We often think of homelessness as a problem of the young. But recent projections suggest that the number of unhoused older adults will triple over the next decade. Today's guest is Ms. Jean Galiana, the Coordinator for Older Adult Services with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Jean discusses creative approaches for increasing housing options for the geriatric population. Jean also describes her recent book, Aging Well. Solutions to the most Pressing Global Challenges of Aging. Make sure not to miss this one, since after today's episode the Healthy Skeptic, MD will take a hiatus .

In the Healthy Skeptic, MD we've covered the harms of overuse of medical services in adults. But what about children? According to Dr. Samantha House, unnecessary care is a problem in Pediatrics too. In today's episode, she describes a recent JAMA analysis she authored showing that overuse of medical services in children is both common and costly.

Until recently -- and to the surprise of many -- there were no diabetes treatments definitively proven to lower cardiovascular risk. Over the last 5 years, that has changed. There are now two new classes of medications that not only prevent heart attacks and strokes for patients with diabetes, but they also help with weight loss, and may have other benefits. Still, as with any new treatment, caution is in order as we are just starting to understand the full benefits and risks. To help us break it down I am joined by Dr. Nihar Desai, the Associate Chief of Cardiology at the Yale School of Medicine.

Plastic surgery is often associated with high end cosmetic procedures, but it is much more than this, as we discuss today with Dr. Elliot Hirsch, the Chairman of the Division of Plastic Surgery at the Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center. Plastic surgeons are among the most versatile of all surgeons, doing everything from wound care, to tissue reconstruction, to breast augmentation. In today's episode, Dr. Hirsch provides an overview of the field and offers practical tips for patients.

If you've done any work in the fields of Geriatrics Medicine or Healthy Aging, you've almost certainly come across Jennie Chin Hansen, my guest on today's episode. Jennie is the former President of AARP, the former CEO of the American Geriatrics Society and currently a Board Member of the SCAN Health Plan (which funds the Healthy Skeptic, MD Podcast). Jennie also spent 25 years as a nurse leader at the San Francisco-based On Lok program developing creative care models for older adults, including the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which has become a national Medicare program. In today's episode, Jennie and I discussed what the next several years may look like for the field of Geriatrics and the care of older adults.

Since the last Covid-19 surge, many things are different. More Americans are vaccinated; there's an important new pill to prevent Covid-19 complications; and there are new public health guidelines recommending a shortened isolation period after an infection. To help us break it all down, my guest today is Dr. Pieter Cohen, an internist at the Cambridge Health Alliance and the lead author of the chapter on outpatient care of Covid-19 in a prominent medical textbook.See Dr. Cohen's latest YouTube video with his guidance for healthcare professional on the treatment of Covid-19 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5LFeurr0RQ&t=2s

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us one thing about healthcare it was that American consumers are open to new ways of receiving care. But is this also true for older adults -- who are accustomed to the traditional medical office setting? The answer is 'yes', according to Drs. Scott Weingarten and Michael Wang, leaders of a new medical group for older adults. The new group will emphasize telemedicine, home visits and other creative approaches for tailoring care to older patients.

In 2012, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Mitchell decided he wanted to improve public safety from a new angle. He always loved running, and suspected the discipline it taught him might help others -- particularly those struggling with addiction and homelessness. He founded the Skid Row Running Club, which has now helped hundreds of people improve their mental and physical health. In today's Thanksgiving special episode, I discuss the origins of the club with Judge Mitchell as well as Board Member Eric Barrera, who himself used running to help overcome his addiction and homeless challenges.Find out where you can stream Skid Row Marathon: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/skid-row-marathonLearn more or donate to The Skid Row Running Club: http://www.skidrowrunningclub.com/

When one thinks about healthcare quality, technical issues come to mind. Was the right treatment given? What percentage of patients developed a complication from the procedure? But that is not the entire story, according to Dr. Maren Batalden, the Chief Quality Officer at the Cambridge Health Alliance. If we really care about advancing health, it is the clinician-patient relationship that may matter the most. In today's episode, Dr. Batalden explains how patients and their clinicians co-produce high quality healthcare.Dr. Batalden's co-authored paper on Coproduction of healthcare service is available here:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4941163/

In 2003, Dr. Elliott Fisher published a seminal series of articles. It found that patients living in certain regions of the country receive about 60% more medical care than those in other regions, and these differences do not appear to be explained by differences in the health status or other demographic factors among the regions. To the surprise of many, those living in regions with high rates of medical care use did not necessarily have better health outcomes; in fact, in some cases their outcomes were a bit worse. In other words, more medical care is not always better. In today's episode, Dr. Fisher discusses the implications of his findings, nearly two decades later, and in the wake of significant health policy changes implemented in response to his work.

