The Pursuit of Health Podcast

This episode is a collaboration with Doctors for America.

"This issue has been affecting my sleep. I'm not sleeping and I'm a pretty good sleeper, so this must be bothering me."

In this powerful special episode of the Pursuit of Health podcast, Dr. Eric Fethke collaborates with Doctors for America to sound the alarm about the proposed $880 billion in Medicaid cuts over ten years - a cut larger than the program's entire annual budget.

Using the fictional Smith family as a case study, Dr. Fethke illustrates how Medicaid is essential for everyday Americans: from a farm manager with a green card, to a mother pursuing nursing education, a son in addiction recovery, a pregnant wife with diabetes, and a grandmother with early Alzheimer's.

Dr. Fethke explains that Medicaid serves as a crucial lifeline, supporting rural hospitals, covering 1 in 4 children, and providing essential care for the elderly, disabled, and those with chronic conditions. The episode features insights from Dr. Don Berwick, former head of CMS, who warns against "blaming the poor" for healthcare system issues.

"Medicaid is the largest single health insurance provider in the country. It's bigger than Medicare, and most people don't know that. Even doctors... 26% of all Americans receive health care through Medicaid."

---

As a special thank-you to our listeners, DFA is offering 35% off your first year of membership! Just use the code PURSUIT at checkout to take advantage of this exclusive offer.

To learn more about DFA and how you can get involved, visit www.doctorsforamerica.org. You’ll also find all the details and links in our show notes.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O1ApRxGzx2cxvxWFI_kMXP6GOvUfcJngmSZHS4IkqL0/edit?tab=t.0

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @ericfethkemd and checkout my website at www.EricFethkeMD.com.

My brand new book, The Privilege of Caring, is out now on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6H6QN4

Ep68: Understanding the Interplay of Healthcare & Politics in America- w/ Dr. Abdul El-Sayed

“Politics are like a kaleidoscope. If you don't like where you are, just keep turning it.”

This week we are delighted to welcome physician, epidemiologist, author, and Director of Wayne County's Department of Health, Abdul El-Sayed.

He shares his opinion that our healthcare system is broken because our politics is broken. 

The solution? Collective action, universal healthcare and persistent dialogue.

——

We spoke about the corrosive influence of monetizing healthcare for profit, the concept of an epidemic of insecurity as a root cause of our inability to empathize with each other, the need to use politics as a constructive and healing force, and how we can tackle many of the root causes of our healthcare problems through ground level collaboration. 

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @ericfethkemd and checkout my website at www.EricFethkeMD.com.

My brand new book, The Privilege of Caring, is out now on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6H6QN4

A conversation with Dr. Jordi Piera Jiménez

Our money comes with us wherever we go, so why doesn’t our health data?

Sharing his innovative vision for transforming the way we use electronic health records and investing in prevention and patient empowerment, is Dr. Jordi Piera Jiménez.

As Director of the Digital Health Strategy at the Catalan Health Service in Spain, Dr. Jiménez shares a blueprint for modern healthcare that unites patient data  in an open platform - ultimately unlocking its full potential.

——

We spoke about digital medicine and health informatics, open electronic health records, adjusted morbidity groups to guide medical and public health decision making, and the concepts of federalization or centralization of electronic health records and information.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @ericfethkemd and checkout my website at www.EricFethkeMD.com.

My brand new book, The Privilege of Caring, is out now on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6H6QN4

A panel with Dr. Don Berwick, Tanya Sanderson and Ron Howrigon

Today, Dr. Fethke calls on three previous guests to share their thoughts, insights, and solutions in the light of the UHC incident, a tragic murder that highlighted the scale of public anger at the state of our healthcare system.

With our panel drawing from their vast collective experience at clinical, administrative and federal level, this episode serves as a vital resource for understanding how we got here, why the situation is so dire, and what we need to do to fix it.

From insurance companies to pharmaceuticals, medical professionals to hospitals, the government and most importantly the public: it’s time to move forward constructively, reforming American healthcare for the better.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @ericfethkemd and checkout my website at www.EricFethkeMD.com.

My brand new book, The Privilege of Caring, is out now on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6H6QN4

A conversation with Dr. Robert Pearl

Put a system in place that rewards value. Sounds simple, right? 

Sharing a vision for seismic healthcare reform is renowned healthcare leader, award-winning author, and plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Pearl.

Dr. Pearl originally believed healthcare was a non-political space. How could medicine be political? 

Yet our healthcare system is on its knees, drug companies are protected by policy, patients are struggling to afford care, and our rates of chronic disease are staggeringly high - adding huge cost to the system.

But wait - is there a solution? Could generative AI pave the way for a new era of medicine?

