Best Canadian Medical Association Journal Podcasts (2025)

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E177 - Stephen Foster on Global Surgery in Angola 1:04:53

13d ago1:04:53

1:04:53

It’s hard to describe exactly what Dr. Stephen Foster is. Dr. Foster is a general surgeon, urologist, infectious disease doctor, entrepreneur, and missionary who has spent his career working in Angola. We caught up with Dr. Foster to talk about his life working in Angola and really to explore his thoughts on empowering non-MD providers to provide l…

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Stepping up: Canadian research in the shadow of cuts in the United States 25:12

14d ago25:12

25:12

Send us a text This episode of the CMAJ Podcast examines how recent changes to U.S. federal research funding are affecting the global scientific landscape—and what they could mean for Canada. The discussion focuses on indirect costs, talent retention, and whether Canada is positioned to step into any gaps left behind. The hosts speak with two guest…

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Perspectives on the new guideline for managing obesity in children 31:24

28d ago31:24

31:24

Send us a text It’s been nearly two decades since the last Canadian clinical practice guideline on managing obesity in children. In that time, the science has advanced, treatment options have expanded, and the need for updated guidance has grown increasingly urgent. On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, hosts Dr. Mojola Omole and Dr. Blair Bigham sp…

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E176 - Journal Club with David Maslove on Cash Incentives for Peer Review 46:51

1M ago46:51

46:51

Clip of Senate hearing with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. That was a clip from a Senate hearing with Robert F Kennedy Jr, who, as many listeners will know, is the current US Secretary of Health and Human Services. In 2025, many folks around the world have become interested in the way that science currently works, particularly around the process of peer rev…

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How short-term opioid prescriptions affect long-term outcomes 36:57

1M ago36:57

36:57

Send us a text A recent article in CMAJ entitled Effect of emergency department opioid prescribing on health outcomes examines a key concern facing many clinicians: can a single opioid prescription for acute pain lead to long-term harm? This study aimed to clarify the risks and inform safer prescribing practices. Dr. Grant Innes, the study’s senior…

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The mortality risk and therapeutic potential of hallucinogens 31:03

2M ago31:03

31:03

Send us a text A research article in CMAJ examines mortality risk among people hospitalized for hallucinogen use. The study found that individuals who required acute hospital care for hallucinogen-related issues had a nearly fivefold increase in mortality risk compared to the general population. Dr. Daniel Myran, a public health and preventive medi…

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E175 - Global Surgery and the Power of Purpose with Mark Shrime 57:08

2M ago57:08

57:08

The only thing that can save us from our irascibly self-centered existence is to make sure that our existence is in the service of others Mark Shrime, ENT surgeon, global surgery researcher and now career coach is our guest on this episode. The quote I read was from his wonderful book, “Solving for Why: A Surgeon’s Journey to Discover the Transform…

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More access, more deaths: alcohol’s impact in the COVID-19 pandemic 31:12

2M ago31:12

31:12

Send us a text A new CMAJ study has found that alcohol-related hospitalizations and deaths in Canada surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. While overall alcohol consumption increased only modestly, the toll on the healthcare system was severe, with a 14% rise in hospitalizations and a 24% increase in deaths during the first two years of the pandemic…

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E174 - Bridging East and West on colorectal cancer, with Tsuyoshi Konishi 57:08

3M ago57:08

57:08

Tsuyoshi Konishi Dr. Tsuyoshi Konishi is an associate professor of Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, in Houston, USA. We again got a chance to hear several of his talks at the COLOSOS conference in Toronto in Oct 2024. Dr. Konishi is really helping to bridge the gap between “Eastern” and “Western” appr…

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The major benefits of exercise for older adults 29:38

3M ago29:38

29:38

Send us a text An article in CMAJ, "Move more, age well: prescribing physical activity for older adults," found that regular physical activity can reduce all-cause mortality by 31%. As Canada’s population ages, maintaining physical activity is becoming an increasingly critical factor in healthy aging. On this episode, Dr. Samir Sinha, a geriatricia…