A basic understanding of statistics is essential for being a savvy medical consumer. But for many, thinking about statistics brings back painful high school memories. In today's episode, primary care physician Dr. Steven Hochman -- my brother -- helps distill it in a manageable and engaging way. And you shouldn't need to dust off your old high school textbooks to understand it!

Over the last several years, a handful of states have passed legislation authorizing physicians to provide medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults. This typically comes in the form of a prescription to relieve discomfort and promote a peaceful death. According to our guest today, medical aid in dying should not only be legal everywhere, but this compassionate option should be made more accessible. For example, Dr. Chandana Banerjee, a palliative care specialist at the City of Hope Cancer Center, says that extended waiting periods before patients can avail themselves of this option should be eliminated. Dr. Banerjee also discusses her poetry books in today's episode!

American medicine is fast-paced, high tech and aggressive, but it does not consistently produce excellent outcomes. In the U.S., life expectancy, maternal mortality and patient satisfaction, among other indicators, compare poorly to those in many other nations. My guest today -- Dr. Elena Hill, a family physician at the Bronxcare Health System in New York -- recommends a shift in our approach to what she describes as "Slow Medicine." Dr. Hill believes that a greater focus on the simple things -- which often require more time and patience -- may help our health system get back on track.Other episodes mentioned:Dr. Steven Hochman on the challenges and joys of serving the homeless population - https://youtu.be/xzEOZj-2b6kDr. Rita Redberg on Statins and Cholesterol Medication - https://youtu.be/7psjRfJ-uXcNational Health Insurance with Drs. Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein -  https://youtu.be/B8f1ojsr7MQ

Anyone following the news has probably seen the alarming headlines about the recent COVID-19 surge and children. Pediatric hospitals – particularly in southern states – have been filling up. Could this mean that the delta strain is more aggressive than prior strains in kids? Let’s not panic quite yet, says today’s guest, Pediatrician Dr. Jessica Hochman. While rates of COVID-19 are indeed surging, overall kids continue to have excellent outcomes with COVID-19, and with effective vaccines now available for those 12 and older, there is reason to be optimistic.

Dr. Drew Pinksy -- better known simply as "Dr. Drew" -- is one of the best known media doctors in the nation. But unlike some other "TV doctors", he has spent decades working on the front lines with patients. In fact, he has dedicated his medical career to the care of one of the most vulnerable populations: those experiencing addiction. In today's episode, Dr. Drew offers his take on the COVID-19 pandemic: what policy makers have done well and where they have fallen short. He also provides insights on a topic near and dear to his heart: healthcare for the homeless.

John Maceri has spent his career working with those experiencing homelessness. He now leads "The People Concern", one of the largest social services agencies in the western United States. In today's episode, he makes the case that homelessness is a solvable issue -- we just need the political will to fix it.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Growing up in the deep south and facing the challenges of discrimination, Joe Greer’s journey to medical school – and ultimately to the inner health policy circles of the George H. Bush and Clinton administrations – might have seemed unlikely. But his journey getting there was fascinating, and in the process he established one of the most renowned healthcare programs for patients experiencing homelessness in Miami. During the second half of his career, Dr. Greer turned his attention to the future, helping found two medical schools, including the Roseman University College of Medicine, where he now serves as Dean. In today’s episode, we hear about Dr. Greer’s journey, and his thoughts on the future of healthcare.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

In 2020, Kaiser Permanente launched a new medical school in Southern California – the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. Dr. Mark Schuster was charged with leading this new school, in his role as the Founding Dean and CEO. In today’s episode, Dr. Schuster talks about why doctors of the future may require a different skillset than the current generation, and how Kaiser plans to prepare them for this new frontier.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Loneliness correlates more strongly with health outcomes than many other traditional risk factors, such as tobacco use and high cholesterol. In today’s episode, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, a Professor Psychology at Brigham Young University and Lisbeth Briones-Roberts, the Chief Togetherness Officer for SCAN Health Plan, talk about the problem and what to do about it. Also hear the latest on the Delta variant of COVID-19.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

