HuMed with David Spiro, MD

David Spiro
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HuMed goes beyond diagnoses and procedures to explore the profound human experiences of medical professionals. Join Dr. Spiro as he engages in deep, candid conversations with fellow doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers. They share the often-unseen realities of their work in the demanding hospital environment – the challenging cases, the emotional toll, and the ethical dilemmas they navigate daily.

  1. 2 days ago ·  Video

    Navy Anesthesiologist Dr. Zachary Meade: From Childhood Trauma to Becoming a Doctor

    Dr. Zachary Meade watched his grandfather shoot his father to save his mother's life. He was a child. He thought it was normal. "Apparently it's not normal." Dr. Meade is a Navy anesthesiologist based in San Diego who took one of the least conventional roads into medicine you will ever hear. Before medical school he was an Army bomb squad technician, a firefighter, an EMT, and an electrical engineer, and he served in the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy. Before any of that he was a kid in Indiana and Florida moving between homes and foster care, failing freshman English, with nobody in his family who had ever done any of this. Today he reaches over 400,000 people online debunking medical misinformation. In this conversation with Dr. David Spiro, he talks about the grandparents who rebuilt his foundation, what the bomb squad taught him about attention to detail ("an 84 essentially meant you died"), the faith that gave him purpose, and the hardest question of the episode: has he forgiven his parents? He shares the phone call that ended contact with his father, the rule that helped his mother get sober, and the "cultural divide" that opens up when you become the first physician in your family. He closes with what he would say to 10-year-old Zach, and Dr. Spiro responds with a story from his own pediatric ER that he says will change how he practices. Chapters: (00:00) Cold Open: "My Dad Was a Very Violent Man" (00:16) Welcome & Meet Dr. Zachary Meade (01:20) "I Never Saw Me Being a Physician" (02:18) Indiana, Florida, and a Childhood That Wasn't Normal (04:55) Foster Care and a Greyhound Bus Through Fort Benning (06:13) Joining the Army at 17: Bomb Squad, Not Chaplain (07:11) The Grandparents Who Rebuilt His Foundation (08:53) Bill Henson: Forgiveness, Hard Work, and the Balance Between (10:05) What the Bomb Squad Taught Him: "An 84 Meant You Died" (11:50) Wounded Veterans and the Pivot to Engineering (12:26) Carle Illinois College of Medicine: Building Physician Innovators (13:18) Landmines in the Woods: The Stateside EOD Mission (15:08) Why He Chose the Navy (16:43) How Childhood Trauma Shaped Him as a Physician (17:44) A Steeper Hill Than His Peers (18:24) How Faith Shaped Him (19:39) What It Means to Serve (21:37) "Have You Forgiven Them?" (22:12) Married at 20 and Realizing What Normal Was (23:22) His Father's Relapse and the Phone Call From the NICU (24:18) "I Can Love Him. I Can Even Forgive Him." (25:39) The Rule That Helped His Mother Get Sober (26:59) The Cultural Divide: "I Concur, Doctor" (28:45) Reaching 400,000 People Online (29:59) Fighting Misinformation That Can Kill (33:12) Tommy Martin and Doing Good on Social Media (34:21) What Would You Tell 10-Year-Old Zach? (36:20) "This Is Just the Intro Scene to Your Life" (36:58) Dr. Spiro's Story: "I'm Here Because No One Loves Me" (39:44) Closing Thoughts and Zach's Question for David Follow HuMed so you never miss an episode.

  2. 1 Sept ·  Video

    Internist Dr. Robert Beck: "He Wasn't Worthy of the Care"

