The Clinical Etymologist
The Clinical Etymologist is a podcast devoted to curiosity, lifelong learning, and the quiet joy of medicine. Hosted by Dr. Kim—a general internist and self-appointed Clinical Etymologist—each episode explores the words we use in medicine to diagnose, to heal, and to make sense of the human condition. With a blend of language, history, clinical insight, and his unique sense of humor, Dr. Kim uncovers the hidden roots of medical terms—from the eponyms we invoke to the metaphors we overlook. This is a space for curious souls who still believe learning can be meaningful and fun.
The Clinical Etymologist
Pernicious Precision
The momentous discovery of Cobalamin 77 years ago made a macrocytic impact on medicine, saving millions of lives from their pernicious fate. In celebration, we take a subacute and combined degenerative dive into the world of Vitamin B12 deficiency.
From raw liver cures to Nobel Prizes, from cobalt atoms to collapsed gait, this episode traces the fascinating history and clinical nuance of a vitamin that does far more than make red cells. Join Dr. Kim and a curious medical student as they unpack the story behind megaloblastic anemia, nerve damage without anemia, and why B12 is not just a number to tick off — but a diagnostic lens into aging, memory loss, and evolution itself.
By the end of this episode, you’ll never look at falls, forgetfulness, or a “normal CBC” the same way again.
