The Doctor's Art

To many health economists, the growing aging population is the greatest public health challenge facing America. The current fragmented and costly healthcare system is simply incapable of dealing with the complex medical and socioeconomic needs of this population, especially in an equitable way.Our guest on this episode, Linda Fried, MD, MPH, has dedicated her life to rethinking how we can create better health futures for older adults. Her pioneering research has expanded our notions of aging and longevity in the 21st century. Dr. Fried, a geriatrician and epidemiologist, is Dean of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Senior Vice President of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and former Founding Director of the Center on Aging and Health at Johns Hopkins University. Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Fried shares how her early experiences as a caseworker drove her to study medicine, surprising lessons from the martial arts aikido, what frailty means in the context of caring for older adults, why America is one of the most age segregated societies in the world, the flaws of over medicalizing health issues, redefining the roles of older adults in society, the importance of meaning and community in sustaining happiness in life, and more.In this episode, you’ll hear about: 2:30 - What Dr. Fried’s early experiences in social work taught her about justice, social inequity, and taking care of another person11:47 - How an awareness of the social determinants of health shaped Dr. Fried as a clinician 16:46 - Why physicians need to stop “medicalizing” all aspects of a patient’s life25:00 - How Dr. Fried came to be interested in geriatrics 28:19 - Dr. Fried’s dedication to extending “healthspan” as well as “lifespan” in our society 31:08 - The clinical definition of “frailty”34:15 - The value that an older population could bring to our society38:49 - The United States’ unique culture of age segregation and how it contributes to poor health outcomes for the elderly45:38 - What the healthcare system and society at large can do to better serve elderly populations 50:55 - Dr. Fried’s advice for keeping true to your purpose as a medical professional Dr. Linda Fried can be found on LinkedIn.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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

The history of cardiac surgery is filled with tales of intrepid surgeons with larger-than-life personalities who pushed the limits of the human body and the bounds of what were then considered acceptable medical practices. The result? Heart transplants, pacemakers, artificial heart valves, heart-lung machines, and other once-unthinkable and experimental procedures that have now saved millions of lives. Our guest in this episode, Gerald Imber, MD, charts these remarkable developments in his 2024 book Cardiac Cowboys: The Heroic Invention of Heart Surgery. While not writing books on the history of medicine, Dr. Imber is a practicing plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic surgery. Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Imber talks about the challenging yet rewarding training he underwent as a surgery resident, what it means to have an “eye for aesthetics,” why he decided to write a book on the history of heart surgery, stories of daring surgeons from this history, how he reconciles the drive to push the frontiers of medicine with a regard for patient safety, and more.In this episode, you’ll hear about:2:15 - What drew Dr. Imber to a career in surgery 7:55 - Dr. Imber’s grueling experiences as a general surgery resident11:52 - Dr. Imber’s transition into plastic surgery and the aesthetic sensibilities necessary for this speciality 22:46 - What Dr. Imber’s current plastic surgery practice looks like 24:28 - How Dr. Imber finds fulfillment and meaning in his work 25:21 - What motivated Dr. Imber to write Cardiac Cowboys, a book about the history of open heart surgery 30:47 - Balancing risks to patient lives with medical and surgical experimentation34:25 - A brief history of open heart surgery40:02 - Key milestones in the development of open heart surgery 45:24 - What Dr. Imber hopes readers take away from Cardiac Cowboys Dr. Gerald Imber is the author of Cardiac Cowboys: The Heroic Invention of Heart Surgery (2024) and Genius on the Edge: The Bizarre Double Life of Dr. William Stewart Halsted (2010).Dr. Imber can be found on Instagram at @geraldimbermd.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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

