Every once in a while I come across a physician who is so inspirational and does the most meaningful work in medicine.  So, I always jump at the chance to interview them.   Dr. Elda Fisher is one of those doctors.   Now, this episode is not going to resonate with everyone in my usual audience.  But this is FAMILY HEALTH.   For those people looking to pursue gender affirmation surgery, it can be hard to find information and resources.   So if you know someone who might benefit from this...

Like so many others, I used to cringe when my parents or others would talk about sex. And it wasn't really until I was in my professional life helping others find solutions to difficulties or dissatisfaction in their own sex lives that I developed the language and confidence to discuss it openly.  Today's guest Ob/Gyn Dr. Sadaf Lodhi and I share common goals of empowering our patients to explore their bodies, become confident expressing their needs and feel comfortable having conversations...

I was so pleasantly surprised by the conversation I had with Dr. Keira Barr.  I thought this would be a discussion about which products to use and how to wash and things to avoid and when to seek a dermatologist.  Ya know, the standard stuff.   But this is not your mama's skincare routine y'all.   Dr. Barr's philosophy and approach to helping women reveal their best image and live fully in their own skin is unlike anything you have heard before.  Listen in to this raw, honest, feel-good...

If you have chronic pain or know someone who has, chances are you have heard of Fibromyalgia.  But not many people know exactly what it is or where it comes from.  In fact, many patients and doctors alike have doubted whether or not Fibromyalgia is even a real disease!   Well, indeed it is.  In this episode, Board Certified Rheumatologist Dr. Martina Ziegenbein and I are demystifying the diagnosis by answering to the following questions: *************** What is fibromyalgia?How do we...

FOOD IS MEDICINE!   It's about as ancient a remedy as we have.  But since pharmacology became a mainstream treatment, it seems that using our diet to help ourselves has fallen by the wayside.  Luckily we have friends like Dr. Basma Faris, an Ob/Gyn who started her career as a Registered Dietician and now uses Culinary Medicine to teach patients how to regain control of their health with food as part of their treatment plan.   Lifestyle and Culinary Medicine are two fields that are making a...

Have you ever felt stuck?  Like you should feel grateful for what you have in your life but there's something tugging at you saying "there's more?"    Have you felt like you want to improve, change, grow, feel better / happier / more?   Well, this episode is for you.... Dr. Rebecca Lauderdale is an expert in Flourishing, not just surviving, but Thriving.  And she has so much juicy goodness to share with us.    In this episode we talked about the many ways we can evaluate and change our lives...

Time Management is not usually considered a health topic.   But like so many episodes on this podcast, we are talking about making lifestyle changes in order to optimize our health, wellness and happiness.  Time freedom is an invaluable asset but can be hard to find.   Fortunately, Dr. Kirthi Lilley is an expert and has joined me to talk about all things Time Management! *************** Dr. Kirthi Lilley is a Board Certified Gastroenterologist working in the VA Health System and is the...

You know I love advocating for accessibility and equity in mental healthcare, so I was especially excited to speak with Dr. Alison Baum.  She is a Family Physician living with Bipolar Disorder and has been brave enough to share her story for the first time here on this podcast.  She is living proof that you can live a healthy, fulfilling life while managing mental illness.  I am honored to share her story and amplify her voice.   In this episode we covered so much,  including the...

We don't often think of money as a health topic, but being savvy with our finances can not only impact our quality of life, but can be really important in case of a medical emergency.  In this episode Dr. Elisa Chiang and I had such a great conversation about Growing a Wealthy Mindset in which we answered the following questions: *************** - As an ophthalmologist, how did Dr. Chiang become an expert in money management? - What are the advantages of investing early in life even if you...

I am such a fangirl in this episode.  Seriously, Dr. Hala Sabry is one of the most prominent names in medicine, and for good reason!  Not only has she created a network of over 116K women physicians but she has used her leadership position to educate, empower and inspire patients and physicians worldwide.  Today she is telling her very personal story from a different perspective:  as a patient who underwent bilateral prophylactic mastectomy.   We had such a great conversation in which we...

This is a good one that I know lots of people need to hear, myself included.   So many of us lack the skills or the confidence to establish boundaries which can make or keep us unhealthy, unhappy and unfulfilled.  Luckily, the friends of our show are experts who are excited to help us learn.  In this episode, Psychiatrist Dr. Maryna Mammoliti and I discuss Setting Healthy Boundaries.   She offers insightful examples to help us understand why setting boundaries is so important to maintaining...

We've spoken extensively about the harmful effects of chronic stress, but in this episode Board Certified  Radiologist Dr. Robyn Tiger and I discuss how learning complete self-care can reverse symptoms, improve functional capacity, quality of life and longevity.   This is a game-changing episode called The Self-Care Formula Everyone Needs to Know.  In it we offer answers to the following questions: *************** - How did Dr. Tiger safe her own life? - Did modern medicine fail her? - What...

