#236 (Feb. 11, 2026) 'Why the Medical Freedom Act Coalition Matters Now: How States Are Leading the Fight': IMA (formerly FLCCC) Weekly Update

What does the future of medicine look like, and what did this year’s IMA conference reveal about where it’s headed?Sign up for weekly webinars: https://imahealth.org/weekly-webinars/In this episode, Host Dr. Joseph Varon is joined by IMA Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Paul Marik and IMA Head of Medical and Scientific Affairs Dr. Ryan Cole for a forward-looking conversation on the trends reshaping medicine, along with a recap of the IMA Medical Education Conference: Emerging Trends in Medicine.Together, they unpack the moments, ideas, and warning signs that stood out at the conference, while exploring the larger forces already changing healthcare. From the future of patient care to the growing importance of independent medical leadership, this discussion takes a serious look at what’s coming and why it matters.If you want to understand where medicine is headed, this conversation is a good place to start.Aired Wednesday, April 22, 2026.Also:• Donate: https://imahealth.org/donate/• Follow: https://imahealth.org/contact/• Webinar: https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/• Treatment: https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/About IMA (Formerly FLCCC Alliance)The Independent Medical Alliance™ is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and coalition of physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals united by a mission to restore trust and transparency in healthcare. The organization’s mission is one driven by Honest Medicine™ that prioritizes patients above profits and emphasizes long-term wellness and disease prevention through empowerment of both physicians and their patients. With a focus on evidence-based medicine, informed consent, and systemic reform, IMA is driving a movement to create a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.For more information about the Independent Medical Alliance, visit www.IMAhealth.org

How can parents navigate vaccine decisions with confidence?Sign up for weekly webinars: https://imahealth.org/weekly-webinars/ This week on the IMA Weekly Show, host Dr. Elizabeth Mumper is joined by Dr. Paul Thomas and DeeDee Hoover, co-authors of Vax Facts, for an important conversation about informed consent, vaccine choice, and why parents’ voices matter in the exam room.• What informed consent should look like in real-world pediatric visits• How parents can prepare for vaccine appointments ahead of time• What to say when they feel pressured, rushed, or dismissed• A practical role-play demonstrating how to stay calm and clear under pressure• Why parents’ voices matter in medical decision-makingMany parents walk into pediatric appointments wanting the same thing: clear information, honest answers, and the freedom to make thoughtful decisions for their children. Too often, they leave feeling rushed, pressured, or afraid to speak up.Drawing on decades of pediatric experience and family advocacy, Dr. Thomas and Hoover discuss how parents can prepare for vaccine conversations, ask better questions, and respond with confidence when they feel pressure in the exam room. The episode also explores the emotional side of these experiences and how they can shape future decisions.This is a conversation for parents, grandparents, and caregivers who want to better understand their options and approach pediatric care with greater clarity, calm, and confidence.Aired Wednesday, April 08, 2026.Also:• Donate: https://imahealth.org/donate/• Follow: https://imahealth.org/contact/• Webinar: https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/• Treatment: https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/About IMA (Formerly FLCCC Alliance)The Independent Medical Alliance™ is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and coalition of physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals united by a mission to restore trust and transparency in healthcare. The organization’s mission is one driven by Honest Medicine™ that prioritizes patients above profits and emphasizes long-term wellness and disease prevention through empowerment of both physicians and their patients. With a focus on evidence-based medicine, informed consent, and systemic reform, IMA is driving a movement to create a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.For more information about the Independent Medical Alliance, visit www.IMAhealth.org