    Two attending physicians declared medical futility on a man in his late 40s. He was awake. He was begging for the ICU. He was begging for his mother. And the only doctor at his bedside that night was an intern on his second call shift. Dr. Robert Beck has carried that night for nineteen years. In his second appearance on HuMed, Dr. Beck tells the story of a patient at New Orleans' Charity Hospital in July 2007 — and what it taught him about paternalism, about abandoning learners, and about the difference between a clinical judgment and a judgment about whose life is worth saving. David asks him directly whether race changed the outcome, and Dr. Beck's pause before answering is the turning point of the episode. The second half is a practical masterclass: how to deliver bad news, the four questions every patient is actually asking, and how end-of-life care and medical assistance in dying work in the Canadian system where Dr. Beck now practices. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Robert Beck is an internist. He completed medical school, internal medicine residency, and a chief residency at Tulane, spent ten years in private practice in Tennessee, and moved to the Pacific Northwest of Canada in 2020. He hosts The Interesting MD podcast. IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 "He wasn't worthy of the care" 00:24 Welcome back, Dr. Robert Beck 02:03 What counts as a difficult conversation? 02:46 July 2007: second call night at Charity Hospital 05:13 The patient nobody wanted to touch 06:08 Two attendings declare medical futility 07:40 "His die is cast" 10:02 Alone at the bedside until 4:30am 12:28 How it changed the way he supervises residents 13:11 "Do you think if he were white it would have been different?" 14:04 A pattern of practice 15:32 Paternalism vs. shared decision-making 19:03 Two white physicians talk about privilege 21:10 White flight on his childhood street 23:11 "Society was never going to allow him" 26:10 How to give bad news: the four questions 31:19 Sit down. Eye level. Every time. 33:03 Giving bad news in the pediatric ER 36:30 Teaching residents to deliver the worst news 39:09 When a patient chooses not to treat 40:09 Medical assistance in dying in Canada 43:14 The four pathways of end-of-life care 47:52 How the MAID assessment actually works 51:26 How a society treats its most vulnerable A note on content: this episode includes frank clinical description of sepsis, wound infection, and a patient's death. Dr. Beck's podcast, The Interesting MD HuMed is hosted by David Spiro, MD. New episodes weekly. If this one resonated, the most useful thing you can do is leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it's how other clinicians find us!

  3. 25 Aug ·  Video

    Pediatric Oncologist Dr. Joana Mack: "I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss"

    Dr. Joana Mack has been called "bossy" her whole career — in training, at work, even by her own mom. Now, she just says it back differently: "I'm not bossy, I'm the boss." Dr. Mack is a board-certified pediatric hematologist-oncologist, NIH-funded researcher, and mother of five daughters, practicing at Arkansas Children's Hospital and UAMS. In this conversation with Dr. David Spiro, she opens up about the everyday bias she still encounters as a woman in medicine, how artificial intelligence is reshaping (and sometimes eroding) communication between doctors, why she's stopped chasing "work-life balance" in favor of "work-life integration," and the rituals — prayer, permission to cry, a trampoline park at midnight — that get her through the hardest days of treating children with cancer. She also shares a story from Dr. Todd Maxson's Grand Rounds that changed how she trains the next generation of physicians, and reflects on how far childhood leukemia survival has come in her lifetime, from a near-certain death sentence to roughly 90% remission today. (00:00) Cold Open: "I Went to the Trampoline Park" (00:16) Welcome & Meet Dr. Joana Mack (01:51) Called "Bossy" Her Whole Life (02:44) "I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss" (03:59) Balancing 4 Jobs and 5 Daughters (07:06) Staying Present as a Working Mom (08:51) The Email That Calls Everyone "Doctor" Except Her (10:47) Naming Unconscious Bias at Work (13:26) Being a Role Model for the Next Generation (16:08) AI in Medicine: Efficiency vs. Connection (19:14) From "Google Parents" to AI-Informed Parents (20:28) Prioritizing Herself and Her Marriage (25:16) Phones, Sleep, and Circadian Disruption (29:19) Why She Pours Into Medical Students (30:42) Dr. Todd Maxson's Grand Rounds Story (36:22) From a Death Sentence to 90% Survival (38:49) How She Copes: Prayer, Tears, and the Trampoline Park (42:08) A Prayer Circle in the ER (47:00) The Village That Makes It Possible (49:54) Closing Thoughts This episode is also available on video on YouTube and Apple Podcasts. Follow HuMed so you never miss an episode.

  4. 18 Aug ·  Video

    The Science of Stem Cells, Exosomes, and Healthy Aging with Dr. Mari Mitrani

    Can regenerative medicine help us live healthier for longer? Physician-scientist and biotech entrepreneur Dr. Mari Mitrani joins Dr. David Spiro to explain the evolving science of stem cells and exosomes—including how these therapies work, where the evidence stands, and why responsible research and regulation are essential. They also explore the foundations of healthy aging that are available to nearly everyone: nutrition, sleep, movement, strength training, hydration, community, and purpose. Dr. Mitrani shares the life-changing experience that led her to medicine, her journey into biotechnology, and her vision for a more compassionate future in healthcare. This conversation is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. 00:00 Meet Dr. Mari Mitrani 02:03 The night that inspired her 07:21 Entering biotechnology 11:11 How stem cells work 18:25 Healthspan versus lifespan 20:38 Foundations of healthy aging 23:15 Community and longevity 27:15 The future of stem cells 30:00 Why exosomes matter 34:02 Could humans live to 125? 35:30 Strength, bones and women’s health 38:07 Veganism and compassionate innovation

  5. 11 Aug ·  Video

    When the Doctor Becomes the Patient: Dr. Adam Bitterman On His Open-Heart Surgery

    What happens when a surgeon suddenly finds himself on the other side of the patient–doctor relationship? Dr. Adam Bitterman—orthopedic surgeon, educator, and chair of orthopedic surgery at Huntington Hospital—joins Dr. David Spiro to discuss being diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm and undergoing urgent open-heart surgery. Dr. Bitterman shares the fear of preparing for a seven-hour operation, the atrial fibrillation that required a second procedure, and the challenge of stepping away from his patients, colleagues, and family responsibilities. He also explains how becoming a patient transformed his approach to clinical care, physician health, work-life boundaries, and after-hours calls from frightened patients. This candid conversation explores physician vulnerability, returning to medicine after serious illness, and why health, family, and a trusted support system must come first. HuMed: Human Medicine reveals the human side of healthcare through honest conversations with physicians, patients, and healthcare leaders.

  6. 4 Aug ·  Video

    It’s Not Always Hemorrhoids: Anal Health with Dr. Talar Tejerian

    Not every anal health problem is a hemorrhoid. Board-certified general surgeon Dr. Talar Tejerian joins Dr. David Spiro to explain the differences between hemorrhoids and anal fissures—and why persistent pain, bleeding, or other symptoms should not be dismissed. Dr. Tejerian is the founder of Booty MD, a nonprofit dedicated to making anal health education clear, evidence-based, and free from shame. She discusses why anal health remains stigmatized, how gaps in medical training can contribute to misdiagnosis, and why conditions such as fissures, fistulas, inflammatory bowel disease, and anal cancer may sometimes be mistaken for hemorrhoids. The conversation also explores: • The three-minute toilet rule • How prolonged toilet sitting and straining affect hemorrhoidal tissue • The difference between hemorrhoids and anal fissures • Constipation, diet, and bowel health • HPV vaccination and anal cancer prevention • Why a proper examination matters • The risks associated with rectal foreign bodies • How physicians can discuss sensitive health concerns without judgment CHAPTERS 00:00:00 The three-minute toilet rule 00:00:29 Meet Dr. Talar Tejerian 00:02:38 Why she founded Booty MD 00:08:33 Breaking the stigma around anal health 00:12:10 Gaps in medical training and examination 00:20:11 Anal cancer, colorectal cancer, and HPV 00:24:39 Diet, constipation, and anal health 00:25:06 Hemorrhoids versus anal fissures 00:31:26 Is scrolling on the toilet harmful? 00:33:45 Rectal foreign bodies and emergency care 00:42:24 The future of Booty MD 00:45:39 Health education through social media 00:49:38 Authenticity and trust in medicine 00:53:50 Closing thoughts

