Shows
Pain Matters Podcast NetworkEp 37 Acetaminophen in Pregnancy and Children: Debunking Myths and Ensuring Safe Use*In this episode, Amber Borucki, MD from Stanford Medicine, joins Host Sudheer Potru, DO, FASA, FASAM, and Co-Host Zafeer Baber, MD, to discuss acetaminophen use during pregnancy and childhood. They focus on a significant Swedish study that dispels myths about acetaminophen's links to autism, reinforcing its safety and effectiveness. Dr. Borucki highlights its role in pain management for expectant mothers and children, while the hosts discuss alternatives to opioids, like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and stress the importance of consulting healthcare providers for proper dosing and guidance.About the Guest
2025-10-3134 min
Pain Matters Podcast NetworkExploring Addiction Myths and Harm Reduction with Maia Szalavitz*In this episode of Pain Matters, Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, speaks with Maia Szalavitz, award-winning New York Times opinion writer and AAPM 2025 Featured Speaker. Recorded April 4, 2025, at the AAPM PainConnect 2025 meeting, their conversation explores themes from Szalavitz’s recent writing on addiction, harm reduction, and drug policy. Maia shares her personal journey through addiction and recovery, and offers insights into the critical distinction between dependence and addiction. They also discuss the effectiveness of harm reduction strategies when it comes to opioids, the potential of emerging treatments like Ozempic, and the role of...
2025-09-0253 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkIn Response: BMJ Interventional Spine Guidelines 2025Join Executive Producer and Host Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and Co-Host Mustafa Broachwala, DO, for a pivotal episode of the Pain Matters Podcast where we address the recent BMJ publication, “Common interventional procedures for chronic non-cancer spine pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials,” and the associated guideline. Steven Cohen, MD, Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University, Lynn R. Kohan, MD, University of VA Medical School, Zachary McCormick, MD, University of Utah, Nathaniel M. Schuster, MD, University of California, San Diego, Daniel Larach, MD, MS, MA, Vanderbilt University, Hance Clarke, MD, FRCPC, PhD, Univ...
2025-03-2147 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkNavigating Cannabis in Pain Medicine [Part 2]Dr. Mark Wallace of UCSD joins hosts Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA and Mustafa Broachwala, DO and pick up where they left off on their discussion regarding the nuanced world of medical cannabis, understanding medical applications, appropriate dosing strategies, and advice for prescribing providers. Furthermore, they discuss the challenges of clinical trials, regulatory hurdles, and the implications for treating pain. Dr. Wallace offers insight into the complexities of cannabis research, dosage guidelines, and the controversial discourse surrounding its legalization. This enlightening discussion offers a deep dive into an oft misunderstood and stigmatized area of pain medicine.
2025-02-0534 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkNavigating Cannabis in Pain Medicine [Part 1]Join us for an enlightening episode of the Pain Matters Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of medical cannabis and its implications for pain management. Hosts Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and Mustafa Broachwala, DO, are joined by Mark Steven Wallace, MD, a Pain Management Specialist and Professor of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego Health, who brings more than two decades of experience in cannabis research.In this episode, you’ll discover: Biologics of Cannabis: Dr. Wallace dives deep into the pathophysiologic mechanism at play regarding endocannabinoid receptors and the mech...
2024-10-0327 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkPain Medicine Training: Enhancing Training for Better Outcomes - Part 2Join us for Part 2 of our engaging series on the necessary reforms in pain medicine training as we explore potential changes that could significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of pain medicine education.Hosts Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and Mustafa Broachwala, DO are joined once again by esteemed experts Scott Gregory Pritzlaff, MD, Associate Professor and Pain Medicine Fellowship Director at UC Davis Health, and Sayed Emal Wahezi, MD, Professor and Pain Medicine Fellowship Director at Montefiore Medical Center, to delve deeper into the structural adjustments and implications of extending training periods in pain medicine.
2024-08-2839 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkPain Medicine Training: A Call for Reformation - Part 1Join us in a critical discussion on the urgent need for reform in pain medicine training programs. In this enlightening episode of the Pain Matters Podcast, hosts Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and Mustafa Broachwala, DO, engage with experienced pain medicine program directors to delve deep into the current state, gaps, and proposed changes surrounding pain medicine fellowships.Tune in as we’re joined by Scott Gregory Pritzlaff, MD, Associate Professor and Pain Medicine Fellowship Director at UC Davis Health, and Sayed E. Wahezi, MD, Professor and Pain Medicine Fellowship Director at Montefiore Medical Center as...
