BackTable ENT & Allergy

BackTable
  • 4.9 (61)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The go-to podcast for otolaryngologists, allergists, and head and neck surgeons. Tune in every week for practical, physician-led conversations on common and complex clinical topics in allergy, immunology otolaryngology, rhinology, laryngology, otology, and head and neck surgery. Hear how experienced physicians approach real cases, and get practical advice from your peers in your field.

  1. 1H AGO

    Ep. 275 Evaluation & Management of Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis in Adults with

    BackTable ENT & Allergy

    54 min

  2. MAY 19

    Ep. 274 Pediatric Thyroid Nodules: Clinical Insights & Approaches with Dr. Wen Jiang

    Pediatric thyroid nodules are rare, but their risk of malignancy is significantly higher than in adults, raising the stakes for accurate diagnosis and multidisciplinary management. In this episode of the BackTable ENT Podcast Dr. Gopi Shah and co-host Dr. Jeff Hyzer interview Dr. Wen Jiang, pediatric otolaryngologist at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, for an in-depth discussion on the evaluation and management of thyroid nodules in children. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 02:27 - Thyroid Nodule Risks and Care Team 06:47 - Age-related Differences in Nodule Presentation and Outcomes08:50 - Initial workup 13:42 - Ultrasound Interpretation16:07 - Lymph Node Mapping and CT19:58 - Incidental Findings24:14 - Role of FNA, Molecular Testing, and Radiofrequency Ablation32:40 - Molecular Testing Results and Counseling 38:04 - Neck Dissection Strategy40:44 - Hypocalcemia Protocol Considerations44:01 - Parathyroid and Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Dissection Tips 47:33 - Postop Care and Follow-up 51:25 - Using Radioactive Iodine and Targeted Therapy 54:55 - AI’s and Ultrasound and Final Thoughts --- More about this episode Dr. Jiang highlights the key differences between pediatric and adult thyroid nodules. She describes her multidisciplinary approach including collaboration with radiology, pathology, endocrinology and nuclear medicine. The discussion reviews the initial workup for pediatric thyroid nodules and why ultrasound remains the primary diagnostic tool. She also discusses situations where CT with contrast can be helpful for surgical planning. This episode explores the growing role of reflex molecular testing in guiding management decisions and outlines the impacts of molecular testing results. Dr. Jiang shares her approach to patient counseling along with management of calcium and PTH after surgery. The conversation concludes with emerging applications of molecular diagnostics and AI models for improving thyroid ultrasound interpretation. --- Resources Dr. Jiang's Research on Pediatric Thyroid Nodule Management - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26770219/ Bethesda System for Thyroid Cytopathology - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7182964/ --- BackTable ENT & Allergy is the go-to podcast for otolaryngologists, allergists, and head and neck surgeons. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    1 hr

  3. MAY 12

    Ep. 273 Integrating Narrative Medicine into Patient Care with Dr. Alessandra Colaianni

