HuMed with David Spiro, MD

Why do we ask physicians in their 30s, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” In this episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro sits down with Emma Cooke, MD, an internal medicine physician, Med-Peds graduate, and author of a thought-provoking JAMA essay exploring how a simple question reveals deeper issues within medical culture. Together they discuss: Why medical trainees are oft...

What makes medicine worth the sacrifice? Dr. Tommy Martin—a pediatric hospitalist at Boston Children’s Hospital, physician, endurance athlete, and one of medicine’s most influential voices on social media—shares the patient encounter that changed his life forever. After a long residency shift, Tommy was exhausted and simply wanted to get home to his wife and son. Instead, one final patient reminde...

In this deeply moving episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro speaks with Dr. Julia Bruckner, a pediatric emergency physician, writer, and Director of Faculty Well-Being at the University of Colorado. Dr. Bruckner shares how her father — a minister, humanist, advocate, and witness to suffering — taught her lessons about healing that medicine alone often cannot teach. Together, they explore what it means...

What happens when a patient changes your life forever? In this unforgettable episode of HuMed, pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ron Turker shares the remarkable story of a one-month-old infant who arrived in the emergency department with multiple fractures and severe injuries—and ultimately became his daughter.   Dr. Turker reflects on child abuse, foster care, adoption, trauma, attachment, father...

What happens after a family says “yes” to organ donation? In this powerful episode of HuMed, transplant surgeon Dr. Charles Strom shares the story of a young organ donor whose life—and legacy—left a lasting impact on him during his first week of transplant fellowship. Dr. Strom takes us inside a world most people never see: the moment of honor before organ recovery, the emotional family statements...

Dr. Jay Pershad — PEM physician, professor at George Washington, and faculty at Children's National — joins Dr. David Spiro for an unflinching conversation about the moments that define a career in pediatric emergency medicine. Jay shares a story that still haunts him: a teenage girl brought in after a suspected overdose, a resuscitation that ends in death, and a family that spoke only Spanish — c...

What happens when a high-risk OB can't diagnose her own son? Dr. Sarah Pachtman-Shetty is a double board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist — a doctor trained to manage the most critical pregnancies imaginable. But when her two-year-old son Orion spiked a fever on a Caribbean vacation and his O2 sat dropped into the 70s, all that training couldn't stop her from feeling like a helpless mo...

In this episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro is joined by Dr. Jenna Taglienti, a psychiatrist, residency program director, and assistant professor at the Zucker School of Medicine. Dr. Taglienti's recent JAMA essay, Time Is Finite, sparked widespread reflection across the medical field. Dr. Taglienti shares her deeply personal story of receiving an unexpected lung cancer diagnosis as a lifelong nonsm...

What happens when your labs are “normal” — but you know something is wrong? In this episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro sits down with Dr. Stephen Sanders, a board-certified family physician and men’s health expert, to talk about the moment his own health collapsed in his late 30s. On paper, everything looked good: career, family, success. But inside, he was struggling with brain fog, fatigue, low e...

Dr. David Spiro speaks with physician-scientist and clinical trialist Dr. Barry Davis, author of The Preventioneers, about one of the most important questions in medicine and public health: Why do we so often know how to prevent harm—but fail to act until crisis arrives? Dr. Davis shares the powerful story of Ignaz Semmelweis, the physician who discovered that handwashing could dramatically reduce...

What happens when the doctor becomes the patient? In this powerful episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro sits down with pediatric cardiologist Dr. Josh Daily to talk about the moment his life changed: unexplained fatigue, low testosterone, headaches, and eventually the discovery of a brain tumor deep in the center of his brain. Dr. Daily shares the full story of being diagnosed, challenging the initia...

What happens when a residency interview turns openly discriminatory? In this episode of HuMed, Dr. David Shapiro shares the moment he walked out of a surgical residency interview after hearing hateful slurs—and how that experience shaped his advocacy for LGBTQ surgeons and allies. We also talk about: discrimination in surgical training burnout and belonging in medicine why inclusivity matters for...

