Medicine Redefined

Altamash Raja, DO and Darsh Shah, DO

Medicine Redefined challenges outdated conventions by elevating conversations around what health truly means. Hosts Dr. Darsh Shah and Dr. Altamash Raja spotlight clinicians, scientists, thought leaders, and reformers who are reshaping how we think about physical, mental, metabolic, and systemic health. While the healthcare system focuses on treating disease, our guests focus on optimizing human potential. From sleep and nutrition to stress resilience and lifestyle medicine, discover how forward-thinking practitioners are putting the health back in healthcare.

  1. 200. Can Hospital Food Help Patients Heal? Food as Medicine at Tampa General | Tanuja Sharma, MD

    3D AGO

    200. Can Hospital Food Help Patients Heal? Food as Medicine at Tampa General | Tanuja Sharma, MD

    Dr. Tanuja Sharma is a board-certified family and integrative medicine physician and the Medical Director of Integrative Medicine and Arts at Tampa General Hospital. She completed her integrative medicine fellowship through the Andrew Weil Center at the University of Arizona and is leading one of the most ambitious hospital wellness overhauls in the country — from redesigning the patient menu with a Michelin-rated chef to running evidence-based mindfulness, acupuncture, and music therapy programs at the bedside. TOPICS COVERED  •   Why Tampa General Hospital partnered with a celebrity chef to rebuild their patient menu from scratch •   Music therapy, massage, acupuncture, art therapy, reiki, and how TGH gets buy-in across a Level 1 trauma center •   98% patient improvement in pain and anxiety scores, preliminary opioid reduction data, and the research pipeline ahead •   Tampa Well's food pharmacy, community garden, and free produce programs targeting food insecurity •   MBSR and mindfulness programs: evidence-based stress reduction for staff and patients, and why experience is the best recruitment tool •   Fiber vs. protein: the deficiency most patients have, Blue Zones longevity foods, and how to counsel patients at different performance goals RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED •   Tampa General Hospital (https://www.tgh.org) •   TGH Integrative Medicine and Arts Program (https://www.tgh.org/services/integrative-medicine-and-arts) •   Tampa Well (TGH Community Wellness Initiative) (https://www.tgh.org/tampawell) •   Geoffrey Zakarian — Celebrity Chef (Iron Chef, Chopped) (https://www.geoffreyzakarian.com/about) •   Mediterranean Diet — Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_diet) •   Anti-Inflammatory Diet — Hopkins Medicine (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/anti-inflammatory-diet) •   Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) — Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness-based_stress_reduction) •   Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (U of Arizona) (https://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu) •   American College of Lifestyle Medicine (https://www.lifestylemedicine.org) •   Blue Zones — Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_zone) •   Sarcopenia — Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcopenia) •   Dietary Fiber — Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietary_fiber) •   Food as Medicine — ASN (https://nutrition.org/food-as-medicine/) •   Refining Health & Performance — refininghealthrx.com (https://refininghealthrx.com) GUEST SOCIAL LINKS •   Instagram:@tjasharmamd (https://www.instagram.com/tanujasharmamd?igsh=cXprNW04bGt2Zzhr) •   TGH Provider Profile (https://www.getcare.tgh.org/providers/tanuja-sharma-1598133233) •   TGH Integrative Medicine (https://www.tgh.org/services/integrative-medicine-and-arts) Ready to stop guessing and start performing? Dr. Raja is now seeing patients through his telemedicine practice — limited founding member spots available at refininghealthrx.com

    1h 3m
  2. 199. The Mental Strength Playbook: Workplace Stress, Burnout, and Showing Up Under Pressure | Amy Morin, LCSW

