Run the List

Dr. Allison Greco, pulmonary and critical care specialist at Bellevue Hospital, sits down with Dr. Emily Gutowski and discusses the initial presentation, workup, and management of a patient with a pulmonary embolism. They go through diagnostic modalities, scoring systems, and the various treatment options for patients depending on their risk profile. They discuss provoked vs. unprovoked PEs, and recommendations for longer term anticoagulation.

In part 2 of our series on gout, Dr. Michael Pillinger is back to talk about treatment strategies in the acute setting, as well as how to approach urate-lowering therapies in the outpatient setting. He and Dr. Gutowski discuss the impact of lifestyle changes on gout control, and review the elements that may trigger a gout attack.

Dr. Emily Gutowski interviews Dr. Michael Pillinger, NYU rheumatologist and gout expert, about the initial presentation and workup of a patient with this gout. This is the first episode of a two-part series on gout. Join us for the next episode where we'll dive into acute management and long-term outpatient treatment strategies for this chronic condition.

Dr. Greg Katz, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Health, takes us through a comprehensive approach to preventing cardiovascular disease in a patient with multiple risk factors. Using a patient case, Dr. Katz explains how to balance lifestyle changes with medical interventions and the role of imaging in risk assessment. He also discusses advanced lipid testing including Apolipoprotein B (apoB) and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), and the evolving use of medications like statins and GLP-1 agonists.

Here's a quick update on some exciting changes at RTL and a look towards the future! Our goal is to deliver more consistent content with a continued focus on internal medicine, covering both inpatient and outpatient topics. Moving forward, rather than releasing episodes by organ system or specialty, we'll be prioritizing episodes based on when we interview excellent guests for expert interviews. We are so grateful for your continued support and listenership! Feel free to email us at runthelist@gmail.com with any comments, suggestions, or questions.

Dr. Navin Kumar and Dr. Walker Redd discuss their approach to dyspepsia in the outpatient setting. They walk through key symptoms, when to consider H. pylori testing, and how to think about PPI trials. They explore the role of functional dyspepsia, the impact of medications like GLP-1 agonists, and navigating the delicate balance of avoiding unnecessary invasive tests while still ensuring thorough care.

Dr. Joyce Zhou, hospitalist at BIDMC, interviews Dr. Emily Gutowski, rheumatology fellow at NYU, about rheumatoid arthritis. They discuss a case of early RA, as well as important diagnostic considerations and first steps in managing this chronic condition.

In the third episode of our series on GERD, Dr. Navin Kumar and Dr. Emily Gutowski do a deep dive into the role of endoscopy and pH monitoring for patients with GERD. They discuss the indications for these diagnostic tests, as well as their limitations.

Dr. Navin Kumar and Dr. Emily Gutowski continue their discussion of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and tackle the core elements of treatment in the outpatient setting. They go over initial management for milder disease and more aggressive strategies for severe cases. They also go over how to ramp up and taper down PPI treatment, as well as some of the side effects of this commonly prescribed class of medications. This is the second of three episodes on GERD.

Dr. Navin Kumar, gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, discusses an approach to GERD with Dr. Emily Gutowski, rheumatology fellow at NYU. Together, they discuss "can't-miss diagnoses" on the differential, as well as the pathophysiology and potential etiologies of GERD. Check back in for another episode focusing on endoscopy findings and treatment for GERD!

Dr. Leslie Chang, a hospitalist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), discusses an approach to diuresis with host Dr. Joyce Zhou, a resident at MGH and core Run the List podcast member. Together, they discuss determining a patient's volume status via history, physical exam, and labs in order to guide inpatient diuresis decision-making.

