Best Eric Thacker Podcasts (2025)

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Ep92: The Great Obesity Myth w/Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford 49:28

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1d ago49:28

49:28

Obesity is a chronic disease. So why are we still not treating it as such? Enter Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Stanford is a global voice on obesity - redefining it as a chronic disease, not a personal failure. In taking us through the scien…

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Ep91: Pulling Up The Curtain: Patient Data Access, Health Literacy and Democratizing Information w/Brent Dial 54:26

4h ago54:26

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A conversation with Brent Dial To Brent Dial, the pursuit of health is about three things: agency, education, and collaboration. And that’s exactly what Beek Health, the start-up he co-founded earlier this year, are all about. Beek are on a mission to revolutionize the bloated patient data process: reducing wasted time, resources and patient stress…

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Ep90: Rebuilding Medical Trust: Storytelling, Community and Health Equity w/ Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett and Cheryl Harding 57:40

19d ago57:40

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A conversation with Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett and Cheryl Harding Healthcare is a matter of trust. Pouring their efforts into rebuilding the critical tenet of medical trust are family physician and prominent voice on health equity Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett and community champion and strategic advisor Ms. Cheryl Harding. Our two guests forged a…

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Ep89: A Much Overdue Revolution in Primary Care: Now or Never w/Dr Marla McLaughlin 51:43

1M ago51:43

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Our primary care system needs an Overhaul. Leading the discussion is Dr. Marla McLaughlin, a national leader in care delivery innovation and CMO of apree Health. As a family medicine physician with decades of frontline experience, Dr. McLaughlin knows the value of primary care firsthand. As she says, its value lies in the strength and depth of the …

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Ep88: Prevention Before the ICU: Building Resilience, Surviving Crisis and Reimagining Healthcare w/Tom Swales 49:46

2M ago49:46

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True health is only possible through prevention. Our guest this week is renowned physiotherapist, educator, and founder of the AMT System - Tom Swales. Tom has over 20 years of experience in orthopedic care, injury rehabilitation, and human performance - working with a huge range of people, from world-class athletes to the elderly. Yet in 2023, Tom…

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Ep87: Revolutionising Cancer Care, Equitable Access and a Transformed Patient Experience w/ Dr Munir Ghesani 52:21

2M ago52:21

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A conversation with Dr. Munir Ghesani Cancer care is due an update. Leading the field with cutting-edge treatment options and an ethos rooted in equity, are United Theranostics - represented today by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Munir Ghesani. As a leading voice in nuclear medicine, Dr. Ghesani expertly guides us through the current problems in cancer…

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Ep86: The Power of AI to Optimize Data and Transform the Patient-Physician Partnership w/ RJ Kedziora 48:38

2M ago48:38

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A conversation with RJ Kedziora “In the near future, it’s going to be irresponsible to not use AI.” As co-founder of Estenda Solutions, RJ Kedziora is an expert in leveraging data for healthcare organizations, with over 25 years of experience improving patient outcomes. He is a passionate advocate for the AI-clinician partnership: lightening admini…

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Ep85: The Silent Health Crisis: Mold, Mainstream Healthcare and Patient First Solutions w/Ariana Thacker 49:35

3M ago49:35

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A conversation with Ariana Thacker We’re living through the 1918 flu pandemic all over again. But this time, it's silent. Here to shed light on the staggering scale of mold related illness is Ariana Thacker - venture capitalist, former chemical engineer and Founder/CEO of MoldCo. After battling mold toxicity, Ariana realised just how little modern …

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Ep84: I Can Hear Clearly Now, The Earwax is Gone - Patient-Driven Healthcare Technology w/ Sahil Diwan 49:38

3M ago49:38

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A conversation with Sahil Diwan The future of healthcare is proactive. And that can start from the smallest of treatments - as simple as getting your ears cleaned. Enter Sahil Diwan, Co-Founder and CEO of SafKan Health, the medtech company behind OtoSet, the first FDA-cleared automated ear-cleaning headphones. Sahil and his brother have designed a …

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Ep83: A New Reality? 4th July, Feds Gutting Medicaid - What Comes Next (In Collaboration with Doctors For America) 1:01:12

3M ago1:01:12

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This episode is a collaboration with Doctors for America. “ It's our turn to step up and speak out.” In another special episode of the Pursuit of Health podcast, Dr. Eric Fethke collaborates with Doctors for America to reflect on the impact of the 4th July tax bill, and the extent of its threat to our healthcare system. Calling on former guests to …

