Curie: Healthcare in Focus

What does learning a new sport have to do with practicing medicine? In this episode of Curie, urologist Dr. Fara Bellows reflects on the unexpected parallels between tennis and clinical practice – from procedural muscle memory and strategic thinking, to failure, perfectionism, and the relief of lower stakes. She shares how becoming a beginner again reshaped her relationship to medicine, why hobbie...

When an active-shooter alert swept across her hospital campus, oncologist and educator Dr. Beatrice Preti found herself experiencing a level of fear she’d never encountered in medicine before, even after years of caring for patients with life-limiting diagnoses. In this conversation, Dr. Preti reflects on that day, how it reshaped her understanding of vulnerability, and the surprising parallels it...

Medicine isn’t being undone by a lack of science or compassion – it’s being buried under bureaucracy. Dr. Scott Tzorfas, a neurologist in private practice for over 30 years, calls it a “slow administrative death spiral.” From endless prior authorizations to crushing documentation demands, he argues that the system has made it nearly impossible for doctors to practice the kind of medicine they trai...

In this episode, we explore the real role of artificial intelligence in clinical care today – not the hype, not the doom, but the practical middle ground. AI can scan lab data, imaging, and case literature faster than any human. But only clinicians can translate that into judgment, prioritization, and care. The future of medicine isn’t AI vs. physicians – it’s physicians who know when to trust the...

What if some of the most important determinants of a child’s lifelong health are shaped months before pregnancy begins? In this conversation, Dr. Ann Shippy shares how her engineering background and personal infertility journey led her to rethink the way we approach fertility and generational health. We explore the science behind preconception health, the roles both partners play, and what physici...

Medicine teaches doctors how to heal others -- but not always how to care for themselves. In this conversation, retired urologist and award-winning writer Dr. William Lynes joins Andrew to unpack the hidden culture of overwork in medicine, how burnout begins long before residency, and why storytelling might be the most unexpected tool for healing the healers.

Millions of people now get their health advice not from doctors but from wellness influencers. Figures like Jay Shetty, a former monk turned media mogul, have built vast audiences by blending mindfulness, motivation, and medical-sounding guidance. But beneath the glossy packaging lies something bigger than one man’s brand. This episode unpacks how charisma, commerce, and unmet patient needs have r...

AI is making doctors faster, smarter, and more efficient, but is it also making them a little worse? In this episode, we explore how automation can sharpen some clinical skills while quietly eroding others, and what physicians must preserve to stay human in an age of intelligent machines.

Two weeks after Trump and RFK Jr. ignited a political firestorm over Tylenol and autism, we take a step back to unpack the story. In this episode, Andrew shares six reflections – from what the evidence actually shows, to the legacy-drug blind spots, to how politics and hope fill the gaps when science stalls. It’s a guided tour through the facts, the narratives, and why this controversy matters for...

Best-selling science writer Mary Roach joins Curie to talk about her new book Replaceable You, a deep dive into what happens when medicine tries to repair—or outright replace—parts of the human body. From elective amputations to pig-to-human organ research, burn units, and bioprinting labs, Roach explores the strange, awe-inspiring, and sometimes absurd frontiers of modern medicine. Along the way,...

What if America’s $4.9 trillion healthcare system isn’t broken, but stolen? In this episode, attorney-turned-benefits leader Chris Deacon joins Curie to expose what she calls “The Great American Healthcare Heist.” Drawing on her experience overseeing benefits for hundreds of thousands of New Jersey employees, Deacon unpacks how middlemen, opaque contracts, and administrative bloat siphon dollars a...

In this episode of Curie, Andrew sits down with Krista Bragg, a healthcare leader whose career has spanned the ICU, the C-suite, health insurance, consulting, and now advising startups. Krista shares what she’s learned moving from bedside nursing to executive leadership, and why too few hospital leaders have clinical backgrounds. She reflects on safety culture, the importance of empowering clinici...

AI scribes promise to free physicians from endless documentation, but who really pays the price? In this episode, Andrew examines the double-edged nature of tools from companies like Abridge and Ambience. On one hand, they capture more accurate notes and give doctors back precious face-to-face time. On the other, they can drive higher bills, adding yet another layer of cost in an already strained...