Rotavirus, a highly contagious virus that causes severe diarrhea and vomiting, used to kill more than half a million children annually. But the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine has slashed that number dramatically, saving hundreds of thousands of lives each year. Joining us in this episode is Paul Offit, MD, a co-inventor of one of the two most widely used rotavirus vaccines worldwide. Dr. Offit is a professor of pediatrics and vaccinology at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. A leading world expert on vaccines, he served on the FDA Vaccine Advisory Committee during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the author of more than 15 books, most recently Tell Me When It's Over: An Insider's Guide to Deciphering Covid Myths and Navigating our Post-Pandemic World (2024). Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Offit shares what drew him to pediatrics, how he developed a vaccine that now saves hundreds of kids every day, the stringent process by which new medications are approved, the origins of vaccine hesitancy. Why public health communication failed during the COVID-19 pandemic, what we can do to restore public trust in medicine, and more.In this episode, you’ll hear about: 2:24 - The harrowing experience Dr. Offit endured as a young child that inspired him to a seek a career in pediatrics6:40 - How Dr. Offit’s research led to a successful rotavirus vaccine in 2006 10:46 - A brief history of vaccines16:40 - Why Dr. Offit chose to become a public advocate for vaccines 20:14 - Why vaccines have garnered such intense backlash from large proportions of the public 26:44 - Factors that have led to an erosion of trust in public health over the past four years33:01 - What Dr. Offit means when he talks about “following the science”40:35 - How public health officials can speak about scientific knowledge in a way that acknowledges uncertainty47:37 - The future of vaccines mandates in our society 54:16 - Dr. Offit’s advice for building trust with skeptical parents Dr. Paul Offit is the author of 13 books, including Tell Me When It's Over: An Insider's Guide to Deciphering Covid Myths and Navigating our Post-Pandemic World (2024).Dr. Offit can be found on Twitter/X at @DrPaulOffit.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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

Soon after finishing his first semester of college, Jim Yong Kim, MD, PhD excitedly told his father that he'd dedicate his life to starting a social justice movement. In response, his father sternly reprimanded him, saying that the only career he'd support was one in medicine. Dr. Kim acquiesced, but over the subsequent decades would hold on to this passion for social justice and become one of the most influential individuals working in global health, poverty reduction, and sustainable development. He co-founded Partners in Health, today a renowned medical humanitarian organization that operates in the poorest areas of developing countries. From there, he served as advisor to the Director-General of the World Health Organization and as Director of its HIV/Aids Department. He would then serve as the 17th President of Dartmouth College, before being selected as President of the World Bank, a position he would hold for seven years. In this episode, Dr. Kim joins us to discuss his unique training combining medicine with anthropology, the cultural factors that shaped his understanding of international development, how he spearheaded radical efforts to treat millions of HIV and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients around the world, the inner mechanisms of the World Bank, the moral philosophy that drives his work, and more.In this episode, we discuss: 2:32 - Dr Kim’s motivation for pursuing both medicine and anthropology 8:04 - How Dr. Kim paired his clinical training with his passion for social justice 16:46 - How Dr. Kim stayed true to his moral convictions as he faced challenges in managing global crises such as the HIV epidemic in Africa 26:29 - The story of PEPFAR, one of the most ambitious initiatives to address the global HIV/AIDS pandemic pandemic30:45 - How committing to moral justice can help people think outside of the box to meet the economic needs of a situation 33:36 - The history and goals of the World Bank 38:11 - How Dr. Kim prepared for his role at the World Bank, an organization that operates in many sectors in addition to global health 43:28 - How Dr. Kim maintains a sense of purpose and fulfillment throughout his careerDr. Jim Yong Kim can be found on Twitter/X at @jim_yong12.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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

It's a cliche to say health care is broken. However, the extent to which it is unnecessarily convoluted, inefficient, and fragmented frustrates even the most experienced clinicians each time they are forced to deal with its consequences. Medical records disappear when a patient switches doctors. Critical details of life-saving treatment plans are buried deep within thousands of pages worth of electronic charts. In this episode, Stanford oncologist and journalist Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD explores all the ways that modern medicine is riddled with gaps and the incredible strain this puts on providers, patients, and caregivers alike. She is the author of the 2023 book Fragmented: A Doctor's Quest to Piece Together American Health Care. In the first half of our conversation, Dr. Yurkiewicz shares how she connects with patients and helps them through the worst moments of their lives—often taking place after a cancer has been treated. In the second half, we discuss why electronic medical records are failing doctors and patients, how clinicians can strive to retain a sense of autonomy, and how she manages the uncertainty that this broken system frequently imposes upon her.In this episode, you’ll hear about: 2:53 - Dr. Yurkiewicz’s day job as a primary care physician specializing in cancer patients and survivors5:49 - The benefits that cancer patients and survivors receive in seeing a primary care provider with additional training in oncology10:34 - What initially drew Dr. Yurkiewicz to oncology 15:00 - Why helping people through times of suffering is meaningful to Dr. Yurkiewicz18:30 - How Dr. Yurkiewicz became adept at dealing with the diverse emotional psychosocial of cancer survivors 22:45 - What “fragmentation of the healthcare system” means to Dr. Yurkiewicz 24:24 - How patients expect the medical system to work versus how it actually works 34:30 - The challenges physicians face in piecing together a patient’s story through medical charts39:12 - The consequences of fragmented medical records46:26 - How electronic medical records can be improved50:44 - How Dr. Yurkiewicz retains a sense of autonomy amid a fragmented system 58:11 - Dr. Yurkiewicz’s approach to having difficult and high-stakes conversations with patients Dr. Ilana Yurkiewicz is the author of Fragmented: A Doctor's Quest to Piece Together American Health Care (2023).Dr. Yurkiewicz can be found on Instagram at @iyurkiewiczmd.In this episode, we discuss Danielle Ofri’s 2019 New York Times Op Ed The Business of Healthcare is Built on Exploiting Healthcare Workers.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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