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E173 - The Leading Edge of Colon Cancer Treatments, with Jenny Seligmann 37:50

3M ago37:50

37:50

This week we were joined by Dr. Jenny Seligmann. Dr. Seligmann is a Professor of Gastrointestinal and Translational Oncology and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at the University of Leeds. Dr. Seligmann is one of the authors of the seminal FOxTROT trial, which investigated the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced colon cancers. Dr. S…

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Making healthcare accessible for patients with disabilities 37:40

3M ago37:40

37:40

Send us a text Medicine remains frequently inaccessible to people with disabilities, despite their higher-than-average need for healthcare services. On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole tackle the systemic barriers that patients with disabilities face, from inaccessible clinic spaces to discriminatory attitudes…

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E172 - Joy of Surgery 8:16

4M ago8:16

8:16

This episode is an edited version of a talk I gave to our first years during their Surgical Foundations course. It’s mainly a reminder to myself: this too shall pass. Links: Steven Covey 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: https://www.amazon.ca/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful/dp/0743269519 “Memento Mori”: https://dailystoic.com/memento-mor…

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Diagnosing and managing necrotizing fasciitis 34:38

4M ago34:38

34:38

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Mojola Omole and Dr. Blair Bigham discuss necrotizing fasciitis, a diagnosis that can strike fear into the hearts of clinicians due to its rapid progression and devastating consequences. The discussion builds on insights from the CMAJ practice article, “Necrotizing soft tissue infections cause…

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E171 - Selwyn Rogers on Violence Prevention & Creating a Trauma Centre in Chicago 41:39

4M ago41:39

41:39

Selwyn O. Rogers Jr., MD, MPH, FACS, is a widely respected surgeon and public health expert. As founding director of the University of Chicago Medicine Trauma Center, Dr. Rogers is building an interdisciplinary team of specialists to treat patients who suffer injury from life-threatening events, such as car crashes, serious falls and gun violence. …

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Antimicrobial resistance and the shift to shorter courses of antibiotics 39:58

4M ago39:58

39:58

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Mojola Omole and Dr. Blair Bigham explore the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance and how shorter courses of antibiotics are reshaping prescribing practices. The conversation builds on insights from the CMAJ practice article “Five things to know about shorter courses of antibiotics” …

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E170 - Dr. Thomas Forbes speaks at William Ersil Research Day 42:44

5M ago42:44

42:44

This episode is a recording of the Queen’s Department of Surgery William Ersil Research Day. This year our invited speaker was Dr. Thomas Forbes, chief of surgery at University Health Network in Toronto and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Vascular Surgery. In this “How I Built This” style episode in front of a live audience, we explored Dr. Forbe…

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ENCORE: AI versus physicians: who’s better at spotting high-risk patients? 32:46

5M ago32:46

32:46

Send us a text On this encore episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) significantly improves the identification of hospital patients at risk of clinical deterioration compared to physician assessments alone. They are joined by Dr. Amol Verma, a general internist at St. Michael’s Ho…

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E169 - The Canadian Medical Protective Association & Cold Steel on Medico-legal Risks for the Surgeon (part 1) 43:55

5M ago43:55

43:55

We are delighted to release our new collaborative mini-series on “Medico-legal Risks for the Surgeon”. The Canadian Medical Protective Association and the Cold Steel podcast have teamed up to release this mini-series exploring some common legal issues that might arise for surgeons. In this first episode, we explore some basic legal issues that surg…

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Scurvy and the challenge of food insecurity 33:04

5M ago33:04

33:04

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Mojola Omole and Dr. Blair Bigham explore a surprising case of scurvy. The conversation builds on the CMAJ practice article “Scurvy in a 65-year-old woman with severely limited function and social supports,” co-authored by Dr. Sally Engelhart, an internal medicine specialist at Mount Sinai Hos…

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E168 - Caprice Greenberg on Coaching 35:25