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Ep82: Insured To Death: Empowering Patients to Achieve Access to Care in 2025 w/Neal Shah 52:04

4M ago52:04

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A conversation with Neal Shah The healthcare insurance system is on the cusp of collapsing. Enter former Wall Street hedge fund manager Neal Shah, who channelled personal experiences of managing care for family members into a mission for transforming our entire system. As CEO of social enterprise and health tech platform CareYaya and Chairman of Co…

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Ep81: Breaking the Emergency Room Trap w/Ryan Johnson 54:55

4M ago54:55

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A conversation with Ryan Johnson Healthcare is a game of moving targets. No one knows this quite like Ryan Johnson, an ER nurse turned CEO and co-founder of health-tech innovators Float. Float are in the business of helping hospitals free-up needed capacity, empowering patients through home treatments, paying nurses fairly for their work, and easin…

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Ep80: How Data and Collaboration Can Transform Cancer Care w/Dr Yousuf Zafar 53:19

4M ago53:19

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A conversation with Dr. Yousuf Zafar Each patient has a 'sphere of life'. And according to Dr. Yousuf Zafar, it’s critical we do everything we can to understand it. As a gastrointestinal medical oncologist, Adjunct Professor at Duke University, and Chief Medical Officer at cancer data innovators AccessHope, he knows exactly what it takes to strive …

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Ep79: Hope for 2025 - Healthcare Reform and the Legacy of The Affordable Care Act w/ Former Congressman Rob Andrews 52:34

5M ago52:34

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A conversation with Rob Andrews “A rising tide lifts all boats.” - President Kennedy Channelling the heart of this message in his words, actions, and distinguished career, is former Congressman and CEO of the Health Transformation Alliance (HTA), Rob Andrews. As one of the original authors of the Affordable Care Act, Rob has set his sights on drivi…

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Ep78: 'The Fight for Inclusive Patient Care - Defining Disability w/Dr. Megan Morris 50:42

5M ago50:42

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A conversation with Dr. Megan Morris How do we define quality of life? And how do we provide quality healthcare? These are key questions in the work of Dr. Megan Morris, a health services researcher, speech-language pathologist, and Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Langone Health. Dr. Morris is focused on addr…

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Ep77: AI Solutions for Prescription Errors and Patient Safety w/Dr. Yoona Kim 50:33

5M ago50:33

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A conversation with Dr. Yoona Kim Medication mismanagement is a massive issue in American healthcare. Setting her sights on solving this problem is health economist, pharmacist, and CEO/co-founder of Arine - Dr. Yoona Kim. Dr. Kim realized that identifying problematic medication plans can move the needle on clinical and economic outcomes, and her A…

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Ep76: Drug Pricing, Pharmacy Access and Removing Barriers to Health w/Vinay Patel 51:42

6M ago51:42

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A conversation with Vinay Patel There are too many barriers in the pursuit of health: financial, infrastructural, systematic… American healthcare is set up to fail the patients it needs to prioritize. Welcome Vinay Patel, a forward thinking pharmacist and healthcare entrepreneur who founded MakoRx, a company focused on disrupting traditional drug p…

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Ep75: What You Need To Know About The Affordable Care Act w/Charles Gaba and Doctors For America 55:09

6M ago55:09

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A conversation with Charles Gaba “We need to find a way to make improvements to the system without hurting people in the process.” In our second collaborative episode with Doctors For America, Dr. Fethke is joined by healthcare policy and data analyst Charles Gaba. His work highlighting the numbers surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been…

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Ep74: Wall Street, Whistleblowers and Change w/ Wendell Potter 55:39

6M ago55:39

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A conversation with Wendell Potter “We need to get Wall Street out of control of our healthcare system.” This is the opinion of Wendell Potter, a former health insurance exec for Humana and Cigna turned whistleblower - exposing the practices of his former industry and choosing to seek change. Wendell knows first-hand how these insurers operate, how…

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Ep 73: The AI Healthcare Renaissance w/Linda Macomber 48:36

6M ago48:36

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A conversation with Linda Macomber We need a healthcare renaissance. AI could lead us there. Here to share her optimism and enthusiasm for AI as a new frontier in healthcare, is Linda Macomber. As a digital health expert with over 30 years of experience in health informatics and technology-driven healthcare solutions, Linda is best placed for infor…

