Global Hypertension Crisis: Why 1.7 Billion People Are at Risk Inequality, Prevention & AI Solutions

What happens when a successful oncologist leaves clinical practice to help develop cancer treatments on a global scale? In this episode of The Lebanese Physicians Podcast, Dr. Safi Shahda shares his journey from academic oncology to leadership roles at Eli Lilly, Intellia Therapeutics, and AstraZeneca. We discuss career transitions, pharma misconceptions, innovation, AI in drug development, mentorship, and how physicians can expand their impact beyond the bedside. #LebanesePhysiciansPodcast #PharmaCareers #Oncology #ClinicalResearch #DrugDevelopment #MedicalLeadership #PhysicianCareer #AstraZeneca #Biotech #HealthcareInnovation #ArtificialIntelligence #CancerResearch #MedicalEducation #CareerGrowth #PhysicianLife #Medicine #Subscribe #Podcast #Healthcare #clinicaltrials ⁨@thelebanesephysicianspodcast⁩   ⁨@astrazeneca⁩  On all podcast apps Website: https://thelebanesephysicianspodcast.podbean.com

In this episode of the Lebanese Physicians Podcast, I sit down with hypertension researcher Dr. Farah Allouch to discuss the growing global hypertension epidemic affecting over 1.7 billion people worldwide. We explore the widening healthcare inequality gap between high- and low-income countries, barriers to treatment, prevention strategies, the role of AI and digital health, and why uncontrolled blood pressure is becoming a major driver of cardiovascular disease and dementia. A must-watch conversation for clinicians, public health professionals, and anyone interested in the future of global healthcare. #Hypertension #HighBloodPressure #CardiovascularDisease #GlobalHealth #PublicHealth #AIinHealthcare #PreventiveMedicine #HealthcareInequality #LebanesePhysiciansPodcast #Medicine #HeartHealth #DigitalHealth #DementiaPrevention #podcast On Youtube  @thelebanesephysicianspodcast  On all podcast apps Website: https://thelebanesephysicianspodcast.podbean.com   @Tulane   @tulaneuniversityschoolofme3851 ​

Can cancer care be delivered virtually without compromising quality? In this episode of The Lebanese Physicians Podcast, I speak with Dr. Dany Matar about Color, the first ASCO-certified virtual cancer clinic in the United States. We discuss how artificial intelligence, multidisciplinary expert review, and virtual oncology are improving access to world-class cancer care, shortening time to diagnosis and treatment, and reducing costs for patients, employers, and health plans. Dr. Matar also shares his inspiring journey from medical school in Lebanon to public health, consulting, and healthcare innovation in the U.S. #CancerCare #ArtificialIntelligence #Oncology #VirtualCare #DigitalHealth #HealthcareInnovation #PrecisionMedicine #Telemedicine #ASCO #ColorHealth #LebanesePhysiciansPodcast #CancerScreening #MedicalInnovation #HealthcareAI #subscribe  @thelebanesephysicianspodcast  On all podcast apps Website: https://thelebanesephysicianspodcast.podbean.com

Most physicians spend decades mastering medicine, but very little time building their visibility. In this episode of The Lebanese Physicians Podcast, I sit down with digital strategist and entrepreneur Roy Abdo, founder and CEO of Digital Revamp, to discuss how physicians can use storytelling, LinkedIn, AI, and social media to establish authority, grow their reputation, and unlock new opportunities. Roy shares practical strategies for doctors to: Build a compelling personal brand Create meaningful content without spending hours online Use LinkedIn to attract speaking, consulting, and career opportunities Leverage AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity to streamline content creation Communicate complex medical topics in simple, patient-friendly language Build a lasting digital legacy that extends far beyond clinical practice Whether you are a physician, healthcare leader, researcher, or entrepreneur, this episode offers a practical roadmap to becoming more visible, influential, and impactful in today’s digital world. 🎧 Listen now and start building your professional brand with purpose. Digital Revamp website: https://digitalrevamp.com/ #LebanesePhysiciansPodcast #PhysicianBranding #PersonalBranding #LinkedInForDoctors #AIinMedicine #DigitalMarketing #HealthcareLeadership #MedicalEntrepreneurship #Storytelling #DoctorInfluencer #RoyAbdo #KhalilDiab #DigitalRevamp #MedicalEducation #HealthcareInnovation #ThoughtLeadership #PhysicianLeadership #SocialMediaForDoctors #ChatGPT #subscribe   On YouTube ⁨@thelebanesephysicianspodcast⁩  On all podcast channels Website: https://thelebanesephysicianspodcast.podbean.com

