The Interesting MD Podcast

In Part 2 of this three-part interview series, Dr. Rob Beck continues his conversation with Dr. Alona Sukhina, a pediatrician who moved from the United States to Canada.
Dr. Sukhina shares what practicing pediatrics in Canada actually looks like compared with her experience in the U.S. She discusses simpler billing and documentation, fewer patients per day, longer appointments, greater autonomy in ordering tests, virtual care, and the reduced administrative burden she has experienced since making the move.
After previously seeing as many as 25 patients a day, Dr. Sukhina explains how having more time with each patient has allowed her to practice more comprehensive medicine and spend less time navigating administrative barriers.
For physicians considering Canada, this episode offers a practical look at how changing healthcare systems can affect not only paperwork and billing, but the everyday experience of being a doctor.
This is Part 2 of 3 featuring Dr. Alona Sukhina. Stay tuned for the third and final episode.
 
Podcast Link: The Interesting MD Podcast YouTube Link: The Interesting MD Website Link: https://www.interestingmd.com/
Have a content suggestion?Email us at Ideas@interestingmd.com
Contact me:Email us at Rob@interestingmd.com
 

This is Part 1 of a three-part interview with Dr. Alona Sukhina, a board-trained pediatrician who recently relocated from Tucson, Arizona, to Vancouver, British Columbia.
In this episode of The Interesting MD Podcast, Dr. Rob Beck speaks with Dr. Sukhina about her experience caring for refugee, immigrant, and underserved communities in the United States. She explains the important role Federally Qualified Health Centers play in supporting vulnerable patients and how policy changes, funding pressures, and systemic barriers increasingly affected her ability to provide the care she believed her patients deserved.
Dr. Sukhina also opens up about the ethical and emotional challenges that ultimately contributed to her decision to leave the United States for Canada—including the difficult feeling of leaving patients and colleagues behind.
This first installment explores medicine, ethics, healthcare access, and what happens when a physician begins questioning whether the system they work within still aligns with their values.
This is Part 1 of 3. Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 of Dr. Alona Sukhina’s conversation with Dr. Rob Beck.
Podcast Link: The Interesting MD Podcast YouTube Link: The Interesting MD Website Link: https://www.interestingmd.com/
Have a content suggestion?Email us at Ideas@interestingmd.com
Contact me:Email us at Rob@interestingmd.com

In this episode of The Interesting MD Podcast, Dr. Rob Beck continues his conversation with Dr. Fraser Mackay of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) about the systemic causes of emergency department overcrowding in Canada.
They discuss hospital patient flow, Alternate Level of Care patients, the need for more transparent public reporting, and why short-term initiatives often fail to address the underlying causes of long emergency department waits.
Dr. Mackay also explains why meaningful healthcare reform requires public engagement, political accountability, and evidence-based policy. Rather than directing frustration toward frontline doctors and nurses, he encourages patients and healthcare professionals to use their voices, join advocacy organizations, communicate with political representatives, and push for long-term systemic improvements.
A timely conversation about accountability, advocacy, and what it will take to build a Canadian healthcare system capable of serving a growing and aging population.
 
Follow Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caep_docs/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAEP01/
 
Podcast Link: The Interesting MD Podcast YouTube Link: The Interesting MD Website Link: https://www.interestingmd.com/
Have a content suggestion?Email us at Ideas@interestingmd.com
Contact me:Email us at Rob@interestingmd.com

In this episode of The Interesting MD Podcast, Dr. Rob Beck speaks with Dr. Fraser Mackay, an emergency physician and advocate with the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP), about the growing crisis of emergency department overcrowding in Canada.
Dr. Mackay explains why long wait times are a symptom of broader healthcare system challenges, including hospital capacity, staffing shortages, and patient flow. Together, they discuss the impact on patients, healthcare workers, and the future of emergency medicine.
The conversation also explores physician recruitment, interprovincial licensing, and practical solutions that could improve care across Canada.
A thoughtful discussion about one of the most pressing issues facing Canadian healthcare today.
 
