Too Curious MDs

What happens when psychiatry meets integrative care? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Laila Contractor, a double board-certified integrative child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, joins us to share her insights on the intersection of mental health, medicine, and holistic care. She discusses her unique approach to treating mental health challenges by blending conventional psychiatry with integrative strategies that address the whole person.

Dr. Laila Contractor is a double board-certified integrative psychiatrist specializing in child, adolescent, and adult mental health. She blends conventional psychiatry with holistic and psychedelic-assisted modalities to offer personalized care rooted in deep listening and whole-person healing. Trained at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Dr. Contractor spent over a decade at Kaiser Permanente, where she helped launch the Teen Intensive Outpatient Program and championed comprehensive trauma services for youth. Inspired by her grandfather’s medical practice in India—and her great uncle, who served as Mahatma Gandhi’s personal physician—she carries forward a legacy of patient-centered care. Her own healing journey through chronic illness led her to pursue fellowships in Integrative Psychiatry, Psychedelic Psychotherapy, and Dr. Gabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry. She has also delivered a two-part lecture series at Harvard’s Cambridge Health Alliance. Dr. Contractor continues to explore innovative treatments that restore balance to mind and body, guided by the belief that true healing begins with connection.

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Dr.Laila Contractor

Website: https://www.lailacontractormd.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laila-contractor-md/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistic.psych.doctor/

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Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drblogger123/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shamynds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shamynds.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://palamedicine.com/⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Too Curious MDs

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs

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Produced by DrTalks:  https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

Neuroplasticity is real—and it’s helping patients regain what they thought was lost. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Nupur Hajela shares her inspiring journey as a neuroscientist and physical therapist working at the forefront of neurorehabilitation. She explores the power of movement, neuroplasticity, and innovative technologies like transcranial magnetic stimulation and virtual reality to help stroke patients and those with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s.

Dr. Nupur Hajela is a licensed physical therapist, neuroscientist, and professor at California State University, Fresno, where she teaches neurological evaluation and management for future doctors of physical therapy. She also serves as Director of Rehabilitation Technologies and Outcome Research at the Central California Sports Science Institute. With expertise in neuroplasticity, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and immersive virtual reality, her work bridges clinical practice and cutting-edge research to help patients with stroke, neurological diseases, and traumatic brain injury regain function and hope.

A gold medalist in physiotherapy from India with a doctorate in rehabilitation neuroscience from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Hajela completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, where she advanced brain stimulation research. Today, she is pioneering neuro-gaming applications for veterans and athletes with concussions and leading initiatives like Fresno’s Innovation Village to expand digital healthcare access. Her mission is to combine technology with human connection to transform neurorehabilitation for underserved communities.

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Dr. Nupur Hajela

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nupur-hajela-pt-dpt-phd-3a241327/

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Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drblogger123/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shamynds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shamynds.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://palamedicine.com/⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Too Curious MDs

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs

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Produced by DrTalks:  https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

What happens when the system meant to protect the most vulnerable starts failing them? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Farah Karipineni joins us on the podcast again to unpack the devastating impact of Medicaid cuts and reveals what we need to address today’s healthcare crisis. This is more than a healthcare discussion—it’s a rallying cry for collective action, empathy, and systemic change.

Dr. Farah Karipineni is an endocrine surgeon, writer, and associate professor at UCSF Fresno whose work lives at the intersection of medicine, narrative, and justice. A graduate in comparative literature turned physician, she brings the sensibilities of a storyteller to the operating room and the classroom, centering empathy, presence, and the human experience in every encounter. As a mother of three and a woman of color in surgery, Dr. Karipineni speaks with bold clarity about the emotional toll of medicine, the beauty of bearing witness, and the radical act of choosing joy in a system that often dehumanizes both patient and provider. Through her writing and advocacy, she champions a more compassionate, inclusive, and reflective model of healing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karipinenimd/

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Dr. Farah Karipineni

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/karipinenimd/⁠

⁠https://profiles.ucsf.edu/farah.karipineni⁠

⁠https://myndwalla.com/2018/09/27/theres-no-heartbeat-by-farah-karipineni/⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/karipinenimd/⁠

Organizations that speak to social justice

⁠https://liveagainfresno.org/⁠ 

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Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drblogger123/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shamynds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shamynds.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://palamedicine.com/⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Too Curious MDs

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs

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Produced by DrTalks:  https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

What if ancient wisdom held the missing piece to your chronic illness recovery? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Greg Lee, founder of the Lyme Research and Healing Center, shares how he blends modern medicine and ancient healing modalities to help patients build true resilience against chronic infections. Discover how personalized bio-scanning, ancient wisdom, and spiritual guidance unlock deep healing for thousands struggling with chronic illness.

Greg Lee is the founder of the Lyme Research and Healing Center, where he’s become a recognized expert in the use of herbs and alternative medicine for the treatment of persistent infections.