    APR 27

    199. The Mental Strength Playbook: Workplace Stress, Burnout, and Showing Up Under Pressure | Amy Morin, LCSW

    Dr. Altamash Raja and Dr. Darsh Shah sit down with Amy Morin, LCSW, to discuss how to turn pressure into strength, build resilience through small wins, and navigate burnout in today’s work culture. Morin gives us simple tools and a practical approach to manage anxiety, dread, and difficult situations. We talk about significance of self-awareness, focusing on what you can control, and how using actionable strategies like a “motivation buddy,” clearer communication, and adapting to others can help you perform better without burning out. TOPICS COVERED Genes upbringing stress Pandemic burnout cycle Grinding vs strength Busyness as numbing Showing up in grief Anxiety spills into work Dread anxiety rumination How to use 50 tools Motivation buddy hack Measuring mental strength Overrated vs underrated mental resilience hacks RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do: https://amymorinlcsw.com/books/ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Overview: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral The Happiness Curve (Arthur Brooks–related concepts): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Z0MyRsm9M Emotional Avoidance (Psychology Today): https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/overcoming-destructive-anger/202603/the-harmful-consequences-of-emotional-avoidance Motivation Buddy/Accountability Importance: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/15/nx-s1-5217975/the-secret-to-doing-hard-things-and-getting-stuff-done Connect with Amy Morin: Website: https://amymorinlcsw.com/ Instagram: @amymorinauthor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymorinlcsw/ Ready to stop guessing and start performing? Dr. Raja is now seeing patients through his telemedicine practice—limited founding member spots available at refininghealthrx.com.

    1h 12m
  3. 198. Beyond LDL: The 2026 Guidelines Make Lp(a), ApoB & 30-Year Risk Essential

    APR 13

    198. Beyond LDL: The 2026 Guidelines Make Lp(a), ApoB & 30-Year Risk Essential

    Darsh and Altamash unpack the first major ACC/AHA lipid update since 2018, now reframed as a dyslipidemia guideline expanding beyond LDL to include triglycerides, ApoB, and lipoprotein(a). They highlight earlier prevention, the new PREVENT risk calculator, return of numeric LDL and non-HDL targets, routine Lp(a) screening, stepwise therapy beyond statins, and greater use of CAC imaging. Using a “trucks and cargo” analogy, they clarify lipid markers, review therapies from statins to PCSK9 inhibitors and inclisiran, compare CTA vs CAC, and explain why most supplements show no benefit. TOPICS COVERED • What changed in the new cholesterol guidelines • Why earlier prevention matters for lifetime risk • New PREVENT calculator for estimating risk • Understanding LDL, ApoB, and “bad cholesterol” markers • Lipoprotein(a): the genetic cholesterol risk to check once • New LDL targets and when to treat more aggressively • Medication options beyond statins • When to use calcium score (CAC) scans • CTA vs CAC: which heart scan to choose • Do supplements actually help cholesterol? RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED ACC/AHA Dyslipidemia Guideline Update: https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/journal-scans/2026/03/13/15/20/acc-aha-release-new-clinical-guideline-for-managing-dyslipidemia PREVENT Risk Calculator: https://professional.heart.org/en/guidelines-and-statements/prevent-calculator Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] Overview: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/genetic-conditions/lipoprotein-a Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) Explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apolipoprotein_B Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Scan: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/heart-scan/about/pac-20384686 Coronary CT Angiography (CTA): https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ct-coronary-angiogram/about/pac-20385117 PCSK9 Inhibitors Overview: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCSK9 REDUCE-IT Trial (Icosapent Ethyl/Vascepa): https://www.brighamandwomens.org/campaigns/physicians/reduce-it-clinical-trial AHA Life’s Essential 8: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/lifes-essential-8 SPORT Trial (supplements vs statin): https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2022.10.013 Connect with Us: Instagram: @draltraja, @doctordarsh LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/altamash-raja-do-rmsk-cscs-0b1a8039/; https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctordarsh/ Ready to stop guessing and start performing? Dr. Raja is now seeing patients through his telemedicine practice—limited founding member spots available at refininghealthrx.com.

    59 min
  4. 197. Sleep for High Performers: Jet Lag, Naps, Wearables, and When Tech Helps (or Hurts) | Jade Wu, PhD