Dr. Walker Redd, a Gastroenterology fellow at the University of North Carolina and co-founder of the Run the List podcast, discusses his approach to dysphagia with host Dr. Navin Kumar, an attending Gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, medical educator at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of RTL. Together, they discuss the meaning of dysphagia, its causes, and ways to manage it. Run the List podcast on AccessMedicine: https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/multimedia.aspx#1460

Dr. Staci Leisman, Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, joins us to discuss renal replacement therapies. With host Dr. Emily Gutowski, she works through several cases that highlight the different types of RRT, advantages and disadvantages of each, as well as clinical pearls to consider when treating patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Run the List podcast on AccessMedicine: https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/multimedia.aspx#1460

Dr. Samira Farouk discusses her approach to interpreting urine studies. Together with host Dr. Emily Gutowski, she teaches listeners about the plethora of information that can be obtained from this simple lab test. This episode covers a review of the basics, as well as important caveats to keep in mind. Run the List podcast on AccessMedicine: https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/multimedia.aspx#1460

Dr. Alexis "AC" Gomez, a second year fellow at the combined MGH, Brigham and Women's, and Boston Children's nephrology program, discusses acid-base disorders with Dr. Joyce Zhou, a RTL host. She defines acid-base disorders, shares common etiologies, and offers a 5-step approach to characterizing these abnormalities.

Dr. Alexis "AC" Gomez, a second year fellow in the combined MGH, Brigham and Women's, and Boston Children's nephrology fellowship, continues a discussion of sodium disorders with a conversation about hypernatremia with Dr. Joyce Zhou, a RTL host and internal medicine resident. She shares her approach to high sodium disorders and pearls on diagnostics and management of this disorder. Run the List podcast on AccessMedicine: https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/multimedia.aspx#1460

Dr. Alexis "AC" Gomez, a second year fellow at the combined MGH, Brigham and Women's, and Boston Children's nephrology program, discusses her approach to hyponatremia with host Dr. Joyce Zhou. She shares the pathophysiology behind her diagnostic framework for hyponatremia and her systematic approach, and discusses pearls such as how to use ddAVP clamps in treating this disorder. Run the List podcast on AccessMedicine: https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/multimedia.aspx#1460

Dr. Samira Farouk, transplant nephrologist at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, continues our nephrology series with a discussion of hypokalemia. She and Dr. Emily Gutowski, RTL host, cover the potential causes of low potassium and important concepts to keep in mind while treating this electrolyte disturbance.

Dr. Rahul Maheshwari, second year nephrology fellow at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, discusses hyperkalemia with Dr. Emily Gutowski, a RTL host and internal medicine resident. They cover the potential causes of elevated potassium, how to think about acuity, and treatment guidelines to correct this electrolyte disturbance.

Dr. Rahul Maheshwari, second year nephrology fellow at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, discusses acute kidney injury with Dr. Emily Gutowski, a RTL host and internal medicine resident. Together, they discuss the presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment considerations of AKI.

Dr. Raymond Chung, a Gastroenterologist and Transplant Hematologist who is the Director of the Hepatology and Liver Center at MGH and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, discusses acute liver failure with Dr. Joyce Zhou, a RTL host and internal medicine resident. In the episode, he defines acute liver failure (ALF) and discusses pathophysiology, etiologies of ALF, complications by system, and tenets of management. He also discusses new treatments for liver failure in the developmental pipeline.

Dr. Raymond Chung, a Gastroenterologist and Transplant Hematologist who is the Director of the Hepatology and Liver Center at MGH and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, joins host of RTL and internal medicine resident, Dr. Joyce Zhou, to discuss an approach to decompensated cirrhosis. In the episode, the two cover underlying pathophysiology, complications, and management of patients with cirrhosis from oral medications through transplant consideration. Their discussion touches on ascites, esophageal varices, hepatic encephalopathy, SBP diagnosis, TIPS use, hepato-renal syndrome, and more. The episode closes with Dr. Chung's big picture pearls for thinking about and caring for cirrhotic patients.

Dr. Sasha-Deutsch Link, a Gastroenterology and Hepatology fellow at the University of North Carolina (UNC), joins host her co-fellow Dr. Walker Redd, co-founder and host of RTL, to discuss Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease. Through a case discussion of a patient with acute alcohol-associated hepatitis, they review patient-centered terminology, the relevant diagnostic workup, and how to think both acute and chronic alcohol-associated liver disease. They also cover important principles of management, including supportive care, nutrition, pyschosocial support, pharmacotherapy for alcohol cessation, and consideration of early liver transplant, as well as the importance of longitudinal follow-up.

