The Podcast by KevinMD

Family physician and health care entrepreneur Tod Stillson discusses his article "AI in medicine: Why it won't replace doctors but will redefine them." Tod argues that the binary debate between AI as a savior or a threat misses the point. The real issue is that modern medical complexity has outgrown human cognitive limits. The conversation explores how AI can reduce the "cognitive noise" that leads to burnout and error by handling data synthesis and repetitive tasks. Tod emphasizes that while AI can structure information, it cannot assume moral responsibility or build trust. Discover why the future of medicine depends on building systems that honor human limitations while leveraging machine precision. 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 health care consultant Harvey Castro discusses his article "ChatGPT Health in hospitals: 5 essential safety protocols." Harvey outlines the immense potential of large language models to reduce administrative burdens while warning of the risks regarding misinformation and privacy breaches. The conversation details five non-negotiable protocols, including rigorous encryption, human-in-the-loop oversight, and mandatory simulated testing before going live. Harvey emphasizes that transparency is the foundation of care, arguing that patients deserve to know when AI is part of the conversation. Discover why responsible AI adoption requires long-term vigilance and continuous monitoring to ensure patient safety. 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 "Unregulated botanical products: the hidden risks of convenience store supplements." Muhamad explores the dangerous misconception that "natural" equals safe, revealing how consumers unknowingly ingest substances with opioid-like effects sold as wellness products. He highlights the conflict between Americans' fear of addiction and their trust in sleek, unregulated marketing that promises relief without consequences. The conversation examines the regulatory mixed signals and the critical need for clinicians to screen for these products during visits. Muhamad advocates for intellectual honesty in medicine and clearer governance to protect families from the spiral of dependence. Discover why addiction often walks through a "wellness" door and how to spot the risks before it is too late. 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

Shiv K. Goel, an internal medicine physician and author who reviews healthcare AI, explores how Anthropic's Claude for Healthcare could automate prior authorizations and paperwork. He discusses chart and insurer integration, HIPAA and hallucination risks. He warns efficiencies might raise quotas unless clinicians shape AI, urging physician involvement to protect care and preserve clinical judgment.

Michael F. Myers, professor of clinical psychiatry and author, researches physician mental health and narrative medicine. He discusses why clinicians share lived-experience stories. He explores themes like recovery, suicide prevention, stigma, and how vulnerability reshapes doctor–patient bonds. He highlights a powerful personal story about racism, depression, and the courage to speak openly.

Roxanne Almas, a developmental behavioral pediatrician and Yoga Nidra facilitator who wrote 'The making of a rested healer.' She recounts moving from transactional medicine toward creativity and intuition. She explores Yoga Nidra as a healing portal. She challenges grind culture and argues for a Rest Ethic using aviation and athletic analogies.

David K. Cundiff, a physician and climate researcher, outlines biointensive organic agriculture as a path to massive carbon sequestration. He explains GROW BIOINTENSIVE methods, why IPCC models omit full organic transition, and proposes ecovillages as scalable pilot communities to restore soil and cut emissions. The conversation highlights radical, community-led solutions for climate restoration.

Jesse Mahoney, a pediatrician and certified coach focused on physician well-being and leadership. She discusses how labels like disruptive often reflect burnout and moral injury. Short bursts cover how depletion changes communication, why institutions punish rather than support, and how coaching and strategic approaches can restore clinicians and retain talent.

Corinne Sundar Rao, an internal medicine physician and commentator on physician labor, argues that unpaid "call" masks real work. She discusses how privileges force mandatory overnight coverage, contrasts old models with modern hospital realities, and highlights alternatives like hospitalists and nocturnists. The conversation urges treating on-call time as measurable, paid labor with required post-call rest.

Family physician and health benefits advisor Jonathan Bushman discusses his article "The 5 percent problem: the low value of primary care." Jonathan contrasts the grueling decade of training and massive debt required to become a doctor with the thirty-minute process of obtaining a health insurance broker license. He reveals the shocking economic reality that both professions command roughly five percent of total health care spending, highlighting a system that values money movement as much as patient healing. The conversation explores his unique position straddling both worlds, arguing that bringing clinical insights into benefit design is the only way to lower costs and improve outcomes. Jonathan challenges the perverse symmetry of a market where a thirty-eight dollar license carries the same economic weight as a medical degree. 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