We didn’t choose to live this life. In its most difficult moments, it's all too natural to ask the question, “What makes life worth living?” This question, so central to philosophy since ancient times, is what we explore in this episode with Nick Riggle, a professor of philosophy at University of California, San Diego. Riggle is the author of several books, most recently 2022’s This Beauty: A Philosophy of Being Alive. Over the course of our conversation, we discuss aesthetics, which is the branch of philosophy concerned with beauty and art; the various ways that we, successfully or otherwise, have attempted to find meaning in life; why finding beauty and building an aesthetic community is so crucial to human well-being; and much more. In this episode, you’ll hear about: 2:29 - Nick’s path from being a pro-skater to becoming a philosophy professor and author 8:41 - How Nick approaches surveying philosophical thought through history10:22 - The importance that aesthetics and beauty play in Nick’s studies 19:13 - What motivated Nick to write his book This Beauty21:04 - How Nick conceptualized answering the central question of his book23:51 - The takeaways that Nick personally found for what makes life worth living 29:15 - What it means to pay attention to the beautiful things in life 32:18 - Are some kinds of beauty and art “better” than others? 34:47 - The value of creating an aesthetic community  39:12 - Living an aesthetic life when your physical or mental state is limitedNick Riggle is the author of multiple books and publications, including This Beauty: A Philosophy of Being Alive (2022), Aesthetic Life and Why it Matters (2022), and On Being Awesome: A Unified Theory on How Not to Suck (2017). Nick Riggle can be found on Instagram at @nickriggle.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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

Anyone who has interacted with ChatGPT is likely to agree that it is one of the most powerful and transformative artificial intelligence tools out there. Writes our guest on this episode, Microsoft's Chief Scientific Officer Eric Horvitz, MD, PhD, “ChatGPT left me awestruck. It is a polymath with a remarkable capacity to integrate traditionally disparate concepts and methodologies to weave together ideas that transcend disciplinary boundaries.” Dr. Horvitz is one of the leading voices in artificial intelligence (AI), serving now on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and formerly as President of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. His research has been foundational to machine learning, AI integration of multisensory streams of information, computational models in imperfect information systems, and applications of AI amidst the complexities of the open world. As it happens, Dr. Horvitz is also a physician by training. Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Horvitz discusses how studying AI has enabled him to explore the mysteries of human intelligence and why there are some domains of the human experience that AI will never capture. As you will hear, he brings an eloquent optimism to articulating the ways that AI will contribute to human flourishing. In this episode, we discuss: 3:00 - Dr. Horvitz early trajectory from medical school to a PhD in computer science7:42 - What Dr. Horvitz’s studies in AI have taught him about natural intelligence 10:00 - A primer of generative AI 21:16 - Dr. Horvitz’s view on the future potentials and dangers that AI will bring to society 29:04 - How the profit motive might shape the utilization of AI in our society 36:48 - The importance of approaching AI development from a human-centered lens  47:29 - What human flourishing could look like in a society steeped in artificial intelligence Dr. Eric Horvitz is the author of numerous publications on artificial intelligence and its role in society. Dr. Horvitz can be found on Twitter/X at @erichorvitz.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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

