Pediatrician Wendy Schofer discusses her article, "Why food perfectionism harms parents [https://kevinmd.com/2025/11/why-food-perfectionism-harms-parents.html]." Wendy explains how the intense worry over family eating habits and ultraprocessed foods is often a symptom of a deeper issue: perfectionism. She highlights the crushing stress parents, particularly physicians, face when trying to meet unrealistic, idyllic standards of health (often seen on social media) while juggling real-life chaos. Wendy argues that this perfectionism, combined with exhaustion, fuels black-and-white thinking about food (healthy vs. unhealthy) and a constant feeling of failure. This conversation is a call to say "enough" to these damaging ideals. Learn how dismantling perfectionism and embracing "realness" can help families build a new, lifelong relationship with food, body, and self.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd].

Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd], your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click.

Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's built on a foundation of trust.

It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

A pediatrician explains the real danger of food perfectionism

Certified financial planner Michelle Neiswender discusses her article, "Why physicians should not be their own financial planner [https://kevinmd.com/2025/09/why-physicians-should-not-be-their-own-financial-planner.html]." Michelle explains why physicians, despite being brilliant, often make costly financial mistakes when managing their own money. She argues that financial planning is a complex specialty (just like medicine) and that a doctor's time is too valuable to be spent decoding tax rules or tracking stocks. Michelle highlights the unique tax challenges physicians face as high-income earners and how emotional bias (like fear during a market dip) can derail a financial plan. This discussion covers why delegating to a CFP is a wealth-building strategy and how it protects physicians from costly errors in investments, retirement planning, and insurance. Learn why the smartest doctors get a "second opinion" on their financial health.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd].

Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd], your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click.

Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's built on a foundation of trust.

It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Why being your own financial planner is costing you millions

Professor and senior associate dean of engagement Janet A. Jokela discusses her article, "Celebrating internal medicine through our human connections with patients [https://kevinmd.com/2025/10/celebrating-internal-medicine-through-our-human-connections-with-patients.html]." Janet shares moving stories from medical students who are discovering the profound importance of human connection, often for the first time. She explores how these early, sacred connections (like listening to a grieving patient or advocating for the uninsured) are the true reward of internal medicine, reminding us that medicine is not black and white. Janet champions the power of storytelling as a critical tool for patient advocacy and refutes the bias that technical backgrounds preclude compassionate care. This conversation is a celebration of the future of internal medicine and the empathy that defines it.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd].

Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd], your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click.

Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's built on a foundation of trust.

It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Rediscovering the sacred power of the patient story

Counselor and certified coach Mary Remón and oncologist Tiffany Troso-Sandoval discuss their article, "Clear communication is kind patient care [https://kevinmd.com/2025/11/clear-communication-is-kind-patient-care.html]." They explore the common scenario of patients leaving the office more confused and anxious than when they arrived, overwhelmed by medical jargon and frightening online research. Mary and Tiffany address the root causes of poor patient communication, including physician burnout and compassion fatigue, arguing that "unclear is unkind." They offer practical, powerful strategies (like using the teach-back method, addressing patient fears from "Dr. Google" directly, and validating emotions) to improve health literacy and build trust. This conversation explains how clear communication isn't just a soft skill: it's a critical tool for reducing patient anxiety and improving outcomes.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd].

Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd], your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click.

Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's built on a foundation of trust.

It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Transforming patient fear into understanding through clear communication

Registered nurse June Pomeroy discusses her article, "How physician obesity affects patient care [https://kevinmd.com/2025/10/how-physician-obesity-affects-patient-care.html]." June explores the complex realities of weight bias within the medical field, examining how a physician's own struggle with obesity can impact patient care. She highlights the professional stigma physicians face and the documented bias from patients, which often leads to reduced treatment confidence and delayed diagnoses for obesity. June digs deep into why obesity is a complex chronic disease (not just a willpower issue) and discusses how the health care system fails both patients and providers by lacking adequate training on obesity. This conversation covers the critical need to move beyond BMI, focusing instead on metabolic health and compassion to improve patient care and challenge systemic weight stigma. Learn how addressing physician bias and wellness can transform the way we treat obesity.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd].

Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd], your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click.

Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's built on a foundation of trust.