Dr. Navin Kumar, an attending Gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, medical educator at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of the Run the List podcast and host Blake Smith discuss how to approach a patient presenting with acute right-upper quadrant (RUQ) pain. Together, they discuss the various causes of RUQ pain, in addition to how to approach a set of liver function tests (LFTs), differentiating hepatocellular injury from a cholestatic pattern. They then discuss how various forms of imaging (RUQUS, CT) can guide diagnosis and management, leading to a discussion about the use of ERCP and cholecystectomy in such cases. Lastly, the episode closes with a diagnosis and three clinical pearls about RUQ pain and abnormal LFTs.

Dr. Navin Kumar, an attending Gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, medical educator at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of the Run the List podcast and Dr. Walker Redd, a Gastroenterology fellow at the University of North Carolina and co-founder of RTL, discuss Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Building on the prior episode covering an approach to diarrhea, they first discuss diagnosing IBD and distinguishing between ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Through a case discussion of a patient with UC, they provide an overview the initial management options for lower risk patients with mild to moderate UC and then review how to manage an acute, severe UC flare.

Dr. Navin Kumar, an attending Gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, medical educator at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of the Run the List podcast and host Blake Smith discuss how to approach a patient presenting with diarrhea. In this episode, Navin discusses his framework for thinking through these cases, from patient history to chronicity and quality. Through a case discussion, they review the definition of diarrhea, the broad types of diarrhea (watery, fatty, and inflammatory), and how to further workup these cases using colonoscopy and biopsy. The episode closes with a diagnosis and three clinical pearls, setting the stage for RTL's next episode dedicated to IBD management.

Dr. Navin Kumar, an attending Gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, medical educator at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of the Run the List podcast and Dr. Walker Redd, a Gastroenterology fellow at the University of North Carolina and co-founder of RTL, discuss biliary tract stone disease. In this episode, Navin and Walker share how they approach common presentations of gallstone pathology. Through a case discussion, they review the terminology used to distinguish the different conditions, initial management steps, further workup including appropriate imaging studies, and the role of the Advanced Endoscopy and general surgery teams.

Dr. Navin Kumar, an attending Gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, medical educator at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of the Run the List podcast and Dr. Walker Redd, a Gastroenterology fellow at the University of North Carolina and co-founder of RTL, discuss lower GI bleeding. In this episode, Navin and Walker share how they approach lower GI bleeding. Through a case discussion, they review strategies for localizing the source of bleeding, initial management steps, the approach to endoscopic evaluation, and how to effectively communicate with the GI consult team.

Dr. Navin Kumar, an attending Gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, medical educator at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of the Run the List podcast, and Dr. Walker Redd, a Gastroenterology fellow at the University of North Carolina and co-founder of RTL, discuss variceal upper GI bleeding to build upon the principles discussed in the non-variceal UGIB episode. In this episode, Navin and Walker use a case discussion to emphasize the importance of recognizing which patients are at risk for variceal bleeding, what distinguishes variceal GI bleeding from other sources of GIB, initial steps in management, and additional considerations to keep in mind when caring for these patients.

Dr. Navin Kumar, an attending Gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, medical educator at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of the Run the List podcast continues Season 2 of RTL's partnership with McGraw Hill Medical by discussing upper GI bleeding with Dr. Walker Redd, a Gastroenterology fellow at the University of North Carolina and co-founder of RTL. In this episode, Navin and Walker share how they approach non-variceal upper GI bleeding. Through a case discussion of this common presentation, they review how to localize the potential source, frame the differential diagnosis, initially manage these patients, how to effectively communicate with the GI consult team, and the role of endoscopy.