If you were to rank all the medical specialties by the arduousness of the training required, the technical complexity and high stress of the interventions involved, and the harshness of the working hours, cardiothoracic surgery would be near or at the top of anyone's list. In this episode, cardiac surgeon and Chair of the Department of Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center Craig Smith, MD takes us into the heart and mind of a physician who regularly cracks open a person's chest to manipulate some of their most anatomically intricate parts in order to save their lives. He is the author of the 2023 memoir Nobility in Small Things: A Surgeon's Path, and famously performed the quadruple bypass surgery that saved former US president Bill Clinton's life in 2004. Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Smith discusses the joys of exploring the human body, what motivates him to get up at 4 a.m. every day with the same burning passion for his work, why his family is one of the most important elements of work life balance, how he deals with mistakes and adverse events in the operating room, and more.In this episode, you will hear about: 2:23 - Dr. Smith’s initial path to medicine 4:43 - What drew Dr. Smith to the field of cardiothoracic surgery and how he handles the high-stakes nature of the work. 15:47 - What happens when a surgery goes not go according to plan 18:54 - Dr. Smith’s approach to comforting and connecting with patients prior to surgery 22:24 - Dr. Smith’s experience performing surgery while struggling through what he later learned was a very early case of COVID-19 in early 202029:03 - How Dr. Smith views work-life balance 34:17 - The role of spirituality and religion in Dr. Smith’s work35:51 - How Dr. Smith has retained his sense of purpose and calling throughout his career 45:28 – A patient story that encapsulates why performing surgery is so meaningful for Dr. SmithDr. Craig Smith is the author of Nobility in Small Things: A Surgeon’s Path (2023).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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

When Kathy Giusti was told she had multiple myeloma one fateful day in 1996, she was 37 and in the midst of a successful rising career. She was the mother of a one-year-old baby with plans to have a second child. The disease had few treatments and she was given three years to live. Instead of sitting back, however, Kathy took action to create her own hope. That meant not only conducting  research on treatments where there was none, but doing it with unprecedented speed and precision. She founded the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and became its first CEO. In the two decades since, the foundation has spearheaded a clinical network that has conducted nearly 100 trials and launched more than 150 new drugs, drastically increasing the life expectancy of patients from 3 to 10 years. For her work, she has been included among Fortune Magazine's list of the World's 50 Greatest Leaders and TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the world. Kathy is also the author of the 2024 book Fatal to Fearless, which helps cancer patients understand and navigate their own care. Over the course of our conversation, Kathy describes her life before and after her diagnosis of multiple myeloma, how and why she took initiative to create new treatments for her own disease, what happened after she received a new diagnosis of breast cancer in 2022, and how all patients can better make the healthcare system work for them.In this episode, we discuss: 3:00 - Kathy’s life before she was diagnosed with cancer4:56 - What is multiple myeloma? 8:58 - Kathy’s reaction upon learning her diagnosis, both intellectually and emotionally 18:36 - How Kathy navigated the experience of concurrently going through IVF and cancer treatment22:30 - The sources of support that Kathy leaned on throughout her cancer journey24:40 - How Kathy and her sister started the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation  34:53 - How the treatment landscape for multiple myeloma has changed since Kathy was diagnosed in 199641:00 - A glossary of medical terms that have been discussed in this episode44:33 - The current status of Kathy’s multiple myeloma 50:39 - Kathy’s key advice for both cancer patients and health care professionals for navigating cancer treatment  Kathy Guisti is the author of From Fatal of Fearless: 12 Steps to Beating Cancer in a Broken Medical System (2024).In this episode we discuss the book When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, and the essay The Median is Not the Message by Jay Gould, PhD, and our past episode The Physician Who Cured Himself (with Dr. David Fajgenbaum).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. Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

In the 100th episode of The Doctor's Art, we reflect on the lessons and insights we have heard from guests over the past two years. We first share the story of how The Doctor’s Art podcast came to be, then we discuss some of the most meaningful and impactful episodes for us and how the show has changed the way we practice medicine and approach life. Finally, we share exciting new directions in which we hope to take the program.In this episode, we discuss: 1:45 - How The Doctor’s Art podcast came to be 9:20 - Reflections on the growth and evolution of the podcast16:05 - The deep meaning that Tyler found in recording Episode 19 (Art, Drama and a Terminal Illness, with Ellen Dunphy), which featured a terminally ill patient under his care shortly before her passing22:35 - How Episode 41 (Love and Mercy in the ICU, with Wes Ely) set Henry up for success as he began his career as a physician30:22 - The insights on suffering in Episode 52 (A Space for Mystery, with Elisha Waldman) that have influenced Tyler’s personal and professional lives 33:25 - How Episode 65 (Everyday Wonder in Medicine and Beyond, with Dacher Keltner) helped Henry find awe in everyday moments while working in the hospital36:07 - The single sentence in Episode 73 (The Physician Who Cured Himself, with David Fajgenbaum) that has stayed with Henry and reminds him to cherish how our bodies work39:10 - The two episodes that challenged the way Tyler perceives the world (Episode 86: Reflections at the End of Sight, with Andrew Leland and Episode 91: Inside a Suicidal Mind, with Clancy Martin) 41:24 - How Dacher Keltner’s explanation of awe points to the kinds of experiences and activities we can value and why some are more transformative than others44:01 - The unexpected effect that Episode 21 (Pain, Pleasure, and Finding the Balance, with Anna Lembke) had on Tyler’s perception of addiction within our modern lives51:37 - What’s next for The Doctor’s Art podcast We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for listening to this show. We would also like to thank our guests for their generosity in sharing their time with us.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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

