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 treatment, and how AI and virtual consults are changing the game in complex cancer care.

Topics covered include:

• How virtual reviews improve cancer outcomes
• Reducing unnecessary treatments through expert input
• Equity and access in oncology
• The power of team-based, value-based care

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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, emergency medicine physician, joined host Alex McDonald, MD, to discuss disaster response and preparedness. All three are Southern California Permanente Medical Group physicians who were personally involved in wildfire response.

Download and listen today to learn how Kaiser Permanente’s integrated structure and innovations supported rapid response, the challenges of delivering care during evacuations, and ways physicians can take a more active role in disaster planning and preparedness.

#Californiafires #LosAngelesFires #Wildfires #LosAngelesWildfires #CaliforniaWildfires #DisasterPreparedness #WildfireResponse #EmergencyPreparedness #EmergencyPlanning #ClimateChange

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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 deprivation, Dr. Garretson shares strategies to help manage unhealthy social media use.

Guest:
Melissa Garretson, MD, Board of Trustees, American Medical Association

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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 Permanente Medical Group to discuss vaccine strains and practical strategies for addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

Guest: Connie Park, MD, Clinical Flu Lead, The Permanente Medical Group; Chief, Infectious Diseases, Greater Southern Alameda Area

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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 pain management with addiction prevention.

Guest
Bobby Mukkamala, MD, Chair, American Medical Association Substance Use and Pain Care Taskforce

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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 and exam chairs to surgical tools and MRI scanners — through a uniquely integrated team made of more than 700 members who are physicians and also medical professionals from nursing, environmental services staff and more.

Guest: Sande Irwin, MD, Chair, Kaiser Permanente National Product Council

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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 traditional barriers to overcoming the stigma of mental health in the medical community, how things are changing for the better, and resources for medical professionals in need.

Guest: Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH, American Medical Association.

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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 insights and tips on how to cultivate and enhance your emotional intelligence. Discover practical strategies to improve your communication, empathy, and stress management skills in a health care setting.

Guest: Pamela Honsberger, MD, of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Director of Physician Development and Support in Orange County, and certified emotional intelligence trainer.

Resources:

• Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves
• Dare to Lead and The Gifts of Imperfection by Dr. Brené Brown
• Atlas of the Heart by Dr. Brené Brown
• The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Dr. Kristen Neff and Dr. Christopher Germer
• Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab

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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 physician with Southern California Permanente Medical Group.
 
Guest:
Ved Gossain, MD, American Medical Association

#Healthcare #Mentorship #MedicalEducation #EquityInMedicine #DiversityInMedicine #PhysicianLeadership #AMA #PermanenteMedicine #Healthcarepodcast

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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, and the importance of fostering a culture where physicians are nurtured and supported. 

 Listen now.

 #PhysicianLeadership #StellaDantas #WomensHealthCare #PhysicianBurnout #CultureInMedicine #Quality #Safety #Diversity

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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 Alex McDonald, MD, from the Southern California Permanente Medical Group to explore the dynamic landscape of health care technology and its impact on patient care. Learn how artificial intelligence and other innovations are enhancing diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Guest

• Graham Walker, MD, assistant physician in chief and clinical informatics lead with The Permanente Medical Group

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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 intelligence in healthcare. 

About the guest: Audiey Kao, MD, PhD, vice president of ethics with the American Medical Association

Host: Alex McDonald, MD, of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group

Watch on YouTube.
Visit Permanente.org to learn more. 

#medicalethics #evidencebasedmedicine #healthcare #ethicaldecisions #patientcare

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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 listen now to discover the latest trends and developments driving the future of residency programs. 
 
About the guest: Dr. John Andrews is the vice president of GME Innovations with the American Medical Association. He brings a wealth of experience and insight to the state of medical education and residency programs.
 
Subscribe to our channel for more discussions on health care innovation and education.
 
#ResidencyPrograms #MedicalEducation #Medicaltraining #Innovation #Healthcare

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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 latest in all things related to kidney care.
 
About the guest: Dr. Pravoverov is the physician leader of Kaiser Permanente National Kidney Care Services and assistant chair of Nephrology and medical director of ESKD Services at The Permanente Medical Group.

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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 out on this insightful discussion on AI and healthcare! #AI #artificialintelligence #physicians #clinicaldecisionsupport #healthcare #WatchNow

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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 share health information, and what the benefits or challenges are for physicians using social media.

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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 personal experience using storytelling to advocate for patients and effect change. She also recommends many free resources for physicians interested in improving their storytelling skills. 

This episode is co-presented with the American Medical Association.

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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 Sabrina Perrino, MD.

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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 health care.

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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 improved physician job satisfaction. She also shares tips for making connections and building trust with patients, such as personal detail recall and using technology to help facilitate ongoing patient-physician communication.

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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 generation.

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In this podcast episode, host Alex McDonald, MD, and guest Christine Sinsky, MD, vice president, Professional Satisfaction from the American Medical Association, discuss the terminology related to physician well-being, including burnout and moral injury. They also highlight the impact of external constraints on health care professionals and the need to address these challenges. 

Tune in for insights into the health care environment's impact on physician well-being.

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Curious about how small changes in your lifestyle can lead to significant improvements in your health? Join host Alex McDonald, MD, and Regina Ragasa, MD, as they dive deep into the world of lifestyle medicine. In this conversation, they'll unveil the magic of the 90/10 rule and demonstrate how your daily choices can have a profound impact on your well-being.

Don't miss this engaging conversation on a topic that's near and dear to our hearts.

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In our recent PermanenteDocs Chat, in collaboration with the American Medical Association, host Alex McDonald, MD, and guest Sandra Fryhofer, MD, dove deep into the timely topic of COVID, flu, and RSV vaccines. 

During this conversation, Dr. McDonald and Dr. Fryhofer explored the reasons behind vaccine hesitancy. They delved into the safety and efficacy of vaccines, sharing valuable insights to help physicians help patients make informed decisions. Plus, they revealed strategies physicians can apply to build trust with their patients – a critical aspect of health care in today's world.

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Tune in to this thought-provoking episode on heat waves and health as host Alex McDonald, MD, engages in a conversation with  Frederick Chen, MD, chief health and science officer at the American Medical Association (AMA). Together, they explore the  link between climate change and public health, shedding light on the impacts of extreme weather events, vector-borne illnesses, and the implications for patients of all ages.  Dr. Chen shares his expertise on the physician's role in preparing for climate-related challenges, educating patients and communities, and advocating for health-focused climate solutions. 

Discover the steps physicians can take to drive positive change and advocate for health-focused climate solutions.

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