2024-07-2529 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkSpecial Episode: What FTC's Landmark Decision to Ban Noncompetes Means in MedicineJoin us for a timely discussion on the recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruling to ban non-compete clauses. This decision can significantly alter the landscape of employment across various sectors, including healthcare. In this special episode of the Pain Matters Podcast, hosts Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and Mustafa Broachwala, DO, sit down with Michael Johnson, Jr., Esq. to dive deep into the nuances of this ruling, and what it means for medical professionals, especially those in pain medicine.Our expert guest, Michael Johnson, Jr., Esq., is a seasoned physician contract lawyer and owner of Michael J...
2024-05-0241 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkThe Future of AI in Medicine: Current State, Applications, and EvolutionJoin us for a riveting exploration into the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI) in interdisciplinary pain medicine. This episode of the Pain Matters Podcast features a thought-provoking discussion on the transformative potential of AI and the ethical challenges it introduces.Hosts Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and Mustafa Broachwala, DO, are joined by two distinguished experts:Tinglong Dai, PhD, a Bernard T. Ferrari Professor at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, co-chair of the Johns Hopkins Workgroup on AI and Healthcare, and a leading voice in the integration of AI within clinical settings...
2024-04-251h 06Pain Matters Podcast NetworkHistory in the Making: The Battle for SCS Coverage in Washington StateJoin us for a comprehensive exploration into the advocacy and personal dedication that shapes the world of pain medicine. In this episode, our discussion hones in on a critical juncture in pain medicine — the anticipation of the Washington Health Technology Clinical Committee's (HTCC) decision on Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) coverage. This decision could transform the landscape of pain management for state employees, state-sponsored health plans, and injured workers under Washington Labor and Industries (L&I), reaching over 2.5 million people.Hosts Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and Mustafa Broachwala, DO, are joined by a distinguished panel of...
2024-02-081h 03Pain Matters Podcast NetworkSetting the Record Straight: A Response to JAMA on Corporate Influences on Spinal Cord StimulationOn this episode of the Pain Matters Podcast, we turn our attention to a Viewpoint article published in JAMA on December 18, 2023 entitled “Corporate Influences on Science and Health—the Case of Spinal Cord Stimulation”. Written by the same lead author of the widely criticized Cochrane Review of Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) for Low Back Pain, this recent article blames all physicians who defend SCS for having corporate interests and suggests that no research in any specialty should be influenced by industry.Hosts Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and Mustafa Broachwala, DO, sit down with Nathaniel M. Schuster, MD, fr...
2024-01-2524 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkInsights from Industry Leaders: Ethics, Collaboration, and Challenges in Health-TechRecorded during the 2023 AAPM Annual Meeting, Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and co-host Mustafa Broachwala, DO, navigate this multifaceted topic alongside two esteemed guests: Dan Brounstein, Chief Strategy Officer with Saluda Medical, and Yele Aluko, MD, MBA, Ernst & Young Americas Chief Medical Officer.In this episode, we explore:Industry Collaboration: A deep dive into the history and current state of the relationships between pain clinicians and the industry, and what firewalls to remain ethicalClinician Transparency: Discussion around potential conflicts of interest and the call for transparency in disclosures not just as conferences but on social media a...
2023-11-091h 17Pain Matters Podcast NetworkSI Joint Injections and LCDs: Navigating New Boundaries in Pain MedicineJoin us as we delve deep into the pivotal March 18, 2023 local coverage determination (LCD) that has shaken the pain medicine community by limiting access to sacral lateral branch radiofrequency ablation and imposing stringent documentation requirements to demonstrate the medical necessity for sacroiliac (SI) joint injections.In this episode, host Dr. Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and co-host Dr. Mustafa Broachwala, DO, tackle the contentious LCD that threatens to restrict options for patients suffering from chronic SI joint pain and their dedicated doctors. To shed light on this vital issue, they're joined by Zachary L. McCormick, MD, Chief...
2023-09-1444 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkConfronting the Silent Crisis: Workplace Violence in Pain MedicineJoin host Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and co-host Mustafa Broachwala, DO, as they discuss a rising, yet often overlooked, issue - workplace violence in healthcare settings, particularly in pain management.Our featured guest for this episode is Mercy Udoji, MD, CMQ, FASA, pain physician and associate professor at Emory University School of Medicine, and a renowned expert on workplace violence in the medical field. She is the senior author of the 2023 article, "Violence in the Pain Clinic, the Hidden Pandemic". This seminal piece of work shines a light on the escalating incidences of workplace violence against...