6M ago35:25

35:25

Thank you for joining us on Cold Steel! Dr. Caprice Greenberg is a surgical oncologist at UNC School of Medicine in North Carolina. She is a preeminent health services researcher and also the founder of the Academy for Surgical Coaching. We caught up with her to do a deep dive on surgical coaching and the work that she’s done on a state-wide level …

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Misdiagnosed and misunderstood: premenstrual dysphoric disorder 34:33

6M ago34:33

34:33

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Mojola Omole and Dr. Blair Bigham explore Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a debilitating condition affecting 5% of people who menstruate, yet it is often misdiagnosed or misunderstood. The conversation builds on insights from the CMAJ article, “Five things to know about…: PMDD,” co-aut…

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E167 - Adom Bondzi Simpson on Diversity in Surgery 42:47

6M ago42:47

42:47

Dr. Adom Bondzi-Simpson is a general surgery resident and PhD student at the University of Toronto. He’s been nationally recognized for his advocacy work and research work on social justice and social determinants of health. He is a winner of the Canadian Medical Association for Young Leaders, the 2023 winner of the Mikhael Award for Medical Educat…

1
Exploring the link between diet and depression 30:42

6M ago30:42

30:42

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Mojola Omole and Dr. Blair Bigham discuss the growing evidence around the impact of diet on mental health, particularly depression. The conversation is inspired by the CMAJ practice article, “Diet and depression,” co-authored by Dr. Nicholas Fabiano. Dr. Fabiano explains how the mechanistic co…

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E166 - Lilli Cooper on Tremors and Performance Anxiety 38:42

6M ago38:42

38:42

Thank you so much for joining us on Cold Steel! The tremulous surgeon seems like such an oxymoron, an impossible paradox. The reality of course, is that many surgeons have a tremor. Our discussion on this episode with Lilli Cooper on tremors was a wonderful exploration of performance anxiety in surgery. Lilli Cooper is a plastic surgeon in the UK, …

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Compassionate and comprehensive care for early pregnancy loss 45:31

7M ago45:31

45:31

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Mojola Omole and Dr. Blair Bigham speak with Dr. Sarina Isenberg and Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass about the emotional and systemic challenges surrounding early pregnancy loss care in Canada. The conversation builds on themes from the recent CMAJ article, “Diagnosis and management of early pregnancy …

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Bonus Episode from CANUCS Surgical Fellows Course: Morad Hameed on Finding Fulfillment as Surgeons 59:37

7M ago59:37

59:37

We’re really excited to bring you talks that we recorded as part of the CANUCS Surgical Fellows course. CANUCS is a national organization that stands for Canadian collaborative on urgent care surgery. Dr. Chad Ball and Kelly Vogt were instrumental in bringing together some really fantastic speakers to talk about the critical knowledge and skills th…

1
Building support for pregnancy and parenthood in surgery 33:05

7M ago33:05

33:05

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Mojola Omole and Dr. Blair Bigham explore the structural and cultural barriers faced by surgical residents and early career surgeons in balancing parenthood with their careers. The conversation centers around the points raised in the CMAJ article “Policies to better support childbearing surgeo…

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Bonus Episode from CANUCS Surgical Fellows Course: Morgan Schellenberg on Choosing Your First Surgical Job 23:26

7M ago23:26

23:26

We’re really excited to bring you talks that we recorded as part of the CANUCS Surgical Fellows course. CANUCS is a national organization that stands for Canadian collaborative on urgent care surgery. Dr. Chad Ball and Kelly Vogt were instrumental in bringing together some really fantastic speakers to talk about the critical knowledge and skills th…

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Bonus Episode from CANUCS Surgical Fellows Course: Ashlie Nadler on being Available, Affable, and Able 27:22

7M ago27:22

27:22

We’re really excited to bring you talks that we recorded as part of the CANUCS Surgical Fellows course. CANUCS is a national organization that stands for Canadian collaborative on urgent care surgery. Dr. Chad Ball and Kelly Vogt were instrumental in bringing together some really fantastic speakers to talk about the critical knowledge and skills th…