How do we care for patients who once believed changing their gender was the answer, only to find themselves in need of medical care, support, and acknowledgment?This week, IMA Head of Medical and Scientific Affairs and host Dr. Ryan Cole was joined by IMA Senior Fellow in Pediatrics Dr. Katherine Welch, pediatric critical care nurse and founder of The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network Jennifer Lahl, RN, and detransitioner Forrest Smith for an important conversation on the often untold medical, psychological, and legal realities of detransitioning.Together, they examined the gaps in care, recognition, and follow-up that many detransitioners now face, and considered what a more honest, compassionate, and patient-centered response should look like.• Discussion points included:• Why detransitioners are so often overlooked or dismissed• The ongoing medical, psychological, and legal challenges they may face• Where meaningful support, better care, and real progress are beginning to emergeAired Wednesday, April 03, 2026.Also:• Donate: https://imahealth.org/donate/• Follow: https://imahealth.org/contact/• Webinar: https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/• Treatment: https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/About IMA (Formerly FLCCC Alliance)The Independent Medical Alliance™ is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and coalition of physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals united by a mission to restore trust and transparency in healthcare. The organization’s mission is one driven by Honest Medicine™ that prioritizes patients above profits and emphasizes long-term wellness and disease prevention through empowerment of both physicians and their patients. With a focus on evidence-based medicine, informed consent, and systemic reform, IMA is driving a movement to create a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.For more information about the Independent Medical Alliance, visit www.IMAhealth.org

How has one of the world’s darkest industries remained hidden in plain sight?What does that silence say about the institutions that failed to stop it?On this episode of Honest Medicine, Dr. Ryan Cole, IMA Head of Medical & Scientific Affairs, spoke with Jan Jekielek, author and Senior Editor with The Epoch Times, about his book, Killed to Order.Together, they examined the evidence surrounding China’s state-directed organ harvesting system and the broader questions it raises about medical ethics, government power, and global silence.In this episode, they discussed:• what Killed to Order reveals about forced organ harvesting in China• how this system operated for years with too little public scrutiny• what these abuses reveal about corruption, censorship, and human rights• why the medical community and the public cannot afford to look awayAired Wednesday, March 25, 2026.Also:• Donate: https://imahealth.org/donate/• Follow: https://imahealth.org/contact/• Webinar: https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/• Treatment: https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/About IMA (Formerly FLCCC Alliance)The Independent Medical Alliance™ is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and coalition of physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals united by a mission to restore trust and transparency in healthcare. The organization’s mission is one driven by Honest Medicine™ that prioritizes patients above profits and emphasizes long-term wellness and disease prevention through empowerment of both physicians and their patients. With a focus on evidence-based medicine, informed consent, and systemic reform, IMA is driving a movement to create a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.For more information about the Independent Medical Alliance, visit www.IMAhealth.org

What happens when a cancer treatment stops working the way it once did? As tumors adapt and resistance develops, treatment strategy can become a critical part of improving outcomes.Sign up for weekly webinars: Weekly Webinars - Independent Medical Alliance In this episode, Dr. Ryan Cole, IMA Head of Medical & Scientific Affairs, speaks with Dr. Paul Marik, IMA Chief Scientific Officer, about the role of drug cycling in cancer care and why it may be essential for patients facing complex treatment decisions.They cover:• What drug cycling is and how it is used in cancer care• Why changing therapies over time may matter• How tumor adaptation and resistance affect treatment response• What timing, sequencing, and strategy can mean in practiceDr. Marik’s new cancer guides and how they may help support patients and familiesThis conversation offers a practical look at why cancer treatment should not always remain fixed and how thoughtful changes in therapy may help shape better outcomes.Aired Wednesday, March 18, 2026.Also:• Donate: https://imahealth.org/donate/• Follow: https://imahealth.org/contact/• Webinar: https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/• Treatment: https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/About IMA (Formerly FLCCC Alliance)The Independent Medical Alliance™ is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and coalition of physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals united by a mission to restore trust and transparency in healthcare. The organization’s mission is one driven by Honest Medicine™ that prioritizes patients above profits and emphasizes long-term wellness and disease prevention through empowerment of both physicians and their patients. With a focus on evidence-based medicine, informed consent, and systemic reform, IMA is driving a movement to create a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.For more information about the Independent Medical Alliance, visit www.IMAhealth.org

