PermanenteDocs Chat

In this Permanente Docs Chat, host Alex McDonald, MD (family and sports medicine, Southern California Permanente Medical Group) sits down with Sean Hashmi, MD (board-certified nephrologist and obesity medicine specialist) to discuss lifestyle medicine, weight loss, and GLP-1 receptor agonist medications. GLP-1s are everywhere in the public conversation — yet many clinicians and patients have quest...

In this PermanenteDocs Chat, host Alex McDonald, MD, speaks with Hemali Sudhalkar, MD, hospitalist, inpatient palliative care physician, and National Medical Director of Strategy for Kaiser Permanente Care at Home, about how Advanced Care at Home delivers hospital-level care in patients’ homes. Dr. Sudhalkar explains why this shift is essential as the U.S. population ages and capacity strains grow...

In this episode, pediatric intensivist Eloa Adams, MD (Director of Inpatient Pediatrics Quality & Operations, TPMG) joins host Alex McDonald, MD to explore how integrated, community-based pediatrics keeps kids close to home. We dig into the rise of pediatric “care deserts,” why TPMG maintains local inpatient capacity, how tele-critical care links community EDs to specialists, and a sepsis-prev...

In this episode of the PermanenteDocs Chat, host Alex McDonald, MD, discusses the latest innovations in care experience with Wadie Marcos, MD, access and experience lead with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Dr. Marcos shares his insights on the changing health care landscape, focusing on improving access and the care experience. They candidly discuss the unique challenges and opp...

In this episode of PermanenteDocs Chat , Alex McDonald, MD, speaks with Tatjana Kolevska, MD, about Kaiser Permanente’s Virtual Cancer Expert Review program—an innovative approach that ensures patients across the country have access to expert oncology care, no matter where they live. They discuss how Kaiser Permanente’s integrated model supports prevention, early detection, and coordinated treatme...

As devastating wildfires cut across Southern California, burning 16,000 structures and displacing more than 180,000 people last month, physicians and medical staff across Los Angeles faced unique challenges helping those in need while also ensuring their own safety. In the latest Permanente DocsChat episode, Christopher Subject, MD, assistant regional medical director, and Jeremy Maggin, MD, emerg...

Listen to a special chat on social media’s influence on the health and well-being of young people. Melissa Garretson, MD, member of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees, joined host Alex McDonald, MD, of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, to explore the challenges adolescents face and how physicians can support their overall health. From screen time to sleep deprivatio...

Get prepared for respiratory virus season with an informative discussion on what every physician should know about this year’s flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines. In this episode of PermanenteDocs Chat, guest Connie Park, MD, clinical flu lead for The Permanente Medical Group and chief of Infectious Diseases, Greater Southern Alameda Area, joins host Dr. Alex McDonald of the Southern California Permanen...

Listen to this episode for an up-to-date overview on opioid crisis from guest Bobby Mukkamala, MD, chair of the American Medical Association's Substance Use and Pain Care Taskforce. Dr. Mukkamala talks to host Alex McDonald, MD, of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, about the latest data, systemwide steps to create change, and clinical strategies that can help doctors balance p...

Learn how new medical products and services that physicians use meet quality, safety, and value standards in the latest PermanenteDocs Chat featuring Sande Irwin, MD, chair of the Kaiser Permanente National Product Council.   Dr. Irwin talks to host Alex McDonald, MD, of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, about how the Council evaluates medical products — everything from otoscopes a...

Listen to this important conversation about the unique challenges physicians and clinicians face when seeking mental health support and real-life ways to foster a culture of wellness. Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH, immediate past chair of the AMA board of trustees and advocate for physician wellness, joins Alex McDonald, MD, of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, to discuss the...

Emotional intelligence is a crucial skill for today’s health care professionals. It can help you communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, cope with stress, and foster empathy and compassion. In this PermanenteDocs Chat, hosted by Alex McDonald, MD, we explore the importance of emotional intelligence in health care. Pamela Honsberger, MD, and certified emotional intelligence trainer, shares her...