    MAR 30

    197. Sleep for High Performers: Jet Lag, Naps, Wearables, and When Tech Helps (or Hurts) | Jade Wu, PhD

    We welcome back sleep expert Jade Wu to discuss practical sleep strategies for high performers, especially around travel, naps, and sleep technology. Dr. Wu suggests we may be over-relying on technology for our sleep, making the case for simplicity when it comes to sleep scores, managing jet lag, and even mattresses. Jade Wu, PhD, DBSM, is a board-certified behavioral sleep medicine psychologist, founder of Thrive Sleep Clinic, and author of Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications. She trained at Cornell, Boston University, and Duke University School of Medicine and specializes in helping high performers build a sustainable, resilient relationship with sleep without medications, gadgets, or rigid optimization. TOPICS COVERED Jet lag, circadian rhythms, and how light shapes your body clock Naps as a performance and recovery tool Sleep debt, sleep banking, and limits of “catching up” Wearables, sleep metrics, and avoiding score obsession Understanding fatigue vs true sleepiness and when to seek help The future of sleep tech while learning to trust your body RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED Book: Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications by Jade Wu Clinic: Thrive Sleep Clinic — thrivesleepclinic.com Practice: Refining Health & Performance — refininghealthrx.com Concept: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acceptance_and_commitment_therapy) Concept: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy_for_insomnia) Concept: Circadian Rhythm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm) Concept: Social Jet Lag (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_jet_lag) Concept: Chronotypes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronotype) Concept: Adenosine & Sleep Pressure (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenosine) Concept: REM Sleep (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_eye_movement_sleep) Concept: Sleep Efficiency (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_efficiency) Tool: Light Therapy (10,000 lux light boxes) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_therapy) Concept: Sleep Tracking & Wearables (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actigraphy Practice: Refining Health & Performance — refininghealthrx.com GUEST SOCIAL LINKS Website: drjadewu.com (https://www.drjadewu.com/) LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjadewu (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjadewu/) Clinic: thrivesleepclinic.com (https://www.thrivesleepclinic.com/) Ready to stop guessing and start performing? Dr. Raja is now seeing patients through his telemedicine practice—limited founding member spots available at refininghealthrx.com.

    1h 6m
  5. 196. Is Sleep the Ultimate Performance Enhancer? | Jade Wu, PhD

    MAR 16

    196. Is Sleep the Ultimate Performance Enhancer? | Jade Wu, PhD

    Behavioral sleep psychologist Dr. Jade Wu returns for round three to explain why sleep is the ultimate performance enhancer — not a cost to be paid. She breaks down sleep's role in physical repair, cognitive function, and emotional regulation, and shares why both neglecting sleep and over-optimizing it backfire. Practical strategies for high performers: daytime light exposure, strength training, sensory-based wind-downs, and treating sleep like a friend — not an engineering problem. Jade Wu, PhD, DBSM, is a board-certified behavioral sleep medicine psychologist, founder of Thrive Sleep Clinic, and author of Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications. She trained at Cornell, Boston University, and Duke University School of Medicine, and specializes in helping high performers build a sustainable, resilient relationship with sleep — without medications, gadgets, or rigid optimization. TOPICS COVERED Why high performers wreck their sleep — neglect and over-optimization Sleep's three buckets: physical repair, memory consolidation, emotional regulation Daytime levers that beat nighttime hacks: light, strength training, intentional rest Chronotype, social jet lag, and finding your biological sleep window Seasons of life, values-based living, and the Five Senses wind-down Treat sleep like a friend — not an engineering problem or a resource to extract RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED Book: Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications by Jade Wu, PhD Clinic: Thrive Sleep Clinic — thrivesleepclinic.com (https://www.thrivesleepclinic.com/) Concept: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acceptance_and_commitment_therapy) Concept: CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy_for_insomnia) Concept: Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_nidra) Concept: Social Jet Lag (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_jet_lag) Concept: Chronotypes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronotype) Concept: REM Sleep & Emotional Processing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_eye_movement_sleep) Concept: Growth Hormone & Deep Sleep (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth_hormone) Concept: Circadian Rhythm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm) Practice: Refining Health & Performance — refininghealthrx.com GUEST SOCIAL LINKS Website: drjadewu.com (https://www.drjadewu.com/) LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjadewu (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjadewu/) Clinic: thrivesleepclinic.com (https://www.thrivesleepclinic.com/) Ready to stop guessing and start performing? Dr. Raja is now seeing patients through his telemedicine practice—limited founding member spots available at refininghealthrx.com.

    46 min
  6. 194. Why the Food Pyramid Flipped, How to Exercise for Longevity, & Will AI Replace Doctors?

