Internal medicine physician and author Robert C. Smith discusses his article, "Medicine's mental health crisis: why the system is failing us." He reveals the shocking disparity in care, where only 25 percent of patients with mental illness receive any treatment compared to 70 percent for physical conditions. This crisis, Robert explains, stems from a fundamental failure in medical training: primary care clinicians handle over 75 percent of mental health cases but receive only 2 percent of their training in this area. The conversation delves into the historical roots of this neglect, citing the centuries-old "mind-body split," and argues that medicine continues to ignore the scientifically superior and integrative biopsychosocial model. Ultimately, Robert issues a powerful call to action for the public to become informed and demand political change, drawing parallels to successful citizen-led movements that mandated seat belts and banned harmful chemicals, offering listeners a clear path to help reform our nation's approach to mental health care.

Careers by KevinMD is your gateway to health care success. We connect you with real-time, exclusive resources like job boards, news updates, and salary insights, all tailored for health care professionals. With expertise in uniting top talent and leading employers across the nation's largest health care hiring network, we're your partner in shaping health care's future. Fulfill your health care journey at KevinMD.com/careers.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/careers

Discovering disability insurance? Pattern understands your concerns. Over 20,000 doctors trust us for straightforward, affordable coverage. We handle everything from quotes to paperwork. Say goodbye to insurance stress – visit Pattern today at KevinMD.com/pattern.

VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/pattern

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

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

Psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article, "Physician patriots: the forgotten founders who lit the torch of liberty." Muhamad calls for a remembrance of the five physician-patriots—Dr. Benjamin Rush, Dr. Josiah Bartlett, Dr. Lyman Hall, Dr. Matthew Thornton, and Dr. Oliver Wolcott—who signed the Declaration of Independence, risking everything for the principles of equality and unalienable rights. He contrasts their revered role with the current plight of physicians who face persecution, silencing, and legal battles within a politicized health care system, citing violations of First, Fourth, and Sixth Amendment rights. Muhamad emphasizes Dr. Benjamin Rush's profound influence beyond medicine, in shaping the nation's moral and educational fabric. The conversation serves as a rallying cry for contemporary physicians to reclaim their heritage as defenders of liberty, to organize, speak out against injustice, and fight for the ability to practice medicine ethically and without political interference, much like their predecessors did. Muhamad asserts that this new revolution is just beginning, with doctors ready to defend life, liberty, and patient dignity on new battlefields like clinics, courtrooms, and the internet.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

Microsoft Dragon Copilot, 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

Medical students Kaitlynn Esemaya, Anamaria Ancheta, and Annique McLune discuss their article, "Why vaccine access still fails America's most vulnerable groups." They highlight how social determinants of health drive pervasive inequities in vaccination rates among marginalized U.S. communities, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kaitlynn, Alexis, and Annique cite CDC data showing updated COVID-19 vaccine uptake for Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults at 8 percent, nearly half that of white adults (15 percent) for 2023–2024. This disparity extends to other vaccines like HPV and influenza, with poverty being a key factor. The discussion covers the post-pandemic drop in childhood vaccinations due to access barriers like lack of insurance and provider shortages, particularly in rural areas. They also touch on HPV vaccine disparities, where only 76 percent of U.S. children received one dose by 2022, and varying awareness levels, such as only 40 percent of adults with less than a high school education being aware of HPV compared to 78 percent of college graduates. Kaitlynn, Alexis, and Annique point to the resurgence of measles, with 301 U.S. cases by March 2025, and address the critical issues of vaccine hesitancy, medical mistrust, and misinformation, noting that these challenges even affect health care workers. The conversation emphasizes the need for increased education, public promotion of vaccinations, and improved access to address these persistent failures.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

Microsoft Dragon Copilot, 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

Surgeon Suhaib J. S. Ahmad discusses his article, "Why even the best employees are silently quitting health care." Suhaib explores the phenomenon of highly competent and once-passionate health care professionals disengaging and leaving their roles, often without overt complaint. He argues that this "silent quitting" stems not just from issues with the system or individual leaders, but critically from a dysfunctional organizational culture characterized by a lack of clear values, poor communication, and an environment where mediocrity and toxicity can thrive. Suhaib contrasts this with a thriving culture where employees feel empowered and listened to, referencing the Google walkout as an example of employees feeling safe to speak up. He emphasizes that leaders must actively engage with staff, understand their needs, and foster open dialogue to shift the culture from "survival mode" to one of growth and shared vision. For employees feeling stuck, Suhaib suggests that actively choosing to move to a better environment or to stay and strategically work on issues is preferable to silently disengaging. The conversation offers a call to action for leaders to ask their teams: What don't we talk about around here that we should be talking about?

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

Microsoft Dragon Copilot, 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

Medical students Vineeth Amba and Archita Goyal discuss their article, "What's driving medical students away from primary care?" They share the widespread discouragement medical students encounter regarding primary care careers, despite initial aspirations to serve communities. Vineeth and Archita highlight the ongoing crisis in primary care, evidenced by a decline to just 25 percent of the physician workforce, high burnout rates, and a projected U.S. shortage of approximately 68,000 PCPs by 2036, which impacts patient access for about 100 million people. They argue that underinvestment is a core issue, contrasting the 5–7 percent of health care spending primary care receives with the 35 percent of visits it handles. The discussion explores how increased investment, as exemplified by initiatives in states like Delaware, Rhode Island, and Oregon, and the proposed PC4YOU legislation in Massachusetts, can transform the field. Vineeth and Archita explain that PC4YOU aims to shift to value-based care, mandate 15 percent primary care spending by 2029, and incentivize innovations to improve health equity and make primary care a more sustainable and attractive specialty for future physicians.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

Microsoft Dragon Copilot, 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

Family physician and certified executive leadership coach Lisa Herbert discusses her article, "From burnout to breakthrough: How a coaching culture transforms health care." Lisa shares her personal journey with physician burnout, a crisis affecting 54 percent of physicians, and how discovering coaching revolutionized her approach to leadership and her career. She explains that a coaching culture, which emphasizes curiosity, continuous growth, and collaborative problem-solving over traditional command-and-control management, is a powerful antidote to burnout. Lisa outlines a roadmap for physician leaders to build this culture, starting with self-awareness, mastering fundamental coaching skills, and institutionalizing coaching practices. The conversation highlights the ripple effect of coaching, extending beyond physician well-being to improve patient interactions, medical training, and even personal relationships, ultimately benefiting health care organizations through better retention and patient experience. Physician leaders are encouraged to explore coaching, while executives should assess how organizational systems can support this transformative shift.

Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

Microsoft Dragon Copilot, 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