Medicine Redefined

Dr. Kathryn Schmitz is a distinguished figure in the field of exercise oncology, renowned for her tireless efforts to improve the lives of cancer survivors through the integration of physical activity into their treatment and recovery. Dr. Schmitz's academic journey led her to earn a Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Schmitz's groundbreaking research has not only solidified the role of exercise in cancer recovery but has also influenced international guidelines on cancer survivorship care. She currently leads the Moving Through Cancer Program at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and is a professor in the division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Her research at this tine includes studying technology-based supportive care treatments that include physical activity to improve outcomes among people with advanced cancer.

She is a past president of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and was the moving force behind two ACSM development processes for exercise and cancer guidelines for patients.

Her remarkable contributions have made her a beacon of hope and a trailblazer in redefining cancer care through the transformative power of physical activity. Dr. Kathryn Schmitz's work continues to have a profound impact on the world of health and wellness, offering support and hope to those affected by cancer.

Kathryn Schmitz:

Bishoi Khella does not work in healthcare. But he knows a thing or two about being healthy. Bishoi was 355 pounds at his peak weight, living a busy lifestyle, drinking alcohol, eating out at fast food restaurants. He knew he had to the potential to be fit - he was into fitness and pretty lean back in high school. But much like David Goggins' early days, there was no discipline and the weight kept stacking on. He finally decided he had enough after he went on vacations with his friends and was embarrassed by his lack of energy. Bishoi started a lifestyle and fitness program called 75 Hard which changed his life forever.

Jim Eubanks, MD, is a board-certified physiatrist and newly minted attending at the Medical University of South Carolina Dr. Eubanks graduated from Furman University in Greenville, SC, and received his medical degree from Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, graduating with Distinction in Research. He completed his residency in PM&R at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) where he served as academic chief resident. He subsequently completed a fellowship in spine and musculoskeletal medicine and health policy at UPMC before joining the faculty at MUSC as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Eubanks also has a Master of Science (MS) in sports science and rehabilitation. Dr. Eubanks has presented nationally and internationally on a number of topics related to spine care, and serves on the Editorial Board of PM&R, the official scientific journal of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R). He serves on AAPM&R's Innovative Payment and Practice Models committee, and is currently involved in leadership roles at the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) and the North American Spine Society (NASS). He was selected as a 2023 recipient of NASS's "20 under 40" award.

Mentioned in the show:

Jo Bhakdi is the Founder and CEO of Quantgene with the mission to extend the healthy human life span by a decade within a decade. Together with Quantgene’s team of scientists and engineers, he is dedicated to introducing cloud, AI, and precision diagnostics into the standard of care to enhance the quality and accessibility of care for everyone and protect human life. Born to scientist parents, Jo grew up with a backdrop of medical research before earning a Master’s in Economics from Tubingen University, one of Germany’s leading academic institutions. Prior to Quantgene, Jo held executive positions at BDDO and Omnicom with a focus on business model innovation and technology, then founded i2X, an investment platform that provides quantitative analytics for biotechnology and technology portfolios.

Jon Appino from Contract Diagnostics returns to the show to discuss the ins and outs of physician contracts.  In this episode, we talk about understanding noncompetes, obtaining malpractice insurance and tail coverage, and how to "negotiate" with employers.

Jess Daigle, MD, is a a pediatrician who specializes in newborn concierge medicine, placing emphasis on individualized attention, comprehensive support, and nurturing the overall well-being of both the newborn and their family. She received her medical degree from Louisiana State and completed her residency at Morehouse School of Medicine. Having witnessed the transformative power of a tailored approach to healthcare, Dr. Daigle made a conscious decision to depart from traditional medical practices and delve into the world of concierge medicine. Through her work, she aims to redefine the newborn experience, particularly during the critical 4th trimester, and challenge the existing healthcare norms by offering an alternative, empowering path for parents. Her expertise encompasses a wide range of topics, including newborn care, postpartum support, breastfeeding, sleep training, and early childhood development.