Greg began his career as a systems engineer on major projects, including the Hubble Telescope and the Space Station. The intense stress of managing complex space missions took a toll on his health, leading him to develop chronic irritable bowel syndrome. After finding no relief through conventional medicine, he turned to acupuncture and herbs and resolved his illness for good.

Greg left his engineering career behind, returned to school to earn his Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Certification, and opened a practice focused on chronic pain and illness in Frederick, Maryland. Today, he combines advanced biometric scanning, frequency-specific microcurrent therapy, and the deep spiritual wisdom of healing to help thousands build true resilience and reclaim their lives.

Website: https://www.lymeresearchcenter.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goodbyelyme/

Get your free download here: https://www.lymeresearchcenter.com/CURIOUS

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Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drblogger123/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shamynds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shamynds.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://palamedicine.com/⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Too Curious MDs

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs

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Produced by DrTalks:  https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

What if your scars could tell the story your doctor never hears? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Ted Meyer joins us to share his journey from growing up with a rare illness to creating art that bridges the gap between patients and doctors. Tune in now to discover how his work humanizes healthcare, celebrates survival, and invites medical students to see patients as more than just diagnoses.

Ted Meyer is an artist, designer, and patient advocate whose ‘Scarred for Life’ series transforms the trauma of illness into powerful visual storytelling. Living with a rare genetic disease shaped his mission to bridge the gap between patients and doctors by showcasing patient-created art in medical schools and hospitals around the world.

Based in Los Angeles, Ted is the owner and principal designer at Art Your World, a full-service design studio. He currently serves as Artist in Residence at UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine and is a Visiting Scholar at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington, D.C. His paintings and photographs have been exhibited internationally at venues including the Chicago Art Institute, the United Nations in New York City, and galleries in Osaka and Istanbul.

Through his talks, exhibitions, and patient advocacy, Ted invites the medical community to bear witness to stories of survival and healing, making healthcare more compassionate, curious, and deeply human.

Website: http://www.tedmeyer.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artyourworld/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tedmeyerart/?hl=en

TEDMED: https://www.tedmed.com/talks/show?id=620414&utm_source=TED+MED+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=a8bfdac821-9.28_Ted+Meyer+talk+release&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c6449cace5-a8bfdac821-25696389

TEDxAnchorage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQKADJuXU_s

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Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drblogger123/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shamynds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shamynds.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://palamedicine.com/⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Too Curious MDs

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs

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Produced by DrTalks:  https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

Could ketamine save a teen’s life? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Tanya Vayngortin, a pediatric emergency physician, opens up about the youth mental health crisis and her pioneering research using ketamine to help teens in emotional distress. She also shares her mission to bring innovation, compassion, and community healing into an overburdened healthcare system.

Dr. Tanya Vayngortin is a pediatric emergency medicine physician and Wellness Director at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. After witnessing a dramatic rise in adolescent depression and emotional distress during the pandemic, she spearheaded pioneering research on using ketamine as a rapid-acting treatment, determined to bring hope to patients caught in the mental health system’s gaps. As a frontline physician and advocate for trauma-informed care, Dr. Vayngortin also champions the mental health of healthcare workers, fostering a culture of community, peer support, and narrative healing in some of medicine’s most challenging spaces. Through her work, she invites the medical community to imagine a more compassionate, creative, and connected approach to healing.

Dr. Tanya Vayngortin

Website: https://www.rchsd.org/doctors/tatyana-vayngortin-md/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-vayngortin-664b28143/

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Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drblogger123/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shamynds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shamynds.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://palamedicine.com/⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Too Curious MDs

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs

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Produced by DrTalks:  https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

What's really happening behind the scenes in modern medicine? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Farah Karipineni, an endocrine surgeon and writer, joins us to explore the emotional and ethical landscapes of modern medicine. Through personal storytelling, she sheds light on the sacredness of doctor-patient encounters, the challenges of being a woman of color in surgery, and the healing power of narrative.

Dr. Farah Karipineni is an endocrine surgeon, writer, and associate professor at UCSF Fresno whose work lives at the intersection of medicine, narrative, and justice. A graduate in comparative literature turned physician, she brings the sensibilities of a storyteller to the operating room and the classroom, centering empathy, presence, and the human experience in every encounter. As a mother of three and a woman of color in surgery, Dr. Karipineni speaks with bold clarity about the emotional toll of medicine, the beauty of bearing witness, and the radical act of choosing joy in a system that often dehumanizes both patient and provider. Through her writing and advocacy, she champions a more compassionate, inclusive, and reflective model of healing.

