Afleveringen
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Joseph Sakran, MD, MPH was a teenager in a small town in Virginia when, in 1994, his life took a dramatic turn. At the age of 17, he was out with his friends after a high school football game when a nearby gunfight broke out and he was struck by a stray bullet in the throat. The bullet, tearing through his windpipe and a carotid artery, brought him to the razor edge of death before he was saved by trauma surgeons.
Thirty years later, Dr. Sakran is now a trauma surgeon who serves as Director of Emergency General Surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and a vocal advocate of reducing firearm injury through public health initiatives at the state and national levels. Following the 2018 comment by the National Rifle Association that doctors should âstay in their laneâ with regard to gun violence prevention, Dr. Sakran started the #ThisIsOurLane movement, mobilizing thousands of health care professionals to advocate for gun violence as a public health crisis.
Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Sakran shares his harrowing experience of being shot and what it was like to be confronted with imminent death, how his perspectives on and priorities in life changed after the incident, what goes on in his mind when he operates on victims of gun violence, how he connects with his patients over shared experiences of trauma, how all clinicians can be more empathetic with their patients, and why advocacy is integral to the work of a physician.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
2:46 - How a personal tragedy set Dr. Sakran on the path to becoming a trauma surgeon
9:51 - How Dr. Sakranâs perspective on life was altered by his personal experience with gun violence
13:11 - How Dr. Sakranâs experiences informs his approach to speaking with patients and their loved ones during traumatic situations
19:09 - The importance of showing empathy to build rapport with patients and families
23:51 - What it is like to tend to victims of violence
29:26 - Addressing the public health crisis of gun violence in America
37:41 - How clinicians can become more involved in advocacy
45:32 - Dr. Sakranâs advice to future clinicians
Dr. Joseph Sakran can be found on Twitter/X at @josephsakran.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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To the best of our knowledge, humans appear to be unique among animals in our awareness of mortality â at least in our capacity for existential reflection about death in an abstract, cultural, and symbolic sense. With this capacity comes profound psychological experiences, from our search for meaning, to our struggle with grief, to a yearning for the spiritual.
Our guest on this episode is Dr. Rachel Clarke, a palliative care physician based in the United Kingdom who entered medicine after an initial career in journalism. As she would discover, her love for language and storytelling has turned out to be one of the most important ways she helps patients heal in some of the most devastating moments of their lives. As a writer. Dr. Clarke is the author of multiple best selling books, including Dear Life: A Doctor's Story of Love and Loss (2020), Your Life in My Hands: A Junior Doctor's Story (2017), and Breathtaking (2021), which was adapted into a TV series of the same name. Her writing, imbued with both grace and grit, invites readers to confront difficult truths about mortality, suffering, and the inequities of the healthcare system, while also offering a vision of medicine that is as deeply human as it is healing. Over the course of our conversation, we discuss her journey to medicine by way of journalism, her reflections on the moral imperatives that drive her work, the power of storytelling in comforting patients, why suffering is inextricably connected to love, and more.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
3:12 - Why Dr. Clarke switched careers from journalism to palliative care
9:46 - The challenge modern doctors and patients face when it comes to thinking about mortality
15:09 - Supporting a patientâs psychological suffering through conversation
20:31 - Grappling with what Dr. Clarke calls the âessential paradox of being a human beingâ â our awareness of mortality
33:41 - The experience of watching a person die and the reverence we hold for the bodies of the dead
43:05 - The doctorâs dual responsibilities of navigating both science and human emotions
Dr. Rachel Clarke is the author of four books, including most recently, The Story of a Heart (2024).
Dr. Clarke can be found on Twitter/X at @doctor_oxford.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Modern medicine has long considered many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease to be immutably linked to the fate of certain unlucky individuals through yet-poorly understood genetic mechanisms. But increasingly, we are seeing evidence that some of our lifestyle choices, including our diet, physical activity, and relationships, may play a significant role in the development of, or protection against, these diseases. Our guest on this episode, David Perlmutter, MD, is a neurologist and writer whose immensely popular books, including Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar â Your Brainâs Silent Killers (2013), discuss why diets low in refined carbohydrates and high in fats, in addition to foods that nurture a healthy gut microbiome, may prevent cognitive decline.
Over the course of our conversation, we discuss Dr. Perlmutter's path from conventional neurology to moving towards a more functional and holistic approach to treating brain disorders, the importance of metabolic health in maintaining our cognitive capacities, how Dr. Perlmutter responds to critics of his non-conventional medical advice, why nutrition science is riddled with messy and conflicting findings and how we can better navigate through it all, what clinicians can do to better help their patients live well, and more.
Note: Some of Dr. Perlmutterâs ideas and recommendations have been the subject of debate and controversy within the medical community. While we believe in fostering open dialog and exploring diverse perspectives, the views expressed in this episode are those of Dr. Perlmutter and do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of this podcast. We encourage listeners to critically evaluate the information presented and work with qualified healthcare professionals when making any changes to their health and wellness routines.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
3:11 - Dr. Perlmutterâs transition from conventional neurology to what he calls âpreventativeâ neurology
8:43 - Dr. Perlmutterâs views on what constitutes a âdiseaseâ and the role of the doctor.