In his new book The Problem of Alzheimer’s, Dr. Jason Karlawish from the Penn Memory Center traces the history of a condition that impacts nearly 6 million Americans at a cost of more than $225 billion annually. These numbers may triple over the next decade. In today’s episode, Dr. Karlawish discusses potential breakthroughs in the years ahead – both pharmacologic and social – that can help us weather this storm. We also review the FDA’s controversial approval last week of aducanumab, the first new drug for Alzheimer’s in nearly two decades.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Older adults often have a more holistic perspective on the world than younger people. In today’s episode, Geriatrician Dr. Laura Mosqueda – a Professor of Family Medicine and the former Dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC – talks about why she loves caring for older adults. She also discusses policy changes that could improve the aging experience in the U.S. **Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Dr. Michael Hochman gives a rundown of the week's medical news and announces an exciting new partnership with Scan Health Plan!**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Policymakers across the nation have recently pledged billions to fund housing for the homeless. In Los Angeles, a federal judge even ordered city and county officials to offer all homeless individuals in the Skid Row neighborhood shelter by October. But will these “housing first” efforts work? Or will it prove necessary to concurrently address the health issues – such as mental illness and substance use – that are intertwined with homelessness. In today’s episode, Dr. Steven Hochman, a primary care doctor at the JWCH health clinic on Skid Row provides his perspective.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

This year, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to two scientists – Jeniffer Doudna at Berkley and French Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier – who played key roles in developing a gene editing tool known as CRISPR. Just a few years later, gene editing – with the aid of the CRISPR tool – began being used for treating genetic disorders in real patients. We are just beginning to get the initial results. In today’s episode, one of the leading scientists using gene therapy talks with us about this frontier, both the opportunities and the real risks.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Just when we thought the end was in sight, there are signs that COVID-19 variants – such as the B117 strain first found in the UK – are popping up across the U.S. Worryingly, this B117 strain appears to be more contagious among children. But according to today’s guest, Pediatrician Dr. Jessica Hochman, we should take it all in stride. The miraculous immune systems of children handle the SARS-Co-2 virus very well, and if we can continue rapidly distributing the vaccines to high risk adults, the overall benefits of getting children back in schools outweigh the risks.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Many of us assume that the dietary supplement products that we purchase in pharmacies, grocery stores and nutrition outlets – as well as on the internet – are carefully regulated for safety. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth. In today’s episode, supplement expert Dr. Pieter Cohen from Harvard Medical School and the Cambridge Health Alliance explains that supplement makers have a very low bar for demonstrating the safety of new products, and that there are many loopholes from circumventing the existing lax restrictions. According to Pieter, the FDA needs much greater authority to oversee supplement safety as well as resources to enforce the regulations. See also Pieter’s new study this week on weight loss and exercise supplements and an article about the legal challenges he faced as a result of his work.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Some may dismiss the idea of a national health insurance program due to concerns and skepticism about “big government.” But as Drs. Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein from Hunter College explain, a national health insurance program could greatly simplify health insurance for patients and doctors, while ensuring that everyone in the U.S. is covered. Their data – which has been verified by the Congressional Budget Office and other sources – show significant financial savings from a national health insurance approach. Steffie and David also explain how and why such a system would lead to better, more equitable care for patients.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

For patients experiencing a heart attack, stents can be lifesaving, restoring blood flow to a blocked coronary artery feeding the heart. But hundreds of thousands of cardiac stents (as well as cardiac bypass surgeries) are performed in the U.S. each year for patients with stable blockages. According to Dr. David Maron, the Director of Preventive Cardiology at Stanford, many of these procedures – particularly those performed for patients without severe symptoms – are unnecessary. According to Dr. Maron, patients, with guidance from their doctors, should drive the decision about when to perform these procedures. Yet too often it is the doctors pushing these procedures.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

The question of whether or not schools should reopen this spring has taken center stage. Proponents argue that the benefits of reopening outweigh the risks while opponents fear it could trigger another surge. Today, we hear from Dalia Hochman, PhD, the Head of School at Gann Academy, a Massachusetts high school, which has remained open for in-person instruction throughout the academic year. Dalia will explain the protocols and policies her team has used to ensure her community’s safety. She also offers inspiring words for other school leaders hoping to get their students back in the classroom.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Opioid overdoses lead to nearly 70,000 deaths each year in the U.S., and for this reason the medical community has significantly curtailed their use for treating pain in adults. But what about in children? In today’s episode, Pediatric surgeon and researcher Dr. Lorraine Kelley-Quon, from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, explains that treating pain in children requires a nuanced approach. Dr. Kelley-Quon recently authored the first national guidelines about the role of opioids in children undergoing surgery, and makes the case that we need to find a “sweet spot” in which we treat pain aggressively but without using opioids recklessly. Often this involves maximizing the role of comfort mechanisms to minimize the need for medications.  **Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Last season in the Healthy Skeptic, MD, Dr. Gil Welch educated us about the downsides of breast cancer screening. We get a different take this week from Dr. Christoph Lee, a breast radiologist and researcher at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Christoph is at the forefront of new approaches to breast cancer screening. Christoph also talks about his work on the risks of radiation from medical imaging.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Humans have a complex relationship with alcohol, dating back to the stone age. In excess quantities, it can be deadly. But what about a daily glass of wine? The answer is nuanced, as you will learn in this week’s episode with primary care doctor and alcohol researcher, Dr. Ken Mukamal from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.  **Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

