We're thrilled to welcome Braxton Schuldt, an MD-PhD student at the forefront of groundbreaking medical research. Braxton shares his journey through the dual-degree program, offering a unique perspective on balancing clinical practice with cutting-edge research. We dive into his latest research project on Alzheimer's disease, exploring how his findings could shape the future of patient care.

The March 2020 COVID-19 outbreak in New York City marked the start of the major challenges that the rest of the nation would soon face. Dr. Dara Kass, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Columbia and founder of FeminEM, a platform championing women in emergency medicine, joins Grace to discuss the pandemic, and the role of physicians as advocates for systemic change. 

Pain is often conceptualized as primarily a sensory experience, but the emotional components of pain are just as important. In this episode, Beth Darnall, Director of the Stanford Pain Relief Innovations Lab, pain psychologist, and Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine explains patient-centered pain care, the roles of federal agencies in crafting prescribing and de-prescribing guidelines, and the future of pain psychology. 

Studies show that more Americans than ever favor government action on climate change, but little has been done. Joe Nation, Professor of the Practice of Public Policy at Stanford and former elected official in the California State Assembly, joins Grace to talk about his perspective and experiences with climate policy at the state, national, and global levels. 

On November 10, the Supreme Court will hear a case involving the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate. Laurence Baker, a Professor in Medicine and Human Biology and a Senior Fellow at Stanford's Institute for Economic Policy Research, joins Grace to talk about the history, relevance, and future of the individual mandate. 

Dr. Seema Yasmin, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, Clinical Assistant Professor in Stanford’s Department of Medicine, and Director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative, joins Grace to talk about her experiences and perspectives on good science communication. We discuss past, present, and future efforts to combat misinformation and promote scientific literacy. 

Interested in learning more from Dr. Yasmin? Her new book, Viral BS: Medical Myths and Why We Fall for Them is available for pre-order now: https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/title/viral-bs

Meet Grace and get an overview of the Digest This podcast.