Most people have heard of the most common tick-borne illnesses like Lyme & Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  Many have heard of Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis & Tularemia.  But most doctors aren't even familiar with one of the most recently discovered tick-related illnesses called Alpha Gal Syndrome.   I know I hadn't learned of it until I moved to the South.   I feel fortunate to have done this interview with Board Certified Internist/Pediatrician Dr. Laura Diefendorf.   In this podcast...

You know that little voice in your head saying you can do better or more?  That you're not good enough, successful enough?  That you aren't worthy of what you have or that you should feel guilty for wanting more?  Women have an inherent inner critic thats been cultivated by society for decades.  That voice contributes to the heaviness we feel emotionally and physically… learning to listen and heal this inner critic is really the most joyous way to lose weight (on the scale and for our...

You've made it! You have the career, the partner, the family you envisioned. But you're heavy, exhausted & you keep hearing that voice in your head & your heart. It's quiet at first, but  grows as time passes.  It's saying:  "What if there's more? What if I want to change, do something different?  These are the questions Dr. Radhika Sharma asked herself.  She was stuck in the proverbial quick sand. Walking through the door of her garage after a long day of work, with one arm full of...

I know, I know… no one wants to talk about death and dying.  But in this episode, Board Certified Hospitalist Dr. Ciri Press and I tackle this tough topic - End of Life Planning & Advance Directives. We are breaking down your options and why it’s so important to start having conversations about your end-of-life care.  Whether you’re young and healthy, living with chronic medical problems, are in the later season of life, OR if you are involved in the care of a loved one, this episode is a...

Have you ever tried to become a runner?  How many times have you started and stopped and started again only to find that it doesn't stick?  The answer for me is countless.  *************** In this episode, Pediatrician and Certified Run Coach Dr. Michelle Quirk and I tackle the question, So, You Want to Become a Runner?   For those out there who would like to try running, maybe for the 2nd or 50th time, and make it stick, we have got you covered with answers to all your questions...

In this episode, Dr. Judith Borger and I discuss Botox & Fillers including answers to the following questions: - What procedures does Dr. Borger do in her practice? - How did Dr. Borger transition from a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician to an Aesthetic Physician? - How do your interests in your appearance change as you get older? - How does someone begin to learn about the aesthetic procedures that are available and where to go to get them done? - What are some red flags for...

In this episode, Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown and I discuss How to Get the High Quality Sleep You Dream Of, including answers to the following questions: - As a Pediatric Pulmonologist, how did Dr. Brown become interested in Sleep Medicine as a means of helping families improve their health? - How does sleep deprivation affect other parts of our life - such as work, relationships, parenting? - What is "sleep hygiene?" - What does a proper sleep environment look like? - What is social jet lag? -...

In this episode, Dr. Sheila Carroll and I discuss Approaching Weight Issues in Children including answers to the following questions: - How did Dr. Carroll get into coaching children and their families improve their weight? - How does Dr. Carroll direct the conversation around a child's weight? - Can the parent's concern about weight affect the child negatively? - How did Dr. Carroll's experience at a young age affect her weight mindset? - What is the general approach to discussing weight in...

In this very special episode, my own doctor Dr.  Alexander Kofinas & I discuss Unexplained Infertility & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss including answers to the following questions: - How did Dr. Kofinas identify my condition & save the lives of my two babies? - Why should specialists practice with the mindset of a general practitioner? - What is Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM)? - How does someone desiring pregnancy know which type of doctor to see? - Why does Dr. Kofinas consider an...

The incidence of autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, psoriasis, thyroid disease and even diabetes has skyrocketed.  They can present with a wide constellation of symptoms, both vague and specific, but can be difficult to diagnose.  While we have made tremendous strides in the treatment of autoimmune disease, there are many important considerations that can affect the course of illness and quality of life.   In this episode, Dr. Kara Wada and I discuss Sjogren's,...

WELCOME TO SEASON 3!  I'm so happy you're here.  In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Freeman and I discuss The Global Effects of Stress including answers to the following questions: - How has the stress of the pandemic affected physicians? - How does stress contribute to acute and chronic illnesses? - What are the social determinants of health and how do they affect our health? - How do external stressors cause internal stress? - What are examples of Adverse Childhood Experiences? - How do...

Dr. Fernando is back to give us an update as we enter into 2022. We discussed all things... - Omicron - Vaccine safety for kids - Boosters - Travelling safely - Navigating the holidays - Predictions for 2022 For more information from Dr. Fernando check out: www.chiraj.com