a health care professional start, this conversation will stay with you. 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

What happens when a patient can't afford the treatment you prescribe but is too embarrassed to say so? Health care executive Adam Cunningham joins the show to unpack the devastating ripple effects of medical debt, drawing on his KevinMD article, "The hidden toll of medical debt on patient health and survival," and sharing how one friend lost her job, her insurance, and nearly her ability to function before finding affordable biologic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis overseas. You'll hear why 16 percent of U.S. suicides have a contributing factor of medical debt, how patients weigh financial ruin against ending their lives, and what makes China's tier one hospitals a surprisingly viable option for Americans priced out of care at home. Cunningham explains the accreditation systems that ensure quality abroad, the role patient advocates play in navigating costs, and the one question every physician should ask before assuming a patient will follow through on a treatment plan. If you've ever wondered whether medical tourism is legitimate or just risky, this episode offers a grounded, practical perspective you need to hear. 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

What happens when medical students witness dehumanization during clinical rotations but feel too powerless to speak up? Kathleen Muldoon, a certified coach and professor in medical education, joins the show to unpack why moral courage is a skill you can practice right now, not something to defer until you hold a title. Based on her KevinMD article "Moral courage in medical training: the power of the powerless," this conversation reveals how the hidden curriculum in medical training quietly normalizes harm through small, unreported moments. You will hear practical strategies for reclaiming power in clinical hierarchies, from stating your own name to recentering a patient in grand rounds with a single clarifying question. Muldoon explains why kicking moral concerns down the line fuels burnout and erodes professional identity formation, and how attendings can foster psychological safety by modeling vulnerability. If you are a medical student, resident, or physician who has ever felt the gap between what health care should be and what it is, this episode will remind you that middle power is still power. 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

Is the new oral Wegovy pill a breakthrough or a risk most patients never hear about? Shiv K. Goel, an internal medicine and functional medicine physician, joins the show to unpack his KevinMD article, "Oral Wegovy: the miracle and the mess of the new GLP-1 pill," and why treating this drug casually could hurt you. He breaks down emerging data linking high-dose semaglutide to ischemic optic neuropathy, with reporting odds nearly five times higher for Wegovy than Ozempic, and explains why the obesity population faces unique hemodynamic risks. You will learn why he never prescribes a GLP-1 without prescribing a plan, including slow titration, protein and resistance training to protect lean mass, hormone optimization, and red flag education. Goel also addresses the rebound weight gain most patients face after stopping, the dangers of buying compounded GLP-1 medications from medical spas, and why losing just 10 pounds may not warrant these drugs at all. If you are considering oral Wegovy or already on a GLP-1, this episode could change how you approach weight loss medication. 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

Clinical director at Franklin Park Family Dental in Dorchester and Tremont Family Dentistry in Boston, Charan Teja Bobba, discusses his article "Treating methamphetamine-associated dental disease in safety-net clinics." Charan reflects on the profound human reality behind treating patients with severe addiction, noting that a ruined smile often represents a lifetime of being let down by the health care system. He explains the physical devastation of meth mouth, where acidity, dry mouth, and teeth grinding create a perfect storm of enamel erosion and decay. The conversation emphasizes why safety-net practices are vital for restoring not just oral health, but a person's identity and self-esteem. By prioritizing patience and trust over rushed clinical work, dentists can help vulnerable populations feel human again. Discover how providing full dental care to those in recovery is a fundamental step toward restoring true medical equity and wholeness. 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

Physician wellness coach Jessica Singh discusses the article "Physician burnout: Finding peace in a broken health care system." Jessica shares a powerful narrative of a grueling swing shift in a rural emergency department, managing critical patients and a mounting waiting room with minimal resources. She describes the intense pressure of a life-saving intubation and the spiritual strength she drew upon during the crisis. The conversation shifts to the toxic interpersonal dynamics often found in medical culture, as Jessica recounts a difficult "changing of the guard" with a hostile administrator. This experience led to a profound reckoning with her professional identity and the realization that her value as a human being extends far beyond hospital walls. Discover how perspective, faith, and the simple act of a deep breath can help clinicians navigate the "trance of servitude" and find peace amidst systemic failure. 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

Physician and tax specialist Logan Foltz discusses the article "Physician tax strategies: Why your tax bill is so high and how to fix it." Logan explains why the Internal Revenue Code patterns are often unfavorable to physicians, who typically rely on clinical labor and face high marginal tax rates with limited control over income timing. He breaks down the structural reasons for sticker shock after residency, including heavy payroll taxes and the inability to deduct unreimbursed work related expenses as an employed physician. The conversation explores how understanding the tax code as a problem to be solved can empower clinicians to leverage self employment, business entity structures, and geographic considerations to improve their annual tax liability. Logan also discusses the importance of diversifying income beyond labor alone and navigating a complex U.S. health care system that leaves doctors with little bandwidth for financial planning. Learn how to stop feeling trapped by your tax bill and start engaging with the system more deliberately to secure your financial 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