  7. 30 Jul ·  Video

    Stop the Bleed: The Simple Skills That Could Save a Life | Dr. David Shapiro

    What would you do if someone were bleeding severely—and help was miles away? In this episode of HuMED, Dr. David Spiro welcomes back surgeon and critical care physician Dr. David Shapiro for a powerful conversation about the moment that changed how he understood emergency preparedness. Years ago, while mountain biking through remote terrain between Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, Dr. Shapiro encountered an injured cyclist with a deep leg wound and significant bleeding. With no reliable phone service, limited first-aid supplies, and professional help far away, he had to improvise a pressure dressing and remain with the cyclist until assistance arrived. That experience left him with a lasting question: What if nobody had come along? Today, Dr. Shapiro serves as a leader in the American College of Surgeons’ Stop the Bleed program, a public-health initiative that teaches ordinary people how to recognize and respond to life-threatening bleeding before professional help arrives. The conversation explores: • How to recognize potentially life-threatening bleeding • Direct pressure, wound packing, and tourniquet use • What belongs in a practical bleeding-control kit • Why internal bleeding may be difficult to recognize • How trauma resuscitation has evolved • Good Samaritan protections for people who help during emergencies • Why bleeding-control kits should be available alongside AEDs • How Stop the Bleed applies to accidents, outdoor injuries, and violence • What communities learned from Sandy Hook and other mass-casualty events • The responsibilities and limits of bystander intervention • How to access free Stop the Bleed training Drs. Spiro and Shapiro also discuss firearm violence, mental health, social isolation, and the need to address both emergency preparedness and the underlying causes of violence. This episode is ultimately about empowerment. You may never need to use these skills—but learning them could give you the confidence to act during the minutes when action matters most. Free Stop the Bleed education and course information are available at StopTheBleed.org. Content note: This episode includes discussion of traumatic injury, severe bleeding, firearm violence, and mass-casualty events.

  8. 28 Jul ·  Video

    The Night Beirut Exploded: A Doctor’s Story

    What happens when a physician suddenly finds himself responding to one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in modern history? In this episode of HuMED, Dr. David Spiro speaks with Dr. Khalil Diab, a pulmonologist, critical care physician, associate professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine, and host of the Lebanese Physicians Podcast. On August 4, 2020, Dr. Diab was having dinner with his family in Beirut when the ground began to shake. Moments later, a massive explosion tore through the city. After receiving an urgent call for all available medical professionals, he rushed to the hospital and entered a mass-casualty environment unlike anything he had experienced before. Patients arrived with devastating injuries caused by shattered glass, collapsing ceilings, and the force of the blast. Physicians from every specialty worked together as the hospital ran short of ventilators, patient identities remained unknown, and medical teams were forced to make rapid life-or-death decisions. Dr. Diab shares what he witnessed that night, what it took to care for so many critically injured patients, and how the experience affected him as a physician, husband, and father. The conversation also explores: • Moving his family from the United States back to Lebanon • Practicing medicine within the Lebanese healthcare system • How financial instability affects medical decisions and patient care • Raising children amid political and economic uncertainty • Why the Beirut explosion ultimately influenced his return to the United States • The medical conditions physicians encounter in Lebanon that are less common in the U.S. • How people adapt to instability, conflict, and crisis • Why he created the Lebanese Physicians Podcast • The power of storytelling to reveal the human side of medicine • How podcasting can amplify valuable voices—and spread misinformation • Why listening to people on the “other side” matters This is a deeply personal account of medicine under extraordinary circumstances—and a reflection on resilience, identity, family, conflict, and our shared humanity. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Khalil Diab is a pulmonologist and critical care physician and an associate professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine. After completing his medical training in the United States, he returned to Lebanon with his family and practiced there during a period marked by political upheaval, economic collapse, COVID-19, and the 2020 Beirut port explosion. He is also the host of the Lebanese Physicians Podcast, where he documents the experiences and stories of physicians connected to Lebanon. ABOUT HuMED Hosted by Dr. David Spiro, HuMED explores the people and experiences behind medicine. Through honest conversations with physicians, healthcare professionals, patients, and other compelling guests, the show reveals the human stories that rarely appear in medical charts or textbooks. #BeirutExplosion #Lebanon #CriticalCare #Medicine #PhysicianStories #MedicalPodcast #Healthcare #HuMED

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HuMed goes beyond diagnoses and procedures to explore the profound human experiences of medical professionals. Join Dr. Spiro as he engages in deep, candid conversations with fellow doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers. They share the often-unseen realities of their work in the demanding hospital environment – the challenging cases, the emotional toll, and the ethical dilemmas they navigate daily.

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  • Creator
    David Spiro
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 David Spiro
  • Show Website
    HuMed with David Spiro, MD