Medicine? There’s A (Pod)‘cast For That

This article was previously published on Dr. James Goydos' Medium.

The word podcasting was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2005, a portmanteau of ‘pod’ and ‘broadast’. Since then, the concept has taken the world by storm, with over 1 million creators and over 30 million podcast episodes as of 2020. As the world continues to create new ways to share content, the audio medium has proven popular. One can find podcasts in almost any industry imaginable — from niche topics like flight surgery to more broad subjects like wellness, there seems to be a ‘cast for that. For International Podcast Day, let’s talk about a few share-worthy medical podcasts.

For those interested in learning more about skin cancer prevention, melanoma wellness, and how to practice safe sun, the CDC has created a series of interesting podcasts which are available in both English and Spanish. As Hispanic individuals are overrepresented in outdoor occupations that predispose them to excess sun exposure, this is an excellent inclusion. Knowledge of proper skin practices in and outdoors can spell the difference between early detection and a poor prognosis.

Podcasts like these can make it easier for patients to stay informed on the best practices for skin care and how to detect potential melanomas.

The Journal of the American Medical Association also creates regular podcasts where they provide monthly episodes showcasing the latest medical research and conduct interviews with medical authors. Past episodes include coronavirus Q & A, palliative care, dermatology author interviews, and more. Their repertoire is diverse, providing insight on a number of different medical topics.

Johns Hopkins Medicine also provides a wide array of healthcare podcasts, ranging from patients stories to medical research. Recent podcasts include talks on colon cancer screening and the impact of COVID on leukemia patients. They post five times a week, so there is always new content to keep curious minds informed.

If genetics is more of interest, nature research has created the podcast “Genepod” which highlights the latest research in precision medicine and genomics. Cancer genomics is transforming medical care, leading to breakthroughs in cancer care.

As podcasts continue to grow in popularity, new niches have developed within the podcasting community. Several organizations in the healthcare space have begun addressing the important topic of burnout in the medical field, including the American Medical Association (AMA), the American College of Physicians (ACP), and the Coalition for Physician Well-Being, and organization dedicated to promoting 'meaning, purpose, and joy in the practice of medicine'.

The AMA has created a new podcast, AMA Steps Forward, showcasing leaders in medicine and their lived experiences in the healthcare industry. to date, podcasts have discussed how to optimize satisfaction in your practice, cultivating leadership in healthcare, how professionals in medicine can better manage stress, and other topics in the space.

The ACP has recently launched a list of TED talks and other forms of media which also discuss satisfaction and stress management in medicine. Considering that burnout, although not a new concept, is now an official diagnosis in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), it is essential that we continue to raise awareness of the potential impacts that this can have on ther persons working in the field.

Podcasts provide a new opportunity to share information with audiences that may not otherwise have access to such a diverse array of voices. Podcasting provides a platform for individuals and organziations to share their voice without some of the barriers that exist in more traditional forms of media. These organizations and more are helping to increase access to important topics in medicine, helping to reduce inequity of information access in healthcare.

About James Goydos, M.D.

Dr. James Goydos is an expert in melanoma research and specialist in surgical oncology with an M.D. from Rutgers University. With over 20 years of experience as a Professor, Surgeon, and Clinical Trial Lead, he is a leading expert in his field.

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