At the mention of human consciousness and the supposed interconnectivity of all things, your mind probably conjures up the countless books on meditation, alternative medicine, and mysticism that permeate self-help sections of bookstores. But complexity theory attempts to apply rigorous scientific analyses to universal questions of consciousness and being. At its heart, complexity theory seeks to understand how complex behaviors and patterns emerge from simple rules and interactions within a system. This theory, which draws from mathematics, computer science, and physics, challenges our traditional reductionist approaches to biology and reveals how life self-organizes from the substance of our universe, from interactions within the quantum foam to the formation of atoms and molecules, cells, human beings, social structures, ecosystems, and beyond.Here to tell us more about it is Neil Theise, MD, a pathologist and complexity theorist who in 2023 wrote the book Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness and Being. Dr. Theise is Co-Director of Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology at NYU's Grossman School of Medicine and is a pioneer of adult stem cell plasticity and the anatomy of the human interstitium. In the first half of our conversation, Dr. Theise discusses his journey to pathology by way of Jewish studies and computer science during college, what it's like to decipher diseases through his biopsy samples, and the significance of being the doctor that other doctors turn to for guidance on treatments. In the second half of our conversation, Dr. Theise gives us a primer of complexity theory and how it seeks to explain the beauty and mysteries of life.In this episode, we discuss: 4:01 - What a pathologist does and why Dr. Theise finds the work fulfilling 8:15 - Dr. Theise’s path to becoming a pathologist 15:22 - The unique role of pathologists in learning life-changing information about patients20:42 - What it’s like to be the doctor that other doctors turn to for diagnostic puzzles 24:43 - A primer to complexity theory 37:03 - The difference between chaos theory and complexity theory 40:35 - How Dr. Theise came to study complexity theory and how it relates to our understanding of the body54:38 - Why Dr. Theise believes that people should bring metaphysics back into their lives Dr. Neil Theise can be found on Instagram at @neiltheise.Dr. Neil Theise is the author of Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being (2023).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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

There is an increasing body of scientific evidence demonstrating a phenomenon humans across cultures have long known intuitively: we are biologically wired for art. Engaging in the arts transforms our neural circuitry in deep ways that we are only beginning to uncover, and studies are showing how the arts can help us live longer, stave off cognitive decline, reduce our stress hormones, nurture the development of young minds, reduce the impacts of PTSD, and more. Joining us in this episode are two individuals at the forefront of the movement to translate this groundbreaking research to medicine, public health, education, the workplace, and other real world applications. Susan Magsamen is the director of the International Arts and Mind Lab at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where her research focuses on how our brains respond to artistic experiences. Ivy Ross is an acclaimed jewelry designer and Vice President of hardware design at Google. Together, they coauthored the 2023 New York Times best seller Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us. Over the course of our conversation, Susan and Ivy discuss the emerging field of neuroaesthetics, how the arts can make us healthier, smarter and happier, and how we can incorporate more art into our everyday lives.In this episode, we discuss: 2:40 - How Susan and Ivy’s paths led them to neuroarts7:46 - What does it mean to be in a “flow state”? 15:12 - An introduction to neuroaesthetics and neuroarts 18:33 - Surprising impacts the arts have on health 25:58 - The health benefits of creating art in community 29:51 - What “aesthetics” means in the context of Susan and Ivy’s studies 33:53 - The science behind how the arts support healing 39:45 - Practical tips for someone who wants to begin engaging with art 46:32 - Dispelling the myth of “high art vs low art”Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross are the co-authors of Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us (2023).Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross can be found on Instagram at @yourbrainonartbook.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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