Dr. Navin Kumar, an attending gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, medical educator at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of Run the List podcast kicks off Season 2 of RTL's partnership with McGraw Hill Medical by chatting with RTL host Blake Smith about pancreatitis. In this episode, Navin brings new content, new pearls, and new tips for trainees (especially for newly-minted interns!) as they approach a case of acute pancreatitis. Together, they walk through the criteria for diagnosing acute pancreatitis: from clinical signs to laboratory and radiographic findings. Navin discusses risk stratification, early management - including aggressive fluid resuscitation and pain control - and etiologies of acute pancreatitis. Lastly, the episode closes with Navin's pearls about the pillars of pancreatitis management and when to call a consult.

Dr. Navin Kumar, an attending gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, medical educator at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of Run the List podcast talks with RTL host Blake Smith in a two-part series focused on Med Ed. This second episode caters to later trainees - residents, fellows, and new attendings/faculty - as they seek out opportunities in Med Ed. Navin offers some pearls for listeners - to diversify your educational portfolio, strive to be scholarly, take on formal learning opportunities, and seek out opportunities to become a more effective teacher with avenues for feedback and evaluation. The episode closes with a focus on digital medical education and the role of #MedTwitter and podcasting in teaching. Navin's famous SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) tweetorial: https://twitter.com/navinkumarmd/status/1270014308701831168

Dr. Navin Kumar, an attending gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, medical educator at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of Run the List podcast talks with RTL host Blake Smith in a two-part series focused on Med Ed. This first episode caters to early trainees and Navin takes listeners through his journey with medical education from his early days as a medical student. The episode walks through Navin's many pearls on becoming involved in Med Ed, including: 1) start early & often, 2) say yes, and 3) practice your skills (informally & formally). Stay tuned for part 2, which will focus on later trainees!

Dr. Daniela Lamas, an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital chats with Blake Smith (host) about a career in Pulm/CCM. They talk together about the field of Pulm/CCM at large - from outpatient pulmonary clinic (COPD, asthma) to the ICU - in addition to sub-specializing in specific genetic diseases (CF), lung transplants, or interstitial lung diseases. They also talk about what it's been like to be an intensivist during the pandemic as a clinician at the bedside, navigating difficult conversations with families in new formats. They discuss Dr. Lamas' love of writing as an outlet for patient care in the hospital, and how she serves as a guest contributor to prominent publications, is a writer on the medical TV show “The Resident”, and author of a newly-published book. You can find some of her guest essays in the New York Times here: https://www.nytimes.com/by/daniela-j-lamas

Dr. Morgan Soffler, a Pulmonologist and ICU intensivist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, continue a discussion of a patient with hypoxia in the setting of acute respiratory distress (from Ep. 73) with RTL host, Dr. Navin Kumar. Together, they talk through ARDS definition, etiology, pathophysiology, and ventilatory support.

Dr. Morgan Soffler, a Pulmonologist and ICU intensivist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, discusses a case of a patient with hypoxia in the setting of acute respiratory distress with RTL host, Dr. Navin Kumar. Dr. Soffler begins with a broad differential and provides a framework of timing, tempo, and medical history, along with labs and imaging, to sift through the myriad causes of hypoxia. Together, they walk through different forms of respiratory support and when to escalate this support for patients on the wards.

Dr. Brady, an ICU intensivist and the director of the critical care medicine clerkship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), discusses vasopressors and inotropes with RTL host, Dr. Navin Kumar. Together, they use the previous episode's (Ep. 71: Approach to Shock) case of an elderly patient with suspected distributive shock secondary to urosepsis as a framework to approach pressor requirements. Dr. Brady walks through establishing access, how to choose a pressor based on adrenergic physiology, and emphasizes when to take a diagnostic timeout in the ICU.

Dr. Brady, an ICU intensivist and the director of critical care medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), explains how to categorize the four major types of shock with RTL host, Dr. Navin Kumar. Together, they discuss a case of an elderly patient with suspected urosepsis and walk through how to reconcile a patient's history, physical exam, and lab findings along with the ongoing clinical picture. They touch on key decision points for patients in the ICU and end with some clinical pearls on shock management.