Physician coach Apurv Gupta discusses the article "What is a loving organization?" Apurv describes his model of a loving organization as a system that designs the clinical environment to make safety and purpose natural rather than forced. He explores the bridge between individual cognitive shifts and organizational renewal using the INTEGRATE methodology to reduce burnout and improve patient outcomes. By replacing fear-based operating systems with emotional literacy and compassionate accountability, medical teams can achieve high performance through unconditional acceptance. Discover how creating a workplace rooted in love can transform the health care environment into a space where both healers and patients thrive. 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

Obesity medicine physician Jessica Duncan discusses the article "GLP-1 weight regain: Why stopping medication leads to weight return." Jessica explains that expecting to maintain weight loss after abruptly stopping GLP-1 therapy is unrealistic because it ignores the physiological forces that defend a person's prior weight. She critiques a marketplace that often treats these powerful medications as consumer products rather than chronic disease therapies, noting the risks of obtaining prescriptions through brief online questionnaires without ongoing medical oversight. The conversation highlights the complexity of appetite regulation and metabolism, emphasizing that obesity must be managed as a chronic condition rather than a short term problem to be solved. Jessica advocates for longitudinal care relationships and individualized plans that address hunger cues, sleep, and food environment to prevent weight return. Discover why mistaking predictable biology for personal failure is the greatest hurdle in modern obesity care. 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

Patient advocate Eric Goldfarb discusses the article "How a pregnancy test on a male patient revealed health care flaws." Eric shares the absurd and heartbreaking story of finding a pregnancy test charge on his 88 year old father's final hospital bill. He explains how this error was merely a symptom of a larger, systemic failure where institutional momentum often overrides common sense and patient safety. Eric details the struggle to stop a dangerous premature discharge after his father's brain surgery and the subsequent bureaucratic fog that prevented the hospital from correcting a biologically impossible billing error. The conversation explores how patients become ticket numbers and how the simple act of noticing can be the difference between a system that heals and one that harms. Discover why advocacy often requires repeating the obvious until the system finally listens. 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 the article "Why lifestyle matters more than BPC-157 and semaglutide." Shiv explains how the modern longevity boom has trained patients to seek out quick fixes like peptides and weight loss injections while ignoring foundational habits. He shares a compelling patient story to illustrate why optimizing sleep, circadian rhythms, and stress management is far more powerful than any supplement drawer. Shiv argues that tracking endless biomarkers with wearables without understanding a patient's personal story only creates anxiety. By prioritizing deep listening and addressing the root causes of metabolic dysfunction, clinicians can offer real solutions rather than just another health care transaction. Discover how aligning your daily routines with your biology is the ultimate biohack for a longer, healthier 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

Former Treasurer of the American College of Physicians Janet A. Jokela discusses the article "The service of humanity: Recommitting to physicians' ethical duties." Janet reflects on her visit to the Ronald Reagan Museum where she found profound connections between the former president's views on diversity and the medical profession's ethical oath. Janet explains that the service of humanity is not just a phrase for white coat ceremonies, but a call to treat every patient with benevolence and goodwill regardless of their background or political status. The conversation highlights courageous actions taken by Minnesota physicians to protect vulnerable populations and reaffirms that health is a human right grounded in dignity. By prioritizing empathy over technology, Janet believes clinicians can rediscover their true identities as healers in an increasingly fractured world. Discover how a simple commitment to kindness can transform the entire landscape of modern medicine. 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, medical device inventor, and health care entrepreneur Tod Stillson discusses the article "AI governance in health care: Why physicians must lead the design." Tod warns that the greatest threat to modern medicine is allowing artificial intelligence to be designed without physician oversight. He reflects on how hospital consolidation and private equity have previously redistributed power away from clinicians, and argues that AI could become the next structural layer that reduces physicians to mere units in a revenue architecture. Tod outlines five non-negotiable characteristics of trustworthy AI, emphasizing that technology must augment clinical judgment rather than impersonate it. He highlights the "accountability test," reminding listeners that the responsibility for clinical decisions remains with the doctor, not the algorithm. Discover why physicians must move from being passive consumers to active architects to ensure that AI creates leverage with integrity. 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