Born in India in 1920, Gladys McGarey, MD has a life story marked with various pivotal moments of the 20th century. She witnessed Gandhi's Salt March in her final childhood days in India, arrived in the US amid the Great Depression, began medical school four months before the US joined World War II, and became a physician at a time when few women were accepted in the profession. She would later co-found the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine and the American Board of Integrative Medicine. At over 100 years old, Dr Gladys, as she likes to be called, is still practicing medicine. In 2023, she published The Well-Lived Life A 102-Year-Old Doctor’s Six Secrets to Health and Happiness At Every Age, in which she details her approach to a happy life by focusing on finding love and purpose. In this episode, Dr Gladys joins us to discuss her remarkable journey in medicine, what holistic medicine means to her, her own experiences with cancer, the healing power of love and human connection, and more.In this episode, you’ll hear about:2:08 - Dr. Gladys’ early years and her path to becoming a physician7:20 - The discrimination that Dr. Gladys endured as a female physician 11:02 - What Dr. Gladys’ medical practice looked like when she began her career 12:23 - Dr. Gladys’s definition of holistic medicine and how it became a part of her practice 18:22 - Dr. Gladys’s case for why love is essential when providing healing for a patient  23:27 - How Dr. Gladys’ own experience as a cancer patient demonstrates her approach to holistic medicine26:12 - What Dr. Gladys believes has been lost amidst all of the advances that medicine has made30:09 - How spirituality has affected Dr. Gladys’ approach to medicine 31:41 - Concrete ways that doctors can incorporate holistic sensibilities into their practicesDr. Gladys can be found on Instagram at @begladmd.Dr. Gladys MacGarey is the author of A Well Lived Life: A 102-Year Old Doctor’s Six Secrets to Health and Happiness at Any Age (2023).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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

Ben Taub Hospital, located in the heart of Houston, Texas, is the city's largest hospital for those who cannot afford medical care. Texas, in turn, is the US state with the country's largest uninsured population. Amid chaotic emergency rooms and busy hospital wards serving the most financially and medically vulnerable people, Ricardo Nuila, MD finds meaning and beauty through stories he hears from his patients. In addition to his duties as a hospitalist at Ben Taub Hospital, Dr. Nuila is an associate professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, where he directs the Humanities Expression and Arts Lab, as well as an author whose writings have appeared in the Atlantic, the New Yorker, the New York Times Sunday Review, and more. His 2023 book, The People's Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine, explores the ups and downs of American medicine through the lens of patients he has encountered at Ben Taub. Over the course of our conversation, we discuss what it's like to practice in a safety net hospital, the power of narrative medicine in connecting with patients, and how clinicians can hold onto their strength of character, even when working in a system that often feels broken and indifferent to human suffering.In this episode, we discuss: 2:25 - How Dr. Nuila became drawn to both medicine and creative writing  6:07 - The characteristics that define different types of hospitals 12:06 - A patient story that exemplifies the experience of being a doctor at a public safety net hospital 20:33 - How Dr. Nuila finds deeper meaning in providing care, even when faced with systemic circumstances that a doctor can’t fix25:34 - Dr. Nuila’s advice for how to get through the moments when you feel like you are “at war” with gaps in the system 42:32 - How narrative medicine and storytelling can make more effective clinicians 45:45 - Dr. Nuila’s advice on how to make a career in medicine meaningful Dr. Ricardo Nuila can be found on Twitter/X at @Riconuila.Dr. Nuila is the author of The People’s Hospital (2023).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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

As an English professor at Yale University, essayist and literary critic William Deresiewicz observed a trend across American higher education that troubled him deeply. Instead of learning to think independently, critically, creatively, and courageously, students were increasingly subscribing to a mode of careerism, credentialism, and conformism that focused on climbing the academic or professional ladder. So what is the value of higher education? As Deresiewicz writes in his 2014 book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life, colleges, first and foremost, are supposed to teach you to think, to help you develop a habit of skepticism and the capacity to put it into practice. More than that, college is where you build a soul — your moral, intellectual, sensual, emotional self, through exposure to books, ideas, works of art, and pressures of the minds around you that are looking for their own answers to the big questions. Questions of love, family, God, mortality, time, truth, dignity, and the human experience. Over the course of our conversation, we discuss the search for a meaningful life, the worth of a liberal education, the role of mentorship, the relationship between solitude and leadership, what it means to cultivate moral imagination, and more.In this episode, we discuss: 3:00 - Deresiewicz’ approach to teaching during his years as a college professor6:25 - The reason why parents are not ideally positioned to guide their children through questions of what they want to do with their lives 8:02 - What Deresiewicz believes is the purpose of higher education 10:50 - What it means to “shape the soul” of students 17:12 - What we miss when we take a scientistic view of the world 20:45 - The challenge of establishing normative values in society, and why a “moral education” should be prioritized instead28:25 - The search for individualism among students today30:55 - What true leadership looks like and why people in powerful positions in our society do not often exhibit these traits40:28 - What does it mean to have a sense of purpose?43:00 - How young people can work to develop their sense of a calling or purposeWilliam Deresiewicz is the author of four books, including A Jane Austen Education (2011), Excellent Sheep (2014), The Death of the Artist (2020), and The End of Solitude (2022), as well as multiple essays, including Solitude and Leadership (2010) and The Disadvantages of an Elite Education (2008). William Deresiewicz can be found on Twitter/X at @Wderesiewicz.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 info@thedoctorsart.com. 