Dr. Walker, a Pulmonologist and Critical Care specialist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, explains how she diagnoses and manages COPD. They help breakdown a number of topics, including PFTs, severity classification, principles of outpatient and inpatient management, and how to talk about prognosis with your patients.

Dr. Jefferson, an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the division of Allergy & Immunology and bioethicist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, discusses the care of both pediatric and adult patients with asthma with host Dr. Walker Redd. Together, they define asthma and cover its triggers, diagnosis, and stepwise therapy plans. They also discuss how upstream factors - from environmental exposures to housing issues - can both exacerbate and affect access to appropriate care for patients with asthma.

In this episode, host Joyce Zhou speaks with Dr. Jeremy Richards, a pulmonologist and critical care physician at the Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center (BIDMC) and a medical educator who teaches the introduction to cardiopulmonary physiology course at Harvard Medical School. He grounds his framework for this common presenting concern in physiology and uses a case to discuss his take on diagnostic approaches.

Dr. Sigal Yawetz, an infectious disease attending physician and medical educator at Brigham and Women's Hospital chats with Blake Smith (host) about a career in infectious diseases. They talk together about the field of ID at large, in addition to sub-specializing, with a focus on the HIV patient population. Dr. Yawetz also comments on what it has been like living through two viruses that have shaped the globe - HIV and COVID - all through the lens of being an ID physician. The episode closes with Dr. Yawetz's pearls on how to think about choosing a medical specialty and why ID is a wonderful choice for students interested in continually thinking about all fields of medicine.

Dr. Michelle Cespedes, an infectious disease attending physician at Mount Sinai Hospital, is interviewed by host Emily Gutowski about the diagnosis of patients with HIV. They talk about both the acute presentation as well as the management of a patient with uncontrolled HIV.

Dr. Mikyung Lee, an infectious disease attending physician and program director for the ID fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital, discusses hospital-acquired infections, including ventilator-acquired pneumonias and catheter-associated UTIs.

Dr. Sal Cilmi, an infectious disease attending physician and IM program director at Mount Sinai Hospital, discusses cellulitis and common culprits of soft tissue infections.

Dr. Mary Montgomery, an Infectious Diseases specialist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, teaches host Walker Redd how she diagnoses and manages pneumonia. They discuss IDSA guidelines, classification, diagnostic studies, empiric antibiotics, complications, pathophysiology, and more.

Dr. Solomon, an Infectious Diseases specialist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, discusses his approach to fever with host, Walker Redd. In discussing Dr. Solomon's framework for clinical reasoning in infectious diseases and applying it to a case of fever of unclear etiology, they ask: Who is the host? What are the notable exposures? What is the syndrome? What doesn't fit?

Dr. Andy Lawton, a palliative care physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital shares with host, Joyce Zhou, the REMAP framework for having effective goals of care conversations with patients with serious illness. Dr. Lawton offers sample language on key components of goals of care conversations such as how to discuss prognoses, respond to emotions, and ask about values. He also reflects on how to best strike a balance between paternalism and patient autonomy during serious illness conversations.

Dr. Schwartz, a geriatrician at the VA Boston, gives an overview of Geriatric Medicine in this discussion with host, Walker Redd. They discuss how a systematic approach called the "5Ms of Geriatrics" - which includes mind, mobility, medications, multi-complexity, and matters most - can help us take better care of our older patients.

Dr. Eli Miloslavsky, a rheumatologist and medical educator at Massachusetts General Hospital, chats with Blake Smith (host) about a career in rheumatology. They talk about subspecialties within rheumatology, in addition to the changing landscape of the field. The episode closes with Dr. Miloslavksy's pearls on how to think about choosing a medical specialty - rheumatology or other - and how to keep perspective when making the decision.

Dr. Andrew Coyle, primary care physician formerly at Mount Sinai Hospital and current Program Director of the IM residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, gives an overview of a common issue in outpatient medicine: acute back pain. In this conversation with host, Emily Gutowski, Dr. Coyle discusses the broad differential diagnosis of back pain, red flags to look out for, and therapeutic options for patients.