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Dr. Farah Karipineni

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karipinenimd/

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/farah.karipineni

https://myndwalla.com/2018/09/27/theres-no-heartbeat-by-farah-karipineni/

https://www.instagram.com/karipinenimd/

Organizations that speak to social justice

https://liveagainfresno.org/ 

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Additional references from the episode

“I told her that the human body was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. And that it was a privilege to cut it open and see what was inside. I said that to see the beating heart was to be in awe of life itself.”
— Abraham Verghese, Cutting for Stone

Kristin Neff is a leading psychologist and pioneer in self-compassion research. Here are her some of key writings and contributions:

Major Books

• Self‑Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself (2011)

• Fierce Self‑Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive (2021)

• The Mindful Self‑Compassion Workbook (2018, with Chris Germer)

• Teaching the Mindful Self‑Compassion Program (2019, with Germer)

• Mindful Self‑Compassion for Burnout (2024, with Germer & Benton)
• Focused on alleviating stress and preventing

Siddhartha Mukherjee, a physician and Pulitzer Prize–winning author, wrote "The Laws of Medicine: Field Notes from an Uncertain Science" (2015).

1. A strong intuition is much more powerful than a weak test.

• This law emphasizes the importance of clinical intuition and judgment, especially when diagnostic tests are ambiguous or limited.
• Mukherjee argues that experience, pattern recognition, and understanding of context often guide doctors better than overreliance on imperfect data.

2. “Normals” teach us rules; “outliers” teach us laws.

• This law highlights the idea that exceptions or anomalies can reveal deeper insights into how biology works.
• Studying outliers—like unusual disease presentations or rare genetic conditions—can lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treatment.

3. For every perfect medical experiment, there is a perfect human bias.

• This law speaks to the inherent subjectivity and bias in both clinical practice and research.
• Mukherjee stresses the need for humility, critical thinking, and awareness of cognitive biases that can distort medical decision-making.

• Medicine is not a “perfect” science—it’s an art of navigating uncertainty.
• Probability and narrative are central to how doctors think.
• The importance of ethics, storytelling, and the human dimension in treatment.
• A critique of over-mechanizing medicine—reminding us that it's as much about people as it is about biology.

• Based on Mukherjee’s experience as an oncologist, teacher, and researcher.
• Aimed at both medical professionals and general readers interested in how medicine works behind the scenes.

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Produced by DrTalks:  https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

What happens when a physician rediscovers her inner artist? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, join Dr. Simi Rahman and Dr. Alya Ahmad as we explore the layered meaning of ‘integration’ in both psychedelic medicine and narrative healing. Through deep conversation and a creative self-love exercise, we unpack how art, ritual, and symbolic language bring fragmented parts of the self back into wholeness.

Dr. Simi Rahman is a pediatrician, narrative medicine educator, and integrative thinker who bridges clinical science with soulful storytelling. With a passion for reshaping the culture of care, she draws on decades of experience to explore how creativity, reflection, and connection transform both patient care and physician well-being. Through her work with Too Curious MDs, she invites healthcare professionals to move beyond checklists and diagnoses—and into a deeper relationship with themselves, their patients, and the healing process.Dr. Alya Ahmad is a board-certified pediatrician and psychotherapist whose work sits at the intersection of medicine, trauma healing, and narrative exploration. As a fierce advocate for mental and emotional integration in clinical practice, she combines neuroscience, somatic awareness, and creative ritual to support patients and physicians in reclaiming their wholeness. Together with Dr. Rahman, she co-hosts Too Curious MDs, creating spaces where curiosity meets care and healing becomes a deeply human experience.

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Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drblogger123/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shamynds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shamynds.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://palamedicine.com/⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Too Curious MDs

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs

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Produced by DrTalks:  https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

What happens when a physician rediscovers her inner artist? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Hisla Bates shares how art, narrative medicine, and creative expression can heal not only doctors facing burnout, but medicine itself. 

Dr. Hisla Bates is a psychiatrist, artist, and founder of the Doctor’s Art School, a transformative space where physicians reconnect with their creativity to heal from burnout and rediscover meaning in medicine. Trained at Yale, Mount Sinai, and Harvard, Dr. Bates blends her background in both fashion design and psychiatry to pioneer a deeply integrative approach to physician wellness. Through narrative medicine, expressive arts, and visual storytelling, she invites clinicians to reclaim their imagination, reawaken joy, and reimagine what it means to be whole, both in and outside of the clinic.

Dr. Hisla Bates

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drhislabates/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.hislabatesmd6065

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hislabatesmd/

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Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drblogger123/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shamynds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shamynds.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://palamedicine.com/⁠⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Too Curious MDs

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs

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Produced by DrTalks:  https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

Can music heal trauma? In this evocative spoken-word piece, Dr. Alya Ahmad explores the profound interplay between interoception, trauma, music, and healing. Through the metaphor of a symphony, this episode journeys into how ketamine and sound therapy can reunite body, mind, and spirit.