What happens to the mortality rates of cardiac arrest patients on days when there is a marathon happening in the city? What happens to surgical complication rates when it's the surgeon's birthday? Why do patients of younger doctors seem to have better health outcomes? These and other quirky questions are what preoccupy health economist, Anupam Jena, MD, PhD. Dr. Jena is a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School, professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, host of the popular Freakonomics, MD podcast, and, together with Dr. Christopher Worsham, co-author of the 2023 book Random Acts of Medicine. Over the course of our conversation, we discuss the often-unintuitive role that random chance plays in our health outcomes, the hidden drivers of medical decision-making, misconceptions about physician burnout, and more. As we'll see, through tackling what can be amusing questions about why physicians and patients behave the way they do, Dr. Jena encourages us to reconsider our own ways of thinking and imagine how we can do better and be better.In this episode, we discuss: 2:18 - The path that took Dr. Jena to the intersection of medicine and economics8:54 - How Dr. Jena discovers topics for research12:12 - Unexpected and important findings that Dr. Jena has learned over the course of his work19:18 - Dr. Jena’s focus on “natural experiments”22:02 - Thinking about physician burnout from an economist’s perspective36:42 - The mission Dr Jena had when he set out to write Random Acts of Medicine44:08 - Dr. Jena’s advice for medical trainees on how to understand the hidden forces of the medical systemDr. Anupam Jena can be found on Twitter/X at @AnupamBJena.Dr. Jena is the co-author of Random Acts of Medicine (2023) and the host of Freakonomics, 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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2024

From ancient myths to science fiction, humans have long been fascinated by the idea of transcending the limits of our natural lifespan. But what does modern medicine say about the practical, actual possibilities of extending human life? Joining us to explore this tantalizing question is Tony Wyss-Coray, PhD, a neuroscientist and director of the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience at Stanford University. While his research focuses on age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease, his work has involved identifying the “biological age” of various organs and its implications on various diseases, and treating old animals with the blood of young animals to halt, and even reverse, aging of the body. Over the course of our conversation, we not only discuss the mysterious mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, but also venture beyond the lab to explore the philosophical and ethical dimensions of life extension. We ask: how does our understanding of aging affect our perception of self and identity? Is aging a disease to be treated? What are our social and moral obligations when it comes to prolonging life or enhancing brain function? Is immortality even desirable?In this episode, we discuss: 2:30 - How Dr. Wyss-Coray became drawn to neuroscience 4:45 - Defining neurodegeneration and aging 9:26 - The studies that led Dr. Wyss-Coray and his team to finding the gap between biological age and chronological age21:06 - Is reversing the aging of an organism’s body a realistic goal? 28:31 - The possibilities and limits of treating neurodegenerative conditions 33:49 - Dr. Wyss-Coray’s groundbreaking work in treating old animals with the blood of young animals to reverse aging38:51 - The philosophical and moral implications of life extension48:57 - Dr. Wyss-Coray insight into the “secrets” behind some people’s longevity Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray can be found on Twitter/X at @wysscoray.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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2023