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Bonus Episode from CANUCS Surgical Fellows Course: Kelly Vogt on Starting Your Career in Research as a Surgeon 30:02

7M ago30:02

30:02

We’re really excited to bring you talks that we recorded as part of the CANUCS Surgical Fellows course. CANUCS is a national organization that stands for Canadian collaborative on urgent care surgery. Dr. Chad Ball and Kelly Vogt were instrumental in bringing together some really fantastic speakers to talk about the critical knowledge and skills th…

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Bonus Episode from CANUCS Surgical Fellows Course: Rob Leeper on How to Think About Your Surgical Career 24:01

7M ago24:01

24:01

We’re really excited to bring you talks that we recorded as part of the CANUCS Surgical Fellows course. CANUCS is a national organization that stands for Canadian collaborative on urgent care surgery. Dr. Chad Ball and Kelly Vogt were instrumental in bringing together some really fantastic speakers to talk about the critical knowledge and skills th…

1
Breaking the mold: embracing neurodiversity in medicine 29:01

7M ago29:01

29:01

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Kirsten Patrick speaks with Dr. Shane Neilson, the author of a CMAJ Encounters article entitled, “Professional stigmatizations.” Dr. Neilson is a physician, writer, and academic, who shares his experiences navigating medical school and practice as a neurodiverse physician with bipolar disorder…

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Bonus Episode from CANUCS Surgical Fellows Course: Ameer Farooq on Culture in Surgery 33:01

7M ago33:01

33:01

We’re really excited to bring you talks that we recorded as part of the CANUCS Surgical Fellows course. CANUCS is a national organization that stands for Canadian collaborative on urgent care surgery. Dr. Chad Ball and Kelly Vogt were instrumental in bringing together some really fantastic speakers to talk about the critical knowledge and skills th…

1
Prioritizing pain management during IUD insertions and other gynecologic procedures 36:38

7M ago36:38

36:38

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole explore effective ways to manage pain during intrauterine device (IUD) insertions. They also address a broader issue: how women’s pain is often neglected during gynecologic procedures, and the failure of physicians to adequately seek consent. They are joined b…

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E165 - Erin King-Mullins on Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and Developing Your Own Practice 31:59

8M ago31:59

31:59

As a trainee, I rarely thought about the details of setting up your own office, and yet I always felt that there had to be a way of doing it better. Dr. Erin King-Mullins is a colorectal surgeon in Fayetteville, Georgia. She created the Colorectal Wellness Center. On this episode, we talk to her about why and how she created the Colorectal Wellness…

1
AI versus physicians: who’s better at spotting high-risk patients? 32:53

8M ago32:53

32:53

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) significantly improves the identification of hospital patients at risk of clinical deterioration compared to physician assessments alone. They are joined by Dr. Amol Verma, a general internist at St. Michael’s Hospital …

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E164 - Best of CSF 2023 with Elena Parvez 24:40

8M ago24:40

24:40

Dr. Elena Parvez is a surgical oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery. Her clinical expertise and research interests are in breast cancer. She is exploring breast cancer outcomes in refugees to Canada who have breast cancer. She has received funding from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to conduct a trial which…

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Meningitis B outbreaks: vaccination and risk in university settings 30:49

8M ago30:49

30:49

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole explore the ongoing public health concern of meningococcal disease, focusing on meningitis B outbreaks in Canadian universities. They are joined by Dr. Cristin Muecke, a medical officer of health in Halifax, and Dr. Savita Rani, a public health specialist at t…

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E163 - Rediscovering a Surgeon's Purpose and Intentionality with Dr. Sharon Stein 47:04

9M ago47:04

47:04

Thank you so much for joining us on the podcast! In many philosophical and religious traditions, there is an emphasis on how intentionality is one of the fundamental tenets of being able to live a fulfilling life. Marcus Aurelius wrote, “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength.” One surgeon who is…