2023-06-0836 minPain Matters Podcast Network[Part 2] The Relationship Between Food and Pain Perception – A Conversation with Kathleen Holton, PhD, MPHIn the second episode of our two-part conversation with Kathleen Holton, PhD, MPH, she expands on her work with food and chronic pain, taking a closer look at the nutritional supplements and dietary strategies that pain patients can use to manage their conditions. Tune in as she discusses common issues within the American diet and explores how weight, nutrient deficiencies, and dietary misconceptions have played a role in the rise of chronic pain conditions.Join host Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and co-host Mustafa Broachwala, DO, for this episode of the Pain Matters Podcast as they continue...
2023-04-2032 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkReaction & Analysis to the March 2023 Cochrane Library Review on Spinal Cord Stimulation for Low Back Pain with Nathaniel M. Schuster, MD, and Zachary McCormick, MDCochrane Library’s recently published article questioning the clinical benefit of spinal cord stimulation for low back pain has stirred controversy throughout the pain medicine community. In response to these findings, we sat down with neuromodulation specialists & Pain Medicine journal editorial board members, Zachary McCormick, MD, and Nathaniel M. Schuster, MD, to offer our in-depth reaction and analysis of the March 2023 report. In this episode of the Pain Matters Podcast, host Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and co-host @Mustafa Broachwala, DO, are joined by Zachary McCormick, MD, Chief of Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Utah...
2023-03-301h 17Pain Matters Podcast NetworkAdvocating for Patients in Pain with Stephanie Vanterpool, MD, FASA, MBAPain is invisible and highly subjective—for physicians, overcoming these barriers requires interpreting the signs of pain through a patient’s actions and words. This can be a delicate process, since the next step a provider takes to relieve a patient’s pain can have long-term effects on their outcome.Exploring the nuances of patient advocacy, Stephanie Vanterpool, MD, FASA, MBA, Pain Medicine Specialist, Anesthesiologist, and Director of Comprehensive Pain Services at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, has dedicated her career towards strategically empowering patients to advocate for themselves and towards educating clinicians outside of pain medici...
2023-03-2131 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkUnder the Microscope - Examining Racial Disparities in Pain Medicine with Aderonke Pederson, M.D.The history of our medical institutions is fraught with racial prejudices that have shaped our understanding of pain in black patients, leading to unequal treatment across our healthcare system. Working to dismantle these disparities, Aderonke Pederson, MD, has dedicated her career to bridging the treatment gap. Her groundbreaking work addresses faults in our current system, increasing the quality and accessibility of care in communities that have historically been overlooked or exploited by medical institutions.In honor of Black History Month, Pain Matters Podcast host Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and co-host Mustafa Broachwala, DO, are joined by...
2023-02-2338 minPain Matters Podcast Network[Part 1] The Relationship Between Food and Pain Perception - A Conversation with Kathleen Holton, PhD, MPHWhen we’re young, we often hear the phrase “you are what you eat.” While this is true, it doesn’t paint the full picture. Kathleen Holton, PhD, MPH, has dedicated her career to mapping the ways food can influence pain pathways in our bodies, studying the chemical processes behind physical pain and its psychiatric comorbidities. Her groundbreaking research on glutamate receptors has shown that a dietary approach may hold the answer, offering promising results for treating conditions such as fibromyalgia and migraines.In this two-part episode of the Pain Matters Podcast, host Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and...
2023-01-2625 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkUsing Psychedelics to Expand the Horizons of Pain Medicine with Timothy Furnish, MDExploring the boundaries of pain management, the Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative (PHRI) pursues groundbreaking research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for pain patients. By examining how these psychoactive compounds act at the intersection of pain, identity, and memory in our brains, Dr. Furnish’s work has challenged our understanding of pain mechanisms while paving the way for novel treatments that may offer effective long-lasting relief.In this episode of the Pain Matters Podcast, host Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, and co-host Mustafa Broachwala, DO, are joined by Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and the Medical Director of...
2022-12-1537 minPain Matters Podcast NetworkThe Intersection of Pain and COVID-19 with Soo Kim, MDWorking on the pandemic’s front lines, Soo Kim, MD, was part of the medical team at Johns Hopkins University that first identified and treated signs and symptoms of Long COVID and its chronic pain symptoms. Her groundbreaking involvement in one of the first Post-Acute COVID Syndrome (PACS) Clinics has since become the blueprint for how many physicians treat acute and chronic pain among Long COVID patients.In this episode of the Pain Matters Podcast, host Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA, is joined by special guest host Mustafa Broachwala, DO, to interview the Director of Pain Medicine at...
2022-11-2222 min