White Coat, Black Art on CBC Radio

Follow White Coat, Black Art on CBC Radio
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

CBC Radio's Dr. Brian Goldman takes listeners through the swinging doors of hospitals and doctors' offices, behind the curtain where the gurney lies.

CBC Radio


    • May 30, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 27m AVG DURATION
    • 271 EPISODES

    4.8 from 55 ratings Listeners of White Coat, Black Art on CBC Radio that love the show mention: system, informative, listen, love, great, superior topics.


    Ivy Insights

    The White Coat, Black Art on CBC Radio podcast is an exceptional show that delves into the world of healthcare with a refreshing and honest perspective. The topics covered, the interviews conducted, and the valuable viewpoints presented make this podcast a standout in its genre. It is truly remarkable to see a platform that gives a voice to individuals in the community who may not otherwise have their opinions and experiences heard. The host has done a fantastic job of creating a space for genuine conversations about important healthcare issues.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is its ability to provide informative content that is both interesting and addictive. The discussions are thought-provoking, and the authenticity of the guests makes it impossible to stop listening. It is rare to find a show that explores topics most people would not typically talk about but does so in such an engaging and entertaining manner. Each episode offers a fun way to learn about various aspects of healthcare and gain insights from those directly involved.

    Unfortunately, after Dawna Dingwall, the producer recently left, there seems to be a shift towards more cheesy music or sound effects that can be slightly distracting. While this may not entirely detract from the overall quality of the podcast, it can occasionally take away from the focus on the discussions at hand. However, this minor drawback does not overshadow all the positive aspects that make The White Coat, Black Art such an exceptional listen.

    In conclusion, The White Coat, Black Art on CBC Radio podcast is an outstanding platform that provides invaluable perspectives on healthcare-related issues. It stands out due to its commitment to showcasing voices from the community and tackling subjects that are often overlooked or ignored. Although there might be some room for improvement regarding certain production elements post-Dawna Dingwall's departure, this does not diminish the overall value and impact of this podcast. For anyone seeking real and honest conversations about healthcare from those on the frontlines, this show is an absolute must-listen.



    More podcasts from CBC Radio

    Search for episodes from White Coat, Black Art on CBC Radio with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from White Coat, Black Art on CBC Radio

    Family doctor who quit teaches the next gen how to stay

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 26:42


    After 25+ years as a family physician, Dr. Fan-Wah Mang closed her practice because she burned out. Now, she's at Humber River Hospital in Toronto, teaching the next generation of family doctors how to avoid the pitfalls that made her leave. Two of the residents know what they'll need to be a family physician long term, and it may surprise you.

    Waiting 84 weeks and counting for a new knee

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 26:39


    Thousands of Canadians are in line for a joint replacement surgery. Tracey Knowlton is one of them, waiting over 84 weeks for a knee replacement. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephen Kwan says long waits are an ongoing, system-wide problem. Health-care policy experts like Tom McIntosh say we know how to make it better and faster for patients, but provincial health leaders need to step up.

    ENCORE: The early bird gets the derm

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 26:40


    A crowd lines up every weekday at a unique walk-in dermatology clinic in Toronto. People have conditions ranging from severe rashes to potentially cancerous moles, and can't wait months for an appointment with a skin doctor. Dr. Davindra Singh, who runs the clinic, calls it a dermatology crisis.

    The treatment centre that grief built, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 26:43


    At the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre for men in Winnipeg, over 90% of the staff are in recovery from substance abuse themselves. Staffers like Terrence Morrin use "lived expertise" to create a circle of recovery. He first came to the centre as a participant two years ago, after detoxing on the floor of a prison cell. Today, he's helping other guys like him walk the walk. 

    The treatment centre that grief built, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 26:41


    When sportscaster Scott Oake isn't rinkside at NHL games, he's often hanging out at a substance abuse treatment centre in Winnipeg. He's there to be close to his late son. An urn with Bruce's ashes greets everyone who walks through the doors of Bruce Oake Recovery Centre. In the first of a two-part series, Dr. Brian Goldman visits the centre to meet Scott and learn about the centre's approach to substance-abuse treatment — one that came too late for Bruce.

    What will the federal parties do for health care?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 31:39


    With election day just around the corner, we know Canadians have questions about health care and how the next federal government can help make it better. That's why we asked candidates from the five major parties about three priority issues: how they would ensure every Canadian has a family doctor or nurse practitioner, what they would do to make it easier for doctors to work across the country, and how they would address the creep in private-pay primary care. 

