In this introductory episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti shares the powerful story behind the creation of the podcast — and the mission driving it. With over 30 years of experience spanning nursing, pharmacy, medicine, and education, Dr. Busti offers a rare 360-degree perspective on healthcare.

He discusses the common gap in medical training: being taught what to do and how to do it, but not always why. Through his own journey — from the ICU and emergency department to academic medicine and beyond — Dr. Busti explains how understanding the “why” transforms clinical decision-making, patient outcomes, and professional confidence.

Listeners will gain insight into Dr. Busti’s background, his passion for connecting the dots in medicine, and his vision for helping healthcare professionals move beyond rote practice to true mastery. This Is Why invites you to go deeper — to understand not just what you do, but why it matters, and how that understanding can transform the way you care for patients.

H₂ receptor antagonists like famotidine and cimetidine have been around for decades, but they still play an important role in managing GERD, dyspepsia, ulcers, and even acute GI bleeding. In this episode, Dr. Busti reviews the history, pharmacology, and clinical relevance of this class, including the withdrawal of ranitidine.

You’ll learn how H₂ blockers fit into the larger category of antacid therapy, why they’re effective for mild cases but limited in long-term control, and how tolerance can reduce effectiveness. Cimetidine’s drug interaction profile is explored in detail, including CYP450 effects and alcohol metabolism. Practical dosing considerations are highlighted, such as twice-daily administration, renal adjustments, and limits on self-directed OTC use.

Whether you’re a student preparing for boards, a resident managing patients at the bedside, or a clinician counseling someone who self-treats, this review gives you the “why” behind the pharmacology to guide better decisions.

Find this episode's downloads at https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/pharmacology-review-h2-receptor-antagonists-h2ra

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) is a cornerstone of clinical training, but why is it so difficult to practice and teach consistently? In this deep dive, Dr. Busti unpacks the foundation of EBM, the five A’s, and why application often falls short in practice. Drawing from his training at Oxford and years of teaching across medicine, pharmacy, and nursing, he highlights misconceptions, barriers, and practical strategies to bridge the gap between evidence, education, and patient care.

This episode also uses a real-world case example—the ISIS-2 trial of aspirin in acute myocardial infarction—to illustrate how evidence should be understood and applied.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the complexity of critical appraisal, statistical interpretation, or integrating patient-specific factors, this discussion will help you see why the “why” matters just as much as the “how.”

Access the video and bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

In this kickoff episode on Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM), Dr. Busti explains what EBM is—and what it isn’t. You’ll learn why the classic Venn diagram (evidence, expertise, and patient factors) matters, and how the "Five A’s"—Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, Assess—create a practical framework for clinical decision-making. We also unpack related terms like evidence-based practice, practitioner, and expert, showing how they fit together and why balance between literature, training, and patient preferences is essential. Perfect for students and early-career clinicians ready to ground their practice in the why behind the how.

Access the video plus bonus materials and downloads at https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/evidence-based-medicine-ebm-what-is-it-5as

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

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