Doctor’s Orders: The 13 Best Medical Podcasts In 2024 For Lifelong Learning In Medicine
I've enjoyed and benefitted from countless hours absorbing wisdom from some medical podcasts, and wanted to share a few of my favorites for you to enjoy too. They've informed my practice, inspired my innovation, and they can do the same for you. Podcasts allow us to stay connected to the heartbeat of healthcare, learning about the latest discoveries, clinical practices, and healthcare management strategies, all in a format that fits our busy lives.
13 Best Medical Podcasts Shortlist
Dive into my top medical podcast picks, curated from (probably too many) hours of listening! I’ve included podcasts for medical students, clinicians, docs, healthcare professionals and medical professionals. I’m sure you’ll find something that’s well worth a listen.
1. The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast
The Curbsiders is a podcast that serves up internal medicine knowledge through engaging interviews and discussions with experts. Guests include a variety of experienced practitioners and thought leaders in the field of internal medicine.
Who it’s for: Healthcare professionals, particularly those in internal medicine, who are interested in expanding their knowledge and skills.
What you'll learn: Deep insights into various aspects of internal medicine, practical case discussions, and clinical pearls that you can apply to your practice.
Why you should listen to it: The podcast presents complex topics in a digestible format, offering you practical knowledge and tips that you can apply in your professional life.
About the Podcast Host: The Curbsiders team is composed of practicing physicians. You can find more about them on Twitter, and their website.
2. Straight Talk MD Podcast
Summary: This podcast features discussions about the latest healthcare topics. The host, a doctor, invites expert guests to provide balanced, informative conversations.
Who it’s for: Healthcare professionals and anyone interested in current healthcare topics.
What you'll learn: The latest issues in healthcare, insights from experts, and balanced views on controversial healthcare topics.
Why you should listen to it: The podcast presents a balanced view on important healthcare topics, making it a valuable resource for understanding the current healthcare landscape.
About the Podcast Host: Straight Talk MD is hosted by Dr. Frank Sweeny. More about him can be found on his website.
3. Docs Outside The Box Podcast
This podcast features stories of physicians who are thinking outside the box to meet the challenges of healthcare. It provides interviews with medical professionals who are breaking norms and setting inspiring examples.
Who it’s for: Physicians, medical students, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in innovative approaches to healthcare.
What you'll learn: You'll gain insights into how physicians can think creatively, overcome challenges, and change the face of healthcare.
Why you should listen to it: It's a great source of inspiration for medical professionals who want to innovate and make a significant impact in their field.
About the Podcast Host: Docs Outside The Box is hosted by Dr. Nii Darko, a board-certified General Surgeon. More about him can be found on his LinkedIn, Twitter, and website.
4. The Nocturnists Podcast
The Nocturnists is a storytelling podcast where healthcare workers share experiences from the trenches of the medical world. It provides a unique insight into the personal, raw aspects of healthcare that are often overlooked.
Who it’s for: Healthcare professionals, medical students, and anyone interested in the personal experiences of those in the medical field.
What you'll learn: You'll hear personal stories from healthcare workers about challenges, triumphs, and the human side of medicine.
Why you should listen to it: The Nocturnists offers a rare, intimate perspective on the life and experiences of healthcare workers, and the very real human element in medicine.
About the Podcast Host: The Nocturnists is hosted by Dr. Emily Silverman, an internal medicine physician. More about her can be found on her LinkedIn, Twitter, and website.
5. Emergency Medicine Cases Podcast
This podcast provides comprehensive discussions on practical emergency medicine topics, designed to keep emergency healthcare professionals up-to-date and informed.
Who it’s for: Healthcare professionals in emergency medicine, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics.
What you'll learn: You'll gain insights into best practices in emergency medicine, learn about recent developments, and hear case studies.
Why you should listen to it: This podcast helps emergency medicine professionals stay updated and prepared, potentially helping them provide better patient care.
About the Podcast Host: Emergency Medicine Cases is hosted by Dr. Anton Helman, an Emergency Physician at North York General in Toronto. More about him can be found on Twitter, and website.
6. The BMJ Podcast
Summary: The British Medical Journal's podcast offers insights into the latest medical research and practices. It hosts a variety of medical professionals discussing current topics in healthcare.
Who it’s for: Healthcare professionals and anyone else interested in staying informed about the latest in healthcare.
What you'll learn: Updates on recent medical research, expert discussions on current healthcare topics, and a deeper understanding of complex healthcare issues.
Why you should listen to it: It offers an opportunity to stay updated with the most recent medical trends and research in a format that is accessible and engaging.
About the Podcast Host: The BMJ Podcast is hosted by a team from the British Medical Journal. You can find more about them on Twitter, and their website.
7. The Healthcare Policy Podcast
This podcast provides valuable insights into healthcare policy. The host conducts interviews with a variety of experts involved in the formulation of healthcare policy.
Who it’s for: Healthcare professionals, policymakers, students, and anyone interested in understanding healthcare policy.
What you'll learn: In-depth analysis of current healthcare policy issues, and discussions on potential policy solutions to healthcare problems.
Why you should listen to it: This podcast offers insights from experts actively involved in policy making, providing listeners a deeper understanding of healthcare policy.