Catherine Staffieri, RDN, is the Nutrition Manager at Nutrisense. She has counseled thousands of clients on their glucose scores reviewing over 750,000 hours of glucose data and recorded meals in the process while recommending nutritional adjustments to improve metabolic health. She holds a Masters in Nutrition Education from Columbia University and completed her undergrad work at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Dr. Amy West is a board-certified Sports Medicine Physiatrist at the Northwell Health Orthopedic Institute. Dr. West received her MD and Master of Education degrees from Harvard University. She then went on to complete her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Harvard-Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, followed by a Sports Medicine fellowship at Maine Medical Center. Dr. West is an Assistant Professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University and serves at a Team Physician for Hofstra University. Her clinical focus includes non-operative sports medicine as well as work with special populations including the female athlete, adaptive athletes, and transgender musculoskeletal care. She is a former collegiate athlete, currently plays on multiple sports teams and is a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina is a double-board certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon and leading expert on skin health and skincare. She received her medical degree from Vanderbilt University where she graduated at the top of her class with Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honors. She trained at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for her internship followed by dermatology residency at Harvard Medical School where she was selected as Chief Resident in her final year. She then received sub-speciality training in Mohs micrographic surgery and procedural dermatology at Emory University. She is co-owner of Baucom & Mina Derm Surgery in Atlanta, Georgia where she treats patients with skin cancers and manages the procedural needs of her patient's skincare. With over a decade of clinical experience, she is nationally recognized for her work in treating skin cancers and helping people maintain their skin health, while boosting their self-confidence. She is an invited speaker on podcasts and at national meetings. She is also the host of THE SKIN REAL, a podcast for people looking for real skin care guidance, by true skin experts.

Dr. Peter Valenzuela joins the show to discuss the current state of our healthcare system in the US. Peter is a Family Physician who has worked in multiple healthcare settings over the past few decades. He's well known for his comics doc-related, which in his words were “inspired by experiences both as a physician and now as an executive who continues to practice medicine on a part-time basis.”  He is routinely invited for national and international presentations on topics related to provider well-being and engagement, clinical leadership development, practice management, and medical innovation. Over his career, he’s been recognized twice by the Medical Group Management Association and American College of Medical Practice Executives (MGMA-ACMPE) with the Harwick Innovation Award for meeting the challenges of the new healthcare system head-on and developing innovative solutions that enhance the effectiveness of healthcare delivery and Physician Executive of the Year for exhibiting leadership deemed outstanding to achieve exceptional medical group performance in the delivery of healthcare. 

In this episode we discuss: 

- Peter's background and his journey to writing an awesome book 

- Passion for comedy and using it as a medium for discussion of real issues  

- Differences between patient experience and patient satisfaction  

- A brief overview of the US insurance model and contrasting with other countries 

- Billing, coding, reimbursements, and electronic medical records 

- A path forward to better healthcare delivery

Robert Bowers, DO, PhD, joins the show to discuss PRP (platelet-rich plasma), baseball medicine, the role of the team physician, and the future of orthobiologics and sports medicine.

Dr. Bowers is an attending physician at Emory Sports Medicine and the director of the ⁠Emory Baseball Medicine Program⁠. As a former Division 1 college athlete himself, he brings a unique understanding of sports-related injuries to his patients. He currently serves as team physician for the Atlanta Braves and the Georgia Tech baseball team. He is also the head team physician for the College Park Skyhawks, the G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, and Woodward Academy.  He attended Furman University in South Carolina where he played Division 1 college baseball and majored in health and exercise science. He then attended graduate school at Auburn University where he earned a Master of Education in exercise science and a PhD in exercise physiology. Following graduate school, Dr. Bowers earned his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Emory University School of Medicine, where he served as chief resident. Subsequently, he completed a sports medicine fellowship at Emory as well. 

In this episode, we discuss:

100 episodes! Wow!

Thank you all so much for your support throughout the years!

In this episode, Altamash and Darsh take you through their journey in creating the podcast, the lessons they learned from their guests, and how their thoughts have evolved through time.