    From clinic to the OR, storytelling quietly shapes every decision in clinical care. This episode of BackTable ENT & Allergy examines how narrative medicine and the stories at the heart of each patient encounter can elevate your clinical practice, enhance empathy, and deepen the doctor-patient relationship. Pediatric ENT Dr. Gopi Shah interviews Dr. Alessandra (Alessa) Colaianni, a head and neck surgical oncologist at the University of North Carolina, about the power and relevance of narrative medicine in modern surgical care. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction05:53 - What is Narrative Medicine? 11:36 - Narrative Medicine in Clinic 17:28 - Narrative Medicine in the OR21:09 - Patient Case Presentation and Boundaries 25:05 - Writing For Reflection and the impact of AI 29:35 - Resources And Podcasts33:19 - Final Takeaways --- More about this episode Dr. Colaianni is a published writer whose work has been featured in the New York Times, New Yorker, and the New England Journal of Medicine. She describes her lifelong interest in writing and shares how earning a master’s degree in the history and philosophy of science at the University of Cambridge during medical school helped her reconnect with the humanistic side of medicine. She reframes narrative medicine not as an extra task, but as an approach already woven into daily clinical work through history-taking, listening, and documentation. The conversation explores the influence of patient identity, socioeconomic context, and the “characters” in each patient’s story on clinical decisions and care. Dr. Colaianni reflects on the role of storytelling in surgical training, the apprenticeship model, and how thoughtful boundaries can foster meaningful doctor-patient relationships. The episode concludes with a discussion of AI’s potential impact on empathy and recommended reading for further exploration of narrative medicine. --- Resources Dr.Colaianni’s published work https://www.alessandracolaianni.com Columbia University Division of Narrative Medicine https://www.mhe.cuimc.columbia.edu/division-narrative-medicine Columbia University Narrative Medicine Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@columbiauniversitynarrativ8472 The Nocturnists podcast https://thenocturnists.org/podcast Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealey https://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Face-Lucy-Grealy The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jameson https://www.graywolfpress.org/books/empathy-exams The Collected Schizophrenias Essays by Esmé Weijun Wanghttps://www.graywolfpress.org/books/collected-schizophrenias My Own Country: A Doctor’s Story by Abraham Verghese https://www.amazon.com/My-Own-Country-Doctors-Story --- BackTable ENT & Allergy is the go-to podcast for otolaryngologists, allergists, and head and neck surgeons. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    36 min
  4. Ep. 272 Allergy Education on Social Media and Beyond: Challenges and Strategies with Dr. Zachary Rubin

    MAY 5

    Ep. 272 Allergy Education on Social Media and Beyond: Challenges and Strategies with Dr. Zachary Rubin

    From the clinic to the camera, discover how an allergist turned social media into a patient education powerhouse. On this week’s episode of the BackTable ENT & Allergy Podcast, allergist Dr. Zachary Rubin of Oak Brook Allergists joins host Dr. Basil Kahwash to discuss his path from fellowship training to becoming a widely followed social media educator and author of the New York Times bestselling book “All About Allergies”. He explains how the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid spread of online medical misinformation inspired him to educate the public through social media, developing an authentic on-camera style and consistent brand that has expanded his reach far beyond the clinic. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction05:21 - Learning the Creator Playbook10:10 - Authenticity and Creating a Personal Brand16:51 - Writing for Patients and Clinicians20:41 - Balancing Clinic and Content Creation26:15 - How to Start Your Public Voice29:11 - Professional Boundaries and Handling Criticism Online36:34 - How Patients Following Your Content Impacts the Clinic43:08 - The Unexpected Doors Content Creation Can Open48:44 - Future of Public Health53:09 - Final Advice --- More about this episode The conversation explores strategies for communicating complex medical topics, such as using metaphors to improve public understanding, and the importance of professionalism, boundaries, and safety in the online space. Dr. Rubin offers advice on avoiding individualized medical advice, managing online harassment, and navigating the nonfiction publishing world. He also discusses the impact of advocacy and media engagement for both patients and healthcare professionals, showing how physicians can leverage media to make a difference well beyond their practice. --- Resources Dr. Zachary Rubinhttps://www.oakbrookallergists.com/our-team/zachary-e-rubin-md/ --- BackTable ENT & Allergy is the go-to podcast for otolaryngologists, allergists, and head and neck surgeons. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    56 min

