How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors and Patients
Are you getting the medical care you hoped for? Perhaps you really like your doctor and feel listened to and well treated. Or maybe you’re frustrated with the lack of coordinated medical care, unconscious bias, and medical systems that don’t keep patients well-being at the center of their decisions. Most people agree that the US health care system is broken, but there is also a less talked about problem to address— “physician culture.” My guest, Dr. Robert Pearl, says, “Doctors are not heroes or villains. They produce remarkable successes and abysmal failures.” We’ll discuss what doctors do well, and how some miss the mark on compassionate, science based, high quality, and effective medicine for all.
**Listen now to About Health on KPFA.org—94.1FM, (7/12/21)**
https://kpfa.org/player/?audio=360279
ROBERT PEARL, M.D.
is the former CEO of The Permanente Medical Group (1999-2017), the nation’s largest medical group, and former president of The Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (2009-2017). In these roles he led 10,000 physicians, 38,000 staff and was responsible for the nationally recognized medical care of 5 million Kaiser Permanente members. Named one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 most influential physician leaders, he is an advocate for the power of integrated, prepaid, technologically advanced and physician-led healthcare delivery. He serves as a clinical professor of plastic surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine and is on the faculty of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he teaches courses on strategy and leadership, and lectures on information technology and health care policy. Board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Pearl received his medical degree from the Yale University School of Medicine, followed by a residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Stanford University.
He is the author of “Mistreated: Why We think We’re Getting Good Healthcare—And Why We’re Usually Wrong,” and his most recent book is, Uncaring: How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors and Patients. All proceeds from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.
Dr. Pearl hosts the podcasts Fixing Healthcare and Coronavirus: The Truth and he publishes a newsletter, Monthly Musings on American Healthcare. He has published more than 100 articles in medical journals and contributed to numerous books. From 2012 to 2017, Dr. Pearl served as chairman of the Council of Accountable Physician Practices (CAPP), which includes the nation’s largest and best multispecialty medical groups, and participated in the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Delivery System Reform and Health IT in Washington, D.C. Connect with Dr. Robert Pearl on Twitter @RobertPearlMD, LinkedIn, and at his website robertpearlmd.com.
A Personal Battle Against Alzheimer’s Disease
Listen now on About Health on KPFA radio— 94.1FM (6/28/21)
https://kpfa.org/player/?audio=359452
Alzheimer’s, which is a neurological disorder, affects 6.2 million Americans. “Worldwide, around 50 million people have dementia, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases.” —World Health Organization.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there is extensive clinical research being done. The pathological changes in a person’s brain start ten to twenty years before there is cognitive impairment…and so it’s vital that life style changes begin before typical symptoms show up. My guest, Dr. Daniel Gibbs, has been devoting his time to raising awareness about early-stage Alzheimer’s, and what people can do about it, in order to live a meaningful life for a longer time.
Guest
Dr. Daniel Gibbs is a retired neurologist in Portland Oregon, with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Having spent twenty-five years caring for patients, many with dementia themselves, he is now an active advocate for the early recognition and management of Alzheimer’s. He is the author, along with Teresa H. Barker, of the recently released book “A Tattoo on my Brain. A Neurologist’s Personal Battle against Alzheimer’s Disease”
Breakthrough Treatment: Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy
**Listen now to About Health, (6/14/21) KPFA radio—94.1FM**
https://kpfa.org/episode/about-health-june-14-2021/
We discussed the research and best practices in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. This is being explored as a promising treatment for people with depression, OCD, anxiety, addiction and other mental health challenges. “Magic Mushrooms” have been used by many cultures since ancient times for medicinal and spiritual purposes. It is believed by some that taking psilocybin in a therapeutic setting can result in neuroplastic changes that can lead to improvement in mental health.
Guest:![](https://www.nurserona.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/download.jpg)
James Keim, LCSW, is the founder of Mimosa Therapeutics, Inc., which uses bioreactors to grow research grade, natural psilocybin and other entheogens. He is a trauma and psychedelic therapist and is co-author of the book, The Violence of Men, and a contributor of chapters to over 10 edited books on psychotherapy. He has served as a Fulbright Specialist in Southeast Asia where he provided training to clinicians that treat victims of human trafficking. James heads the Institute for the Advancement of Psychotherapy’s Oppositional and Conduct Disorder Clinic.
Epigenetics: Creating Optimal Health
Listen now to the 5/3/21 show on KPFA.org—94.1FM
**https://kpfa.org/player/?audio=356073**
Epigenetics is the study of how our lifestyle, behaviors, and the environment we live in can cause changes that affect the way our genes work. It used to be thought that our DNA rigidly determines our health, but scientists have confirmed that the vast majority of our genes are actually fluid and dynamic. Our gene expression is a powerful part of our overall health, and the more you understand this complex topic the more empowered you will be to influence your health and longevity.
Guest
Dr. Kenn
eth R. Pelletier, PhD, MD is a clinical professor of medicine at the UCSF School of Medicine and former clinical professor of medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine. He is also Chairman of the American Health Association and is a vice president with American Specialty Health. At the UCSF School of Medicine, he is the Director of the Corporate Health Improvement Program (CHIP), a research program between CHIP and fifteen Fortune 500 corporations. Dr. Pelletier has authored numerous books (over 13) including international bestseller, Mind as Healer, Mind as Slayer, and his 2018 book, Change Your Genes Change Your Life. He is a peer reviewer for several medical journals including the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and serves on a number of corporate boards. He has published over 300 professional articles and has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and the BBC to discuss his research.
To learn more and get a free copy of his book, Change Your Genes Change Your Life, go to https://drpelletier.com.