In this episode of The Lebanese Physicians Podcast, I sit down with immigration attorney and former leader of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Sarah Peterson, to break down the rapidly evolving U.S. immigration landscape and its profound impact on healthcare. With over 600 policy changes introduced in a short period, international medical graduates (IMGs), who make up nearly 25% of the U.S. physician workforce, are facing unprecedented uncertainty. From visa adjudication pauses to staggering new fees and executive orders targeting specific countries, these policies are leaving many physicians in legal limbo, unable to work, renew visas, or progress toward permanent residency. In this conversation, we explore: - What the latest immigration policies actually mean in practical terms - How visa and green card processing delays are affecting physicians already in the U.S. - The ripple effects on underserved communities and healthcare access - Real-world stories of physicians caught in the system - The controversial $100,000 H-1B fee and its implications for hospitals - Why these policies could worsen the U.S. physician shortage - What advocacy groups and institutions are doing and what comes next This episode highlights a critical and underreported issue at the intersection of immigration policy and patient care. As July approaches, the consequences could be felt across hospitals, clinics, and communities nationwide. 🎧 Whether you're a physician, policymaker, or simply interested in healthcare systems, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. #ImmigrationPolicy #IMGs #HealthcareCrisis #PhysicianShortage #MedicalEducation #J1Visa #H1B #USHealthcare #LebanesePhysiciansPodcast #MedEd #HealthcarePolicy #Doctors #subscribe  ⁨ On YouTube @thelebanesephysicianspodcast⁩  On all podcast apps Website: https://thelebanesephysicianspodcast.podbean.com

In this episode of The Lebanese Physicians Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Carmen Geha, political scientist, scholar activist, and leadership expert, to explore how academia can respond to crisis, trauma, and societal breakdown. Drawing from her experience at the American University of Beirut during some of Lebanon’s most turbulent years—including the economic collapse, COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut Port explosion, Dr. Geha introduces the concept of “scholar activism” and its role in fostering collective healing. Together, we unpack: What creeping crises are and why Lebanon is a defining example How universities can become spaces of healing not just knowledge production The importance of co-creation, community engagement, and flattening hierarchies in academia The emotional toll of activism, including burnout, disillusionment, and resilience Why collective trauma requires collective healing How scholars can balance impact, purpose, and academic advancement This conversation goes beyond theory, it’s a reflection on purpose, identity, and what it means to truly serve a community as an academic in times of crisis. 💡 Whether you're a physician, academic, student, or changemaker, this episode challenges you to rethink the role of knowledge, activism, and healing in your own work. #LebanesePhysiciansPodcast #ScholarActivism #CollectiveHealing #AcademicMedicine #GlobalHealth #PublicHealth #MedicalEducation #Leadership #HealthcareInnovation #Lebanon #CrisisLeadership #Burnout #Resilience #SocialJustice #HigherEducation #ImpactInMedicine #Subscribe On YouTube @thelebanesephysicianspodcast On all podcast apps Website: https://thelebanesephysicianspodcast.podbean.com/                    

In this episode of The Lebanese Physicians Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Zakia Dimassi, a leader in medical education at Khalifa University, to explore an often overlooked issue in simulation-based training: fatigue in standardized patients (SPs). Drawing from her recent publication in Clinical Simulation in Nursing, Dr. Dimassi sheds light on how physical, cognitive, and most importantly emotional fatigue impacts SP performance, assessment accuracy, and ultimately the quality of medical education. Together, we discuss: Why fatigue can begin as early as 30 minutes into sessions How emotional roles (e.g., breaking bad news) take the greatest toll The implications for OSCE reliability and high-stakes exams Real-world observations of performance lapses and scoring variability Practical solutions: better scheduling, breaks, SP-centered design, and de-rolling techniques The future role of AI and hybrid simulation models in reducing fatigue 💡 This conversation challenges educators to rethink how simulation programs are designed and emphasizes the need to co-create systems with standardized patients at the center. Whether you're a clinician, educator, or trainee, this episode offers critical insights into improving both training quality and learner assessment. ⏱️ Key Takeaway: Fatigue in standardized patients isn’t just a comfort issue—it’s a validity issue that can impact how future clinicians are trained and evaluated. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to support the podcast! #MedicalEducation #Simulation #StandardizedPatients #OSCE #HealthcareEducation #MedicalTraining #ClinicalSimulation #AIinHealthcare #PhysicianLife #LebanesePhysiciansPodcast #MedEd #MedicalStudents #Residency #subscribe   @thelebanesephysicianspodcast   @zakia484  On all podcast apps Website: https://thelebanesephysicianspodcast.podbean.com