  5. APR 28

    Ep. 271 The OR Surgical Tech in Pediatric ENT with Jose Flores

    Behind every smooth surgery is a team member you may not see in the spotlight—but without them, the operation doesn’t run. In this episode of the BackTable ENT podcast, Jose Flores, a surgical technologist at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego and ENT service coordinator, joins host Dr. Gopi Shah to discuss the importance of the surgical technologist’s role in the OR and how it directly impacts patient care. --- SYNPOSIS Jose discusses his journey from being a medical assistant to finding his calling in the operating room, specifically in ENT. They explore the critical yet often overlooked role of OR scrub techs, the necessity of proper preparation and organization, and the importance of good communication and teamwork within the surgical team. Jose also shares personal experiences and advice for both new surgical techs and medical students, emphasizing the rewarding nature of working in pediatric ENT. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:29 - Jose Flores’s Journey to Becoming a Surgical Tech05:41 - Daily Responsibilities and Preparation10:11 - Communication and Teamwork in the OR15:30 - Building Strong Surgical Tech Relationships18:51 - Advice for New Surgical Techs21:25 - The Role of Techs in Quality and Safety23:15 - Giving and Receiving Feedback27:02 - Fostering Respect and Recognition30:40 - Final Thoughts and Contact Information --- RESOURCES Jose Flores’s Story:https://vimeo.com/1096085041

    33 min

  6. APR 21

    Ep. 270 Management of Sinonasal Tumors with Skull Base Involvement: Part 2 with Dr. Zara Patel, Dr. JP Almeida and Dr. Garret Choby

    Could that routine epistaxis actually be the first sign of a challenging skull base tumor? This week’s episode of the BackTable ENT Podcast is part two of the sinonasal tumor and skull base involvement discussion. Host Dr. Satyan Sreenath is joined again by Dr. Joao Paulo Almeida, Dr. Zara Patel, and Dr. Garret Choby for a case-based deep dive into the multidisciplinary management of complex sinonasal tumors. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 01:20 - Case 1: Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma05:03 - Considerations for Pre-Operative Embolization 08:10 - Disaster Scenario: High Volume Loss09:21 - Operative Approach18:10 - Post-Op Imaging Considerations21:00 - Case 2: Invasive Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma24:40 - Operative Approach vs. Neoadjuvant Treatment Strategies28:30 - Importance of Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy30:15 - Operative Approach32:37 - Lumbar Drain Considerations 40:35 - Closing Thoughts --- More about this episode The panel works through advanced cases presenting with epistaxis, using them to highlight key principles in evaluation, imaging, staging, and operative planning. They first discuss a 16-year-old male with a large juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma extending to the skull base and middle cranial fossa, focusing on vascular supply, preoperative embolization, surgical strategy near the carotid, and planning for intraoperative hemorrhage and postoperative surveillance. They also emphasize the importance of thorough endoscopic evaluation and early referral to experienced centers. They then review a 72-year-old female with invasive, HPV-negative keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma involving the anterior cranial fossa and dura. The conversation addresses tumor board decision-making, neoadjuvant considerations, endoscopic craniofacial resection, reconstruction strategies, and management of delayed positive margins. It highlights how accurate histopathology and coordinated multidisciplinary care guide outcomes in these complex cases. --- Resources Joao Paulo Almeida, MD, PhDhttps://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/68351/almeida-joao-paulo Satyan B. Sreenath, MDhttps://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/60724/sreenath-satyan Zara M. Patel, MD https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/zara-patel Garret W. Choby, MDhttps://providers.upmc.com/provider/garret-w-choby/2592344 --- BackTable ENT & Allergy is the go-to podcast for otolaryngologists, allergists, and head and neck surgeons. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    46 min

  7. APR 14

    Ep. 269 Management of Sinonasal Tumors with Skull Base Involvement: Part 1 with Dr. Zara Patel, Dr. JP Almeida, & Dr. Garret Choby