In 2018, the FDA authorized the first genetic test that could be marketed directly to consumers – a home test made by 23andme for BRCA mutations to assess breast cancer risk. Since then, the number of genes linked to cancer and other health conditions has continued to increase. Yet what to do with this information has not become any less confusing. In today’s episode, cancer specialist Vinay Prasad, MD, MPH from the University of California, San Francisco explains his anxieties about genetic testing, but also the opportunities. Dr. Prasad also discusses a recent controversial article he wrote suggesting that those who have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine can loosen up on the social restrictions. He argues – compellingly -- that for those who have previously been vaccinated, the mental and psychological impacts of these restrictions do not outweigh the small residual infection risk.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

In 2019, MedPage Today launched an investigative healthcare reporting team. Find out what they have uncovered so far with Kristina Fiore, who directs their Enterprise and Investigative Reporting efforts.As a bonus, we will also hear from Shelly Rosenfeld, a lawyer who co-directs the Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC). Find out how this team might help you or a loved one with cancer advocate for your rights during a challenging time.  **Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Tonsil surgery and ear tubes are among the most common procedures in the U.S. The risks are low, but there are downsides. In today’s episode, Pediatric ENT surgeon and author Dr. Nina Shapiro from UCLA talks us through how to know when it makes sense to proceed with one of these procedures. Dr. Shapiro also weighs in on COVID-19 vaccination in children! This is a great episode to pass along to friends, family and colleagues with young children.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Many patients go to the doctor’s office each year expecting to get a full panel of tests, including a blood count, platelets, kidney and liver tests and electrolyte levels. But are these tests really necessary? Could they lead to more harm than good? In today’s episode, primary care doctor Steven Hochman makes the case that patients and doctors could do more to promote health by focusing on healthy eating, exercise and addressing active medical issues rather than performing extensive routine blood testing.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

This week’s episode kicks off season 2 of the Healthy Skeptic, MD. We will focus on key medical decisions that we may all need to consider at one point or another, such as: Should you take a daily multivitamin? Is red wine healthy for the heart? Do mammograms save lives? In today’s episode, Dr. Rita Redberg, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, and Editor-in-chief at JAMA Internal Medicine, explains why a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise are much more important for preventing heart attacks and strokes than a daily cholesterol pill.  **Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Older adults are the most vulnerable both to the directs effects of COVID-19 but also to the indirect impact on psychological and mental health. Dr. Jay Bhatt – a geriatrician and the former Chief Medical Officer for the American Hospital Association – breaks down the risks and provides advice for the holiday season. After today’s episode, we will take a  break for the holidays and pick it up again for season 2 of the Healthy Skeptic, MD on Friday January 8. Season 2 will focus on key health decisions we all should be aware of, such as the pros and cons of a daily multivitamin and whether or not to take cholesterol medications. A happy and safe holiday season to all!**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

We’re now 9 months into this pandemic and malls and casinos have reopened, but in many parts of the nation schools have not. Hear from Pediatrician Dr. Jessica Hochman how we might safely get kids back in their classrooms (at least when this latest surge settles down!). Also, we’ll discuss the latest of the COVID vaccine and whether there’s a better approach to managing the latest surge other than renewed “safer at home” orders.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Dr. Kedar Mate is the new President and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), perhaps the world’s most respected healthcare quality improvement organization. Today, we discuss his vision for healthcare improvement in the coming years. We also will touch on the latest health news.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

In this episode, we review the basics of COVID-19 with Dr. Pieter Cohen, a Harvard doctor who literally wrote the COVID-19 textbook (he is the lead author of the chapter on outpatient COVID-19 management in the popular medical textbook UpToDate). In this episode, Dr. Cohen reviews the basics about COVID-19 for patients. This is a great episode to share with friends and family who want a better understanding of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and how it is treated.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

