CMAJ Podcasts

Dr. Tara Kiran and Dr. Michelle Cohen share their analysis of the gender pay gap as it relates specifically to physicians. They discuss their personal experiences as well as current data showing that, in many medical specialties, men are still getting paid more than women for roughly equivalent work. Dr. Michelle Cohen is a family doctor in Brighton, Ontario and is assistant professor in the depar...

Dr. Ellen Warner and Dr. Karen Glass discuss different options for fertility preservation for young women who must undergo breast cancer treatment. They also discuss the importance of early referral to fertility preservation counselling, an option that is often not presented to women until it's too late. Dr. Ellen Warner is a medical oncologist and director of PYNK: Breast Cancer Program for...

La gestion du poids doit valider le vécu des patients, aller au-delà des approches simplistes qui consistent à leur conseiller de « manger moins et de bouger plus » et s’attaquer aux racines profondes de l’obésité. Les Dres Marie-France Langlois et Angela Alberga expliquent les recommandations clé des nouvelles lignes directrices sur l'obésité chez l'adulte. Elles sont interviewées par D...

In this podcast, Dr. Patrick Lawler and Dr. Lucas Godoy discuss the evidence around endothelial injury related to SARS-CoV-2 cellular invasion. In some cases, thrombosis is a prominent clinical feature of COVID-19 that may lead to organ failure, multi system injury or death. Dr. Lawler is a cardiologist at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre in Toronto and a clinician-scientist at the Toronto General Ho...

Dr. Sean Wharton and Dr. David Lau discuss a newly published clinical practice guideline on obesity management. They are joined by Lisa Schaffer, who talks about her experience as a Canadian living with obesity. They discuss the complex interplay of factors that can lead to obesity, such as genetics, metabolic, behavioural, psychological and environmental factors. They also talk about stigma and i...

In this podcast, Dr. Nathan Stall and Dr. Andrew Costa discuss the results of their research on the risk of outbreaks and deaths from COVID-19 in long-term care homes in Ontario by for-profit or not-for-profit status. Dr. Nathan Stall is a geriatrician at Sinai Health System and a research fellow at Women's College Research Institute. He is also completing a PhD in clinical epidemiology and h...

Acute aortic syndrome is a life-threatening emergency. It is difficult to diagnose and is often missed in the emergency department, but it’s a syndrome that must be on a physician’s radar. Dr. Robert Ohle discusses how to identify acute aortic syndrome and how to diagnose it. Dr. Ohle is one of the authors of a clinical practice guideline on the topic. He is an emergency medicine physician and res...

In this podcast, Dr. Clare Pain and Dr. Ruth Lanius draw from their expertise in the fields of trauma and conflict to discuss how this pandemic can affect mental health and those who suffered from childhood traumas. They also talk about how this pandemic compares to other public health disasters, conflict, war or unrest. Dr. Clare Pain is a psychiatrist and associate professor at the University of...

Dr Stéphane Groulx explique les recommandations des lignes directrices sur le dépistage de l'adénocarcinome oesophagien chez les patients atteints de reflux gastro-œsophagien chronique. Dr Groulx est médecin de famille, a été membre du Groupe d’étude canadien sur les soins de santé préventifs pendant 4 ans et a contribué à de nombreuse lignes directrices. Il était le président du groupe de tr...

Dr. Scott Klarenbach shares the key messages out of a new clinical practice guideline on screening for esophageal adenocarcinoma in patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease. Dr. Klarenbach is a professor in the Department of Medicine, and Assistant Dean, Health Outcomes at the University of Alberta. He is currently Chair of the Alberta Expert Committee on Drug Evaluation and Therapeut...

With immunotherapy, a cancer patient's immune system is mobilized to attack cancer cells. It's a promising cancer therapy, but it's not without risks and possible complications. In this podcast, Drs. Megan Himmel, Sam Saibil, and Alex Saltman discuss how immune checkpoint inhibitors work, what cancers they work best for, and what to keep in mind when considering this therapy. Dr. Me...

In this podcast, Prof. Esyllt Jones discusses the 1918-1920 influenza pandemic, how it exposed social inequalities and racism, how it relates to our current COVID-19 global pandemic and how it's connected to the social unrest happening in the United States. Prof. Esyllt Jones is a professor of history at the University of Manitoba and part-time faculty member at the department of community he...