    Pathology, anatomy, and staging: how do these three pillars come together to guide sinonasal tumor management? In this episode of the BackTable ENT Podcast, host Dr. Satyan Sreenath is joined by Dr. Joao Paulo Almeida, Dr. Zara Patel, and Dr. Garret Choby to discuss a multidisciplinary approach to sinonasal tumors, emphasizing the triad of pathology, anatomy, and staging to guide treatment. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 02:04 - First Principles of Workup05:23 - Case 1: Maxillary Sinus Mass 06:23 - Imaging and Biopsy Strategy08:11 - Inverted Papilloma Pathology and Surgical Planning20:28 - Case 2: Unilateral Disease Red Flags24:34 - MRI Clues for Malignancy31:47 - Video Walkthrough of Endonasal Resection38:51 - Surveillance41:41 - Key Papers---More about this episode The panel reviews key workup considerations, including in-office biopsy and the use of CT and MRI to distinguish tumor from retained secretions and guide operative planning. They walk through two illustrative cases of inverted papilloma. The first involves a left maxillary sinus mass treated with an endoscopic medial maxillectomy using a Denker-type approach, with emphasis on complete attachment-site eradication. The second case highlights an elderly patient with frontal and anterior ethmoid disease abutting the orbit and skull base, requiring meticulous endoscopic technique, careful management of the anterior ethmoid artery, and thoughtful handling of bone and periorbita. The discussion also covers imaging features suggestive of malignant transformation, as well as emerging AI-based CT and MRI tools that show high accuracy in distinguishing benign inverted papillomas from those associated with squamous cell carcinoma. The episode concludes with postoperative surveillance strategies and key consensus and review publications. --- ResourcesJoao Paulo Almeida, MD, PhDhttps://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/68351/almeida-joao-paulo Satyan B. Sreenath, MDhttps://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/60724/sreenath-satyan Zara M. Patel, MD https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/zara-patel Garret W. Choby, MDhttps://providers.upmc.com/provider/garret-w-choby/2592344 --- BackTable ENT & Allergy is the go-to podcast for otolaryngologists, allergists, and head and neck surgeons. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    44 min

  8. APR 7

    Ep. 268 Building a Skull Base Program in Private Practice with Dr. Kibwei McKinney

    What if you could build a skull base practice outside academia, without sacrificing complexity, income, or fulfillment? On this episode of the BackTable ENT Podcast, Dr. Kibwei McKinney from SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City joins guest host Dr. Dennis Tang to discuss building a rhinology and skull base surgery practice outside academia. --- Get the BackTable app https://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 01:30 - Introduction and Career04:55 - Private Practice vs. Academics10:38 - Defining Skull Based Surgery15:10 - Patient Pool and Logistics in Academics vs Private Practice19:03 - Marketing and Referral Sources24:58 - Case Management and the O.R. in Private Practice29:30 - Balanced Workload and Intentional Care32:10 - Billing and Coding38:55 - Lifestyle Benefits of Private Practice44:21 - Strategic Advice and Advantages or Disadvantages of Private Practice.47:38 - Common Misconceptions50:00 - Advice and Closing Thoughts --- More about this episode Dr. McKinney walks through his training journey, from dedicated research years to time in private-practice rhinology and a skull base fellowship, before ultimately starting his academic career in Oklahoma. He shares how shifting family priorities and the growing push for clinical productivity led him to step away from academia and into an employed private-practice model focused exclusively on rhinology and skull base surgery, without ER call. Along the way, he dives into what that transition really looks like, including the autonomy he’s gained, the role of marketing support, how he builds referrals through direct communication, and the operational differences of working without residents. He also touches on postoperative care structure, billing and coding, insurance challenges, and the impact on his overall lifestyle. Check out this episode to hear Dr. McKinney’s perspective on why skull base surgery in private practice can be not only technically feasible and financially viable, but also emotionally sustainable, creating space for truly patient-centered care and the ability to pursue the work with genuine passion. --- Resources Dr. Kibwei McKinney https://www.getcare.ssmhealth.com/find-a-doctor/doctor-details/kibwei-mckinney-md

    53 min
See All (277)

4.9
out of 5
61 Ratings

About

The go-to podcast for otolaryngologists, allergists, and head and neck surgeons. Tune in every week for practical, physician-led conversations on common and complex clinical topics in allergy, immunology otolaryngology, rhinology, laryngology, otology, and head and neck surgery. Hear how experienced physicians approach real cases, and get practical advice from your peers in your field.

Information

  • Creator
    BackTable
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    277
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    BackTable ENT & Allergy

You Might Also Like