Christopher Lee Maher is a former Navy SEAL who endured intense physical, mental, and emotional stress as a child. By combining a “seal mindset” with modern stress management strategies, Christopher taught himself to free his body and mind from pain by developing mental and physical tools for eliminating unresolved stress. Christopher studied Traditional Chinese Medical Practices at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and at Yo San University before continuing his studies at The Universal Healing Tao System. He is a student of Grand Master Mantak Chia at the Universal Tao Master School in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and is currently pursuing his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Nicole Lamoureux is a CEO who works daily with the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC), its 1,400 member organizations, and its partners like CVS to advance the mission of ensuring the medically underserved have access to affordable, quality health care.  She has testified before Congress, is a regular TV commentator – having been featured on MSNBC, CNN, and FoxNews to name a few – and has published numerous articles on the important role of America’s safety net and charitable care providers. Nicole has been named four times by the Nonprofit Times as one of the top 50 Most Influential and Powerful Nonprofit Executives in the USA. She has received the Center of NonProfit EXCEL Award for Excellence in Executive Non-Profit Leadership.

In this episode we discuss:

• Healthcare disparities and healthcare equity
•  How diverse socioeconomic backgrounds provide for different challenges in healthcare
• Healthcare model in the US
• Transparency by health insurance
• The business of Medicine
• More

Connect with Nicole here!

Dan Pope, PT, CSCS, returns to the show to discuss how to not only survive but thrive during seasons of life when stress can be at an all time high. He is a physical therapist and coach at Champion PT in Massachusetts who works with the average Joe all the way to the elite athlete.
Topics we discuss:

- Building relationships in healthcare
- Optimizing training when injured
- Augmenting the healing process
- How to build resilience after injury

Dr. Jade Wu is a clinical psychologist and Board-certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist and researcher at Duke University School of Medicine. She is a frequent guest on popular TV, radio and podcast shows like NPR and ABC, and her work is featured in publications like New York Times and Huffington Post.  Dr. Wu’s mission is to spread the gift of sleep so that people can be their healthiest, organizations can be their most innovative, and societies can sleep their way towards justice and healing.

Literature:

In this episode, Darsh and Altamash dive deep into Curcumin and Ayurvedic Medicine with their guest Shivani Gupta. 

Dr. Gupta is the CEO of Fusionary Formulas. She is also a researcher, author, and advocate for Ayurvedic medicine. She obtained her bachelor's of business administration from Babson College. Subsequently, she completed her master's and Ph.D. in Ayurvedic sciences. She is an expert in blending the science of Ayurvedic Wisdom into Modern Life.

In this episode we discuss the following:

• Shivani's introduction to Ayurvedic medicine 
• Her inspiration for advanced education in Tumeric and the genesis of her company 
• Curcumin, Ashwagandha, and other mainstream herbal supplements 
• The future of supplements and the integration of Ayurvedic medicine into Western Medicine. 

Follow Shivani

Dr. Yvonne Burkart, PhD, is a board-certified toxicologist, chemical & ingredient safety expert, and mother of two on a mission to help women regain their mental edge, radiant youth, and a life of passion without toxins. She has gained immense popularity on Instagram through her videos that are evidence-based and educational.

https://thetoxicologymama.com

Dr. Altamash and Dr. Darsh share their thoughts on navigating the crazy world of social media - what to follow and how to trust anyone in a world full of misinformation.

Wes Pfiffner is the Director of Business Development at Joovv, a company that gets red light therapy to the masses. In this episode, we delve into the mechanism of red light therapy, its benefits, applications, research, and future.

Dr. Nicole Harkin is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Lipidology. She earned her medical degree from Boston University and completed residency training at Columbia University followed by a fellowship in Cardiology at New York University, in which she served as a chief fellow.  Dr. Harkin is the founder of Whole Heart Cardiology, with the mission of providing patient-centered cardiac care, evidence-based nutritional guidance, and personalized lifestyle plans for her patients in a modern setting.

In this rebroadcast episode, we discuss:

- Her journey and passion for lipidology

- The current state of metabolic ill-health in developed countries Identifying lab markers for risk stratification

- Lipid panels, cholesterol, LDL particle number/size, APO-B, Lp(a), Hs-CRP Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring Statins and PCSK9 inhibitors

- What is preventive cardiology?

- Benefits of eating plants for reducing cardiovascular disease

- The effects of nutrition, exercise, sleep, and supplements on cardiovascular health

Resources mentioned in the show

Drs. Raja and Shah discuss the link between sugar and hyperactivity in children. Since many will still have some Halloween candy leftover AND as we are heading into Thanksgiving and the holidays, we thought it would be an interesting topic to delve into.