Don't miss out on this inspirational conversation with Ved Gossain, MD, endocrinologist and former chair of the Senior Physicians Section Governing Council at the AMA. Dr. Gossain shares insights on mentoring the next generation of doctors, staying engaged in their careers, and the importance of equity, inclusion, and diversity in medicine. Moderated by Alex McDonald, MD, family medicine phys...

Don't miss out on this inspirational conversation with Stella Dantas, MD,  longtime physician leader at Northwest Permanente and current president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She sits down with Alex McDonald, MD, of Southern California Permanente Medical Group, to discuss the nuances of physician leadership, addressing the critical issue of physician burnout, a...

Discover how AI and other technologies are revolutionizing health care delivery, the importance of collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches, and the ongoing need for education and training to adapt to these changes in our latest episode of PermanenteDocs Chat. Our guest, Graham Walker, MD, assistant physician in chief and clinical informatics lead at The Permanente Medical Group, joins host...

Listen now for valuable insights on the intersection of medical ethics and evidence-based medicine. Guest Audiey Kao, MD, PhD, vice president of ethics at the   American Medical Association, discusses how ethical principles can help healthcare professionals navigate complex medical decisions, ensuring patient safety and well-being. He also explores the ethical implications of artificial intelligen...

Check out this episode of the PermanenteDocs Chat as host Alex McDonald, MD, and John Andrews, MD, vice president of GME Innovations with the American Medical Association, discuss the future of medical residency programs. You'll gain valuable insights on the medical training landscape, including the role mentorship and innovation play in developing tomorrow's physicians.    Watch or list...

Join host Alex McDonald, MD, and guest Leonid Pravoverov, MD, FASN, in this PermanenteDocs Chat as they discuss the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to slow kidney disease. Learn about the value of early detection, lifestyle modifications, and new medications in the treatment and management of chronic kidney disease. Gain valuable insights this National Kidney Month and discover the late...

In this video, Margaret Lozovatsky, MD, FAMI, VP of Digital Health Innovations at the American Medical Association, explores the partnership between physicians and artificial intelligence in healthcare, focusing on AI's role in clinical decision support. Watch now to learn about current AI trends and why physicians should be involved in shaping AI policies where they practice. Don't miss...

With the growing popularity of social media as a source of information, how critical is it to have the physician voice in platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok? This PermanenteDocs Chat with host Alex McDonald, MD, and guest Kevin Pho, MD, founder and editor of KevinMD.com, explores this question and more. Listen the replay above to hear them talk about the use of blogs and podcasts to s...

Host Alex McDonald, MD, and guest Megan Srinivas, MD, MPH, infectious disease specialist, clinical instructor, AMA ambassador, and Iowa state representative, discuss the importance of storytelling in the medical field. They highlight how sharing personal and patient stories can build trust, improve patient care, influence policy changes, and combat medical misinformation.  Dr. Srinivas shares her...

A 5-month pilot program conducted with Permanente pediatricians at Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center showed clinicians can have positive, productive gun safety conversations with patients at the point of care. For this PermanenteDocs Chat, we continued the conversation about the physician’s role in firearm safety and research to curb gun violence with host Alex McDonald, MD, and guest Sab...

People can’t see it, but artificial intelligence (AI) is running behind the scenes in chatbots for customer service on websites or making recommendations on things to buy. But how much of AI innovation is in use for care delivery? In this PermanenteDocs Chat, host Alex McDonald, MD, talks with Sangeeta Marwaha, MD, of The Permanente Medical Group, to learn about the potential of AI to improve heal...

Tune in to our latest podcast episode for a fun conversation on the importance of patient engagement with Charu Soni, MD, pediatrician and physician director of Leadership Development and Culture at Kaiser Permanente Carson Medical Offices and South Bay Medical Center. In this episode, Dr. Soni shares her insights on the benefits of patient engagement, which include better health outcomes and impr...

In recognition of World AIDS Day, join us for a compelling discussion about Kaiser Permanente's integrated approach to HIV care. Hosted by Alex McDonald, MD, this episode features guest Colin Fields, MD, from the Washington Permanente Medical Group. Discover how the National HIV/AIDS Strategy aims to end the epidemic. Tune in for insights and solutions that will shape HIV awareness for a new...