Can a TikTok video from a doctor change how we understand health?

Have you ever scrolled through social media and found a doctor busting medical myths or sharing health advice? Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are transforming how we access health information and interact with medical professionals.

Dr. Zachary Rubin joins Dr. Gupta and Kortney to explore the evolving role of doctors on social media. From creating trustworthy content to balancing the risks and rewards of being a medical professional online, Dr. Rubin shares his journey and tips for using social platforms to educate and empower.

Whether you're a patient seeking reliable health information or a healthcare professional curious about sharing expertise, this episode dives deep into the intersection of social media and medicine.

Follow Dr. Rubin on Social Media:

Have you ever wondered what happens inside your body during an allergic reaction?

From itchy eyes to anaphylaxis, the science behind allergies explains why some reactions are mild while others can be life-threatening. In this episode, we break it all down.

Dr. Payel Gupta and Kortney unpack the basics of food allergies, starting with what IgE antibodies are and how they play a role in allergic reactions. They explain what happens when your immune system encounters an allergen, breaking it down with our favorite pinata analogy. This deep dive into the immune system reveals why reactions can range from mild to life-threatening and explores the differences between food allergies, intolerances, and oral allergy syndrome.

If you're newly diagnosed or curious about the science behind allergies, this episode offers valuable insights to help you understand your body and stay safe.

More resources about allergies: 

This podcast is made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network. Thanks to Genetech for sponsoring today’s episode. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.

Exploring Neffy Nasal Spray: A Needle-Free Epinephrine Option

Managing anaphylaxis just became easier with Neffy, the FDA-approved nasal spray for epinephrine. This innovative, needle-free option is transforming emergency allergy care.

Dr. Autumn Burnette joins Dr. Payel Gupta and Kortney to discuss how Neffy works, who it’s best suited for, and its potential impact on anaphylaxis treatment. With her expertise in allergy and immunology, Dr. Burnette addresses common concerns about Neffy’s effectiveness, highlights its benefits, and shares practical details like cost, shelf life, and heat sensitivity.

More resources about Anaphylaxis and Neffy: 

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network. Thanks to ARS Pharma for sponsoring today’s episode. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

Curious About Neffy, the New Nasal Epinephrine Spray?

We’re diving into everything you need to know about Neffy, the new FDA-approved nasal spray for epinephrine. This groundbreaking, needle-free option provides an easy way to manage anaphylaxis in emergencies.

Dr. Sakina Bajowala joins Dr. Gupta and Kortney to explore Neffy’s unique nasal delivery system, what distinguishes it from traditional auto-injectors, and the science behind its development. With her expertise in allergy and asthma care, Dr. Bajowala walks us through Neffy’s FDA approval journey, the technology that powers the nasal spray, and how it’s changing the landscape of allergy treatment.

Helpful links:

This podcast is made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network. Thanks to ARS Pharma for sponsoring today’s episode. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.

It's that time of year again—open enrollment is here! Don't worry, we're here to help you choose the best health insurance for you and your family.

Lacey Varnon from the National Association of Medication Access and Patient Advocacy (NAMAPA) is back with Dr. Gupta and Kortney to discuss everything you need to consider when selecting a health insurance plan. This episode is all about understanding health insurance during open enrollment, from picking the right type of plan to ensuring your coverage fits your specific needs.

We cover essential aspects of open enrollment health insurance, including networks, premiums, copayments, and long-term medication coverage, so you can feel confident you're choosing a plan that works for you.

• Key Factors to Consider: Lacey explains the importance of listing your doctors, diagnoses, and medications to ensure they're covered.

More resources about health insurance: 

• Health Insurance Coverage in the United States

This episode is made in partnership with the Allergy & Asthma Network and in collaboration the National Association of Medication Access and Patient Advocacy (NAMAPA). We thank Amgen for sponsoring this episode. 

Discover Meka's journey with chronic hives in skin of color—a powerful story of resilience, self-advocacy, and building the right support system to get the care she deserves.

Emmeka, or "Meka," joins Dr. Gupta and Kortney to share her personal experience of living with chronic urticaria as a person with skin of color. Meka describes her journey from a lack of resources addressing hives on black skin to finding effective support and resources. She opens up about the long path to her diagnosis, the depth of her online research into chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and the importance of finding knowledgeable, empathetic healthcare providers.

Meka’s optimism highlights how a proactive approach, a trusted care team, and a strong support network can make a difference in managing CSU.

• Identifying Hives on Darker Skin: Meka shares the challenge of finding accurate images of hives on darker skin tones, which can complicate the first steps of recognizing your condition and create feelings of isolation.

Chronic hives (urticaria) don’t look the same on everyone, and for people with skin of color, this can lead to confusion, misdiagnosis, and frustrating delays in treatment.