Planned surgeries have virtually ground to a halt owing to service closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic response. But the backlog of elective and non-emergency surgeries is building and at some point, they will have to resume. The question is how? Dr. David Urbach argues that a combined team-based and single-entry approach could help address the problem. He says the pandemic might be an oppor...

Le Dr François Lamontagne explique les recommandations des lignes directrices sur le traitement de la COVID-19. Le guide de pratique est divisé en trois sections : les corticostéroïdes, le plasma de convalescents, et les médicaments antiviraux. Il est interviewé par le Dr Luc Lanthier. Le Dr François Lamontagne est spécialiste en médecine interne générale et en soins intensifs au CIUSSS de l'...

Dr. Gordon Guyatt discusses available evidence for many of the treatments being trialed in patients with COVID-19. He and his co-authors developed a clinical practice guideline that systematically reviewed and critically appraised direct and indirect evidence. Dr. Guyatt is a specialist in internal medicine and clinical epidemiologist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He is also an offi...

Dr. Elissa Abrams talks about asthma and COVID-19: what asthma patients should keep in mind, how viruses interact with asthma, whether patients should be using a nebulizer, and how asthma exacerbations should be treated. Dr. Elissa Abrams is a pediatric allergist immunologist in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The practice article she co-authored is published in CMAJ: www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.20061...

Dr. Michael Slawnych discusses how to manage dyspnea, or breathlessness, at the end of life. He says all physicians should be prepared to manage dyspnea, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He goes over details such as medications, swallowing difficulties and agitation. Dr. Michael Slawnych is a cardiologist and a palliative care physician at Libin Cardiovascular Institute in Calgary, Alberta...

Paul Norman and Dr. Christopher Patey talk about their approach to redesigning the emergency department of the rural hospital in Carbonear, Newfoundland, to face the COVID-19 pandemic. They hope it can serve as a potential model for others to follow. Dr. Christopher Patey is a family physician and Paul Normal is a nurse. They both work in the emergency department of Carbonear General Hospital in N...

In this "Med Life with Dr. Horton" podcast, Dr. Jillian Horton chats with Dr. Lisa Richardson about the meaning of good medicine and traditional Indigenous healing. Dr. Lisa Richardson is an internist of Anishinaabe descent and is a strategic advisor for Indigenous health in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Horton and Dr. Richardson discuss the following:- Indige...

Dr. Shane Neilson discusses what it's like to navigate medical education and the medical profession with a mental illness. He discusses what has changed over the years, and what areas are still in need of improvement. Dr. Shane Neilson is a disabled poet, physician, and critic. Shane completed his PhD in English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University in 2018. He recently received the Gov...

Dr James Downar discute avec Dr Bruno Gagnon et ils partagent leurs conseils pour optimiser les soins palliatifs pendant la pandémie COVID-19.Le Dr Bruno Gagnon est médecin spécialiste en soins palliatifs, professeur agrégé à l’Université Laval, et consultant en soins palliatifs au centre intégré universitaire de santé et services sociaux de la Capitale nationale, Québec. Le Dr James Downar, médec...

Dr. James Downar and Dr. Amit Arya discuss how to optimise provision of palliative care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. James Downar is head of the division of palliative care at the University of Ottawa and is a critical care physician at The Ottawa Hospital. Dr. Amit Arya is a palliative care physician at Brampton Civic Hospital in Brampton, Ontario and has faculty appointments at both McMaste...

Dr. Theodore Wein and Dr. Jeff Habert discuss the recommendations of a new Heart & Stroke guideline on the use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), or Aspirin, for prevention of vascular events. Dr. Theodore Wein is a neurologist at McGill University and chair of the Heart & Stroke writing group that developed the guideline. Dr. Jeff Habert is a family physician in Thornhill, Ontario and a membe...

Dr. Wayne Gold and Dr. Eric Coomes discuss quarantine and how it differs from home isolation. They also chat about: social distancing, mental health during quarantine, lessons from SARS, preparing for COVID-19, and more. Dr. Wayne Gold is an infectious diseases physician at University Health Network-Sinai Health Systems and residency program director for adult infectious diseases at the University...

Dr. Adam Farmer discusses irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. He explains symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, drug therapies, diet, microbiome, genetics, and more. Dr. Farmer is a gastroenterologist, senior lecturer and clinical director of specialised medicine at Royal Stoke University Hospital in Staffordshire, United Kingdom. The review article he co-authored is published in CMAJ: www.cmaj.ca/lookup...