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Ep72: Journalism, Public Awareness and the History of Health Policy w/Joanne Kenen 46:23

7M ago46:23

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A conversation with Joanne Kenen It’s time to help inform the public on what’s happening in healthcare today. With changes coming to the ACA's subsidies in 2025 and debates about Medicaid expansion, veteran journalist Joanne Kenen is here to help us understand what's at stake. She takes us through a history of health policy, so that we can make sen…

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Ep 71: AI Promise, Caution and the White House Champion of Change w/ Hugo Campos 49:07

8M ago49:07

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A conversation with Hugo Campos “AI can help patients make better choices about their life and about their healthcare.” Renowned patient advocate and White House Champion of Change, our guest Hugo Campos shares his personal journey into healthcare advocacy - revealing why he believes we are entering an era with huge potential for patients, clinicia…

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Ep70: A Patient Advocacy Approach to Medical Errors, Hope and Systematic Change w/ Rosie Bartel 54:22

8M ago54:22

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A conversation with Rosie Bartel Nurturing the patient-physician partnership is the only way to heal healthcare. Sharing her lived experience with openness and honesty is Rosie Bartel, a patient advocate and survivor of preventable medical error. Since contracting MRSA after a routine knee replacement surgery, Rosie has channelled a hugely difficul…

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Ep69: The Devastating Impact of Proposed Medicaid Cuts - What You Need to Know Now! w/ Doctors For America 24:58

8M ago24:58

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This episode is a collaboration with Doctors for America. "This issue has been affecting my sleep. I'm not sleeping and I'm a pretty good sleeper, so this must be bothering me." In this powerful special episode of the Pursuit of Health podcast, Dr. Eric Fethke collaborates with Doctors for America to sound the alarm about the proposed $880 billion …

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Ep68: Understanding the Interplay of Healthcare & Politics in America- w/ Dr. Abdul El-Sayed 48:39

8M ago48:39

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Ep68: Understanding the Interplay of Healthcare & Politics in America- w/ Dr. Abdul El-Sayed “Politics are like a kaleidoscope. If you don't like where you are, just keep turning it.” This week we are delighted to welcome physician, epidemiologist, author, and Director of Wayne County's Department of Health, Abdul El-Sayed. He shares his opinion th…

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Ep67: Health Data, Ownership and Transparency w/Dr. Jordi Piera Jiménez 57:26

9M ago57:26

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A conversation with Dr. Jordi Piera Jiménez Our money comes with us wherever we go, so why doesn’t our health data? Sharing his innovative vision for transforming the way we use electronic health records and investing in prevention and patient empowerment, is Dr. Jordi Piera Jiménez. As Director of the Digital Health Strategy at the Catalan Health …

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Ep66: In the Aftermath of the UHC Murder - Not the What & How, but Why 56:26

9M ago56:26

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A panel with Dr. Don Berwick, Tanya Sanderson and Ron Howrigon Today, Dr. Fethke calls on three previous guests to share their thoughts, insights, and solutions in the light of the UHC incident, a tragic murder that highlighted the scale of public anger at the state of our healthcare system. With our panel drawing from their vast collective experie…

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Ep65: Generative AI, Healthcare Incentives and Politics w/Dr Robert Pearl 1:00:21

9M ago1:00:21

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A conversation with Dr. Robert Pearl Put a system in place that rewards value. Sounds simple, right? Sharing a vision for seismic healthcare reform is renowned healthcare leader, award-winning author, and plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Pearl. Dr. Pearl originally believed healthcare was a non-political space. How could medicine be political? Yet our he…

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Ep64: Health Care of a Thousand Slights w /Anjana Sreedhar 58:15

10M ago58:15

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A conversation with Anjana Sreedhar We need to understand the past, to shape the future. Join us for an eye-opening discussion with the author of acclaimed health disparities book Health Care of a Thousand Slights, Anjana Sreedhar. The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the extent of health inequalities here in America, but Anjana has chosen to seek a sol…

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Ep63: Partnerships, Pioneers and Protecting Patients w/ Dr Lauren Ramsey 49:13

10M ago49:13

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A conversation with Dr. Lauren Ramsey It’s time to tackle healthcare problems through innovation and invention. Bringing energy and initiative to the Pursuit of Health table this week is none other than leading breast cancer surgeon and healthcare pioneer, Dr. Lauren Ramsey. Dr. Ramsey joins to share the lowdown on her invention of BAT, a wearable…