About the Podcast Host: This podcast is hosted by David Introcaso, a noted healthcare policy expert. More about him can be found on his LinkedIn, Twitter, and website.
JAMA Clinical Reviews
This podcast from The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) delves into clinical updates, healthcare policy and patient care. Guests are typically experts in their respective medical fields.
Who it’s for: Medical professionals, researchers, and students who wish to stay updated on the latest clinical and healthcare practices.
What you'll learn: Listeners get updates on the latest in clinical medicine, healthcare policy, and patient care techniques.
Why you should listen to it: It provides a reliable source of information for clinicians and other healthcare professionals, offering comprehensive reviews and expert opinions.
About the Podcast Host: The podcast is a production of JAMA Network. More about them can be found on their LinkedIn, Twitter, and website.
8. Bedside Rounds
Bedside Rounds is a storytelling podcast about medical history and medicine’s intersections with society and culture. Guests are medical experts who share their insights and experiences.
Who it’s for: Medical professionals, historians, and anyone interested in the history of medicine and its role in society.
What you'll learn: Listeners learn about fascinating events in medical history and how they relate to modern medicine.
Why you should listen to it: The podcast presents medical history in an engaging and informative way, offering unique insights into the field of medicine.
About the Podcast Host: Bedside Rounds is hosted by Dr. Adam Rodman, a practicing internist with a passion for medical history. You can find more about him on his LinkedIn, Twitter, and website.
9. The Lancet Voice
This podcast from The Lancet, one of the world's oldest and most respected medical journals, offers discussions and interviews about global health topics.
Who it’s for: Medical professionals, researchers, and students, as well as anyone interested in global health issues.
What you'll learn: Listeners will gain insights into various global health issues and the latest medical research.
Why you should listen to it: It presents reliable and in-depth global health and medical information directly from a reputable source.
About the Podcast Host: The podcast is a production of The Lancet. More about them can be found on their LinkedIn, Twitter, and website.
10. The Elective Rotation: A Critical Care Hospital Pharmacy Podcast
This podcast is aimed at critical care practitioners, pharmacy students, and those interested in critical care medicine, presenting interviews and information about pharmacotherapy in the critical care setting.
Who it’s for: Pharmacists, critical care practitioners, pharmacy students, and anyone interested in the pharmacological aspect of critical care.
What you'll learn: You'll learn about the latest developments in critical care pharmacotherapy, real-life clinical scenarios, and expert advice on drug management in critical care.
Why you should listen to it: It offers a unique perspective on critical care, focusing on pharmacotherapy, and presents complex information in an easily digestible format.
About the Podcast Host: The podcast is hosted by Joe Muench, a pharmacist with extensive experience in critical care. More about him can be found on his LinkedIn, Twitter, and website.
11. The Short Coat Podcast
This podcast, run by medical students at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, offers a glimpse into the life of a medical student and discusses a variety of healthcare topics.
Who it’s for: Medical students, aspiring medical students, and anyone interested in the life of a medical student.
What you'll learn: The realities of medical school, practical tips for surviving medical education, and discussion on various medical topics.
Why you should listen to it: It provides a real, unfiltered perspective on life as a medical student, and offers tips and insights that could prove beneficial to current or aspiring medical students.
About the Podcast Host: The Short Coat Podcast is hosted by a rotating group of medical students. More about them can be found on their Twitter, and website.
12. The New England Journal of Medicine Podcast
This podcast provides weekly audio summaries, editorials, and a case-based discussion of clinical practice from the New England Journal of Medicine. Guests typically include leading doctors and researchers in their respective fields.
Who it’s for: Medical professionals, researchers, and students who wish to stay updated on the latest research and clinical practices in medicine.
What you'll learn: The most current findings in various fields of medicine, in-depth medical article discussions, and expert views from leaders in the field.
Why you should listen to it: It provides comprehensive and reliable medical knowledge, straight from a trusted medical source.
About the Podcast Host: The podcast is a production of the NEJM Group. More about them can be found on their LinkedIn, Twitter, and website
13. 2 Docs Talk
In 2 Docs Talk, two doctors sit down to discuss current issues in medicine, from new research to ethics. They simplify complex medical topics and make them accessible for everyone.
Who it’s for: Healthcare professionals, students in the medical field, and anyone interested in a nuanced understanding of medical topics.
What you'll learn: You'll gain a deeper understanding of current medical issues, medical ethics, and recent research in the field.
Why you should listen to it: 2 Docs Talk breaks down complex medical topics into understandable discussions, giving listeners the chance to be informed about current healthcare issues.
About the Podcast Host: 2 Docs Talk is hosted by Dr. Kendall Britt, MD, and Amy Rodgers, MD, who bring their experience and perspectives to discuss contemporary medical issues. More about them can be found on their Facebook.
What do you think?
We hope you find these podcast recommendations valuable in expanding your knowledge and enhancing your perspective on healthcare. If you've been tuning into a fantastic medical podcast that didn't make our list, we'd love to hear from you. Keep up with the latest in healthcare by tuning into discussions about medical practice management.
Please share your recommendations with us - together, we can make this a more comprehensive resource for our community of medical professionals and enthusiasts. Your insights are key to keeping us all informed and at the cutting edge of our field.