Shows / GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
A geriatrics and palliative medicine podcast for every health care professional. Two UCSF doctors, Eric Widera and Alex Smith, invite the brightest minds in geriatrics, hospice, and palliative care to talk about the topics that you care most about, ranging from recently published research in the field to controversies that keep us up at night. You'll laugh, learn, and maybe sing along. CME and MOC credit available (AMA PRA Category 1 credits) at www.geripal.org
Episodes
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
The Long-Lasting effects of Delirium: Tammy Hshieh, Ed Marcantonio, & Thiago Avelino-Silva
Delirium is probably the single most common issue I see in clinical practice as a palliative care consultant for our hospital's very geriatric population. I…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
How Can We Improve Surgery for Older Adults? Unpacking the ACS Geriatric Surgery Verification Program
In 2019, the American College of Surgeons launched the Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) Program to provide evidence-based standards hospitals could adopt…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Can We Prevent Cognitive Decline in Aging? Multi-Domain Trials with Laura Baker and Ellen Binder
Can we prevent age-related cognitive decline, and perhaps even head off Alzheimer's disease and related dementias before they start? Pharmaceutical companies…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
When to Start or Stop Statins in Older Adults: Tim Anderson, Rita Redberg, Mike Rich
In 1987, lovastatin became the first FDA-approved statin in the United States. Four decades later, statins are among the most frequently prescribed medications…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Hot New Drugs in Palliative Care: Max Stevenson, Alex McPherson, and Nisha Iyer
When you think of palliative care pharmacotherapy, you probably think about the tried-and-true mainstays of our field like morphine, haloperidol, and senna…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Interactive Maps of Aging: Judy Salerno and Lindsay Goldman
Love the story Judy Solerno tells at the start of this podcast. The story is about how John Snow, the father of modern epidemiology, mapped out cases of…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Flu, COVID, RSV, & Shingles Vaccines in Older Adults: Ken Schmader and Sharon Brangman
Just in time for respiratory virus season, this episode of the podcast breaks down essential vaccine guidance for older adults. From flu, COVID-19, and RSV to…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Financial Mistakes and Exploitation in Dementia: Lauren Nicholas, Duke Han, Jason Karlawish
Difficulty managing money is often one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, frequently appearing years before an official…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Weight loss, GLP-1s and Sarcopenia: A Podcast with John Batsis, Shen Dewar, Aruna Josyula
GLP-1 receptor agonists (the "Ozempics of the world") have been a truly revolutionary pharmacological advance in modern medicine. In randomized controlled…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Who Should Palliative Care See? Diane Meier, Bob Arnold, and Justin Sanders
As Diane Meier remarks to start today's podcast, palliative care has come a long way from the days when we were the "brink of death" consult. We're seeing…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
LATE vs Alzheimer's: Biomarkers, Mixed Dementia, and Clinical Realities with Nate Chin & Sterling Johnson
Up until just a couple years ago, an 85-year-old patient presenting with gradual, amnestic memory loss was almost automatically presumed to have Alzheimer's…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Video-Enhanced Advance Care Planning: Joshua Lakin and Kei Ouchi
Can simple, evidence-based video decision aids—paired with structured clinician training—improve Advance Care Planning (ACP) documentation and goal-concordant…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Longevity Treatments - Snake Oil or Breakthrough? John Newman & Mahtab Jafari
The longevity industry is booming. Influencers are promoting this and that as promoting healthy aging, longevity, and healthspan, and it's hard for us, much…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Who Should Deliver Palliative Care in Liver Disease? Chris Woodrell, Manisha Verma, Marie Bakitas
Who's better at delivering palliative care to patients with liver disease: palliative care specialists, or hepatologists who have received liver…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Why you should care about the shakeup at NIH: Sean Morrison, Ken Covinsky, Stacy Fischer
Emergency Podcast! Our guests Sean Morrison, Ken Covinsky, and Stacy Fischer believe that you should care deeply about the proposed shakeup at the National…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
How We Limit Non-beneficial Life Sustaining Treatments: Jason Batten, Liz Dzeng, Teva Brender
Today's podcast is a natural follow up to our podcasts on Slow Codes and Unilateral DNR orders.Today we talk about a new study about how clinicians talk about…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Elder Mistreatment Prevention and Solutions: Carrie Rubenstein, Julia Hiner, & Tony Rosen
Today we revisit a topic we last discussed in a 2020 podcast with Laura Mosqueda: elder mistreatment. Our guests today are geriatricians Carrie Rubenstein and…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
CCRCs, ALFs, and Private Equity: John Burton, Bill Applegate, & Melissa Aldridge
Two retired luminaries in geriatrics join us today to share their personal experiences. First, John Burton, a geriatrician and Director of the Division of…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Search for Geriatrician Identity: Mary Tinetti, Helen Fernandez, Jerry Gurwitz, Ken Covinsky