Dr. Ama Alexis joins Dr. Gupta and Kortney to discuss the unique challenges of diagnosing and managing urticaria in skin of color. Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) can be especially tricky to identify in patients with darker skin tones, where traditional medical resources and visual aids often fall short.

Dr. Alexis explains how CSU appears differently in skin of color, discussing the difficulty of capturing hives on black and brown skin and offering advice for photographing hives to share with your doctor.

Dr. Gupta and Dr. Alexis also delve into the lack of diversity in clinical research and medical literature, exploring how these gaps contribute to mistrust and delays in treatment for patients of color. We end with a discussion on whether patients have better outcomes with providers who reflect the patient’s background.

• Identifying CSU in Darker Skin Tones: Dr. Alexis shares insights on how hives appear on darker skin and gives tips for photographing hives accurately.

More resources about chronic hives in skin of color: 

• Chronic Urticaria Management, Resources & Glossary of Terms

This episode is produced in partnership with Allergy & Asthma Network, with special thanks to Genentech for sponsoring this episode.

Are you frustrated by the health insurance approval process for medication? 

Many patients may not know what their doctors are doing behind the scenes when dealing with health insurance, and many doctors may feel overwhelmed by this process. There is a silver lining! Tools exist to help patients and providers better navigate the complexities of health insurance.

Elizabeth Johnson joins Dr. G and Kortney to share her expertise on overcoming the hurdles of securing medication approvals. She explains the biggest challenges healthcare providers face when working with insurance companies. She offers practical tips to navigate the approval process more efficiently.

Together with Dr. G, they discuss the lack of health insurance education for providers and the burden this places on medical staff. They also explore available resources and tools for healthcare professionals and stress the importance of incorporating insurance education early in medical training.

• Provider Challenges: Elizabeth explains the common hurdles doctors face in securing medication approvals, from paperwork to insurance denials.

More resources: 

• Medication Access Coordinator Training From NAMAPA

Has your medication been denied? Now what?

Before patients can access medications—whether it’s inhalers or biologic therapies—they often have to jump through many hoops to get insurance approval. Navigating the world of health insurance approvals for medication can be overwhelming for both patients and providers. In this episode, we break down what to expect, what you can do, and how to advocate for yourself throughout the process.

Lacey Varnon from the National Association of Medication Access and Patient Advocacy (NAMAPA) joins Dr. G and Kortney to dive into the complex world of health insurance. Lacey shares insights into common reasons for medication denials, how to appeal them, and how patients and healthcare providers can work together for better outcomes.

• Health Insurance Basics: Understanding essential terms like payer and formulary.

More resources about health insurance denials and appeals: 

• Health Insurance Coverage in the United States

This episode is made in collaboration with the National Association of Medication Access and Patient Advocacy (NAMAPA). We thank Amgen for sponsoring this episode.

Are you curious about how biologic medications are transforming the treatment of asthma, eczema, allergies, and more?

Dr. Perdita Permaul joins Dr. Gupta and Kortney to discuss the available biologic medications for allergic conditions. We walk through the eight biologics currently available for allergic diseases, explaining how these medications target different parts of the immune system to treat allergic conditions more effectively than traditional medications.

Dr. Permaul explains how biologics have evolved since 2003 and how they are changing the way allergic conditions are treated. She also explains why some of the biologics treat multiple diseases, whereas some are only approved for one. 

• How biologics work for allergic conditions: We unpack how biologic medications target specific parts of the immune system, reducing inflammation and improving the quality of life for patients with allergic diseases.

Biologics Cheat Sheet

Below is a list of the 8 biologics discussed in this episode. We have briefly outlined their mechanism of action along with the approved conditions and ages the drug is available for presecription. 

Omalizumab (Xolair)

Xolair works by binding to IgE to prevent allergic reactions. It has since been approved for chronic hives, nasal polyps, and food allergies.

• Allergic asthma: 6+

Mepolizumab (Nucala)

Targets and blocks interleukin-5 (IL-5) play a key role in the activation and priming of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that causes inflammation in asthma.

• Eosinophilic Asthma: 6+

Reslizumab (Cinqair)

Targets and blocks interleukin-5 (IL-5).

• Eosinophilic asthma: 18+

Benralizumab (Fasenra)

Binds to the IL-5 receptor, preventing eosinophils from growing and causing inflammation.

• Eosinophilic asthma: 6+

Dupilumab (Dupixent)

Targets and blocks IL-4 and IL-13 to reduce inflammation

• Asthma: 6+

Tezepelumab (Tezspire)

Blocks thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP).

• Asthma: 12+

Tralokinumab (Adbry, Adtralza)

Targets and neutralizes interleukin-13 (IL-13).

• Atopic dermatitis: 12+

Lebrikizumab (Ebglyss)

Targets and neutralizes interleukin-13 (IL-13).

• Atopic dermatitis: 12+ (> 40 lbs)

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This podcast is made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network. Thanks to Sanofi-Regeneron for sponsoring today’s episode. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.