19:08 - Emerging science on the importance of metabolic health on brain health
25:17 - How scientific studies on preventative health can be (and have been) designed
34:56 - Why Dr. Perlmutter prioritizes health markers (such as HbA1c) over specific dietary recommendations when working with patients
42:21 - Dr. Perlmutterâs views on GLP-1 antagonists such as Ozempic and Mounjaro
50:36 - How Dr. Perlmutter has dealt with critics of his work
Dr. David Perlmutter is the author of eight books.
Dr. Perlmutter can be found on Twitter/X at @davidperlmutter.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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What makes a life worth living? This question has animated great thinkers and faith traditions for millennia. Interestingly enough, in our time of rapid globalization, technological advancement, and material abundance, we often seem more unmoored from our conception of the self and its relation to the world than ever before.
Our guest on this episode, Miroslav Volf, has spent his life wrestling with this question of questions and helping others to do the same. Volf is a professor of theology at Yale Divinity School and founding director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, and his work explores the intersections of faith, identity, and public life. He is the author of more than 10 books, including the bestselling Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most (2023), based on one of the most popular courses at Yale University, which he co-teaches. The book, an inquiry into the nature of human flourishing, invites readers to consider wisdom drawn from various religious, philosophical, and literary traditions. He challenges the often superficial metrics of happiness promoted by modern society, urging readers to reflect deeply on the kind of life they want to lead â one that is not just pleasurable or successful by conventional standards, but that is positively shaped by adversity, contemplation, and interconnectedness.
In our conversation, we discuss how growing up as the son of a Pentecostal minister in Former Yugoslavia influenced Volf's relationship with Christian theology, why faith is a âcomfortably difficultâ thing, why âfinding your authentic selfâ is a problematic concept in modern culture, how social media, divisive political currents, and the relentless drive for productivity distract us from what matters most, and the nobility in pursuing a richer, more intentioned, and just life.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
3:12 - What Volfâs work as a systematic theologian entails, and key childhood experiences that shaped his relationship with faith
12:18 - The philosophical basis for the Yale class that inspired the book Life Worth Living
20:23 - Why Volf uses Smokey Bear as a representation of the pursuit of a meaningful life
26:53 - Shifting the focus of life from personal desires toward the quest to live by âtruthâ
40:38 - The inherent challenge in shifting focus away from âI, Me, and Mineâ
45:49 - How the search for a meaningful life relates to the experiences of a medical professional
51:42 - Advice for how to add philosophical practices to a busy modern life
Miroslav Volf is the author of 17 books, including Life Worth Living (2023)
Past episodes discussed in this episode:
Episode 95: Shaping a Soul, Building a Self | William Deresiewicz
Episode 21: Pain, Pleasure, and Finding Balance | Anna Lembke, MD
Visit www.TheDoctorsArt.com for transcripts of all episodes. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, send an email to [email protected].Copyright The Doctorâs Art Podcast 2024
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Most people shudder at the idea of an infectious disease outbreak â patients stricken with a mysterious illness, hospitals overflowing, and cities going into lockdown. But for Syra Madad, DHSc, MSc , MCP, rushing into such a scenario, donned in a hazmat suit, to control the chaos has been a dream since childhood. Today, she is an epidemiologist, biosecurity advisor, and a pathogen preparedness expert who serves as Senior Director of the System-Wide Special Pathogens Program at New York City Health and Hospitals, which operates the municipal health care system of New York City.
Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Madad shares what excites her about the work of infectious disease control, why she believes we have emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic worse prepared for the next pandemic, how scientists and doctors can better communicate with the public in the absence of clear data, the importance of utilizing trusted messengers in the community to fully deploy the power of public health, and more.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
2:09 - How a movie led Dr. Madad to become an infectious disease preparedness expert
6:54 - An overview of Biosafety levels (BSL)
9:30 - Moments in Dr. Madadâs career when disease containment went well and moments when it did not.
12:27 - How Dr. Madad mentally and emotionally manages the heavy weight of often-lethal infectious diseases
18:05 - Dr. Madadâs opinion on how COVID-19 policies were handled
24:02 - Dr. Madadâs personal thoughts on the potential origins of COVID-19
26:55 - What concerns Dr. Madad most about future pandemics and how we can make positive steps toward recovering trust in science
35:40 - Dr. Madadâs advice for those considering a career in public health or infectious diseases
Dr. Syra Madad appears in the Netflix special Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak.
Dr. Syra Madad can be found on Twitter/X at @syramadad.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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For many physicians, having serious illness conversations with patients â talking about a dire prognosis or the futility of curative treatments â is one of the most daunting aspects of patient care. But to palliative care physician Shunichi Nakagawa, MD, these conversations are fundamentally about communicating the honest truth in an elegant, considerate, and humane way.