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ENCORE: Confronting the high stakes of incivility in health care 37:55

9M ago37:55

37:55

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Eve Purdy makes it clear what’s at stake when it comes to incivility in medicine. "It's very simple. Incivility kills patients, and that needs to be the single line of every healthcare leader responsible for managing and leading teams.” Dr. Purdy joins Dr. Sarah Kim and hosts, Drs. Blair Bigha…

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E162 - Jennifer McCall and Romy Nitsch on Imposter Syndrome 38:04

9M ago38:04

38:04

In this episode, we spoke with Drs. Jen McCall and Romy Nitsch about imposterism. Dr. McCall is a minimally invasive gynecology fellow at the University of Ottawa and Dr. Nitsch is a minimally invasive gynecologist at Queen’s University. The two researchers, along with Jessica Pudwell and Jamie Pyper, recently published a study in the Journal of Am…

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Managing the serious risks of vaping among youth 28:11

9M ago28:11

28:11

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole address the increasingly urgent issue of adolescent vaping. Rates of use of e-cigarettes containing nicotine by youth in Canada continue to be among the highest in the world. They speak with Dr. Madelynn Hannah, a clinical pharmacist, and Dr. Trisha Tulloch, a…

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E161 - Elizabeth Squirrell on Crohns Disease, Part 2 28:32

10M ago28:32

28:32

On this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Squirrell joined us to talk about Crohns disease. Dr. Squirrell is a staff gastroenterologist at Queen’s University and has a special expertise in inflammatory bowel disease. In this two part series, we first talk about the diagnosis of crohns disease and the different patterns of its presentation. In part 2, we talk …

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E160 - Elizabeth Squirrell on Crohns Disease, Part 1 26:18

10M ago26:18

26:18

On this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Squirrell joined us to talk about Crohns disease. Dr. Squirrell is a staff gastroenterologist at Queen’s University and has a special expertise in inflammatory bowel disease. In this two part series, we first talk about the diagnosis of crohns disease and the different patterns of its presentation. In part 2, we talk …

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Innovative solutions to a vexing issue: “social admissions” 36:15

10M ago36:15

36:15

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole tackle the complex issue of "socially admitted" patients, sometimes uncharitably referred to as "granny dumping." They explore the factors leading to these non-acute medical admissions, the challenges faced by healthcare providers and innovative solutions to t…

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E159 - Creating a Supportive Culture of Leadership with Sharmila Dissanaike 53:03

10M ago53:03

53:03

Dr. Sharmila Dissanaike is a trauma and acute care surgeon and is the chair of surgery at Texas Tech University. She holds multiple national leadership roles, including as President-Elect of the American Burn Association, Vice-President of the Southwest Surgical Congress, and Governor of the American College of Surgeons. We really delved into her t…

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Groundbreaking advancements in HIV treatment and prevention 44:54

10M ago44:54

44:54

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole explore groundbreaking advancements in HIV treatment and prevention. They examine various innovative approaches that are transforming the landscape of HIV care. Dr. Darrell Tan, a clinician scientist at St. Michael's Hospital and associate professor at the Uni…

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E158 - Bellal Joseph on REBOA, brain injuries, frailty in surgery and authenticity 39:21

10M ago39:21

39:21

Dr. Bellal Joseph is a trauma surgeon and the chief of the division of trauma, surgical critical care, burns, and acute care surgery at the University of Arizona in Tucson. While it was impossible to delve into the breadth and depth of his research interests, we did explore some of our favorites with Dr. Joseph, including his ongoing investigation …

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Understanding and Preparing for H5N1 31:05

11M ago31:05

31:05

Send us a text On this episode of the CMAJ Podcast, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole discuss the latest concerns surrounding the H5N1 virus. They explore the current state of its transmission, symptoms and treatments. They also assess our pandemic preparedness and whether we are applying the lessons learned from COVID-19 to this new potential …

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Canadian Medical Association Journal Podcasts

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