——

We spoke about   the broken state of the U.S. healthcare system, the history and future of healthcare technology, the role of generative AI in revolutionizing inpatient care, and the importance of cultural and systemic shifts in healthcare.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @ericfethkemd and checkout my website at www.EricFethkeMD.com.

My brand new book, The Privilege of Caring, is out now on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6H6QN4

A conversation with Anjana Sreedhar

We need to understand the past, to shape the future.

Join us for an eye-opening discussion with the author of acclaimed health disparities book Health Care of a Thousand Slights, Anjana Sreedhar.

The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the extent of health inequalities here in America, but Anjana has chosen to seek a solution. Via a comprehensive study of policy, structural racism, and the American identity, she presents both a sobering reflection on the state of our nation and a blueprint for action, advocacy, and empowerment.

——

We spoke about   the impact of historical policies on today's healthcare access, the social determinants of health, the legacy of mistrust between patient and clinician, cultural and psychosocial trauma, and women's health as a new frontier.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @ericfethkemd and checkout my website at www.EricFethkeMD.com.

My brand new book, The Privilege of Caring, is out now on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6H6QN4

A conversation with Dr. Lauren Ramsey

It’s time to tackle healthcare problems through innovation and invention.

Bringing energy and initiative to the Pursuit of Health table this week is none other than  leading breast cancer surgeon and healthcare pioneer, Dr. Lauren Ramsey.

Dr. Ramsey joins to share the lowdown on her invention of BAT, a wearable accessory  that protect healthcare professionals (particularly women) from radiation exposure. With breast cancer levels rising year-on-year in America, Dr. Ramsey drew on her personal experience of losing a colleague into deciding to seek change.

——

We spoke about  the topic of radiation exposure, health risks in the healthcare profession, her journey of creating BAT, the impact of her work on healthcare safety, the importance of innovation as an approach for creating preventative modalities, and the power of partnerships between clinicians, industry, medical societies, and most importantly, patients themselves.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @ericfethkemd and checkout my website at www.EricFethkeMD.com.

My brand new book, The Privilege of Caring, is out now on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6H6QN4

American medicine has a LOT to be proud of, but too many doctors are getting burnt out and thinking of quitting healthcare.

Dr. Gregory Charlop, AKA Dr. Greg, is a celebrated physician and author renowned for his innovative approach to physician wellness.

Having experienced burnout firsthand whilst completing years of high intensity work as a pediatric  anesthesiologist, Dr. Greg has shifted his focus towards helping other professionals manage stress and improve their life quality through better health practices and work-life balance. 

 ——

We spoke about  how burnout ultimately impacts everyone, several provocative ideas and solutions to improve our individual and collective wellness, and the importance of each of us in taking possession and control of our own wellbeing as a priority.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @ericfethkemd and checkout my website at www.EricFethkeMD.com.

My brand new book, The Privilege of Caring, is out now on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6H6QN4

How can we practice preventative healthcare?

Joining from Canada this week is Lidia Molinara, a seasoned clinical pharmacist, CEO, patient safety officer, and fervent advocate for patient safety and effective communication within the healthcare system. 

Recalling her earliest experiences visiting pharmacies and the influence that has held on her clinical approach, Lidia encourages a deepening of the patient-physician dynamic - building good health and quality healthcare on advocacy, communication, and education.

——

We spoke about the importance of safety, some of the issues that are intrinsic to our use of medications, her personal experiences encountering medical issues, and some strong and easily applicable solutions traced out through her ACE framework.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @ericfethkemd and checkout my website at www.EricFethkeMD.com.

My brand new book, The Privilege of Caring, is out now on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6H6QN4

“Together as a community, we share just one heart.”

This week’s episode is a treat - a deep dive into the philosophy of Dr. Jonathan Fisher, cardiologist, clinician advocate, and author of the fantastic book Just One Heart: A Cardiologist's Guide to Healing, Health, and Happiness.

Jonathan shares how he drew on his own experiences, of medical school burnout and inspirational parents, to encourage our healthcare system to rethink the way it looks at heart health. His vision is holistic, and in this discussion he talks passionately with our host, and fellow cardiologist, Dr. Eric Fethke.

——

We spoke about the long history behind the mind-body relationship as part of medicine and humanity itself, how emotional and spiritual health impacts heart health, the origins and impact of burnout in all aspects of life, the health benefits of applying emotional health and strengthening emotional IQ, and finally, how policymakers, healthcare institutions, and medical educators can and should incorporate the mind-body relationship into our healthcare system. 

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @ericfethkemd and checkout my website at www.EricFethkeMD.com.

My brand new book, The Privilege of Caring, is out now on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6H6QN4