Dr. Nakagawa, the director of the Inpatient Palliative Care Service at Columbia University Medical Center, joins us in this episode to discuss both his unique personal journey, as well as his insightful approach to figuring out what really matters to patients during critical moments in their lives. He shares what it was like completing his surgical training in Japan, than coming to the United States with the hope of becoming a liver transplant surgeon, before having those hopes dashed when he found out he was ineligible to work as a surgeon in the US due to his hepatitis carrier status, and finally discovering his true calling in geriatrics and palliative care.
We also discuss cultural challenges in thinking about the end of life, why it is so difficult for physicians to communicate with their patients about serious illness, how clinicians ought to approach shared decision making, and why, when done well, this can be one of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of doctoring.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
2:34 - How Dr. Nakagawa entered a career in medicine in Japan
5:33 - Dr. Nakagawaâs unique journey through medical training, from surgery to palliative care
16:25 - The three-stage process that Dr. Nakagawa follows when communicating challenging medical information to patients
28:10 - Delivering medical advice in a succinct way when speaking to patients and their family members
36:14 - Lessons on what works and what doesnât work in sensitive patient communication
Dr. Shunichi Nakagawa can be found on Twitter/X at @snakagawa_md.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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When Impossible Foods released its first product, the Impossible Burger, in 2016, it was met with equal parts curiosity, skepticism, and excitement. This plant-based âmeat that bleedsâ was seen as a novelty item. Today, Impossible Foodsâ expanded line of offerings, from sausages to chicken nuggets to Italian meatballs, can be found in most American grocery stores at a price that rivals traditional meats.
The founder of Impossible Foods is Pat Brown, MD, PhD, a physician and molecular biologist who, after seeing the detrimental impact of animal farming on deforestation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, made it his ambitious mission to create a sustainable food system by reducing our reliance on animal agriculture. He set out to develop plant-based alternatives to meat that not only matched, but surpassed the taste and nutritional value of traditional meats, harnessing biochemistry to recreate the sensory experience and culinary qualities of meat at a molecular level.
In this episode, Dr. Brown joins us to share his early career path from clinical pediatrics to biochemistry research, along the way inventing the DNA microarray, now an essential laboratory tool used to measure the expression levels of thousands of genes. He then discusses the origins of Impossible Foods, the scientific breakthroughs that have propelled its success, and how he hopes to inspire a cultural shift towards more sustainable eating habits and ensure a healthier planet for future generations.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
2:41 - How Dr. Brown was initially drawn to a career in medicine
7:54 - Why Dr. Brown chose to transition from clinical work to biomedical research
14:05 - How Dr. Brownâs drive to tackle the biggest problems of humanity led to the creation of Impossible Foods
24:19 - The scientific approach that Impossible Foods takes in creating its products
30:17 - Whether plant-based meats are too highly processed
38:40 - Dr. Brownâs vision for the future of food
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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Many people regard dementia as a fate worse than death, in large part because it strikes at the essence of our humanity â our memories, identity, and relationships with others. Unlike diseases that primarily afflict the body, dementia erodes the mind, leading to a gradual fragmentation and loss of self and autonomy.
The burden of this disease on caregivers also cannot be understated. Not only does dementia require comprehensive, long term care that addresses the afflicted individualâs cognitive, behavioral, and physical issues; witnessing a loved one's slow and irreversible decline often exerts an immense emotional toll on the caregiver. Additionally, the pervasive stigma and isolation associated with dementia can leave caregivers feeling unsupported and alone.
Our guest on this episode is Dasha Kiper, a clinical psychologist who works with caregivers to people with dementia. She's the author of Travelers to Unimaginable Lands: Stories of Dementia, The Caregiver, and the Human Brain (2023). The book explores the complex relationship between caregivers and dementia patients, which are frequently rife with heartbreak, guilt, frustration, helplessness and shame. Over the course of our conversation, Dasha shares her transformative personal experiences working as a caregiver, why caregivers deserve more empathy and understanding, ethical dilemmas over medical interventions and patient autonomy, navigating the distorted reality in the mind of a dementia patient, coping strategies for caregivers and healthcare professionals, and more.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
3:13 - How Dasha âstumbledâ into working as a live-in caregiver for a dementia patient while still in school
4:44 - How serving as a caregiver for a dementia patient shaped Dashaâs views of neurological illness
10:23 - Managing the âloss of shared realityâ that often occurs between the caregiver and the dementia patient
23:45 - The added emotional toll that dementia can take on family members
32:46 - What human dignity means in the context of dementia care
36:55 - Fostering self-compassion as a clinician or caregiver by connecting with community
49:16 - Dashaâs advice for finding community support if you are a family caregiver
Dasha Kiper is the author of Travelers to Unimaginable Lands: Stories of Dementia The Caregiver and the Human Brain (2023).