    FEB 16

    194. Why the Food Pyramid Flipped, How to Exercise for Longevity, & Will AI Replace Doctors?

    In this episode, Dr. Altamash Raja and Dr. Darsh Shah break down the newly released 2025–2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines, explore new research on exercise variety and longevity, and discuss how rapid advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping healthcare, clinical workflows, and the future of medicine. From nutrition policy controversies to BMJ research insights and real-world AI tools saving physicians time, this conversation examines how policy, science, and technology intersect with everyday clinical practice and personal health decisions. What We Discuss: 00:27 Catching Up: Surgery Leave, Back to Work, and Practice Updates 01:21 AI Avatars & Social Media: When the Prompt Makes You Too Real 01:52 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines: The Inverted Food Pyramid Explained 04:12 How the Guidelines Were Made: Rejected Report, Expedited Panels & Conflicts 07:38 What’s Good vs. Contradictory: Protein, Sugar, Saturated Fat, and the Visual Problem 09:51 Affordability & Access: SNAP/WIC, Schools, and the Real Cost of “Eat Healthy” 14:53 Practical Takeaways + Seasonal Fruit, Frozen vs Fresh, and Berry Prices 17:17 New BMJ Study: Does Exercise Type & Variety Matter More Than Zone 2 Hype? 22:17 Why Sports Win: Tennis, Zone Mixing, Coordination, and Training Variety 23:22 Study Caveats: Observational Data, Self-Report & Healthy User Bias 24:25 Actionable Takeaway: Diversify Your Training Portfolio (80/20) 25:07 Wearables Talk: WHOOP Metrics & Eight Sleep “Performance Zone” 26:23 DeepMind & The Road to AGI: ‘The Thinking Game’ + Protein Folding Breakthroughs 28:39 AI in the Hospital: Cerner/Oracle Note-Writing That Saves 40 Minutes a Day 30:27 Dictation Tools & Being Trained by Tech: WhisperFlow vs Dragon 31:35 Which LLM Is ‘Best’? Workflow Benchmarks, Hallucinations & Model Whiplash 34:14 Patients, Privacy & AI ‘Gaming’ the System in Rehab/Insurance 35:47 Productivity Addiction & Education: When AI Makes Us Do More, Not Less 38:46 AI Wars & Tesla’s Bet: Super Bowl Ads, FSD, Optimus Robots + Closing Thoughts Connect with Us: Instagram: @draltraja, @doctordarsh, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/altamash-raja-do-rmsk-cscs-0b1a8039/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctordarsh/ Studies & Literature Mentioned: 2025–2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans (https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf) Hans et al., BMJ Medicine (2026): Exercise Type, Variety, and Mortality Outcomes (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41574252/) Podcasts & Videos Mentioned: The Thinking Game - DeepMind documentary: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d95J8yzvjbQ) Want to personally work with Dr. Raja? Refining Health & Performance is opening a limited number of founding member spots for Dr. Raja’s telemedicine practice. We focus on healthspan, longevity, and performance using an data-driven, evidence-based, proactive approach. Apply at RefiningHealthRx.com.

    42 min
  7. 192. Metabolic Psychiatry Toolkit: Measuring Ketones, Treating Insulin Resistance, and Using GLP-1s Strategically | Matt Bernstein, MD

    JAN 19

    192. Metabolic Psychiatry Toolkit: Measuring Ketones, Treating Insulin Resistance, and Using GLP-1s Strategically | Matt Bernstein, MD

    In Part 1, we established that psychiatry often treats a metabolic crisis as a simple chemical imbalance. Today, Dr. Matt Bernstein returns to give us the solution. This episode is a masterclass on the ketogenic diet—not for weight loss, but as a critical medical intervention for serious mental illness. We explain why a "starving brain" (insulin resistance) leads to psychiatric symptoms and how ketones serve as a clean-burning alternative fuel that bypasses broken glucose pathways. We break down the specific clinical protocols used at Dr. Bernstein’s residential program, Accord, including the "therapeutic zone" for ketone levels, how to balance protein intake to prevent muscle loss without breaking ketosis, and the role of GLP-1 agonists (like Ozempic) as a temporary bridge to metabolic flexibility. What We Discuss: The "Starving Brain" Mechanism: Why neurons become insulin resistant and how ketones bypass this blockade to restore energy to the brain. The Therapeutic Zone: Dr. Bernstein’s specific targets for blood ketone levels (1.5 to 4.0 mmol/L) for bipolar and schizophrenia recovery, versus lower thresholds (0.5 mmol/L) for anxiety or ADHD. The Protein Paradox: How to eat enough protein to maintain muscle (1.2–1.6g/kg) without kicking yourself out of ketosis via gluconeogenesis. Exercise as Medicine: Why resistance training outperforms aerobic exercise for depression, and the shocking efficiency of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) for metabolic health. The GLP-1 "Bridge": A fascinating strategy where Dr. Bernstein uses drugs like Ozempic temporarily to curb "food noise" and help patients transition into a ketogenic lifestyle before tapering off the drug. The Truth About Brain Scans: Why Dr. Bernstein believes SPECT scans (like those from Dr. Daniel Amen) are not yet clinically actionable for specific treatment protocols. Resources & Links: Connect with Dr. Bernstein: LinkedIn | Accord Mental Health Reference: Dr. Mike & Dr. Daniel Amen Debate (The Checkup Podcast) Reference: Nature Paper on HIIT Volume vs. Moderate Cardio (Discussed in context of Rhonda Patrick) Work with Dr. Bernstein: Accord Comprehensive Metabolic Psychiatry Work with Dr. Raja: Refining Health & Performance: Limited number of founding member spots for telemedicine practice. We focus on health span, longevity, and performance using a Medicine 3.0 approach. Apply at RefiningHealthRx.com. About the Guest: Dr. Matt Bernstein is the Chief Medical Officer at Ellenhorn and the creator of Accord’s Comprehensive Metabolic Psychiatry program.1 A graduate of Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he trained at Mass General/McLean.2 With over 25 years of experience, he is a leading voice in moving psychiatry beyond symptom management toward full functional recovery through metabolic interventions.3+2