    How is the federal government responsible for health care?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 26:43


    Much of the federal election campaign's focus has been on the U.S. But health care is always on the minds of Canadians. So what are the federal government's responsibilities when it comes to health care—especially when six and a half million Canadians don't have a primary care provider? Amélie Quesnel-Vallée, a McGill professor and Canada Research Chair in Policies and Health Inequalities, explains.

    Public healthcare is a national crisis. So why isn't it an election priority?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 26:45


    The federal election campaign so far has been dominated by curveballs from the U.S. But meanwhile, the state of public healthcare in Canada remains dire. We look at what our listeners have to say about the creep of a two-tier healthcare system, and check in with health law expert Colleen Flood about how Canadians should demand healthcare reform no matter which party they choose.

    A life or death 40-hour wait in the ER

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 26:42


    Christina Shehata waited 40 hours in an Ontario hospital ER to get an inpatient bed. It's a common reality in hospitals across Canada. What makes Christina's story different is that her husband, Dr. Adam Shehata, was keenly aware that she could have died. While the hospital did the best it could, Christina says without the aid of a physician spouse, her stay could have been even longer. They're highlighting the need for systemic change.

    Measles in Canada: Where we're at and how we got here

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 26:44


    We're seeing the worst measles numbers in Canada in more than a decade. Dr. Ninh Tran, medical officer of health in the country's hardest hit region of southwestern Ontario, describes how they're fighting to control the spread. And University of Alberta infectious diseases specialist Dr. Lynora Saxinger reflects on the "undead zombie of disinformation" that's helped lead us here.

    canada ontario measles lynora saxinger
    BONUS: The Dose: What do I need to know right now about measles?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 22:40


    Measles is on the rise, highlighting how a disease considered eliminated in Canada is making a comeback. Recent dramatic outbreaks are worrying people like infectious diseases specialist Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti. He explains why more people are getting measles, how it spreads, the symptoms and the long-term complications. He says getting vaccinated provides the best protection. (Originally published Mar. 6, 2025.)

    canada dose measles sumon chakrabarti
    Meet the people who help sedate you

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 26:41


    A shortage of anesthesiologists in Canada often means postponed operations and procedures. But some hospitals are using anesthesia assistants (AAs) to get more patients into surgeries and routine procedures needing sedation. Dr. Brian Goldman observes AA Rob Bryan during a colonoscopy at an Ontario hospital to find out what he does. And Nova Scotia pediatric anesthesiologists Dr. Sally Bird and Dr. Mathew Kiberd say AAs have become an essential part of their anesthesia team.  

    Saving elderly patients from the hazards of the ER

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 26:47


    It may seem counterintuitive, but hospital emergency rooms can be hazardous to the health of elderly patients. An innovative geriatric multidisciplinary ER team at St. Mary's Hospital in Montreal is getting elderly patients discharged quickly and safely, saving them from preventable harms and the hospital millions in preventable admissions.

    A career, three young kids, and colorectal cancer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 26:41


    A growing number of young people in Canada are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and their needs often differ from older patients. Melissa Grof​f was diagnosed at age 34, with three small kids, in the prime of her career.​​ ​She​ says she would have benefitted from more age-appropriate care. Sunnybrook's Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Clinic offers this care including support for mental health, sexual health, body image issues and family planning.

    What if palliative care was about living better?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 26:41


    Palliative physician Dr. Samantha Winemaker says her line of work has a branding problem. Instead of thinking of it as "the Grim Reaper service" to be called in at the 11th hour, she says patients benefit from a palliative approach as soon as they're faced with a life-limiting illness. "Dr. Sammy" meets a new patient and his family for the first time - showing how her person-centered care treads the fine line between honesty and hope. 

    Primary care lessons: What the Netherlands can teach us

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 26:39


    Dr. Tara Kiran knows primary care in Canada can be better. That's why the Toronto-based family physician and researcher went to the Netherlands, a world leader in health, to see what we can take away. What she found is a system that provides around-the-clock care and primary care teams who can see patients when they need it most. 

    ENCORE: The high cost of sick notes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 26:41


    Patients don't like asking for them, doctors hate writing them, and yet, some employers continue to demand notes when a worker calls in sick for a minor illness like the flu or a cold. More and more doctors and other health-care providers says that sick notes shouldn't be required for minor illnesses, tying up an already overloaded system. Some provinces have now updated their sick note policies.

    Primary care for all: Lessons from Denmark

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 26:39


    We know there are problems with our country's health-care system, with millions of Canadians going without a family doctor or nurse practitioner. But Denmark, a country where more than 98 percent of its population is attached to a primary care provider, could have some lessons for us. We travelled to the Scandinavian country to see how the Danish system works for patients and doctors. The differences are startling.