Past episodes and works discussed in this episode:
Episode 62: Navigating my Fatherâs Alzheimerâs as a Doctor | Sandeep Jauhar, MD
My Fatherâs Brain: Life in the Shadow of Alzheimerâs by Sandeep Jauhar, MD
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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There once was a time when indoor smoking was allowed in workplaces all across the United States, when trans fats were ubiquitous, and when fast food restaurants didn't have to post calorie information on their menus. That wasn't so long ago, and it's in large part thanks to the pioneering efforts of Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, Health Commissioner of New York City from 2002 to 2009, that these changes were made. Dr. Friedenâs city-wide initiatives during this time included steps to reduce tobacco use (by banning indoor smoking, increasing tobacco taxes, and aggressive anti-tobacco ads), to ban trans fats and mandate proper nutrition labeling in restaurants, and to rapidly expand screening for diabetes and HIV. All of these efforts have since been adopted nationwide and have gained practically universal acceptance by the public.
Prior to this, Dr. Frieden spearheaded tuberculosis control measures in New York City and India, drastically slashing rates of multidrug resistant tuberculosis. He was also director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during which time he led the CDC's response against the H1N1 influenza pandemic, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and the Zika virus epidemic. Most recently, he leads Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative aiming to prevent cardiovascular disease primarily through advocacy of lifestyle interventions.
Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Frieden shares his personal path to a career in infectious disease and public health, lessons learned from his work on tuberculosis control, striking the balance between curbing personal liberties and protecting community health, key insights into effective public health communication particularly when dealing with incomplete information or data, the evolution of the political and partisan nature of health policy, why preventing heart disease is so critical, and more.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
3:00 - How a conversation with his father drew Dr. Frieden to a career in public health
5:40 - Dr. Friedenâs early work tackling tuberculous as a âmanagement problemâ
9:05 - Balancing individual rights with the health of the public
17:55 - The formula Dr. Frieden has used to choose which particular public health issues to focus on
28:08 - Strategies for effective health communication with the public
33:08 - The mission of Dr. Frieden's organization Resolve to Save Lives
39:16 - Dr. Friedenâs thoughts on how to navigate public health communications in the light of changing scientific knowledge
45:50 - The important lessons that Dr. Frieden learned from his patients about public health during his time as a clinician
Dr. Tom Frieden is the President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives.
Dr. Frieden can be found on Twitter/X at @DrTomFrieden.
People and Work discussed in this episode:
Dr. Karel Styblo
Dr. Nancy Messeniorâs February 2020 COVID address
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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It is well documented that descendants of Holocaust survivors exhibit greater levels of anxiety, depression, and vulnerability. The trauma of domestic violence can ripple through generations, with maladaptive coping mechanisms and emotional instability perpetuating subsequent cycles of trauma and dysfunction. The brutal history of slavery in the United States is seen today in the form of persistent economic disparities and ongoing social injustices, affecting mental and physical health across generations. All of this, in various forms, is intergenerational trauma. Extending beyond the individual, the emotional and psychological wounds of this type of trauma embeds itself within the family lineage through behavioral patterns, emotional responses, and even biological alterations.
Our guest on this episode is Mariel Buqué, PhD, a health psychologist who specializes in helping individuals experiencing intergenerational trauma. Her book Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma (2024) reveals the invisible threads that link the past and present and highlights the necessity for healing not just individuals, but entire family systems and communities. Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Buqué shares how she draws on her experiences as an Afro-Latina immigrant from the Dominican Republic in her work, how a health psychologist connects with patients, how intergenerational traumas happen and their devastating effects on individuals, families, friends, and community members, and more.
In this episode youâll hear about:
2:00 - What drew Dr. Buqué to the field of psychology
5:19 - What health psychology is
8:40 - What occurs in a course of treatment with a psychologist
18:30 - An overview of intergenerational trauma
28:00 - The far-reaching effects of intergenerational trauma in society and how psychology can help unload the burden
35:50 - Breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma
40:30 - The role of stigma in access to mental health care
45:10 - Dr. BuquĂ©âs approach to building trust with patients
48:28 - How all clinicians can better empathize and connect with their patients through trauma-informed care
Dr. Mariel Buqué is the author of Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma (2024).
Dr. Buqué can be found on Instagram at @dr.marielbuque.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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The Genocide Against the Tutsi, occurring in Rwanda between April-July 1994, was a devastating episode of mass violence in which nearly 1 million people were killed over a period of 100 days. Fueled by longstanding ethnic tensions, political power struggles, and a deep seated history of discrimination, the genocide saw members of the Tutsi ethnic group slaughtered indiscriminately by extremists of the Hutu ethnic group.
Growing up amid this chaos, Christian Ntizimira, MD witnessed some of humanity's most horrific atrocities. Instead of turning away, however, he chose to enter medicine, a profession that would allow him to address the immense suffering he saw. Today, Dr. Ntizimira is a palliative care physician and the founder and executive director of the African Center for Research on End of Life Care.