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Ep62: Why Physician Wellness Matters w/ Dr Greg 50:59

11M ago50:59

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American medicine has a LOT to be proud of, but too many doctors are getting burnt out and thinking of quitting healthcare. Dr. Gregory Charlop, AKA Dr. Greg, is a celebrated physician and author renowned for his innovative approach to physician wellness. Having experienced burnout firsthand whilst completing years of high intensity work as a pedia…

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Ep61: Using Your ACE in the Hole to Prevent Medication Errors w/ Lidia Molinara 57:52

11M ago57:52

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How can we practice preventative healthcare? Joining from Canada this week is Lidia Molinara, a seasoned clinical pharmacist, CEO, patient safety officer, and fervent advocate for patient safety and effective communication within the healthcare system. Recalling her earliest experiences visiting pharmacies and the influence that has held on her cli…

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Ep 60: A Guide to Healing, Health, and Happiness thru the Mind-Heart Connection w/ Dr Jonathan Fisher 54:48

1y ago54:48

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“Together as a community, we share just one heart.” This week’s episode is a treat - a deep dive into the philosophy of Dr. Jonathan Fisher, cardiologist, clinician advocate, and author of the fantastic book Just One Heart: A Cardiologist's Guide to Healing, Health, and Happiness. Jonathan shares how he drew on his own experiences, of medical schoo…

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Ep59: Case Studies from the Heart - How Anger Is Making US Sick - Dr. Eric Fethke 20:08

1y ago20:08

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In this episode of The Pursuit of Health, Dr. Eric Fethke delves into the concept of anger as a significant medical and health issue, exploring how it can harm individual and societal wellness or be transformed into a positive force. Through powerful patient stories, he highlights the impact of anger on our health and stresses the importance of cho…

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Ep58: Using AI To Improve Patient Health and Save Money w/Tanya Sanderson 48:47

1y ago48:47

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It’s time to change the way we look at medical necessity and payment policies. According to Tanya Sanderson, using AI could just be our best option. Her work with human-centred tech company Xsolis is shaking up healthcare, improving outcomes for patients, saving money, and doing away with the excess of waste in our current system. ————— We spoke ab…

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Ep57: Tackling Obesity Together is More Than Just a Pill - with Dr. Kara Mayes 50:21

1y ago50:21

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Like so many other aspects of our healthcare system, obesity is a health equity issue. Today we welcome Dr. Kara Mayes, Chief Medical Officer of Ilant Health, a company focused on value-based obesity management and cardiometabolic health. Dr. Mayes joins us to cast a lens on obesity in America, during a time that weight loss drugs have gained notor…

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Ep56: The (Dangerous) History of Consumerism in American Healthcare-Prof. Nancy Tomes 49:58

1y ago49:58

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“Medical consumerism figures more as a problem than progress.” Today’s guest is the award-winning historian, American public health expert, and author, Professor Nancy Tomes. In a discussion encompassing past, present, and future, Professor Tomes provides a unique historical lens to better understand the healthcare challenges of today, in hope of s…

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Ep55: Pediatric Care: An Investment in Our Future-Dr.Alison Curfman 48:23

1y ago48:23

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Investment in pediatric care is an investment in our future. So why is our system slow to change? Enter Alison Curfman, MD - co-founder of Imagine Pediatrics, a value-based pediatric medical group pioneering tech-enabled care for chronically ill children. Alison is passionate about improving outcomes, reducing costs, supporting parents, and enablin…

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Ep54: How To Make Healthcare Affordable-Ron Howrigon 47:09

1y ago47:09

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The only barrier to success in the Pursuit of Health is ourselves. Joining to contribute to our ongoing healthcare conversation, is self-described “recovering managed care executive” Ron Howrigon. As President and CEO of Fulcrum Industries, Ron is in the business of helping physicians and hospitals with negotiations for managed care contracts - hav…

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Ep53: How to Improve The Doctor-Patient Connection-Dr Christine Ko 51:01

1y ago51:01

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A conversation with Dr. Christine Ko Metacognition, growth mindset, compassion. How does this all tie into healthcare? Enter Dr. Christine Ko, Professor of Dermatology and Pathology at Yale University, and author of How to Improve Doctor-Patient Connection: Using Psychology to Optimize Healthcare Interactions. Drawing from her experiences as a phys…

