GeriPal Podcast

How Can We Improve Surgery for #OlderAdults? We explore #Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) and why aligning surgical care with older adults' personal goals and functional independence matters most. #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp422 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Can we prevent cognitive decline? Researchers Laura Baker & Ellen Binder join us to discuss multi-domain lifestyle trials and how combined interventions can slow the brain aging clock by 1–2 years. #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp421 Hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

New guidelines make 90%+ of older adults eligible for #statins, but should they take them? We break down the new PREVENT risk calculator, STAREE trial findings, and the safety of deprescribing after 75. #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp420 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Though blood tests have made it easier to diagnose Alzheimer’s, they can’t replace the diagnostic process as a whole. Dr. Eric Widera joins #DementiaMatters to discuss the importance of functional assessments for dementia and how blood tests should be used in primary care. Listen🎧 go.wisc.edu/p8td3q

Are "hot new drugs" actually ready for palliative care? Our 3 guest pharmacists break down the hype vs. reality of 5 new and rediscovered drugs including GLP-1s. #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp419 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

How can interactive maps transform #aging? Today we explore how mapping neighborhood data—from crosswalk times to tree canopy—reveals health inequities & helps cities & clinicians better support older adults. #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp418 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Just in time for flu season, we got you covered on what you need to know for vaccines this fall/winter. geripal.org/flu-covid-rs...

The latest vaccine updates for older adults: which flu shot works best, who needs RSV & #COVID boosters, #Shingrix side effects, plus data on how #vaccines reduce cardiovascular events & dementia risks. #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp417 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

The latest vaccine updates for older adults: which flu shot works best, who needs RSV & #COVID boosters, #Shingrix side effects, plus data on how #vaccines reduce cardiovascular events & dementia risks. #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp417 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Financial decline often precedes a #dementia diagnosis by up to 8 years. We explore how missed bills, scams, and banking changes expose cognitive risk—and how "wealth care" can protect older adults. #medsky #alzheimers Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp416 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Are GLP-1s always the answer for older adults? We explore the balance between weight loss and sarcopenia, emphasizing functional goals, lean mass preservation, and why one size fits none in #geriatric care. #medsky Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp415 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

As Palliative Care evolves beyond end-of-life care, who should see a specialist? We talk with 3 palliative care leaders to discuss broad eligibility, workforce capacity, & the future of serious illness care. #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp414 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

🎧 🧠 Don’t miss @nathanielchinmd.bsky.social and Dr. Sterling Johnson discussing LATE vs. Alzheimer’s disease on the @geripal.bsky.social podcast.

Over 75% of older adults with dementia actually have a MIX of different brain pathologies. We talk with Nate Chin & Sterling Johnson about LATE (mimics Alzheimer’s), biomarkers, mixed dementia's, and more! #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp413 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Can videos and communication training improve Advance Care Planning? We break down recent trials combining patient video aids with clinician training to drive goal-concordant care. #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp412 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Snake Oil or Breakthrough? Longevity experts Dr. Mahtab Jafari & Dr. John Newman break down what actually works to extend healthspan & lifespan, from lifestyle habits to drugs in the pipeline. #medsky 👉 bit.ly/GeriPalEp411 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Can hepatologists deliver palliative care effectively? We dive into a new JAMA study showing both models significantly improve quality of life for end-stage liver disease patients. #medsky   👉 bit.ly/GeriPalEp410 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

NIH Shakeup! We dive into a proposed OMB rule change that could allow political appointees to overrule scientific peer review, ban critical health disparity research, and censor funded scientists. #medsky 👉 bit.ly/GeriPalEp409 😀 Hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Thank you @alexsmithmd.bsky.social and @ewidera.bsky.social for highlighting our research on @geripal.bsky.social

When should doctors say "no" to treatments that won't help? We talk to Jason Batten, Liz Dzeng & Teva Brender about the real-world, unwritten "workarounds" clinicians use when standard ICU guidelines fail. #medsky   👉 bit.ly/GeriPalEp408 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

How do we move from recognizing #ElderMistreatment to building actual solutions? We dive into #caregiver strain, clinical "spidey senses," hospital protection teams, and collaborating with APS. #medsky Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp407 Hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

What happens when healthcare experts become the patients? Today we dive into elder care transitions, structural flaws in assisted living, and the rising impact of private equity on vulnerable populations. #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp406 Hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

What even is a #geriatrician? Today we bring together four geriatrics legends to wrestle with geriatric identity, what they'd change, and why the field must stop lamenting shortages to dream big. #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp405 Hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

What is it like to prescribe Medical Aid in Dying? Drs. Carly Zapata & Dani Chammas open up about moral ambivalence, clinician grief, and the ethical "gray zones" of MAID. No easy answers — just honest ones. #medsky   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp404 Hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Today we break down the Organ Donation Conversation — what clinicians often get wrong, why it's governed by gift law (not healthcare law), and why donor families often say "donation saved us." #medsky #OrganDonor   Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp403 Hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Basal Cell is the No. 1 cancer in the US. But for Older Adults, watchful waiting may be the right call. We dive into Geriatric Dermatology (GeriDerm) + itching, moisturizers, and more. #medsky   👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp402 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Live from São Paulo: Brazilian geriatricians join GeriPal to discuss intrinsic capacity, loneliness as a medical syndrome, and advance care planning. Guests Eduardo Ferriolli, Marlon Aliberti, & Edison Vidal. 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp401 😀 Hosts: Drs. Alex Smith and Eric Widera

GeriPal celebrates 400 episodes! Hosts @ewidera.bsky.social & @alexsmithmd.bsky.social do a Hot Ones–style AMA 🌶️: AI in medicine, changing clinical practice, joy in geriatrics, Advance Care Planning, and what they'd do differently after 10 years, + more. #medsky   👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp400

Rural Palliative Care isn't urban care in a smaller town. It's "MacGyver medicine" — champions cobbling care together with what exists. We dig into equity, telehealth, AI, and dying close to home. #medsky 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp399 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Researchers from UCLA and UCSF join GeriPal to discuss a Pragmatic Trial using EHR nudges and navigators to increase #AdvanceCarePlanning. Guest Anne Walling, Neil Wenger, & Rebecca Sudore. #medsky   👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp398 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

CMS is rolling out a new Age-Friendly Hospital Measure to improve care for older adults. We discuss the 4Ms and how this aims to move hospitals from disease-centric care to person-centered care. #medsky 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp397 😀 Hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

We discuss guest Athanase Benetos's study that found no difference in mortality between deprescribing antihypertensives and usual care in frail nursing home residents. We also interview Mike Steinman. #medsky 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp396 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Is Alzheimer's a clinical symptom or just a biomarker? We’re diving into the "A-words"— #amyloid, antibodies, and #Alzheimers — with three top experts - Halima Amjad, Barak Gaster, & Heather Whitson. #medsky 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp395 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

We dive deep into Leadership, Quality, & the Future of Hospice & Palliative Care with TCNtalks' Chris Comeaux & Cordt Kassner. - leadership challenges, mission vs money, fraud, research funding + more! #medsky 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp394 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

We discuss the challenges of Deprescribing at the End of Life, from the "easy" calls (statins) to the hard ones (anticoagulants), and how to align meds with a patient's true goals. #medsky   👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp393 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Should hospitals allow Unilateral DNR orders? We dive into this and the silent practice of assent DNRs, ethics, the legal "wild west" of state statutes, and bias in end-of-life care. #medsky   👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp392 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Join us at the GeriPal Pub Crawl The GeriPal pub crawl in San Diego during the Annual Assembly of #hospice and #palliativecare. We start at 8pm on Thursday night, March 5th. Details are on the link below: geripal.org/geripal-pubc...

Shoutout to @lsgeriatricem.bsky.social and @lizgoldbergmd.bsky.social for their fantastic @geripal.bsky.social podcast episode! www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1no... podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e... @saemonline.bsky.social #emergencymedicine #saem #agem #geriatricmedicine #emergencydepartment

We discuss how Embedding Care (PTs, pharmacists, & social services) directly in the ED can reduce repeat fall-related visits by 66% and connect vulnerable seniors with life-saving community resources. #medsky 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp391 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Great discussion with Dr. Bob Wachter about his new book on AI and Healthcare, "A Giant Leap." We discuss using AI for diagnosis, job loss concerns, risks of direct-to-patient chatbots, ethics + more! #medsky 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp390 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Surprise: Routine perioperative #PalliativeCare may NOT improve outcomes for curative-intent cancer surgery. Lead authors of the SCOPE & PERIOP-PC trials join us to discuss these null results. #medsky 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp389 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Is the future of #PalliativeCare moving into the community? 🏡 We dive into #ValueBasedCare, the risks of "Palliative Lite," and how innovation is expanding access for patients with #SeriousIllness. 🩺 #medsky 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp388 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social l

Today we explore Uncertainty in Medicine, and the need to rethink & embrace uncertainty to better manage complexities of medicine & build confidence in the face of the unknown. #medsky 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp387 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Why we need quality improvement (QI) collaboratives, registries, and benchmarking, and the immense potential this has to enhance #PalliativeCare. Guests Steve Pantilat, David Currow, and Arif Kamal. #medsky   👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp386 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

To what extent is it our job as consultants to manage or attend to clinician distress? What happens when that clinician distress leads to conflict? #medsky Guests Sara Johnson, Yael Schenker, & Anne Kelly. 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp385 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Link to the JAGS article “Rehab and Death: Improving End-of-Life Care for Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Beneficiaries.” #medsky agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Rehab & Death in Skilled Nursing Facilities is a vicious cycle: Sarguni Singh, Christian Furman, & Lynn Flint explain how hope, policy gaps, & payment rules shape these transitions—and why change is needed. #medsky 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp384 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

Inflammaging—chronic, low-grade inflammation that rises with age—may be a key driver behind many chronic and acute diseases. We talk with 3 experts: Brian Andonian, Sara LaHue, & Joe Hippensteel. #medsky 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp383 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

The Chaplain and the Doctor: A Podcast with Betty Clark and Jessica Zitter ⁦‪ @geripal.bsky.social geripal.org/the-chaplain...

A chaplain (Betty Clark) and a doctor (Jessica Zitter) reflect on their new documentary, The Chaplain and the Doctor, and the ways personal stories and biases shape our interactions in healthcare. #medsky   👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp382 😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social