On April 8, 2026, intense Israeli airstrikes on the middle of day in Beirut led to around 250 dead people and more than 1100 wounded with a lot of people still missing under the rubble. In this powerful episode of the Lebanese Physicians Podcast, we take you inside the devastating events of April 8, 2026. With dozens reported dead and hundreds injured, hospitals across the city rapidly activated emergency protocols to manage the overwhelming surge of trauma patients. I was joined by frontline leaders Dr. Toufic Chaaban (ICU physician and Program Director of Internal Medicine at Lebanese American University Medical Center) and Dr. Cynthia Abi Khalil Jammal (Head of Nursing) at The Lebanese Hospital Geitaoui. They shared firsthand accounts of what it means to respond under extreme pressure. This episode explores: - How hospitals mobilized within minutes for a mass casualty response - Real-time ICU and ER decision-making during crisis - Lessons learned since the Beirut Port Explosion - The emotional toll on physicians, nurses, and trainees - The resilience and unwavering commitment of Lebanese healthcare workers Beyond protocols and preparedness, this is a deeply human story of courage, sacrifice, and the extraordinary strength of a healthcare system repeatedly tested, yet still standing. A must-listen for clinicians, healthcare leaders, and anyone seeking to understand medicine under crisis. #Lebanon #Beirut #Healthcare #MassCasualty #EmergencyMedicine #CriticalCare #MedicalPodcast #Resilience #GlobalHealth #LebanesePhysiciansPodcast #subscribe On YouTube  @thelebanesephysicianspodcast  , on all podcasts apps Website: https://thelebanesephysicianspodcast.podbean.com

In this episode of The Lebanese Physicians Podcast, I sit down with Christophe Zoghby, founder of ZAKA AI, to explore how artificial intelligence is moving beyond hype and into real-world impact across the MENA region. From launching in the Beirut AI community to building one of the region’s leading AI education and implementation platforms, Christophe shares his journey of turning passion into purpose, bridging the gap between AI awareness and practical adoption. We dive into: 🚀 How AI is transforming careers and creating new opportunities in MENA 🧠 The concept of “democratizing AI” and why it matters 🏥 Real-world applications of AI in healthcare and beyond 🌍 How talent in Lebanon and the region can compete globally ⚡ Why upskilling not fear is the key to thriving in the AI era This conversation is a must-listen for clinicians, entrepreneurs, students, and anyone curious about how AI is reshaping the future of work, innovation, and healthcare. 💡 Key takeaway: AI isn’t replacing you it’s amplifying you. Learn it, leverage it, and lead with it. 👉 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more conversations at the intersection of medicine, innovation, and global impact. 🔥 Hashtags #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #MENA #HealthcareInnovation #FutureOfWork #MedicalPodcast #LebanesePhysicians #DigitalHealth #AIinHealthcare #Entrepreneurship #TechInMedicine #Innovation #MiddleEast #CareerGrowth #Upskilling #subscribe On YouTube:  @thelebanesephysicianspodcast   @ChristopheZoghbi  On all podcast apps Website: https://thelebanesephysicianspodcast.podbean.com

In this episode of The Lebanese Physicians Podcast, we explore the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and mental health—and ask a critical question: Can AI truly support emotional well-being safely and effectively? I sit down with Srishti Srivastava, the founder of Healo, an innovative mental health AI based platform now active in over 165 countries, to discuss how AI is transforming access to care across both high-income and low-resource settings. From personal struggle with anxiety to building a global AI mental health companion, this conversation dives into the real-world challenges of mental health access, affordability, and stigma, and how technology may help bridge these gaps. 💡 In this episode, we discuss: The origin story behind Healo and its mission How AI can act as a first step in mental health care The concept of an AI mental health companion Risks like AI hallucinations, AI psychosis, and safety concerns How platforms ensure privacy, HIPAA compliance, and ethical AI use Why AI should augment not replace therapists The future of mental health care in low- and middle-income countries Real-world impact: improving access, reducing wait times, and empowering patients 🌍 As mental health needs rise globally, this episode offers a powerful look at how technology, when used responsibly, can expand access and empower patients while keeping human care at the center. 👉 Whether you're a clinician, innovator, or simply curious about the future of healthcare, this episode is a must-watch. #MentalHealth #AIinHealthcare #DigitalHealth #Psychiatry #HealthcareInnovation #GlobalHealth #MedicalPodcast #LebanesePhysiciansPodcast #FutureOfMedicine #AI #Telehealth #HealthTech #MindHealth #Doctors #Subscribe Website: https://healo.infiheal.com/ The podcast is on YouTube @thelebanesephysicianspodcast and on all podcast apps Podcast website: https://thelebanesephysicianspodcast.podbean.com/