In this episode, Dr. Ntizimira joins us to share his personal experiences with the Rwandan Genocide, his journey to palliative medicine after initially exploring a career in surgery, what palliative care means to him, what it looks like to honor the dignity of a patient, how he advocates better access to palliative care and chronic illness care, and his unique approach to medicine rooted in âubuntu,â a philosophy emphasizing the universal bond that connects all humanity that is best summarized by the phrase âI am because you are.â
In this episode, youâll hear about:
2:45 - How Dr. Ntizimiraâs experience as a young person during the Rwandan Genocide inspired him to become a physician, and how he eventually found himself drawn to palliative care
14:25 - Dr. Ntizimiraâs distinction between âtreating the diseaseâ and âtreating the personâ
20:22 - How Dr. Ntizimira teaches doctors to fully conceptualize patients as people instead of focusing only on their medical ailments
25:50 - The heart of palliative care that transcends cultures
30:54 - The importance of presence in palliative care
38:27 - What âreconciliationâ means in Dr. Ntizimiraâs approach to palliative care
47:17 - âUbuntu,â an African philosophy emphasizing a shared connection among humans, and how it can revolutionize how we care for patients
Dr. Christian Ntizimira is the author of The Safari Concept: An African Framework for End of Life Care.
Dr. Christian Ntizimira can be found on Twitter/X at @ntizimira.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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Death and grief are much more âhiddenâ from society today than they once were. The medicalization of dying means that death now occurs more frequently in hospitals and care facilities than at homes. The secularization of society means that traditional religious or communal rituals surrounding death and mourning have diminished. The fast pace and optimistic lens of consumer culture means less contemplation of aging, mortality, and grief.
But MikoĆaj SĆawkowski-Rode, PhD, a professor of philosophy at the University of Warsaw and research fellow at Oxford University, argues that experiences of mourning and grief are crucial to the human condition. They allow us to foster empathy and connect with othersâ suffering. They encourage us to reflect on how we value life, relationships, and the responsibilities we have towards others, both living and deceased. They revitalize communal rituals and practices, creating a sense of shared humanity.
Professor SĆawkowski-Rode has written widely on the philosophical and ethical dimensions of mourning, grief, and memory, and his works have appeared in The New York Times as well as various academic publications. Over the course of our conversation, we discuss the nature of grief as a multifaceted emotional response, extending beyond a psychological state and reaching into existential realms; the role of memory in the grieving process; why love and grief are fundamentally inseparable; how the atomization of modern society affects our ability to mourn; and more.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
3:20 - The focus of SĆawkowski-Rodeâs current work and what his day looks like as a philosopher
8:10 - The value of philosophy in society
12:42 - How SĆawkowski-Rode became inspired to study grief
14:57 - Why grief has become more âhiddenâ in society over the past century
23:49 - How the âcult of individualityâ leads our society to ignore aging and death
33:45 - How SĆawkowski-Rode defines âhuman flourishingâ
36:31 - How the atomization of modern society affects our ability to mourn
50:00 - Practical advices for clinicians on how to navigate grief and mourning for themselves and their patients
MikoĆaj SĆawkowski-Rode is the author of the New York Times op ed Itâs OK to Never âGet Overâ Your Grief and numerous academic publications.
Dr. SĆawkowski-Rode can be found on Twitter/X at @MikolajRode.
Works and past episodes discussed:
The Hours of Our Death by Philipe Aries
Episode 21: Pain, Pleasure and Finding the Balance | Anna Lembke, MD
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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For a profession like medicine in which suffering â be it physical, psychological, existential, or spiritual â is so commonly encountered and experienced, we have developed remarkably little shared vocabulary to talk about what suffering means. That is, if we even have the conversations at all.
In early June 2024, during the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual conference in Chicago, we hosted a live podcast event at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, gathering Sunita Puri, MD and Jay Wellons, MD, MSPH to explore the great problem of suffering. Dr. Puri, a palliative care physician and author of the best selling book That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the 11th Hour (2019), last joined us on Episode 74: The Beauty of Impermanence. Dr. Wellons, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and author of the memoir All That Moves Us: A pediatric neurosurgeon, His Young Patients and Their Stories of Grace and Resilience (2022), last joined us on Episode 28: The Brain and All That Moves Us.
The four of us, the guests and co-hosts, start by sharing our personal encounters with suffering, both in our patients and in ourselves, before discussing our philosophical approaches to and practical strategies for accompanying patients through suffering, managing spiritual distress, contextualizing our own humanity in these encounters, maintaining our own well-being, and searching for meaning amid these tragic moments, if it is possible. After our main discussion, we also answer audience questions about managing the sometimes unrealistic and complicated expectations patients have of clinicians, and the role of interfaith discussions among healthcare professionals.