It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Understanding the hidden weight bias that harms patient care

Health care strategist Dana Y. Lujan discusses her article "Why direct primary care (DPC) models fail [https://kevinmd.com/2025/10/why-direct-primary-care-dpc-models-fail.html]." Dana argues that the DPC community's obsession with "purity" is missing the point, stating that these models don't fail over ideology, they fail because of bad math. She uses the University of Houston's $1 million clinic failure as a prime example of a "fundamental market mismatch," where a DPC model was placed in a low-income area that couldn't sustain its membership fees (a ~70 percent revenue deficit). Dana also debunks the myth that institutions can't run successful DPC programs, citing CHI Health and Johns Hopkins as proof that financial sustainability and market fit are the true keys. This episode explores the critical difference between what's legally permissible and what's operationally sustainable, and why the DPC conversation must shift from philosophy to execution. Learn why you cannot "subscription-model your way out of poverty."

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd].

Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can.

Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust.

Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Why bad math (not ideology) is killing DPC clinics

Physician and professional certified coach Chrissie Ott discusses her article "How an insider advocate can save a loved one [https://kevinmd.com/2025/08/how-an-insider-advocate-can-save-a-loved-one.html]." Chrissie shares a terrifying recent story of a friend's elderly, Spanish-speaking mother who was admitted to the hospital and declined rapidly due to medication and dehydration, highlighting how the patient's daughter suspected abuse while the real, urgent medical issues were being missed. She explains how she acted as an "insider advocate," providing her friend with the exact script (including terms like "agitated delirium" and "acute kidney injury") and the escalation path needed to get her mother life-saving fluids. This episode is a critical look at how overworked hospital systems fail patients, why it's so hard for families to navigate a medical crisis, and the rising need for physician advocates to bridge the gap. Learn the language and the steps you need to take to effectively fight for your loved one and ensure they get the right care at the right time.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd].

Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can.

Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust.

Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

How to fight for your loved one during a medical crisis

Food allergy advocate Lianne Mandelbaum discusses her article "Why Hollywood's allergy jokes are dangerous [https://kevinmd.com/2025/09/why-hollywoods-allergy-jokes-are-dangerous.html]." As the mother of a child with a life-threatening food allergy, Lianne shares her personal trauma and outrage over media portrayals that turn anaphylaxis into a punchline, citing a new film that misrepresents the condition and the use of epinephrine. She argues that these "jokes" are not harmless; they directly contribute to public misunderstanding, bullying, and a dangerous lack of seriousness from airlines, schools, and restaurants. This conversation explores how media misinformation increases the burden on allergy families and why treating a medical trauma as comedy puts lives at risk. Learn why accurate media depictions are not just about respect, but are a critical public health issue.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd].

Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can.

Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust.

Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Why mocking food allergies in movies is a life-threatening problem

Public health professional Nishat Uddin discusses her article "Why culturally compassionate care matters for South Asian communities [https://kevinmd.com/2025/10/why-culturally-compassionate-care-matters-for-south-asian-communities.html]." Nishat explains why South Asians, one of the fastest-growing U.S. populations, face disproportionate rates of diabetes, heart disease, and PCOS. She highlights the key cultural and systemic barriers (like dietary disconnects, language barriers, and deep-seated stigma around mental health and infertility) that prevent individuals from seeking or following care. This episode dives into practical, compassionate strategies for clinicians to bridge these gaps, such as adapting dietary advice to include staple foods (like rice and chapati) and understanding collective family decision-making. Learn how small, intentional changes in the health care system can build trust and create genuinely person-centered care for everyone.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd].

Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can.

Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust.

Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

How culturally compassionate care builds trust and saves lives

Certified financial planners Michael Lynch and Alisa Olsen discuss their article "Create your own financial vision for independence [https://kevinmd.com/2025/09/create-your-own-financial-vision-for-independence.html]," an excerpt from their book Taking Care of Your Future: Your Simple System for a Big Retirement. Michael and Alisa explain why your financial plan must be driven by your personal vision, not someone else's. They share a critical concept for planning: your income drives your working life, but your expenses drive your retired life. This single shift in perspective determines how much you need to save and what your financial independence will look like. This episode explores how to set a clear vision (like the nurse who just wanted to avoid nor'easters), how financial goals for housing and education are interrelated, and why the two most important elements in any plan are time and money. Learn how to define your own vision and make the decisions that will turn it into your reality.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot [https://aka.ms/kevinmd].

Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can.

Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust.

Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

A financial vision to define your retirement

Social media's leading physician voice, Kevin Pho, MD, shares the stories of the
many who intersect with our health care system but are rarely heard from. 15
minutes a day. 7 days a week. Welcome to The Podcast by KevinMD.