This Thanksgiving week, we hear about what healthcare is like for those living on the streets from three frontline clinicians who care for homeless patients. Their stories should make us all feel thankful.This week’s episode also covers the latest on COVID-19, as well as new evidence suggesting that some patients with appendicitis may not need surgery.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

How safe are we in the doctor’s office or your local hospital? Not as safe as you might think, according to today’s guests, Linda Beck, the founder of Square One Elder and Health Advocacy (https://squareoneadvocacy.com/), and Michael Eisenberg, producer and director of the documentary “To Err is Human” (https://www.toerrishumanfilm.com/). Also here the Healthy Skpetic, MD take on vitamin D supplementation to protect against COVID-19 as well as the new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine data.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Dr. Sachin Jain, the new President and CEO of SCAN Health Plan, talks about the need to implement “radical common sense” in healthcare, while also approaching healthcare innovation with humility and adaptability.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Pharmacists are often referred to as the most highly trained yet underutilized healthcare professionals. Learn how patients can better take advantage of these highly trained healthcare professionals in today’s episode featuring Dr. Steven Chen, Associate Dean for the USC School of Pharmacy.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Today I talk with Dr. Joe Ladapo about the response to COVID-19 in the USA. Have we let fear cloud our judgment? What could get us out of the shutdown safely?**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Today I'm joined by Dr. John Schumann whose medical career took a turn when he became President of Oklahoma University-Tulsa. We discuss COVID on campus and the ups and downs of the American healthcare system.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Today we get into the big question of cancer screenings. We're joined by Gilbert Welch, MD who posits that we may overdo it with screenings to the possible detriment of patients. He argues patients should be fully informed on the pros and cons of every test and make decisions for themselves, rather than going along with a system that may or may not be screening for the right reasons.**Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube! Link for our channel on podcast apps and Youtube: wavve.link/healthyskepticmd

Have questions for Dr. Michael you'd like to have answered on the show? Send 'em in!HealthySkepticMD@gmail.com-----COVID-19 has caused an exponential growth in telehealth or virtual doctor's appointments. Dr. Sirisha Mohan and Dr. Paul Hyman, both Primary Care Doctors, discuss the effect this can have on doctor/patient relationships. Does the ease of access to your doctor in a virtual appointment come with any downsides? Is there a loss in quality of care if patients aren't coming in person? What does the future of medicine look like? Will we ever go back?Join us for an insightful conversation!Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Skeptic MD on your favorite podcast app and on Youtube!

Today I'm joined by Dr. David Katz to discuss COVID-19 and how the shutdown itself may be causing harm. He tells us how the shutdown could have been shorter while still protecting our health. Could we loosen restrictions before approval of a vaccine? Dr. Katz thinks so.We also talk about herd immunity. What is herd immunity? How many people need to be infected to achieve it? Could we we be closer to herd immunity than we think?As always, iff you have any health or Covid questions, send me an email! I always answer a few questions at the top of the show. HealthySkepticMD@gmail.comBe sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and on Youtube!

New York Times Best Selling Author Katy Butler joins me to talk about palliative care, hospice, and difficult end-of-life decisions.I also answer listener questions about COVID treatments from last week, as well as recent news regarding college athletes with inflammation around their hearts. All that plus the weekly health news.If you have any questions you'd like me to answer, send them to:HealthySkepticMD@gmail.com Subscribe on youtube and your favorite podcast app!

COVID-19 is at the top of our collective minds, so I brought the big questions to Dr. Brad Spellberg, Infectious Disease expert and Chief Medical Officer at the largest public hospital in California. He tells me what it's been like running a hospital during this once-a-century event. We also get into testing, masks, what the USA did right, what the USA did wrong, kids & Covid, reinfection, and where we go from here.We also discuss Brad's new book, Broken, Bankrupt, and Dying: How to Solve the Great American Healthcare Rip-off, which is a fascinating look at the American healthcare system through the eyes of a savvy healthcare leader. Buy it here.--Healthy Skeptic MD is a podcast hosted by Primary Care Physician Dr. Michael Hochman. We believe that although modern medicine is amazing, there's always room for improvements! 

Coming soon!Welcome to the Healthy Skeptic, MD podcast.I am Dr. Michael Hochman, a primary care doctor and host of Healthy Skeptic, MD.The purpose of the Healthy Skeptic MD podcast is to take a deeper dive into health issues through interviews with experts and patients. A key theme of the podcast is that although modern medicine has much to offer, it also can lead to harms if used inappropriate.If you are interested in hearing more, check out the Health Skeptic MD podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. And enjoy the discussion, thank you!