Medical anthropology provides a lens through which we can view the intricate tapestry of human health, woven with the threads of cultural beliefs, social structures, and biological realities. Few have played a more significant role in creating this discipline than psychiatrist Arthur Kleinman, MD, whose early, extensive field work in Taiwan and China have shaped how we think about cross-cultural healthcare systems and their impacts on human suffering. Many of his books, including The Illness Narratives and Patients and Healers in the Context of Culture, have become seminal texts in medical anthropology. Dr. Kleiman is also a moral philosopher whose writings have explored the frailty of our existence and how uncertainty and crises sharpen our moral identities. Over the course of our conversation, we discuss Dr. Kleinman's bold explorations of human wellness across cultures, the search for meaning amid pain and suffering, the struggle to lead a moral life, and medical anthropology as a clarion call for a more nuanced and empathetic approach to health and healing.In this episode, we discuss: 2:26 - Dr. Kleinman’s path to medicine 7:00 - How anthropology and psychiatry became central to Dr. Kleinman’s work  11:23 - The four core questions that define Dr. Kleinman’s decades of study 16:09 - How cultural definitions of a healthcare system greatly impact its effectiveness and reach22:12 - Finding meaning in experiences of pain and sorrow  33:56 - An anthropological view of human existence, morality, and ethics 46:00 - The basis for Dr. Kleinman’s book The Soul of Care 47:51 - How Dr. Kleinman’s search for meaning shapes his approach to medicine50:35 - The delineation between “morality” and “Morality”57:40 - Connecting to our shared humanity by “doing” careDr. Kleinman has authored seven books, including his most recent, The Soul of Care.In this episode, We share excerpts from: Dr. Kleinman’s book What Really Matters, Morten Lauridsen’s choral piece O Nata Lux, and Bryan Stevenson’s book Just Mercy. 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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2023

Since childhood, Clancy Martin has been preoccupied with, and even addicted to, the idea of suicide. A survivor of more than ten suicide attempts. Clancy has spent his life wrestling with questions like: where do these impulses come from? Why am I haunted by them? Why do I feel so much guilt? Can I be helped?Clancy is a professor of philosophy at the University of Missouri — Kansas City, where he teaches existentialism, moral psychology, philosophy of the mind, and ethics. He is a Guggenheim Fellow and the author of more than ten books, most recently 2023’s How Not to Kill Yourself: A Portrait of the Suicidal Mind, in which he chronicles his struggles with suffering, substance use, and an obsession with self-destruction. At the same time, the book is a prescription of hope and an eloquent reminder of the interconnectedness of our lives. These are the issues we grapple with in this episode. Content warning: Due to the sensitive nature of the topic of suicide, this episode might be distressing for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, in the United States, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by texting or calling 988, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For our international listeners, please refer to local resources in your country for support. In this episode, we discuss: 3:53 - The importance of “speaking honorably” about suicide and removing the taboo surrounding the topic9:23 - Applying the biopsychosocial model of illness to suicide 13:29 - Clancy’s lifelong experience with suicidal ideation 22:58 - Moving past our tendency to see suicidal ideation as a personal sin or failure. 27:07 - Understanding the different reasons why a person would consider suicide 35:54 - In Clancy’s view, what lies on the other side when one moves beyond a suicidal mindset 44:42 - Clancy’s advice for how to cope if you are currently vulnerable to suicidal thoughts Clancy Martin is the author of How Not to Kill Yourself: A Portrait of the Suicidal Mind (2023).In this episode, We discuss Clancy’s 2018 essay, I’m Still Here. 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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2023

In recent years, loneliness has transformed from a private, personal experience into a full blown public health crisis. Studies have repeatedly shown that loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of premature death, dementia, and all sorts of mental illnesses. In this episode, Jeremy Noble, MD shares how he is combating our national crisis of loneliness by fostering connection through art and storytelling. Dr. Noble is the founder of the Foundation for Arts and Healing, a lecturer at Harvard Medical School, and the author of the 2023 book Project UnLonely: Healing Our Crisis of Disconnection. Over the course of our conversation, we discuss Dr. Noble's unique path to arts and medicine, the three types of loneliness—social, emotional, and existential, what meaningful social connection looks like, and the healing power of creativity.In this episode, we discuss: 2:08 - Dr. Nobel’s journey to becoming a “public health practitioner” and the personal meaning that the has found in his work5:44 - The issues that Dr. Nobel is most interested in addressing within public health7:03 - How Dr. Nobel found his way to the arts and humanities14:21 - The benefits available at the intersection of the arts and medicine16:09 - The mission of the Foundation for Art and Healing and Project UnLonely22:26 - The definition of “loneliness” and the importance of loneliness literacy 24:19 - The “pyramid of vulnerability” for loneliness 27:10 - Evolutionary reasons for loneliness and how those are exacerbated today34:19 - The three types of loneliness38:20 - How we can cultivate a culture of connection in a society that has grown to distrust people and institutions 42:24 - What public health agencies should do to better prepare our society to reckon with loneliness 44:11 - The importance of addressing the loneliness inherent in medical trainingDr. Nobel is the author of Project UnLonely: Healing Our Crisis of Disconnection (2023).Learn more about Project UnLonely and The Foundation for Art & Healing: www.artandhealing.org.Dr. Nobel can be found on Twitter/X @JeremyNobel1.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 info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2023