In this insightful interview, Dr. Pooja Patel shares her journey into aging and healthcare, emphasizing the importance of advance care planning, the role of occupational therapy in end-of-life scenarios, and strategies to improve aging in place. Discover how education, proactive planning, and social engagement can enhance quality of life for older adults. #stories #medical #hospital #doctors Learn...

This episode of HuMED dives deep into the "dark side" of medicine—the life of the nocturnist. Dr. David Spiro sits down with Dr. Chi Oraedu, an academic hospitalist and founder of Yale Aura, to discuss why working against the biological grain is one of the greatest challenges in healthcare today. From the "Season and Reason" of choosing night shifts as a young mother of twins to the sobering reali...

summaryIn this episode, Hillary Mayberry, a physician assistant and educator at UAMS, shares her transformative experience with a student facing performance anxiety, emphasizing the importance of humility, curiosity, and listening in healthcare and education. The discussion explores mental health stigma, accommodations in healthcare education, and effective communication strategies for supporting...

Dr. Rob Beck shares his deeply personal journey from burnout in the U.S. healthcare system to building a more fulfilling medical career in Canada. In this episode, we explore physician mental health, the differences between American and Canadian healthcare, and the courage it takes to completely change your life. key topics: Physician burnout and mental health Differences between US and Canadian h...

Most women don’t realize that the pelvic changes from childbirth can impact their bladder and vagina in ways that often go unnoticed for years. Dr. Betsy Greenleaf, the first female board-certified urogynecologist in the U.S., reveals how understanding these shifts can drastically improve quality of life—and how common treatments like Botox and pelvic rehab transform health for patients. You’ll di...

In this deeply moving episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro sits down with Dr. Ben Jackson, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Procedural Sedation at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Ben shares two pivotal patient encounters that serve as the "North and South" poles of his career—one a humbling failure of communication, the other a triumphant display of team-based compassion. #sto...

Is your doctor telling you "everything is normal" while your hair falls out and your energy is non-existent? In this episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro talks with Dr. Ashley Dwyer, a licensed pharmacist turned health coach. Ashley shares her vulnerable story of pushing her body to the brink through competitive bodybuilding and pharmacy school—only to end up with bottomed-out hormones and "U-thyroid...

What do you do when the person responsible for your child’s death is you? In this unforgettable episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro sits down with Dr. Greg Gulbransen, a pediatrician whose life was irreparably altered 23 years ago by a tragic accident in his own driveway. Instead of succumbing to the weight of his grief, Greg "stood and delivered," turning his personal hell into federal legislation—...

For a surgeon, it’s another day at the office. For a family, it’s a day that will change their lives forever. In this episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro welcomes Dr. Greg Albert, Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Arkansas Children’s. While Dr. Albert is a nationally recognized expert in complex brain and spine surgeries, this conversation delves into the human heart behind the technical excellence...

Can a doctor ever truly prepare for the unthinkable? In this powerful episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro sits down with Pediatric Emergency Medicine specialist Dr. Patrick Ayers to discuss the "human side of medicine" through the lens of a devastating trauma case. Dr. Ayers shares the harrowing story of a newborn infant involved in a severe dog bite emergency, the frantic race to save a life, and t...

In this episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro welcomes Dr. Zina Alhaddad, a board-certified pediatrician , pediatric emergency medicine physician and integrative medicine specialist, to discuss the profound stories that shape healthcare professionals. Dr. Alhaddad shares a transformative encounter with a patient that reshaped her understanding of integrative medicine and the importance of a healing pr...

In this episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro welcomes Dr. Maya Roberts, a staff clinical lead at Google, to discuss her transformative journey from a physics major to a pediatrician and healthcare innovator. Maya shares her unique experiences in Nepal, where she observed the challenges of healthcare delivery in a rural village. Her encounter with a local doctor who administered polio vaccines without...

In this episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro and Dr. David Shapiro discuss the emotional and moral realities of trauma in medicine. They explore the impact of bystander violence, the importance of trauma care, and the evolution of emergency response protocols. The conversation reflects on personal stories of trauma survivors, the implications of gun violence, and the emotional toll on healthcare prov...