Primary Care Conversations | with Christine and Jeff

Your hosts discuss who and when to screen for dyslipidemia and how family physicians can use ApoB, non-HDL-C, and Lp(a) testing in everyday practice with Dr. George Thanassoulis, renowned cardiologist, lipidologist, and co-author of the Canadian Lipid Guidelines. 

Dr. Thanassoulis shares insights on LDL-C secondary prevention targets, emerging clinical trial data, and practical tips like the "20-40-60 rule" for lipid-lowering treatment options. The conversation includes actionable considerations family physicians can bring into practice when assessing cardiovascular risk and helping patients optimize their lipid management.

Join Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert as they share practical patient management strategies and clinical pearls to enhance your family medicine practice.

For more information, visit primarycareconversations.com and explore resources related to each episode at primarycareconversations.com/en-ca/en/references-resources.

This podcast is made possible through financial support from Amgen, Eisai, Lilly, Pfizer, Bausch Health, Organon, Sandoz and Bayer.

In this episode, Dr. Arya Sharma, a leading voice in obesity medicine and founder of Obesity Canada, reflects on his journey from nephrology to becoming a pioneer in reshaping how physicians understand and treat obesity.

Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert also explore how obesity care has evolved from outdated ideas of willpower and “eat less, move more” to a modern chronic disease framework grounded in biology and evidence.

The discussion highlights the impact of GLP-1 medications and how they are changing both patient outcomes and clinical practice, while examining the ongoing challenge of stigma in healthcare and why BMI and scale weight alone are not sufficient to guide treatment decisions.

Dr. Sharma ends the conversation discussing the importance of embedding obesity care within comprehensive medical management and his perspective on where obesity treatment is headed next.

Join primary care physicians Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert as they share practical patient management strategies and clinical pearls to enhance your family medicine practice.

For more information, visit primarycareconversations.com and explore resources related to each episode at primarycareconversations.com/en-ca/en/references-resources.

This podcast is made possible through financial support from Amgen, Eisai, Lilly, Pfizer, Bausch Health, Organon, Sandoz and Bayer.

What separates rosacea from acne? When should family physicians suspect ocular rosacea or rhinophyma? And what therapies actually work? Dr. Jaggi Rao joins Primary Care Conversations to dive into the realities of rosacea, from diagnostic pitfalls and psychosocial impacts to the latest breakthroughs in treatment.

Join primary care physicians Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert as they share practical patient management strategies and clinical pearls to enhance your family medicine practice.

For more information, visit primarycareconversations.com and explore resources related to each episode at primarycareconversations.com/en-ca/en/references-resources.

This podcast is made possible through financial support from Amgen, Eisai, Lilly, Pfizer, Bausch Health, Organon, Sandoz and Bayer.

From cutting through the noise of online misinformation to highlighting what truly matters, this conversation focuses on practical, evidence-based fertility guidance for primary care providers.

Together, the hosts explore when to investigate, when to refer, and which tests actually make a difference, emphasizing key factors like age, ovulation, and male fertility. They also tackle common myths, the role of apps and at-home testing, and how to counsel patients who are planning to conceive.

Join primary care physicians Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert as they share practical patient management strategies and clinical pearls to enhance your family medicine practice.

For more information, visit primarycareconversations.com and explore resources related to each episode at primarycareconversations.com/en-ca/en/references-resources.

This podcast is made possible through financial support from Amgen, Eisai, Lilly, Pfizer, Bausch Health, Organon, Sandoz and Bayer.

In the newest episode of Primary Care Conversations, your hosts walk through the management of a 69-year-old patient with rising blood pressure and recent cardiometabolic stressors. Dr. Jeff Habert, a co-author of the 2025 Hypertension Canada Guidelines, breaks down the newly simplified 130/80 target and explains how proper confirmation guides diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Join primary care physicians Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert as they share practical patient management strategies and clinical pearls to enhance your family medicine practice.

For more information, visit primarycareconversations.com and explore resources related to each episode at primarycareconversations.com/en-ca/en/references-resources.

This podcast is made possible through financial support from Amgen, Eisai, Lilly, Pfizer, Bausch Health, Organon, Sandoz and Bayer.

Recorded live at the 2025 NPAO Conference, your hosts dive into the clinical challenges of managing osteoporosis in primary care. From conflicting guidelines and underdiagnosis to treatment options, they explore how family physicians and nurse practitioners can close the gaps in care and improve outcomes for patients at risk of fractures. 

Join primary care physicians Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert as they share practical patient management strategies and clinical pearls to enhance your family medicine practice.

For more information, visit primarycareconversations.com and explore resources related to each episode at primarycareconversations.com/en-ca/en/references-resources.

This podcast is made possible through financial support from Amgen, Eisai, Lilly, Pfizer, Bausch Health, Organon, Sandoz and Bayer.

In this special live episode of Primary Care Conversations, Dr. Jeff Habert, Dr. Christine Palmay, and Lauren Scott discuss contraception and women’s health. From the first prescription for a teen to contraceptive choices for women in perimenopause, this conversation covers evolving guidelines and common myths, and offers practical strategies for primary care providers.

Join primary care physicians Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert as they share practical patient management strategies and clinical pearls to enhance your family medicine practice.

For more information, visit primarycareconversations.com and explore resources related to each episode at primarycareconversations.com/en-ca/en/references-resources.

This podcast is made possible through financial support from Amgen, Eisai, Lilly, Pfizer, Bausch Health, Organon, Sandoz and Bayer.

Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert break down the CANMAT 2024 guidelines for managing Major Depressive Disorder. From diagnosis to treatment strategies, dose optimization, adjunctive therapies, and long-term care, they provide practical insights for family physicians, nurse practitioners, and primary care teams.

Tune in to learn how to apply national guidelines in everyday practice, implement measurement-based care, and support patients on their journey to remission!

Join primary care physicians Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert as they share practical patient management strategies and clinical pearls to enhance your family medicine practice.

For more information, visit primarycareconversations.com and explore resources related to each episode at primarycareconversations.com/en-ca/en/references-resources.

This podcast is made possible through financial support from Amgen, Eisai, Lilly, Pfizer, Bausch Health, Organon, Sandoz and Bayer.

From trees, grass and ragweed to the impact of pandemic pets, your hosts unpack the latest Canadian guidelines for treating allergies. They highlight the dangers of outdated over-the-counter treatments like Benadryl, explore new evidence-backed options, and provide practical tips to improve patient care.

Join primary care physicians Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert as they share practical patient management strategies and clinical pearls to enhance your family medicine practice.

For more information, visit primarycareconversations.com and explore resources related to each episode at primarycareconversations.com/en-ca/en/references-resources.

This podcast is made possible through financial support from Amgen, Eisai, Lilly, Pfizer, and Bausch Health.

In this sleep-focused episode, Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert discuss the latest advancements in insomnia treatment, breaking down the real impact of this chronic health issue on daily function, mental health, and long-term well-being. The duo explore the rise of Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonists (DORAs), the value of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), and why viewing insomnia as a daytime disorder can improve outcomes.

Join primary care physicians Dr. Christine Palmay and Dr. Jeff Habert as they share practical patient management strategies and clinical pearls to enhance your family medicine practice.

For more information, visit primarycareconversations.com and explore resources related to each episode at primarycareconversations.com/en-ca/en/references-resources.

This podcast is made possible through financial support from Amgen, Eisai, Lilly, Pfizer, and Bausch Health.