Pediatric hematology-oncology physician and co-founder of Pink Coat, MD Tammie Chang discusses the article "Unhooking from the ego in medicine." Tammie shares her personal journey through depression and clinical burnout, explaining how these challenges forced her to disconnect from a professional identity rooted in ego and achievement. She describes the neurological shift from a left-brain focus on analysis to a right-brain focus on intuition and interconnectedness. By choosing to show up as a loving presence in the exam room, Tammie found that she could complete her work with more joy and less exhaustion. This transformation allowed her to move away from being an automaton of productivity and toward a state of equanimity. Her experience suggests that physicians can find peace even amidst global uncertainty by reclaiming their true selves. True healing begins when we prioritize human connection over the need to always be right. 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

Integrative pediatrician Mary Wilde discusses the article "The pause medicine never taught us to take." Mary discusses how medical training conditions clinicians to fear rest and prioritize a treadmill of servitude over personal well-being. She shares insights from teaching medical students who found clarity and emotional release only when forced to step away from their studies. Mary describes her experience hosting retreats in southern Utah and how physical distance from the clinical environment provides a necessary vantage point for accurate self-assessment. The conversation explores the physiological benefits of silence, including neurogenesis and cortisol reduction, while highlighting the systemic and personal barriers that prevent doctors from seeking renewal. Discover why creating open space is not a sign of weakness but an essential act of wisdom for every healer. 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

Metabolic health educator Marsha Shepherd Whitt discusses the article "Why 'eat less, move more' fails for midlife weight loss." Marsha explains that weight loss struggles in midlife are often driven by physiology rather than a lack of discipline. As women move through perimenopause and menopause, biological changes alter how the body partitions fuel, regulates blood sugar, and responds to insulin. Marsha highlights how frequent glucose exposure and rising cortisol levels can push the body into a defensive conservation mode that protects fat stores at the expense of muscle and bone. Instead of forcing a deficit, she advocates for restoring metabolic stability by lowering chronic glucose exposure and preserving muscle mass. Discover how aligning with your biology can end the cycle of self-blame and finally unlock sustainable fat loss. 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 Chris Darland discusses their article "Why remote patient monitoring needs a preventive shift." Chris explains that remote patient monitoring is currently too reactive, functioning as a safety net that tracks problems rather than preventing them. He suggests that technology should shift toward a proactive approach where data is collected before routine visits to provide a real life snapshot of heart performance. Chris describes how advanced signal processing tools, similar to those used by NASA, can now capture high-fidelity cardiac signals over several days while patients live their normal lives. By using AI to turn raw data into actionable insights, health care teams can detect subtle trends and make small adjustments before emergencies occur. This new approach moves beyond simply turning homes into hospitals and instead focuses on building a digital model of whole body health. Find out how listening to the heart's hidden clues can help clinicians see ahead to what might become a problem. 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

Physical therapist and certified lymphedema specialist Maureen McBeth discusses her article "Beyond BMI: Why weight management must look inside the body." Maureen explains why common tools like the bathroom scale and body mass index can misclassify up to 34 percent of the general population as obese while masking dangerous internal realities. Drawing from over 25 years in oncology rehabilitation and her own personal experience taking a GLP-1 medication after major surgery, Maureen warns that rapid weight loss can lead to severe muscle depletion and malnutrition if not properly monitored. She highlights the critical importance of tracking three core components of health: muscle mass, intracellular water, and balanced extracellular water. By utilizing noninvasive bioimpedance spectroscopy assessments, clinicians can provide actionable insights to protect a patient's structural and metabolic foundation during their weight loss journey. Discover how looking beyond the scale can transform your approach to long-term health and resilience. 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

Metabolic health educator Kevin Whitt discusses his article "Insulin resistance is not a disease: a metabolic reframe." Kevin argues that the skyrocketing rates of Type 2 diabetes are not the result of defective biology, but rather a predictable response to chronically elevated blood sugar. The conversation challenges the traditional medical view of insulin resistance, reframing it as a protective mechanism where cells limit glucose uptake to prevent damage from substrate oversupply. Kevin highlights how modern medical education structurally privileges pharmacological treatments over nutritional interventions, leaving doctors equipped to manage symptoms rather than address root causes. Discover why addressing the dietary carbohydrate load is the key to resolving this metabolic mismatch. 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

Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article "Dealing with physician negative feedback." Jessie validates the pain that comes with criticism, noting that it hurts not because physicians are weak, but because they are human and deeply invested in their patients. The conversation explores the physiological response to negative reviews, suggesting practical mindfulness techniques like placing a hand on the heart to lower cortisol and signal safety. Jessie advises against the habit of rumination, encouraging doctors to instead create a "generous story" that frames the feedback through a lens of curiosity rather than shame. Discover why prioritizing integrity over being liked is essential for sustainable medical practice. 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