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Ep52: The Overmedication Crisis - Dr. Michael Smith 49:13

1+ y ago49:13

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A conversation with Dr. Michael Smith Medication is sometimes required. But prevention starts with the patient. This is one of the core philosophies of this week’s guest Dr. Michael Smith. Naturopathic physician, and founder of Focused Family Integrative Medicine, he is dedicated to preventative medicine - advocating for sleep, exercise and nutriti…

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Ep51: How To Create a Health System That Actually Works-Dr. Jeffrey Charles Hardy 49:05

1+ y ago49:05

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A conversation with Dr. Jeffrey Charles Hardy The system is not the solution, the process is the solution. In our fragmented healthcare system, how can we start thinking globally? What impact do our actions hold for the planet and all its people? Dr. Jeffrey Charles Hardy is an author, thought leader, Founder and President of Care for Peace, a nonp…

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Ep50: How To Persevere As A Family When Faced With A Child’s Heart Defect-Justin and Ashley George 50:05

1+ y ago50:05

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A conversation with Justin and Ashley K. George Resilience is a muscle. The challenges don’t get easier, we just get stronger at handling them. A couple who know this from experience are Justin and Ashley K. George. When their son Elliot was diagnosed with a heart defect, it took everything for them to stay strong amidst the crisis, counting the su…

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Ep49: Why Money Poisons Healthcare-Dr.. Ellana Stinson 44:18

1+ y ago44:18

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A conversation with Dr Ellana Stinson Money affects everything in American healthcare. And too often, it gets in the way. Taking the bull by the horns is Dr. Ellana Stinson. Having felt the frustration of cost-cutting on the frontline, she chose to do an MBA in finance - seeking to better understand how mysterious financial bodies - particularly pr…

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Ep48: Case Studies From The Heart - Immigration & Healthcare -Dr. Eric Fethke 30:11

1+ y ago30:11

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Welcome to our third installment of our Case Studies From The Heart series. In the episode, Dr. Fethke shines a light on the topic of immigrant healthcare, by sharing his own experience successfully treating a young child from Honduras with Turner’s syndrome. Immigrant healthcare can be a controversial and heavily politicized topic, with arguments …

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Ep47: How Healthcare and Social Media Unite to Create a Healthier America - Dr. Austin Chiang 48:52

1+ y ago48:52

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Is it time to revamp medical education? This week’s guest, Dr. Austin Chiang, certainly thinks so. Leading an already distinguished career, Dr. Chiang is a top gastroenterologist, Chief Medical Officer of the Endoscopy division of Medtronics, Founding President of the Association for Healthcare Social Media (AHSM), and the author of recently publis…

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Ep46: The Patient-Led Revolution with Susannah Fox 55:39

1+ y ago55:39

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70% of U.S. adults have accessed health information online in the past year. A revealing statistic, highlighting the increasing reliance on digital resources for healthcare guidance. As this week’s guest, Susannah Fox, illuminates, patient-led healthcare holds tremendous potential for transforming our health systems. With her extensive experience a…

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Ep45: Revolutionizing Autism Care and Improving Outcomes with Daniel Etra 54:20

1+ y ago54:20

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This week's guest is in the business of maximizing outcomes. A self-described "reformed investment banker", Daniel Etra is the co-founder and CEO of Rethink, a data-driven company changing the face of neurodivergent care. He talks passionately about the vast social impact of their operations, teaching frontline clinicians, empowering caregivers, an…

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Ep 44: Healing, Well-Being and Adverse Childhood Experiences with Julika von Stackelberg 55:13

1+ y ago55:13

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64% of U.S. adults have had adverse childhood experiences. A stark statistic, and one that we are paying the cultural and economic cost of. As this week’s guest Julika von Stackelberg tells us, these experiences in our youth have a direct impact on our life expectancy and wellbeing in our lives. Through her work as a peaceful parenting advisor and …

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Ep 43: Overmedicated America, Advocacy and Patient-Centred Medicine, with Patrick Alonso 56:35

1+ y ago56:35

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We have a problem with prescriptions. A major problem. We take a step back from our recent policy-focused guests, to welcome licensed pharmacist, host of Men's Health Unscripted podcast, and founder of Your Tampa Healthcare Advocate, Patrick Alonso. Patrick is on the front line with patients, and was empowered to change the tide of problematic pres…