We thank Kelly Michelson, MD, MPH and the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities at Northwestern University for making this event possible.In this episode, youâll hear about:
3:58 - Stories of confronting suffering, both in professional and personal contexts
29:02 - Practical tips for coping with suffering and uncertainty as a physician
31:53 - The importance of psychological safety in feeling and expressing your emotions as a physician
36:52 - Being present in the moment while accompanying patients through difficult times
40:00 - Helping doctors re-connect with the deeper reason of why they feel called to medicine
42:24 - The inexplicable relationship between love and loss
52:04 - The deep sense of meaning inherent in the work of a physician and what makes it ârealâ
54:41 - Q&A: How physicians can better navigate the challenging expectations patients have as well as medical skepticism
1:04:05 - Q&A: How we can better incorporate interfaith dialogue into medical training and practice
Dr. Jay Wellons is the author of All That Moves Us (2022) and can be found on Twitter/X at @JayWellons5.
Dr. Sunita Puri is the author of That Good Night (2019) and can be found on Twitter/X at @SunitaPuriMD.
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Most of us take free will for granted â from the biggest of life decisions to choosing an ice cream flavor, we are generally capable of freely deciding how to think and how to behave without outside influence. But Robert Sapolsky believes our decisions cannot be disentangled from our genetics, environment, and neurobiology. In other words, to him, free will does not exist.
Dr. Sapolsky, a neuroscientist and primatologist at Stanford University, is a leading thinker on the biology of stress, human behavior, neurodegenerative diseases, and the science of free will and determinism. He is the author of multiple bestselling books, including Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers (1994), Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst (2017), and Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will (2023). His works have been featured widely in the popular press, from National Geographic to The New York Times.
Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Sapolsky presents his arguments against free will, along the way making detours through chaos and complexity theory, philosophy, ethics, and neuroscience. He shows how subtracting free will from the way culture thinks about crime, mental health, and human development have resulted in more humane health, justice, and educational systems. Finally, we contemplate together what human flourishing even means in the context of a life without free will.
His ideas have profound implications not just on our society, but also on our understanding of human nature, challenging our perceptions and provoking deep reflection on how we navigate the choices in our lives.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
3:08 - How Dr. Sapolsky chose a career straddling both neuroscience and primatology
5:04 - The moment when Dr. Sapolsky realized he did not believe humans have free will
16:16 - How society becomes more humane when free will is factored out
23:29 - The deep implications that free will and determinism could have on criminology
34:13 - How a belief in a lack of free will can negatively affect motivation on a societal scale
43:11 - What does human flourishing look like in a world without free will?
48:07 - The best moments in life in which to utilize this understanding of free will
Dr. Robert Sapolsky has authored numerous publications, a full bibliography of his works can be found here.
Dr. Robert Sapolsky can be found on Instagram at @robert.sapolsky.
Works and past episodes discussed:
Whatâs Expected of Us by Ted Chiang
Episode 79: Transcendence in the Age of Science | Alan Lightman, PhD
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Conventionally, we are taught that evolution implies there is no ultimate purpose to our existence, that life lacks inherent meaning â we are the product of countless intricate molecular and genetic accidents. And to many, evolution leaves little room for, and perhaps even contradicts, the existence of a deity.
However, our guest on this episode, Samuel Wilkinson, MD, a professor of psychiatry at Yale University, thinks there is another way to look at evolution. Drawing from an array of disciplines ranging from evolutionary biology to cognitive science, Dr. Wilkinson provides a framework for evolution suggesting not only that there is an overarching purpose to our existence, but what that purpose is. He presents this framework in his 2024 book, Purpose: What Evolution and Human Nature Imply about the Meaning of Our Existence.
Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Wilkinson shares how an existential crisis during medical school led him down the path of exploring the ways evolution can be reconciled with fundamental questions and answers about life's meaning; how navigating the dual potential of human nature â pulling us between selfishness and altruism, aggression and cooperation â is key to understanding our purpose; why evolution does not exclude the possibility of existence of a god or gods; the importance of relationships in living fulfilling lives; the role of free will in the choice between good and evil; and more.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
3:37 - How a drive to understand human nature drove Dr. Wilkinson to leave his engineering studies and pursue a career as a psychiatrist.
4:44 - The scope of Dr. Wilkinsonâs work at Yale
7:13 - What studying depression has taught Dr. Wilkinson about human nature
9:00 - How Dr. Wilkinson views the connection between evolution and God
24:00 - How the central argument of Dr. Wilkinsonâs book differs from intelligent design
26:41 - Dr. Wilkinsonâs view of selfishness in human nature
37:49 - The deeper meaning that Dr. Wilkinson sees within the biological patterns of evolution
39:04 - The validity of moral relativism
43:42 - âThe Rider and the Elephantâ as a metaphor for human nature
45:43 - Dr. Wilkinsonâs thoughts on free will
55:15 - How marriage can provide a cornerstone to building âa good lifeâ
58:10 - The way in which Dr. Wilkinsonâs faith fits into his personal view of human nature
1:04:42 - How Dr. Wilkinson brings these principles into his clinical practice
Dr. Samuel Wilkinson is the author of Purpose: What Evolution and Human Nature Imply about the Meaning of Our Existence (2024).