Measles is back in the headlines, and with it a wave of fear, confusion, and half-answers. This episode looks past the rhetoric to a question that matters deeply to families and clinicians alike: What does the evidence actually say about treating measles once someone is sick, in both children and adults?Sign up for weekly webinars: Weekly Webinars - Independent Medical Alliance Host Dr. Elizabeth Mumper, Senior Fellow, Pediatrics at the Independent Medical Alliance, is joined by two co-authors of a new peer-reviewed systematic review in Antiviral Research titled “Acute Management of Measles: A Systematic Review of Therapeutic Strategies.” Her guests are Dr. Joseph Varon, IMA President, and Matthew Halma, IMA Director of Research.Together, they walk through what decades of published research already tell us about measles treatment and why so few parents and even clinicians have heard about it.They cover:• Why this systematic review was needed and what question it set out to answer• Key findings on Vitamin A, ribavirin, interferon-alpha, IVIG, and supportive nutrients• What measles tends to look like clinically in children and how it can differ in adults• Whether treatment-focused research has been overlooked or crowded out by vaccine-only messaging• How to think clearly about immunity from infection versus immunity from vaccination• Practical, evidence-informed steps families can take if measles is circulating, including when to seek urgent medical care• For parents, pediatricians, and front-line clinicians, this conversation offers a calm, evidence-based look at what can be done during measles illness, not just before it.Aired Wednesday, March 11, 2026.Also:• Donate: https://imahealth.org/donate/• Follow: https://imahealth.org/contact/• Webinar: https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/• Treatment: https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/About IMA (Formerly FLCCC Alliance)The Independent Medical Alliance™ is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and coalition of physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals united by a mission to restore trust and transparency in healthcare. The organization’s mission is one driven by Honest Medicine™ that prioritizes patients above profits and emphasizes long-term wellness and disease prevention through empowerment of both physicians and their patients. With a focus on evidence-based medicine, informed consent, and systemic reform, IMA is driving a movement to create a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.For more information about the Independent Medical Alliance, visit www.IMAhealth.org

What does it cost to stand on principle when everything around you says stay quiet?Sign up for weekly webinars: https://imahealth.org/weekly-webinars/In this week’s show, Dr. Ryan Cole led a bold and personal conversation about courage in modern healthcare and what it truly means to stand firm when pressure mounts.He was joined by Dr. Joseph Varon, Professor of Medicine and President and Chief Medical Officer of the Independent Medical Alliance, and Chris Ekrem, MBA, FACHE, former hospital CEO and healthcare executive.Chris introduced Cowboy Ethics, including live each day with courage, finish what you start, ride for the brand, and always do what is right. He also explained what it means to be a “Daniel” in healthcare today and why the system needs more leaders willing to take that stand.Together they explored:• Standing firm when institutions push back• Drawing the line before it is too late• When walking away becomes integrity, not failure• Why some things in medicine must never be for sale• How accountability restores trustThe episode also highlighted IMA’s Ethics & Values Declaration and its commitment to Patients Over Profits, because principle must be lived, not merely declared.Aired Wednesday, March 04, 2026.Also:• Donate: https://imahealth.org/donate/• Follow: https://imahealth.org/contact/• Webinar: https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/• Treatment: https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/About IMA (Formerly FLCCC Alliance)The Independent Medical Alliance™ is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and coalition of physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals united by a mission to restore trust and transparency in healthcare. The organization’s mission is one driven by Honest Medicine™ that prioritizes patients above profits and emphasizes long-term wellness and disease prevention through empowerment of both physicians and their patients. With a focus on evidence-based medicine, informed consent, and systemic reform, IMA is driving a movement to create a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.For more information about the Independent Medical Alliance, visit www.IMAhealth.org