    1h 3m
  8. 191. Psychiatry Abandoned Biology: The Metabolic Crisis in the Brain | Matt Bernstein, MD

    JAN 5

    191. Psychiatry Abandoned Biology: The Metabolic Crisis in the Brain | Matt Bernstein, MD

    In this episode of Medicine Redefined, Dr. Altamash Raja and Dr. Darsh Shah sit down with psychiatrist Matt Bernstein, MD to question why mental health outcomes continue to worsen despite more medications and access to care. Matt introduces metabolic psychiatry, a framework that looks beyond symptoms and diagnoses to the underlying biology of the brain — including metabolism, insulin resistance, and energy function. He explains why treating neurotransmitters alone often falls short, and how lifestyle-based interventions can lead to deeper, more lasting recovery. They explore a new, human-centered approach to mental health that integrates nutrition, movement, circadian rhythm, and mind-body practices — challenging the way psychiatry is practiced today. 00:00 Introduction and Current State of Mental Health 01:20 The State of Psychiatry and Mental Health Outcomes 04:22 Understanding the DSM and Diagnostic Challenges 05:42 Introduction to Metabolic Psychiatry 06:31 Chemical Imbalance Theory vs. Metabolic Theory 17:27 The Role of Insulin Resistance in Mental Health 20:48 Assessing Metabolic Health in Psychiatry 25:37 Understanding Brain Energy and Mental Health 26:00 Insulin Resistance and Bipolar Depression 28:04 The Role of Fasting Insulin in Metabolic Health 28:43 Adverse Effects of Psychotropic Medications 30:20 Metabolic Health vs. Traditional Psychiatric Treatments 31:54 Innovative Approaches in Psychiatric Care 32:43 The Accord Program: A Comprehensive Metabolic Treatment 35:55 Challenges and Successes in Metabolic Interventions 46:10 Metabolic Dysfunction in Young Adults 50:04 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions Resources & Studies Mentioned Pillinger Study (Antidepressants): The effects of antidepressants on cardiometabolic and other physiological parameters (Pillinger et al., The Lancet 2025) Perry Study (Insulin & Psychosis): Longitudinal Trends in Childhood Insulin Levels and Risks of Psychosis (Perry et al., JAMA Psychiatry 2021) Book Mentioned: Brain Energy by Dr. Chris Palmer Testing Tool: Keto-Mojo (Glucose & Ketone Meter) Connect with Dr. Bernstein Residential Program: Accord MH (accord.health) Professional Bio: LinkedIn Profile Clinical Group: Ellenhorn Connect with Medicine Redefined Website: medicineredefined.com Instagram: @medredefined Twitter/X: @medredefined Newsletter: The Progress Note Work with Dr. Raja Refining Health & Performance: refininghealthrx.com Dr. Raja’s musculoskeletal and longevity practice (Telemedicine available in NJ, NY, PA, FL).

    53 min
5
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Medicine Redefined challenges outdated conventions by elevating conversations around what health truly means. Hosts Dr. Darsh Shah and Dr. Altamash Raja spotlight clinicians, scientists, thought leaders, and reformers who are reshaping how we think about physical, mental, metabolic, and systemic health. While the healthcare system focuses on treating disease, our guests focus on optimizing human potential. From sleep and nutrition to stress resilience and lifestyle medicine, discover how forward-thinking practitioners are putting the health back in healthcare.

You Might Also Like