Works and Individuals Discussed:
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will by Robert Sapolsky
Michael Behe and the concept of intelligent design
Free Will by Sam Harris
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For Mark Lewis, MD, cancer has defined his entire life. Growing up, he witnessed his father's valiant struggle with cancer before it eventually ended his life. While still in medical training, he not only developed pancreatic cancer but also discovered the culprit. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, an inherited syndrome that drastically increases one's risk of cancers, runs in his family. So now, as a father, he guides his son in making sense of a life burdened with that risk. Whatâs more, as an oncologist, Dr. Lewis has also dedicated his professional life to understanding and treating cancers of the gastrointestinal system.
In this deeply personal conversation filled with pathos, wisdom, and hope, Dr. Lewis shares how he learned to cope with the rage he felt towards cancer in his early years, the solace he finds in religion and how he tactfully approaches matters of spirituality with his patients, how he was fundamentally transformed after undergoing the daunting Whipple surgical procedure, the wonder he feels when considering the remarkable progress science has made in cancer therapies, and how he channels his personal experiences to connect with patients.
This is an episode that paints a portrait of grace, resilience, and courage in the face of suffering and loss, and it reminds us to search for the dignity that is inherent in the act of caring for another person.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
2:43 - How watching his father deal with cancer led Dr. Lewis to a career in medicine.
7:04 - How Dr. Lewis managed the grief and rage that came with his fatherâs passing.
11:10 - How the speed of medical innovation drives Dr. Lewisâ optimism.
19:51 - The role that faith plays in Dr. Lewisâ work and in his relationships with patients.
29:07 - Dr. Lewisâ experience as a cancer patient and how it has informed his work as an oncologist.
39:21 - The ethical challenges involved in administering toxic treatments in oncology.
42:24 - The deeper meaning that Dr. Lewis has found through his experiences at the intersection of science and faith.
48:57 - Dr. Lewisâ advice for empathizing and connecting with patients.
Dr. Mark Lewis can be found on Twitter/X at @marklewismd.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with an endowment of over $50 billion, is one of the largest and most influential philanthropic organizations in the world. With a focus on addressing global health, poverty, and education, its initiatives have led to the reduction of malaria mortality by 60% over the past two decades, the near eradication of polio, increased educational opportunities of millions of students, and improved sanitation conditions for millions of people in developing countries.
For six years, oncologist Sue Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH was the CEO of this organization. Prior to that, she served as Chancellor of the University of California at San Francisco, as well as President of Product Development at Genentech, where she oversaw the development of Herceptin, Avastin, Rituxan, and other blockbuster cancer drugs that are now staples in the arsenal of many medical oncologists.
The topics of our discussion in this episode are as varied as Dr. Desmond-Hellman's career. We discuss, among other things, how seeing the work of her pharmacist father encouraged her to pursue a career in medicine, how her early experiences treating HIV patients in Uganda spurred her to tackle global health challenges, how she discovered a passion for product development in the pharmaceutical industry, how she reconciles the ethical quandaries of developing medications that can cause serious adverse effects and that can sometimes cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per dose, what her mission while at the Gates Foundation was, and her perspectives on the role of artificial intelligence and human health and well-being, now that she has joined the board of directors of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.
In this episode, you will hear about:
2:50 - How working in her fatherâs pharmacy led Dr. Desmond-Hellmann to a career in medicine
4:56 - A brief summary of Dr. Desmond-Hellmannâs multifaceted career trajectory
15:36 - What the day to day work of pharmaceutical drug development looks like
18:30 - The challenging ethical concerns that surround drug approvals especially as it pertains to safety concerns
23:44 - Dr. Desmond-Hellmannâs experiences in Uganda that forever transformed her views on poverty
27:55 - The aims of the Gates Foundation
30:47 - How Dr. Desmond-Hellmann views her work both in the non-profit and the for-profit sectors
37:15 - Dr. Desmond-Hellmannâs mission when she took on a leading role at The Gates Foundation
38:38 - How Dr. Desmond-Hellmann thinks about shaping the future of AI as she takes a seat on the board of OpenAI
45:14 - Dr. Desmond-Hellmannâs advice for medical trainees and clinicians on how to navigate the many opportunities available to them along their career path
Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann can be found on Twitter/X @suedhellmann.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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In today's world, the idea of âidentifying your valuesâ is so ubiquitous, appearing from corporate mission statements to self-help books, that it can seem trivialized to the point of meaninglessness. But in this episode, Ira Bedzow, PhD reminds us it does not have to be this wayâexplorations of personal values can be an inspiring, holistic, and thought provoking process that transforms everything that we do, from finding joy in work to building fulfilling relationships.