What does it take to turn personal hardship into lifelong advocacy? In this conversation, Dr. Nasser Hanna—thoracic oncologist, researcher, teacher, and founder of End Lung Cancer Now —shares the remarkable journey behind his new memoir My Patch . From his family’s immigrant roots in Egypt and Sudan, to formative mentors who pushed him to think bigger, to the failures that taught him resilience, D...

In this deeply candid episode of Curie, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Adam Rosen—author of O.R. Confidential: Confessions of a Gen X Surgeon—opens up about the hidden side of surgical life. With over 20 years in the OR and hundreds of joint replacements under his belt, Dr. Rosen reflects on burnout, mental health stigma in medicine, and the generational pressures that shape physician careers. He shares h...

On her very first day as a surgical resident, Dr. Erin Nance got the call that would change her life: her brother had been in a diving accident and was now a quadriplegic. That experience - being both a physician and a family member on the other side of the curtain - shaped her career and fueled her passion for patient advocacy. In this episode, Dr. Nance shares the story behind her bestselling me...

What happens when you’ve lived healthcare from both sides of the bedrail? In this episode, Andrew sits down with Jacob Kendall—patient, caregiver, and founder of The Smart Patient—to explore the complex, multi-dimensional realities of American healthcare. Drawing from his own journey through two open heart surgeries and years as a full-time caregiver, Jacob shares candid stories of navigating the...

Hospitals are quietly buying up physician practices—and healthcare prices are soaring as a result. In this episode, Andrew unpacks the “15% markup” that hits patients when independent doctors are absorbed by hospital systems. You’ll learn why costs rise without improvements in care, how regulatory loopholes keep this trend flying under the radar, and what this consolidation means for physician aut...

Why is America’s health insurance system so dysfunctional—and what can be done about it? Andrew sits down with Neal Shah, author of Insured to Death , to break down the true scale of insurance denials, administrative waste, and the human toll of a broken system. They dive into real-world strategies for fighting back (including free AI tools like Counterforce Health ), the growing role of technolog...

Medicine isn’t always about finding answers—it’s often about navigating the endless gray zones between evidence, patient beliefs, and the realities of daily life. In this episode of Curie, Andrew explores the art of practicing medicine when guidelines meet real-world complexity. From negotiating alternative therapies to facing non-adherence and confronting the limits of influence, this episode dra...

In this episode of Curie, host Andrew sits down with Dr. Shikha Jain—GI oncologist, founder of the Women in Medicine nonprofit, and leading voice for gender equity in healthcare. They dive into the most practice-changing GI oncology updates from the latest ASCO meeting, including new evidence on exercise, breakthrough therapies for tough-to-treat cancers, and the promise of innovations like circul...

In this episode of Curie, Mike investigates how the “Make America Healthy Again” movement is fueling a wellness industry boom—one that blurs the lines between medical innovation, entrepreneurship, and evidence-based care. With physicians and influencers selling peptides, full-body MRIs, and compounded drugs under the guise of personalized medicine, clinicians and experts warn of the growing risks:...

Are doctors really happy in 2025? Host Andrew uncovers the tough realities behind physician well-being—why burnout is rising, why most doctors would trade pay for time, and what actually makes happiness possible in medicine. Hear candid voices from the front lines and discover why a growing number of doctors are rethinking what matters most.

Join Mike on Curie as we explore the future of medicine in 2050. From AI-driven diagnostics and immersive medical education to precision genomics and telemedicine, this episode uncovers how emerging technologies will reshape healthcare delivery in the U.S. We also discuss ethical challenges and the vital role of physicians in an AI-augmented world. A must-listen for healthcare professionals curiou...

In this investigative episode, Mike explores the complex reasons behind America’s poor health outcomes despite leading the world in healthcare spending. From ultra-processed foods and insulin resistance to chronic inflammation and the promise of new weight-loss drugs, we unravel the biology, environment, and policy factors driving obesity and chronic disease in the U.S. A must-listen for healthcar...