    The quest for an ADHD diagnosis in middle age

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 26:41


    CBC producer Adam Killick has spent his whole life believing something was wrong with him. It's only now, in his 50s, that he's wondering if he has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. About four to six per cent of adult Canadians have ADHD. If Adam is diagnosed, it would help him make sense of his life. If not, he's not sure what he'll do. We follow along on his quest. 

    THE DOSE: How do I know if I have undiagnosed adult ADHD?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 24:01


    [Encore Presentation]: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder – or ADHD – is a common diagnosis in children. But more and more adults are also being diagnosed with ADHD. Psychiatrist Dr. Ainslie Gray explains some of the tell-tale signs you might be living with undiagnosed ADHD, as well as some of the ways you might be unknowingly coping with the condition.

    Palliative care isn't just for patients – it's for families

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 26:42


    Faced with a life-limiting illness, most Canadians would like to die at home. But only 13% are offered the palliative support to do so, which Dr. Sammy Winemaker wants to change. The palliative home care physician introduces us to the family of patient Shelley McCarthy two years after her death at home from thyroid cancer. They say a palliative approach should be offered early and include everyone.

    Young colorectal cancer patients are different. So is this clinic

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 26:43


    Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Canada, but screening doesn't begin until age 50. Seeing younger people getting diagnosed, Dr. Shady Ashamalla helped launch Sunnybrook's Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Centre in Toronto. It offers minimally invasive care to patients like Catherine Mifsud, diagnosed with three kids at home in the prime of her career.

    Virtual doctors for real ERs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 26:42


    Like many of Canada's rural and remote communities, Mackenzie, B.C.'s hospital struggles to staff the ER. But once a week, a doctor hundreds of kilometres away fills in virtually. Many provinces like B.C. are using virtual care in ERs in an attempt to keep the doors open. But critics are concerned about patient safety and the need to balance virtual with in-person care.

    Making hospital food scrumptious, and sustainable

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2025 26:41


    When Ned Bell's wife was recovering from cancer surgery at Vancouver General Hospital, the unappetizing food she was served left a bad taste in his mouth. So the five-star chef teamed up with his wife's surgeon to revamp patient meals. Dr. Brian Goldman visits Chef Bell in the hospital's test kitchen to see how the new “Planetary Health Menu” helps boost patient health and reduce the carbon footprint of traditional hospital food.

    ENCORE: The gift of life

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024 26:45


    In this season of bearing gifts, it's been said the highest form of giving is the anonymous kind. Heather Badenoch knows that very well. She donated part of her liver to a child she never met in Toronto. Now she uses her communications skills to recruit donors for people in need of an organ.

    The Senator's Singer

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 26:41


    Former senator and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Murray Sinclair spent the last four months of his life at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg. He found comfort in the music of Quinton Poitras, a Métis musician with Artists in Healthcare Manitoba who played his favourites, especially the blues. Niigaan Sinclair says that even though his father was in a lot of pain, the music helped him feel joy in the moment.

    Should Canada have nurse anesthetists?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 26:39


    Josh Booth has a pitch for Canada: Bring in nurse anesthetists to help deal with Canada's shortage of anesthesiologists, the doctors who manage sedation before and during surgery. Booth, a Canadian certified registered nurse anesthetist working in the U.S., says health professionals like him can help handle the demand for anesthesia. B.C. has tried twice to bring in the nursing role but it has yet to happen. Dr. Giuseppe Fuda, president of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society, says there are concerns about bringing in nurse anesthetists to our healthcare system.

    The power of AI to diagnose rare diseases

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 26:42


    Ian Stedman Googled his rash and self-diagnosed a rare genetic condition called Muckle-Wells syndrome. It took him 32 years and almost 200 inconclusive doctor visits. A decade later, he's on a mission to get AI into the Canadian healthcare system to help diagnose and treat rare diseases faster.

    $150 for 15 minutes, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2024 26:41


    More Quebeckers are paying to see a family doc for services that should be covered publicly. Dr. Martin Potter explains why he founded Clinique Santé Plus after 20 years in the public system. But Dr. Bernard Ho of Canadian Doctors for Medicare says Quebec may be a bellwether for the rest of Canada, and private-pay family medicine puts the public system, and individual patients, at risk.

    $150 for 15 minutes, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 26:43


    In Quebec, family medicine is the latest troubling frontier in a two-tier system that's been quietly growing for years. Dr. Brian Goldman visits Clinique Santé Plus in Vaudreuil to learn why the clinic's youngest doctor turned away from the public system. Two patients - one languishing on a waitlist for a family doctor, and one who can never reach hers - explain why $150 is worth 15 minutes with a private family doctor.

