Turn on the Lights Podcast

Our information environment has become a social determinant of health. In this episode, Joshua Sharfstein, a public health leader and professor at Johns Hopkins, and Joanne Kenen, journalist in residence at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, discuss how the collapse of local journalism, the design of social media algorithms, and politicization have created an “information sickness” that undermines personal and public health. They explain that traditional reporting once filtered out false claims through rules and accountability, while today’s engagement-driven platforms reward emotional misinformation that quickly becomes “sticky.” The guests explore the consequences of vaccine refusal, fractured families, and the urgent need for remedies, such as embedding misinformation experts in health agencies, utilizing trusted platforms, and fostering community trust. They emphasize that artificial intelligence will both fuel and fight misinformation, demanding institutional adaptation. Ultimately, they urge individuals to maintain an informed news diet and practice empathy across information divides, reminding listeners that public health must serve everyone, even those who disagree. Tune in to learn practical ways to counter health misinformation, from rapid pre-bunking to community partnerships and smarter use of AI! Resources: Connect with and follow Joshua Sharfstein on LinkedIn. Follow and connect with Joanne Kenen on LinkedIn. Learn more about Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health on their LinkedIn and website. Buy Josh and Joanne’s book Information Sick here. Listen to the What The Health podcast here. Sign up for the Expert Insights Newsletter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I just went there for a routine knee replacement, or so I thought.” In this inspiring episode, Rosie Bartel, a patient partner and advocate, educator, and survivor, shares her journey from a devastating MRSA infection acquired during a routine knee replacement to becoming a global voice for patient safety and health care reform. After surviving 58 surgeries, more than 200 hospitalizations, and multiple amputations, she transformed her pain into a mission to prevent others from enduring the same experience. Rosie explains how being invited to her hospital’s root-cause investigation empowered her to advocate for systemic change and demonstrate the power of storytelling with purpose. She reminds health care professionals that patients seek healing, not lawsuits, urging both providers and patients to share their stories because, as she powerfully states, stories aren’t just anecdotes; they’re data that inspire action. Tune in and learn how courage, compassion, and the patient’s voice can light the path toward a safer, more humane health care system! Resources: Connect with and follow Rosie Bartel on LinkedIn. Learn more about The Beryl Institute on their LinkedIn and website. Watch here Rosie’s “One Is Too Many” video. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The healers we need now don’t stop at the exam room; they go upstream to the causes of suffering and make safety, dignity, and trust part of the clinical job. In this episode, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, a physician and academic leader, calls for a broader, more human-centered definition of health care, one that addresses substance use, firearm injuries, pain, and the social realities that shape well-being. Drawing on personal experiences and systemic insight, he advocates for harm reduction, trust-building, and courageous leadership that transforms stigma and obstacles into opportunities for progress. Tune in and learn how broadening medicine’s scope saves lives and restores trust! Resources: Find out more about Dr. Sandeep Kapoor here. Learn more about the Zucker School of Medicine on its website. Follow Northwell Health on LinkedIn and explore their website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The integrity of evidence-based policy is under threat when political agendas override scientific rigor. In this episode, Dr. Robert Califf, former FDA Commissioner and cardiologist, reflects on his experience leading the FDA and the agency’s critical role in protecting public health through rigorous, science-based regulation across multiple sectors. He warns that political interference, disinformation, and mistrust threaten health outcomes but believes meaningful collaboration can still restore integrity and progress. Tune in and learn how protecting science-based regulation may be one of the most important public health actions of our time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The corporatization of health care is driving a mass exodus from primary care, creating a crisis that affects both physicians and patients alike. In this episode, Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a physician and advocate, discusses the worsening state of American primary care, shaped by burnout, poor pay, and a loss of autonomy, while sharing how his recovery from opioid addiction inspired him to support other physicians. He also explores the stigma surrounding mental health in medicine, stalled union efforts, and the need for better education and regulation around the safe use of medical cannabis. Tune in and learn how systemic dysfunction is breaking primary care and how medical cannabis could be part of a more humane, effective future! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the biggest drivers of high drug prices in America is the opaque rebate system between pharmaceutical companies and insurance providers, where savings rarely reach the patient. In this episode, Vinay Patel explains how drug prices are formed, from R&D and manufacturing to complex negotiations involving insurers and pharmacy benefit managers. He breaks down the mechanics of rebates, formulary restrictions, and the consolidation of power among PBMs, showing how these hidden forces raise prices and limit access. He also offers promising alternatives like cost-plus pricing models and calls on employers to take control of their health care contracts to cut costs. Tune in and learn how this broken system works, and what it might take to fix it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While universal health care offers immense equity and access, it still faces real challenges around fragmentation, funding, and integration. In this episode, Dr. Bob Klaber reflects on the values and challenges of the UK’s NHS, contrasting its universal care model with the U.S. system and advocating for whole-person care over over-medicalization. He emphasizes the importance of trust, collaboration across sectors, and the role of prevention and social determinants, remaining hopeful thanks to the next generation of health care leaders. Tune in and learn how real-world care, leadership, and connection shape a more equitable and effective health system! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rosanne Haggerty, President and CEO of Community Solutions and a MacArthur Genius Awardee, dives into the housing crisis in America, emphasizing that stable housing is essential for health and well-being. She explains how systemic issues like healthcare gaps fuel homelessness. Haggerty showcases the 'Built for Zero' initiative, which transforms community responses through data-driven collaboration. Listeners will discover innovative strategies being implemented in cities to make homelessness rare and brief, highlighting the power of coordinated efforts.

Celebrating 100 episodes is no small feat! In this episode, co-hosts Kedar Mate and Don Berwick look back on their podcast journey, highlighting powerful stories and themes like moral injury, health inequities, and the promise of AI in health care. They reflect on moving moments of resilience and leadership while balancing short-term concerns with long-term optimism for a better future. Tune in to this milestone episode of Turn On The Lights! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Human error in health care is inevitable, but system-level solutions offer real hope for reducing harm. In this episode, Dr. Jason Adelman, a leading patient safety expert, shares how a critical medication error propelled his transition from hospitalist to patient safety researcher, leading to innovations like the “retract-and-reorder” method for detecting wrong-patient errors. He explains the importance of a "just culture" in health care, the systemic nature of most medical errors, and how AI could help reduce harm, if used thoughtfully. Tune in and learn how technology and mindset shifts are reshaping the future of safer care! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices