The Doctors On Social Media Podcast

Recent Episodes

1. From Sideline to Cyberspace

   Jul 10, 2026

   Dr. Alejandro Badia hosts two leading orthopedic surgeons—Dr. Stefan Obini (joint reconstructive surgeon at UCSF, founder of DocSF digital health conference) and Dr. Martin Roach (pioneering robotic joint arthroplasty surgeon in South Florida)—to explore the intersection of technology, robotics, and AI in sports medicine and orthopedic surgery. The discussion covers why orthopedics has lagged in tech adoption, the role of data collection and machine learning, misconceptions about AI and robot "replacement" of physicians, and the future of collaborative robotics, digital twins, and biologics in athlete care and joint surgery.

2. The Day Dr. Ong Stopped Being a Doctor

   Jul 4, 2026

   Dr. Olivia Ong, a rehabilitation medicine physician, shares her transformative story of surviving a catastrophic spinal cord injury sustained in a 2008 car accident in Australia that left her with incomplete paraplegia. The episode explores her journey from shock and despair through intensive rehabilitation at Project Walk in California, her eventual return to medical practice as a pain management and rehabilitation specialist, and her evolution from viewing herself solely through the lens of her medical identity to valuing herself as a complete human being.

3. Biologic Buzz vs. Real Evidence in Sports Medicine

   Jul 3, 2026

   Dr. Alejandro Badia hosts a panel discussion on orthobiologics with three leading experts: Don Buford (president of the Interventional Orthobiologics Foundation), Pedro Bernalis (sports medicine surgeon from Seville, Spain), and Raj Pandya (building a multi-center biologics practice in Atlanta). The episode explores the gap between 'biologic buzz' and real evidence in regenerative medicine, examining why patients are drawn to PRP and stem cell treatments, the need for certification standards, and how these therapies may render certain surgeries obsolete while improving patient outcomes.

4. Going It Alone: The Future of Solo Sports Practices

   Jun 26, 2026

   Dr. Alejandro Badia hosts a discussion on the future of solo sports medicine practice with two accomplished surgeons: Dr. Kevin Plancher (New York-based, solo for decades) and Dr. Sharif Bichel (recently transitioned to solo practice in Detroit). The conversation explores whether fellowships are necessary, the realities of launching and sustaining an independent practice, the importance of building community relationships and referral networks, and the competitive advantages of solo private practice in delivering patient care. Key themes include clinical excellence, business acumen, mentorship, team building, and accessibility as differentiators in modern healthcare.

5. Who Really Counts as a Sports Medicine Doctor?

   Jun 19, 2026

   Dr. Alejandro Badia hosts a panel discussion with three sports medicine specialists to define what qualifies as a sports medicine doctor. The panel explores the distinction between surgical (orthopedic) and non-operative sports medicine, the importance of fellowship training, and addresses misconceptions about scope of practice for chiropractors and podiatrists who label themselves as sports medicine specialists. Key themes include the spectrum of sports medicine care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the responsibility of clinicians to educate patients about appropriate credentials.

6. One Office. Dozens of Hospitals.

   May 28, 2026

   Dr. Brain Barbie, a teleneurologist and epileptologist from the Bahamas, discusses her unique practice model serving underserved communities across the United States via telehealth. Operating from her Delaware office with 31 state licenses, she provides inpatient neurology consultations to dozens of hospitals nationwide, covering stroke codes, seizures, and neurological emergencies that would otherwise go unseen. The episode explores how telehealth has expanded physician capacity in underserved areas while acknowledging the limitations of remote clinical practice.

7. Funny Until Patients Are the Punchline

   May 21, 2026

   Dr. Jordan Eamond, a board-certified OB/GYN, discusses the role of humor in healthcare and social media. The episode examines the distinction between appropriate and inappropriate use of humor by medical professionals, with particular focus on toxic content that demeans patients—including cases at Mayo Clinic and Columbia University. Dr. Eamond argues that while humor can humanize healthcare and bond healthcare teams, it must never deprecate patient experiences, and he calls for institutional accountability when medical professionals cross ethical lines.

8. Burnout By Specialty: Family Medicine

   May 12, 2026

   This episode explores burnout in family medicine through conversations with three physicians: Dr. Santina Wheat (family medicine program director at Northwestern), Dr. Alexandra Stockwell (relationship and intimacy coach, former family medicine practitioner), and Dr. Cynthia Chen Joy (physician coach and family medicine practitioner in Southern California). The discussion covers why family medicine physicians are leaving the field at higher rates than other specialties, including systemic issues like inadequate appointment times (15 minutes), excessive administrative burden, loss of autonomy, and misaligned compensation models. The guests emphasize that meaningful patient relationships and continuity of care are what sustain family physicians, while offering practical anti-burnout strategies including boundary-setting, emotional awareness, addressing gender dynamics in leadership, reducing administrative load through scribing support, and building trauma-informed leadership approaches.

9. Control, Contracts, and the Truth About Physician Stability

   May 6, 2026

   Dr. Marcelo Hockman, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, discusses his article "The Stability Many Physicians Assume They Have" alongside fellow physicians Dr. Bertina Hooks (internal medicine hospitalist) and Dr. Jim O'Leary (retired OBGYN). The panel explores how physicians often discover their jobs are less secure than expected, the structural issues inherent in employed healthcare settings, the lack of exposure trainees have to independent practice options, and why many physicians choose employment despite potential alternatives.

10. Burnout By Specialty: Oncology

    May 5, 2026

    Three oncologists—Dr. Tiffany Troso (medical oncologist, breast and gynecological cancers; retired from Memorial Sloan Kettering after 25 years), Dr. Layla Agrawal (medical oncologist, breast cancer specialist in Louisville, Kentucky), and Dr. Elaini Romanos (director of pediatric hematology and oncology at Northwell Health, Staten Island)—discuss the unique dimensions of burnout in oncology. The conversation covers emotional intensity, long-term patient relationships, complex care coordination, administrative barriers including insurance approvals and prior authorizations, and systemic pressures. The guests offer practical recommendations for leadership, clinician autonomy, EMR burden reduction, workforce sustainability, and cultural change in medical training around self-care.