GeriPal Podcast
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geripal.bsky.social
GeriPal Podcast
@geripal.bsky.social
UCSF doctors, Eric Widera & Alex Smith, invite the brightest minds in geriatrics, hospice, & palliative care to talk about topics that you care most about, ranging from recently published research in the field to controversies that keep us up at night.
A chaplain (Betty Clark) and a doctor (Jessica Zitter) reflect on their new documentary, The Chaplain and the Doctor, and the ways personal stories and biases shape our interactions in healthcare. #medsky
 
👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp382
😀 Hosts: @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Hospice & Palliative Care leaders reflect on the past 50 years—and the urgent need to raise standards, ensure access, & lead with love in a profit-driven system. Ira Byock, Kristi Newport, Brynn Bowman. #medsky
 
👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp381
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Sickle cell disease brings lifelong challenges—from severe pain to systemic inequities. Today our guests share how palliative care supports patients through compassion, trust, and whole-person care. 💜 #medsky

👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp380
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Join us! @ewidera.bsky.social & @alexsmithmd.bsky.social are giving UCSF Geriatrics Grand Rounds on Wed., Nov 5, 4-5pm PT.

The topic is "What we've learned from nearly 400 GeriPal podcasts."

Join via zoom or in person.

Via zoom: ucsf.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

See graphic for more info. #medsky
November 1, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Billing in geriatrics doesn’t have to be confusing—or undervalued. Our guests share how to get paid fairly for the complex, team-based work geriatricians do—while supporting quality care for older adults. #medsky

👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp379
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Are Slow Codes ever ethical? We dive into the gray area of CPR, shallow compressions, walk don't run, compassion with deceit, outcomes vs values, bioethics vs real world, trust, + more. #medsky

👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp378
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 8:39 PM
GeriPal Live at NPCRC Foley Retreat! We talk with Prasanna Ananth, Dio Kavalieratos, & Alexi Wright about why palliative care clinicians get fired, global care equity, and cancer treatment behind bars. #medsky
 
👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp377
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 6:08 PM
GeriPal Live! at CAPC: Matt Gonzales on AI & #palliativecare, Kim Curseen on outpatient training gaps, Karen Bullock on equity in #hospice and palliative care. Plus a fun sing-along finale! #medsky #hpm #hapc

👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp376
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Geriatricians Houman Javedan & Vicky Tang discuss Preoperative Assessments for Older Adults, emphasizing CGAs, frailty screening, and the Geriatric Surgery Verification program to optimize outcomes. #medsky

👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp375
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
September 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
What makes a "good death"? We dive into landmark studies: Karen Steinhauser on pain, peace & awareness; Edison Vidal & Rasa Mikelyte on UK/Brazil dementia views—choice vs. faith. Key: Listen to patients! #medsky
 
👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp374
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
September 18, 2025 at 8:11 PM
A podcast on medical billing & coding? Yes! Billing isn’t hard. Know your worth & bill for it, even if the visit doesn't FEEL hard as it can help pay for team members who often can't bill, and it benefits the patients.
 
👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp373
😀 Hosts: Drs. Alex Smith and Eric Widera
September 11, 2025 at 8:28 PM
GeriPACTs bring specialized team-based care to older veterans with complex needs - smaller panels, geriatric training & more social work/pharmacy support. But are they better than standard care? #medsky

👉 Blog post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp372
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
September 4, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Do Dementia Care Management Programs Work? We’ve invited David Reuben & Greg Sachs to talk about their two respective trials, published in JAMA — D-CARE and IN-PEACE. #medsky

👉 Full episode: bit.ly/GeriPalEp371
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social

#dementia #dementiacare
August 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
We discuss the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, what it is, benefits, JAGS study showing it's more cost-effective vs usual care, & who it helps the most. #medsky
  
👉 Full Ep: bit.ly/GeriPalEp370
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
😀 Guests: Eric Wong & Thiago Avelino-Silva
August 21, 2025 at 8:38 PM
We talk with Todd Semla & Mike Steinman about their new recommendations of Alternative Treatments to the AGS Beers Criteria published recently in JAGS. #medsky
 
We start with Todd's new pothole analogy😂
 
👉 Full episode: bit.ly/GeriPalEp369
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
August 14, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Art in Medical Education: How art museums can enhance empathy & awareness, and create deeper team bonds for health care professionals. #medsky
 
👉 Full episode: bit.ly/GeriPalEp368
😀 Hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
😀 Guests: Amy Klein, Laura Morrison, and Gordon Wood
August 7, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Guest Victor Montori's book, "Why We Revolt," decries the Industrialization of #healthcare. Clinicians become busier & patients are tasked with more work to self manage. #medsky

👉 Full episode at bit.ly/GeriPalEp367
😀 Hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
😀 Guest: Victor Montori
July 31, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Providence Health Care System increased their Goals of Care conversation documentation from 7% to 85%. How did they achieve this? And how can you? #medsky

👉 Full episode bit.ly/GeriPalEp366
😀 Hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
😀 Guests: Ira Byock, Chris Dale, and Matt Gonzales
July 24, 2025 at 10:58 PM
How can we best manage #DeathAnxiety? While some don't worry about it, others, including patients and clinicians, grapple with its impact. #medsky
 
👉 Full episode at
geripal.org/death-anxiet...

😀 Hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
😀 Guests: Dani Chammas & Keri Brenner
July 17, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Should we individualize #bloodpressure targets for #olderadults? Or aim for a systolic BP of 120 mmHg in ALL older adults? Risks & benefits. Guests Mitra Jamshidian, Simon Ascher, & Mark Supiano. #medsky
 
👉 Full episode at bit.ly/GeriPalEp364
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
July 10, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Should #PalliativeCare be in the business of caring for #CancerSurvivors? It’s more complicated than it seems. We talk with Laura Petrillo and Laura Shoemaker about this topic. #medsky #cancersurvivor

👉 Full episode at bit.ly/GeriPalEp363
😀 hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
July 3, 2025 at 9:30 PM
How we handle death and what needs to change. Full episode at geripal.org/between-two-...
July 1, 2025 at 7:04 PM
#HealthShocks like hip fractures or pneumonia can cause major declines in #dementia patients. Widowhood & wealth loss also worsen outcomes. Strong safety nets may help.

Guests Lauren Hunt, Rebecca Rodin, Tsai-Chin Cho. #medsky

bit.ly/GeriPalEp362 - @alexsmithmd.bsky.social | @ewidera.bsky.social
June 27, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Being that it's Pride Month, our focus today is on the Health, Aging, & Advocacy of transgender Older Adults with guests Noelle Marie Javier (palliative care doc at Mt Sinai) & Jace Flatt (Assoc. Prof. at UNLV). #medsky
 
bit.ly/GeriPalEp361 - hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social l | @ewidera.bsky.social
June 19, 2025 at 8:16 PM
If you ever had questions about Radiation Oncology, we aim to clear that up, from the initial planning visit to the final treatment + more. Guests Anish Butala, Emily Martin, & Evie Kalmar. #medsky
 
bit.ly/GeriPalEp360 - hosts @alexsmithmd.bsky.social l | @ewidera.bsky.social
June 12, 2025 at 8:37 PM