    ENCORE: Man Googles rash, discovers rare disease

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 26:43


    For decades, Ian Stedman lived with severe rashes, constant joint pain, red eyes and debilitating migraines. He saw dozens of doctors, but no one knew what was wrong with him. So he gave up. But when his infant daughter started showing the same symptoms, he turned to the internet. After a lot of research, he successfully diagnosed himself with a disease so rare, only one in a million people have it.

    Psilocybin and accepting death

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 26:39


    Pete Pearson, 74, is not ready to die. He was diagnosed six years ago with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which has an average survival rate of 2-3 years after diagnosis. He knows he's on borrowed time, and has been dealing with anxiety and depression. That's why he's seeking approval from Health Canada to use psilocybin as part of a treatment called psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. His son Blake, who is also a family doctor, believes it can help his dad live the rest of his life to the fullest.

    White Coat, Black Art Introduces | Uncover: Bad Results

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 35:23


    They needed certainty. They got chaos. For over a decade, countless people from at least five different countries put their trust in a company offering prenatal paternity tests. It promised clients “99.9% accuracy” — but then routinely, for over a decade, identified the wrong biological fathers.Investigative journalists Jorge Barrera and Rachel Houlihan track down the people whose lives were torn apart by these bad results, the shattered families and acrimonious court cases that followed, and the story behind the company that continues to stand by its testing and is still operating today.More episodes of Uncover are available at: https://lnk.to/AiF3rdPo

    Sex medicine doctors are putting women's health, and pleasure, first

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 26:41


    Many women report sexual health difficulties and don't always know where to go for help. A small cadre of Canadian doctors specializing in women's sexual health is trying to change that. They're helping patients boost pleasure, while empowering them to get to know their sexual anatomy.

    As doctors leave, rural nurses struggle

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 26:45


    When the last full-time doctor left the small town of Carberry, Manitoba in 2023, the responsibility of providing healthcare was left on the shoulders of nurses. In our second show from Carberry, Dr. Brian Goldman learns from a retired nurse just how robust rural healthcare once was. And when Brian witnesses a health emergency first hand, he sees the toll a town without doctors is taking on one nurse practitioner.

    One town's fight to reinstate healthcare

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 26:45


    Like many Canadian small towns, Carberry, MB had become a healthcare desert. In 2023, the small ER closed and the last doctor left. Carberry embarked on the fight of its life to get healthcare back. And now, just days before the first of two new MDs starts work, Dr. Brian Goldman visits Carberry to learn about the Herculean efforts it takes for one town to reinstate healthcare, and make sure they don't lose it again. 

    ENCORE: Power of attorney - a cautionary tale

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 26:42


    When Mary Jarratt's brother, Billy, had a debilitating stroke at the age of 58, she was thrown into the role of power of attorney. That meant making significant decisions on Billy's behalf, including his personal care, the care of his high school-aged son, and whether to sell the family home. It has taken a physical and emotional toll on her and she wants people to know what they're getting into when they sign up to be a POA.

    Bringing the emergency department to the trauma scene

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 26:39


    When he's not working in the ER, Dr. Nicholas Sparrow spends his spare time in a surprising way. He responds to critical threat-to-life calls as a volunteer through the Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association (KERPA), a charity he created. Dr. Brian Goldman rides along on one of Dr. Sparrow's shifts to learn how - and why - he does it.  

    What do 'Ask your doctor' ads actually accomplish?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 26:39


    Companies are spending big bucks advertising weight-loss drugs like Rybelsus and Ozempic. But in Canada, "reminder ads" can give only the medication's name, not what it's for, telling people to ask their doctor for more. Special guest Terry O'Reilly, host of CBC's Under the Influence, says it can result in bad ads that turn people off, while pharmaceutical policy expert Barbara Mintzes says reminder ads can do more harm than good.

    This school's for family docs only

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 26:41


    A first-of-its-kind medical school, part of Queen's University in Ontario, is recruiting and training students with the sole intention of graduating family doctors. But can it prepare them for the daily realities of the job?

    Healthcare at the food bank

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 26:44


    Every two weeks, tenants of a Toronto Community Housing high-rise benefit from an on-site food bank. It's run by an embedded healthcare team, to build trust and get people the help they desperately need.

    Overheated: Behind the scenes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 14:46


    A behind-the-scenes chat about the making of the CBC collaboration "Overheated" where White Coat, Black Art, What on Earth, and Quirks and Quarks explore how heat is affecting our health, our communities and our ecosystems.

    Claim White Coat, Black Art on CBC Radio

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel