Doctor Vs Comedian

Today, Asif asks Ali about the controversial origins of stand up comedy (1:05). Ali explains that stand up comedy evolved from vaudeville and that vaudeville itself evolved from minstrel shows. With respect to minstrel shows, Ali specifically references Thomas Dartmouth Rice's blatantly racist song-and-dance number, "Jump Jim Crow". He also discusses how  the Irish were surprisingly often complicit in performing in blackface. Ali then discusses the long term ramifications of the fact that stand up grew out of these racist shows. Then, Ali asks Asif about the ‘Hidden Curriculum’ in medicine (25:57). Asif contrasts the ‘Hidden Curriculum’ with both the formal and the ‘Informal Curriculum’ (on the job training). He then provides several examples of the ‘Hidden Curriculum’ in medical education. Then, Asif concludes by discussing ways to address the ‘Hidden Curriculum’.  BONUS: Joe Everyman appears for the first time on the podcast!

The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. 

Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay

Contact us at [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

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Show Notes:

• Probing Question: What are the roots of stand-up comedy?: https://news.psu.edu/story/141330/2008/09/12/research/probing-question-what-are-roots-stand-comedy
• Beyond curriculum reform: confronting medicine's hidden curriculum: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9580717/
• Trash talk and childish pranks: Canadian study sheds light on the hidden culture of medicine: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/trash-talk-and-childish-pranks-canadian-study-sheds-light-on-the-hidden-culture-of-medicine
• Opinion: Getting the diagnosis right isn't enough: https://edmontonjournal.com/news/national/opinion-getting-the-diagnosis-right-isnt-enough
• Observations of the hidden curriculum on a paediatrics tertiary care clinical teaching unit: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30374218/
• The hidden and informal curriculum across the continuum of training: A cross-sectional qualitative study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/0142159X.2015.1073241?journalCode=imte20
• "What Do They Want Me To Say?" The hidden curriculum at work in the medical school selection process: a qualitative study: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1472-6920-12-17
• Debiasing the hidden curriculum- Academic equality among medical specialties: https://www.cfp.ca/content/57/1/e26.short
• Longitudinal training models for entrusting students with independent patient care?: A systematic review: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/medu.14607
• Professional identity formation within longitudinal integrated clerkships: A scoping review: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/medu.14461

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Today, the guys start off the pod with a bit of banter about ‘banter’. Then, in honour of ‘Seinfeld’ being released on Netflix this month, Asif and Ali discuss their thoughts and memories of the sitcom. Then they both debate their top 5 ‘Seinfeld’ episodes of all time. Then Ali asks Asif about body odour, and the guys use the ‘Seinfeld’ episode “The Smelly Car” as the perfect transition.   Ali recounts a story about having to tell someone in one of his classes about their BO. Asif talks about the differences between men and women with regards to body odour and why people only get it after puberty. Then Asif talks about what people can do about it, and debunks some myths about antiperspirants. 

The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. 

Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay

Contact us at [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram: doctorvcomedian

Show Notes:

• All 169 Seinfeld Episodes, Ranked From Worst to Best: https://www.vulture.com/best-seinfeld-episodes-ranked.html
• Armpit Psychology: The Science of Body Odor Perception: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/bering-in-mind/armpit-psychology-the-science-of-body-odor-perception/
• Dear Science: Why can’t I smell my own body odor?: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/11/07/dear-science-why-cant-i-smell-my-own-body-odor/
• Is Deodorant Harmful for Your Health?: https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2019/june/deodorant

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Today, the guys start off the pod by discussing 2 new television shows: Sandra Oh in ‘The Chair’ and FX’s ‘Y: The Last Man’ (0:43). Then Asif asks Ali about what life is really like on television and movie sets (8:53). Ali talks about the first set he was on and how he learned the “rules” of being on set. Ali then talks about the food on sets including craft services and catering as well as trailers on sets. Finally, Ali talks about his star-studded interactions with actors on set such as John Larroquette, Kiefer Sutherland, Dave Bautista and Eugene Levy. Then (37:35) Ali asks Asif about the concept of unconscious bias in healthcare. Asif explains how stereotypes about minority groups can result in poorer health care for certain individuals. He talks about how everyone in medicine is susceptible to unconscious bias and discusses ways in which to address it. 

The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. 

Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay

Contact us at [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram: doctorvcomedian

Show Notes

• Joyce Echaquan's death lays bare, once again, problems in Quebec's health-care system: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-joyce-echaquan-reaction-1.6044631
• Nunavut woman claims mistreatment in Ottawa hospital: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavut-woman-ottawa-hospital-mistreatment-1.5801844
• Implicit bias in healthcare professionals: a systematic review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5333436/
• The Impact of Unconscious Bias in Healthcare: How to Recognize and Mitigate It:  https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiz214

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Today, the guys start off by discussing the recently departed Norm Macdonald (1:00). They talk about his unique comic voice and the tremendous respect Ali and other comics had for him. Then, since both albums were released 30 years ago this month, the guys debate which album is better: Nirvana’s Nevermind’ or Pearl Jam’s ‘Ten (8:09)’. During their wide-ranging conversation, they reference the origins of the name “Smell’s Like Teen Spirit”, the recent lawsuit filed regarding the photo on the cover of ‘Nevermind’, Columbia house records, Andrew Wood and Temple of the Dog and Ali’s go-to karaoke song.  Then Ali asks Asif about cognitive bias in medicine and how they can lead to diagnostic errors (30:48). Asif then discusses how the concepts around cognitive bias can lead us to better understand vaccine hesitancy (42:48). 

The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. 

Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay

Contact us at [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram: doctorvcomedian

Show Notes

• Blink by Malcolm Gladwell:
• Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/89308/thinking-fast-and-slow-by-daniel-kahneman/9780385676533
• The Causes of Errors in Clinical Reasoning: Cognitive Biases, Knowledge Deficits, and Dual Process Thinking: https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/fulltext/2017/01000/The_Causes_of_Errors_in_Clinical_Reasoning_.13.aspx
• Undecided On Getting A Covid-19 Vaccine? Beware Of These Two Cognitive Biases: https://www.forbes.com/sites/coronavirusfrontlines/2021/01/09/undecided-on-getting-a-covid-19-vaccine-beware-of-these-two-cognitive-biases/?sh=19d9628b7154
• A behavioral economics perspective on the COVID-19 vaccine amid public mistrust: https://ucleuropeblog.com/2020/11/16/conspiracy-theories-cognitive-biases-and-covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy/

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To start the show, the guys discuss the sometimes murky issue of copyright claims on YouTube (1:30). Then the guys preview the upcoming 73rd annual Emmy awards and their picks in various categories (7:03). Then, Ali asks Asif about the academic publishing and why Asif feels the whole system of academic publishing needs to be fixed (29:39). He discusses the monopoly of academic publishers as well as the problems with the peer review process and so called Open Access. He then discusses the controversial website “Sci Hub” and the need for academics to stand up to publishers. 

The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. 

Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay

Contact us at [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram: doctorvcomedian

Show Notes

• Academic publishing is broken. Here’s how to redesign it: https://www.fastcompany.com/90180552/academic-publishing-is-broken-heres-how-to-redesign-it
• It’s time to stand up to academic publishing: https://www.universityaffairs.ca/opinion/in-my-opinion/time-stand-academic-publishing-industry/
• Science’s pirate queen: Alexandra Elbakyan is plundering the academic publishing establishment: https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/8/16985666/alexandra-elbakyan-sci-hub-open-access-science-papers-lawsuit
• The Oligopoly of Academic Publishers in the Digital Era: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0127502

• www.cureus.com

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The guys start with a serious debate about whether ‘drums’ or ‘flats’ are the better chicken wings (00:50). Ali then discusses life on the road as a comedian (5:11), including tips on how to get started in comedy touring. Then, Asif discusses the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on the prescribing habits of doctors (29:36). He discusses his own personal experiences with pharma, as well as what the evidence says about whether the pens, dinners and trips given to doctors actually influences behaviour (spoiler: it does). 

The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.

Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay

Contact us at [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram: doctorvcomedian

Show notes

• Doctors Prescribe More of a Drug If They Receive Money from a Pharma Company Tied to It: https://www.propublica.org/article/doctors-prescribe-more-of-a-drug-if-they-receive-money-from-a-pharma-company-tied-to-it
• Big pharma paid $151M to doctors, hospitals in 2017-18, but we don’t know who got paid or why: https://globalnews.ca/news/5769443/big-pharma-paying-doctors-hospitals/
• ‘Manipulating physicians’: How drug reps pitch your doc: https://globalnews.ca/news/5702980/how-drug-reps-pitch-doctors/
• Big pharma pours millions into medical schools — here’s how it can impact education: https://globalnews.ca/news/5738386/canadian-medical-school-funding/
• Association of Industry Payments to Physicians With the Prescribing of Brand-name Statins in Massachusetts: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2520680
• Association of Pharmaceutical Industry Marketing of Opioid Products to Physicians With Subsequent Opioid Prescribing: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2681059
• Association Between Academic Medical Center Pharmaceutical Detailing Policies and Physician Prescribing: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2623607
• Interactions between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry generally and sales representatives specifically and their association with physicians’ attitudes and prescribing habits: a systematic review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5623540/
• Institutional Academic−Industry Relationships: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/209192
• A National Survey of Physician–Industry Relationships: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa064508
• Of principles and pens: attitudes and practices of medicine housestaff toward pharmaceutical industry promotions: https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343%2801%2900660-X/abstract

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In this episode, Ali and Asif discuss the surging rates of eating disorders during the Covid-19 pandemic, with Adolescent Medicine and Eating Disorders expert Dr. Megan Harrison (who also happens to be Asif’s wife). Dr. Harrison discusses what eating disorders are and how adolescents develop them. Dr. Harrison also discusses how eating disorders are occurring in younger and younger children and the effects of restricted eating on the brain. She discusses the risk of mortality in eating disorders and some of the messaging kids receive about “healthy” eating through schools and the media. Finally she discusses the spike in eating disorder cases during the Covid-19 pandemic and the possible reasons why this increase may have occurred.  

The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the hosts. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. 

Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay

Contact us at [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:

Twitter: @doctorvcomedian

Instagram: doctorvcomedian

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To start the episode the guys give their thoughts  on two recent summer movies; Asif talks about “The Suicide Squad” and Ali reviews “The Green Knight” (2:00). Then the guys talk about the 40th anniversary of one of the greatest summer movies of all time, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (18:55). The guys start off by talking about their personal connections to the movie. They then talk about how George Lucas and Steven Spielberg crafted the character of Indiana Jones and the development of the first movie, as well as trivia about the film. Then Ali asks Asif about Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) (39:39). Asif goes over the genetic cause of the disorder as well as the common presenting symptoms. Asif then goes over the (near-miraculous) new treatments for SMA and the high cost of these new therapies. 

Show notes:

• • The Pulp and Pleasure of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ 40 Years Later: https://www.theringer.com/movies/2021/6/11/22528978/indiana-jones-raiders-lost-ark-anniversary-lost-knowledge
  • The Making Of Raiders Of The Lost Ark: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/indiana-jones-making-raiders-lost-ark/
  • Advances in Treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy – New Phenotypes, New Challenges, New Implications for Care: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7029319/
  • Spinal muscular atrophy — insights and challenges in the treatment era: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-020-00413-4
  • Canadian first: Baby with rare disorder given early treatment thanks to new screening at CHEO: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/canadian-first-baby-with-rare-disorder-given-early-treatment-thanks-to-new-screening-at-cheo-1.5214124

YouTube video links from various US hospitals regarding patients treated for spinal muscular atrophy:

• UNC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEIXKHptpiQ
• Children’s Hospital Colorado: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DcO4fJ09ng
• Nationwide children’s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRrqbvUv6gQ

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To start the episode, Ali’s recounts a recent Drive-in comedy show he did with Shaun Majumder (1:03). Then Asif asks about the course Ali teaches at Queen’s University and whether you can “teach funny” (7:38). Ali then talks about various exercises he used with his students to develop their comedic skills. Ali then discusses various books on the history of comedy and to help with honing one’s stand up. Then Ali asks Asif about ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) (36:02). They discuss about how a listener suggested they address the topic and go over the symptoms and how there is often a delay in diagnosis. Asif clarifies that while Lou Gehrig had the disease, Stephen Hawking likely did not. They talk about the lack of effective treatments and the need for more advocacy regarding ALS. Finally, they discuss the case of Chris Snow, former Calgary Flames Assistant General Manager and his diagnosis and experimental treatment for a genetic form of ALS. 

Show notes:

• The Stand-Up Comedian's Library: 21 Books For Comics Who Care About Their Craft: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahaswell/2019/04/26/the-stand-up-comedians-library-21-books-for-comics-who-care-about-their-craft/?sh=54ea44d565a5
• Time to diagnosis and factors affecting diagnostic delay in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: https://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X(20)30391-9/fulltext
• The Ice Bucket Challenge and the promise — and the pitfalls — of viral charity: https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/7/20/20699732/ice-bucket-challenge-viral-charity-als
• ‘I have been given a gift and extra time’: Flames assistant GM Chris Snow battles with ALS: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-i-have-been-given-a-gift-and-extra-time-flames-assistant-gm-chris-snow/
• https://www.kelsiesnowwrites.com/
• https://iamals.org/
• https://www.als.ca/
• https://alsactioncanada.org/
• www.als.org

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In this very special episode, Ali and Asif interview ophthalmologist, comedian and social media sensation Dr. Will Flannary aka Dr. Glaucomflecken. In their hilarious and wide ranging chat they discuss:

• His comedic influences
• How he got started doing stand up and how he transitioned to social media
• His philosophy of comedy, ‘punching up’ and why one should be cognizant of power dynamics when doing medical comedy
• Doctor stereotypes
• The benefits of letting patients see your comedic side
• The charity ‘First Descents’ and the impact it has made in his life

PLUS Ali asks random eye questions to Dr. Glaucomflecken!!!

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