Bedzow is the executive director of the Emory Purpose Project, an initiative at Emory University that provides opportunities for students to develop a capacity for reflection on purpose and meaning. He is also an associate professor in the Department of Medicine, a core faculty member of Emory's Center for Ethics, a senior fellow in Emory's Center for the Study of Law and Religion, and an Orthodox rabbi.
Over the course of our conversation, Bedzow discusses how he helps people discover their life purpose, how he teaches moral leadership, how he wrestles with questions of moral relativism, the connection between a loss of purpose and burnout, how he counsels clinicians on resolving ethical quandaries, and more.
In this episode, you will hear about:
2:21 - The varied roles that make up Dr. Bedzowâs current career
8:06 - What âvaluesâ mean
15:53 - The principles Dr. Bedzow employs when counseling students on their career and life aspirations
19:07 - Applying ethical thinking to medical scenarios
27:36 - How Dr. Bedzow counsels leadership at an organizational level
31:02 - The connection between a loss of sense of purpose and burnout
39:01 - How organizations and individuals can proactively foster a sense of mission
42:05 - The deep meaning that Dr. Bedzow finds in his religion
45:23 - Truths that Judaism can offer the world
Ira Bedzow is the author of the essay How Purpose and Employee Empowerment Can Stop Burnout.
Ira Bedzow can be found on Twitter/X at @ijbedzow.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
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Terminal lucidity is a mysterious yet well-documented phenomenon in which someone at the end of lifeâincluding those who have suffered strokes or other brain injuries, or those afflicted by dementiaâsuddenly returns with mental clarity and is able to recognize loved ones and engage in meaningful and emotionally rich conversations. It challenges our fundamental understanding and assumptions about the nature of consciousness, brain function in the context of severe illness, and personhood.
In this episode, Alexander BatthyĂĄny, PhD, a cognitive scientist and the Director of the Viktor Frankl Institute, offers insights on terminal lucidity from his years of study on this phenomenon from a philosophical, ethical, neurological, and psychological perspective. He is the author of the 2023 book Threshold: Terminal Lucidity and the Border of Life and Death.
Over the course of our conversation, he shares how witnessing terminal lucidity in his grandmother has shaped his life purpose, why he chooses to use the word âsoulâ in his academic research, the role of spirituality and religion in making sense of terminal lucidity, the limits of our scientific and materialistic understanding of the brain, what terminal lucidity reveals about the dignity and unpredictability inherent in the human condition, and what it ultimately teaches us about kindness and compassion.
In this episode, youâll hear about:
2:31 - The personal experience that drew Dr. BatthyĂĄny to study terminal lucidity
6:34 - An exploration of human dignity
12:26 - The importance of talking and thinking about the human âsoulâ
18:26 - Definition and phenomenology of terminal lucidity
23:57 - What is known about brain functioning during episodes of terminal lucidity
31:44 - Advice for caregivers, family members, and clinicians if a patient experiences terminal lucidity
36:55 - The prevalence of terminal lucidity
40:14 - Whether individuals who experience terminal lucidity have insight into their condition
42:15 - Why phenomena like terminal lucidity matter
Dr. Alexander BatthyĂĄny is the author of Threshold: Terminal Lucidity and the Border of Life and Death (2023).
Dr. BatthyĂĄny can be found in Twitter/X at @Alxdr_Batthyany.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
Copyright The Doctorâs Art Podcast 2024
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The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) plays a crucial role in health care. As the organization that oversees medical education and thus the pipeline of future medical professionals in the United States, its critical duties include administering the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), managing the residency application service, drafting guidelines for faculty members and departments at medical schools and academic hospitals, disseminating data on medical education and workforce trends that shape policymaking at medical schools and government bodies, and promoting diversity in health care.
Leading this organization is David Skorton, MD, a cardiologist and pioneer of cardiac imaging and computer processing techniques, who also previously served as the 13th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and as President of Cornell University and of the University of Iowa. In this episode, Dr. Skorton shares with us how his family's immigrant past has shaped him, how he went from struggling during his own medical school application process more than 50 years ago to now leading an organization that represents all medical schools and teaching hospitals, why the arts and humanities matter to him, how he thinks about medical education given the emergence of generative artificial intelligence, what great mentors look like, how effective leadership often means learning from everyone around you, and more.
In this episode, you will hear about:
2:42 - Dr. Skortonâs unexpected path from jazz musician to President of the AAMC
7:42 - Why current medical admissions aim to be âholisticâ
12:09 - The lessons Dr. Skorton learned through mentorship and why the arts and humanities can create better doctors
17:32 - How Dr. Skorton has been able to âsee past himselfâ enough to receive challenging criticism from mentors
28:01 - The core tenets of Dr. Skortonâs leadership philosophy
31:35 - How the AAMC views the future of medical education especially in light of advances in artificial intelligence
38:47 - The importance of diverse healthcare teams
46:32 - Issues that Dr. Skorton addresses through his role at the AAMC
Dr. David Skorton can be found on Twitter/X at @DavidJSkorton.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to [email protected].
Copyright The Doctorâs Art Podcast 2024
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