Our focus today is on the search for the geriatrician identity, a continuation of the conversation we started with Jerry Gurtwitz on the Future of Geriatrics…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
The Interior Experience of Prescribing Medical Aid in Dying: Carly Zapata and Dani Chammas
I had the privilege of learning from fellow Greenwall Faculty Scholar Lisa Harris about a term she termed, "dangertalk." As an ob/gyn and abortion provider…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Navigating Organ Donation Discussions: Toby Campbell, Nikole Neidlinger, Samantha Taylor
While we have previously discussed brain death criteria on the GeriPal Podcast, we have yet to explore the complex landscape families face regarding organ…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Dermatology in Older Adults (GeriDerm): Daniel Butler and Eleni Linos
In this episode of the GeriPal podcast, we dive into the fascinating world of geriatric dermatology, or "GeriDerm," with two exceptional guests: Dr. Daniel…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
GeriPal Live from Sao Paulo! Eduardo Ferriolli, Marlon Aliberti, & Edison Iglesias
Eric and I were delighted to be invited to Brazil to give a series of presentations in Sao Paulo at their annual geriatrics meeting. We met people doing…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
400th Episode Celebration: Ask Us Anything, Hot Ones-style
Lynn Flint and Anne Kelly join as hosts in a reprise of last year's ask us anything format. Thank you for sending in your terrific questions! Lynn and Anne…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Rural Palliative Care: Karl Bezak, Jeanie Youngwerth, Adie Goldberg, and Gregg Vandekieft
Rural populations in the United States face unique healthcare challenges. These communities tend to be older, have higher mortality rates, and experience…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Pragmatic Trial to Increase Advance Care Planning: Anne Walling, Neil Wenger, & Rebecca Sudore
Today we're delighted to talk with Anne Walling, Neil Wenger, and Rebecca Sudore about a pragmatic implementation trial aimed at increasing advance care…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
CMS's Age-Friendly Hospital Measure: Julia Adler-Milstein, Stephanie Rogers, and Shari Ling
In 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began requiring hospitals participating in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) program…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
De-intensify Anti-Hypertensives for Nursing Home Residents? Athanase Benetos and Mike Steinman
A few weeks ago, I was skimming this NEJM paper for UCSF's Division of Geriatrics Journal club on de-prescribing anti-hypertensive medications for older adults…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Alzheimer's Definitions, Biomarkers, and Antibodies: Halima Amjad, Barak Gaster, and Heather Whitson
It's an era of breakthroughs in Alzheimer's research, yet for many clinicians, it's also a time of profound uncertainty. We are currently navigating competing…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Leadership, Quality, and the Future of Hospice: Guests Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner
Today we're doing something different. Today, dear listeners, you get two podcasts for the price of one! (OK, our podcasts are both free, but you get the…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Deprescribing at the End of Life: Jennifer Tjia, Jon Furuno, Simon Mooijaart
Philippe Pinel remarked in 1800 that "It is an art of no little importance to administer medicines properly, but it is an art of much greater and more…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Unilateral DNR? Gina Piscitello, Erin DeMartino, Will Parker
Do you think your hospital should allow unilateral DNR orders? Under what circumstances? Through what process? Do you think that when you obtain the assent of…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Embedding Care in the ED: Liz Goldberg and Lauren Southerland
The idea of embedding various forms of non-emergency care in the emergency department makes a WORLD of sense. If an older adult comes into the ED with a fall…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
AI and Healthcare: Bob Wachter
Today we interviewed Bob Wachter about his book, "A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future." You may recall we…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
The Role of Specialty Palliative Care in Cancer Surgery: Rebecca Aslakson & Myrick Shinall
Recent randomized controlled trials have shown that routine perioperative palliative care does not improve outcomes for patients undergoing curative-intent…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
The Future of Palliative Care? Community-Based Models with Alan Chiu, Mindy Stewart-Coffee, and Ben Thompson
"I just want to say one word to you. One word. Plastics… There's a great future in plastics." This iconic line from the movie The Graduate is at the top of my…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Uncertainty In Medicine: Jonathan Ilgen and Gurpreet Dhaliwal
The only certainty in medicine is uncertainty. It touches every aspect of clinical practice, from diagnosis to treatment to prognosis. Despite this, many…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Why We Need QI Collaboratives: Guests Steve Pantilat, David Currow, and Arif Kamal
In a recent episode of the GeriPal podcast, we explored whether the field of palliative care is in need of saving—and, if so, how to save it—with guests Ira…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Is Attending to Clinician Distress Our Job? Sara Johnson, Yael Schenker, & Anne Kelly
Have you had one of those consults in which you're thinking, huh, sounds like the patient's goals are clear, it's really that the clinician consulting us…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Rehab and Death in Skilled Nursing Facilities: Sarguni Singh, Christian Furman, and Lynn Flint
In this week's podcast, we sit down with Drs. Sarguni Singh, Christian Furman, and Lynn Flint, three authors of the recent Journal of the American Geriatrics…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Inflammaging: Brian Andonian, Sara LaHue, Joe Hippensteel
Six years ago we had John Newman on GeriPal to talk about Geroscience (Song choice Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen, perfect selection). John explained the…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
The Chaplain and the Doctor: A Podcast with Betty Clark and Jessica Zitter
In this week's episode, we delve into the powerful documentary The Chaplain and The Doctor with two extraordinary guests: Betty Clark, the chaplain at the…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
A Strategic Path Forward for Hospice & Palliative Care: Ira Byock, Kristi Newport, Brynn Bowman
In June of 2025, hospice and palliative care pioneer Ira Byock published a white paper outlining the urgent challenges facing the field today. In a nutshell…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Palliative Care in Sickle Cell: Craig Blinderman, Stephanie Kiser, Eberechi Nwogu-Onyemkpa
Today's topic on palliative care for sickle cell disease may raise eyebrows with some of you. You might think, wait, now we're doing sickle cell? On top of…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Medical Billing and Coding in Geriatrics: Peter Hollmann, Ken Koncilja, and Audrey Chun
Last month, the "Billing Boys"—Chris Jones and Phil Rodgers—joined the GeriPal podcast to demystify medical billing and coding in palliative care. This month…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Rethinking Slow Codes: Gina Piscitello, Parker Crutchfield, Jason Wasserman
I'm going to begin with a wonderful quote from a recent editorial in Bioethics by our guests Parker Crutchfield & Jason Wasserman. This quote illustrates the…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
GeriPal Live! at NPCRC Foley Retreat: Dio Kavalieratos, Prasanna Ananth, Alexi Wright
This is the second GeriPal podcast we've recorded live using this format, see this link to our prior podcast at the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
GeriPal Live! at CAPC: Karen Bullock, Kim Curseen, Matt Gonzales
Eric and I had the pleasure of doing a GeriPal Live! Podcast as the closing keynote for the recent Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) National Assembly…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Pre-Operative Geri Assessment: Vicky Tang and Houman Javedan
We love getting requests from listeners for podcast topics. This request came from geriatricians we met at the annual American Geriatrics Society meeting in…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
What Makes a Good Death? Karen Steinhauser, Rasa Mikelyte, Edison Vidal
What is a "good death"? How should we define it, and who gets to decide? Is the concept of a "good death" even useful? Twenty-five years ago, Karen Steinhauser…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Medical Billing and Coding with the "Billing Boys"
A podcast on medical billing and coding??? Ok, hear us out as we were skeptical too. We've invited the Billing Boys, Chris Jones and Phil Rodgers, who…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Is Geriatrics-focused Primary Care (GeriPACT) Better? A Podcast with Nicki Hastings, Kristie Hsu, and Ken Covinsky
On today's podcast, we talk about an innovative specialized primary care model for older veterans called the Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team (GeriPACT)…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Do Dementia Care Management Programs Work? A Podcast with David Reuben and Greg Sachs
With all the attention focused on Alzheimer's biomarkers and amyloid antibodies, it's easy to forget that comprehensive dementia care is more than blood draws…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment: Benefits, Cost-Effectiveness, and Who It Helps Most - Eric Wong and Thiago Silva
In today's podcast we talk with Eric Wong, geriatrician-researcher from Toronto, and Thiago Silva, geriatrician-researcher from Brazil, about the comprehensive…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
What instead? Alternatives to Beers: Todd Semla and Mike Steinman
On a prior podcast we talked with Todd Semla and Mike Steinman about the update to the AGS Beers Criteria of potentially inappropriate medications in older…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Art Museum-Based Medical Education: Amy Klein, Laura Morrison, and Gordon Wood
Health care trainees rotate through a variety of different settings. ICUs, hospital wards, and outpatient clinics. If they're lucky, they might even spend time…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
We Need a Care Revolution: Victor Montori
In his book, "Why We Revolt," Victor Montori decries the industrialization of healthcare. We've become a healthcare factory, beholden to health systems…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
System Wide Goals of Care Implementation: A Podcast with Ira Byock, Chris Dale, and Matt Gonzales
Most health care providers understand the importance of goals-of-care conversations in aligning treatment plans with patients' goals, especially for those with…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Death Anxiety: Dani Chammas & Keri Brenner
What is death anxiety? We spend the first 15 minutes of the podcast addressing this question. And maybe this was unfair to our guests, the fabulous dynamic duo…
- GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Individualizing Blood Pressure Goals in Older Adults: A Podcast with Mitra Jamshidian, Simon Ascher and Mark Supiano
What's the ideal blood pressure target for older adults with hypertension? Should we aim for a systolic BP of 120 mmHg in all older adults, as suggested by the…