In this week’s show, we asked a critical question about heart health:Most people focus on cholesterol and blood pressure.But what if those numbers don’t tell the full story?Sign up for weekly webinars: Weekly Webinars - Independent Medical Alliance On the IMA Weekly Show, Dr. Mollie James, Senior Fellow with the Independent Medical Alliance, was joined by:• Robert Long, CEO and Co-Founder, Genesis Health Sciences; President, Glycocalyx Research Institute• Dr. Hans Vink, Professor of Circulatory Physics, University of AmsterdamThey discussed why traditional markers may miss early risk, what COVID revealed about endothelial injury, and how emerging diagnostics are changing preventive cardiiology.Originally aired Wednesday, February 25, 2026.Also:• Donate: https://imahealth.org/donate/• Follow: https://imahealth.org/contact/• Webinar: https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/• Treatment: https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/About IMA (Formerly FLCCC Alliance)The Independent Medical Alliance™ is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and coalition of physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals united by a mission to restore trust and transparency in healthcare. The organization’s mission is one driven by Honest Medicine™ that prioritizes patients above profits and emphasizes long-term wellness and disease prevention through empowerment of both physicians and their patients. With a focus on evidence-based medicine, informed consent, and systemic reform, IMA is driving a movement to create a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.For more information about the Independent Medical Alliance, visit www.IMAhealth.org

Ancient herbs. Acupuncture. Thousands of years of observation now meeting modern clinical evidence.Traditional Chinese Medicine has been practiced for millennia — but how does it translate into modern patient care? In this episode, Dr. Ryan Cole, IMA Senior Fellow, speaks with Dr. Kristina Carman, IMA Senior Fellow, Nutritional and Holistic Health, and Dr. Adylle Varon, IMA Senior Fellow, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, about integrating TCM principles into contemporary functional and holistic practice.The discussion explores how thoughtful integration can expand a clinician’s toolkit while remaining patient-centered and evidence-informed.They cover:• What Traditional Chinese Medicine really is — and what it is not• The TCM diagnostic approach and how it differs from conventional models• Targeted herbal support for hormones, thyroid health, stress, and gut health• Practical clinical application examples• Why integrating TCM with functional medicine may enhance patient outcomesThis episode offers practical insight into how ancient wisdom continues to inform modern healthcare.Also:• Donate: https://imahealth.org/donate/• Follow: https://imahealth.org/contact/• Webinar: https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/• Treatment: https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/About IMA (Formerly FLCCC Alliance)The Independent Medical Alliance™ is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and coalition of physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals united by a mission to restore trust and transparency in healthcare. The organization’s mission is one driven by Honest Medicine™ that prioritizes patients above profits and emphasizes long-term wellness and disease prevention through empowerment of both physicians and their patients. With a focus on evidence-based medicine, informed consent, and systemic reform, IMA is driving a movement to create a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.For more information about the Independent Medical Alliance, visit www.IMAhealth.org

States across the country have introduced legislation to restore medical choice, protect the doctor–patient relationship, and push back against one size fits all health mandates.In this episode, Dr. Ryan Cole is joined by Leah Wilson, Esq., Executive Director and Co-founder of Stand for Health Freedom, and Leslie Manookian, President and Founder of the Health Freedom Defense Fund, to discuss the Medical Freedom Act Coalition.The discussion covered:• What the Medical Freedom Act Coalition is• Which states introduced legislation during the 2026 session, and the status of each bill• Why state level action is central to the fight for medical freedomAlso:• Donate: https://imahealth.org/donate/• Follow: https://imahealth.org/contact/• Webinar: https://imahealth.org/category/weekly-webinars/• Treatment: https://imahealth.org/treatment-protocols/• Medical Disclaimer: https://imahealth.org/about/terms-and-conditions/About IMA (Formerly FLCCC Alliance)The Independent Medical Alliance™ is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and coalition of physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals united by a mission to restore trust and transparency in healthcare. The organization’s mission is one driven by Honest Medicine™ that prioritizes patients above profits and emphasizes long-term wellness and disease prevention through empowerment of both physicians and their patients. With a focus on evidence-based medicine, informed consent, and systemic reform, IMA is driving a movement to create a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.For more information about the Independent Medical Alliance, visit www.IMAhealth.org