Podcast Link: The Interesting MD Podcast YouTube Link: The Interesting MD Website Link: https://www.interestingmd.com/
Have a content suggestion?Email us at Ideas@interestingmd.com
Contact me:Email us at Rob@interestingmd.com
 

In this episode of The Interesting MD Podcast, Dr. Rob Beck speaks with Dr. Marc Jeschke, an internationally recognized burn surgeon and scientist, about groundbreaking advances in regenerative burn care.
Dr. Jeschke discusses how severe burns impact the immune system, the evolution of stem cell and exosome research, and the first clinical use of exosome therapy to treat a young patient with life-changing results. They also explore the challenges of translating laboratory discoveries into real-world patient care and the future of burn treatment.
A compelling conversation about innovation, collaboration, and the potential to dramatically improve outcomes for burn survivors through cutting-edge medical research.
 
Podcast Link: The Interesting MD Podcast YouTube Link: The Interesting MD Website Link: https://www.interestingmd.com/
Have a content suggestion?Email us at Ideas@interestingmd.com
Contact me:Email us at Rob@interestingmd.com
 
 

In this episode of The Interesting MD Podcast, Dr. Rob Beck speaks with Dr. Khashayar Farzam, a dual-trained family medicine and emergency physician who completed his medical training in the United States before returning to practice in Ontario, Canada.
Dr. Farzam shares his experiences navigating the transition between healthcare systems, discussing physician licensing, billing, practice ownership, and the differences between practicing medicine in the U.S. and Canada. He also challenges common assumptions about physician compensation and highlights the flexibility available to Canadian family physicians.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Farzam is an accomplished competitive powerlifter and two-time Guinness World Record holder, offering insight into balancing elite athletics with a busy medical career.
A practical and engaging conversation for physicians interested in cross-border practice, healthcare systems, and building a career aligned with both professional and personal goals.
 
Podcast Link: The Interesting MD Podcast YouTube Link: The Interesting MD Website Link: https://www.interestingmd.com/
Have a content suggestion?Email us at Ideas@interestingmd.com
Contact me:Email us at Rob@interestingmd.com

In this episode of The Interesting MD Podcast, Dr. Rob Beck is joined by Dr. Daria for a conversation about the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
Together, they discuss how AI tools are helping physicians access evidence-based information, improve clinical decision-making, and reduce administrative workload while maintaining the importance of human judgment in patient care.
The conversation also explores outdated healthcare technology, insurance-related administrative burdens, differences between the U.S. and Canadian healthcare systems, and why future healthcare innovation must be built around the real needs of clinicians and patients.
A practical and forward-looking discussion on how technology can improve medicine without losing the human connection at its core.
 
Podcast Link: The Interesting MD Podcast YouTube Link: The Interesting MD Website Link: https://www.interestingmd.com/
Have a content suggestion?Email us at Ideas@interestingmd.com
Contact me:Email us at Rob@interestingmd.com

In this episode of The Interesting MD Podcast, Dr. Rob Beck talks with Dr. Jacob Kelly, a Duke-trained cardiologist based in Anchorage, Alaska, about his journey from traditional cardiology to a more personalized model of care.
Dr. Kelly shares why he moved away from fee-for-service medicine to create Rule Health, a practice focused on prevention, lifestyle medicine, and building stronger relationships with patients. Together, they discuss physician burnout, administrative burden, healthcare costs, and how different healthcare systems shape the patient and physician experience.
The conversation also explores the importance of exercise, preventative cardiology, and finding fulfillment in medicine by prioritizing people over paperwork.
A thoughtful episode for physicians, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in the future of patient-centered care.
 
Podcast Link: The Interesting MD Podcast YouTube Link: The Interesting MD Website Link: https://www.interestingmd.com/
Have a content suggestion?Email us at Ideas@interestingmd.com
Contact me:Email us at Rob@interestingmd.com
 

In Part 2 of her conversation with Dr. Rob Beck, Dr. Mariam Washington shares the realities of moving from the United States to Canada to continue her medical career.
The discussion covers physician licensing, immigration pathways, provincial differences between Alberta and British Columbia, and the financial and emotional challenges of relocating an entire family. Dr. Washington also reflects on the cultural adjustments she experienced and why Canada has provided a greater sense of safety, balance, and stability for her family.
The episode explores important differences between practicing medicine in Canada and the U.S., including administrative burdens, physician autonomy, and the role of trust within the healthcare system.
A practical and insightful conversation for physicians considering a move to Canada—and anyone interested in the realities of cross-border medical practice.
 
Podcast Link: The Interesting MD Podcast YouTube Link: The Interesting MD Website Link: https://www.interestingmd.com/
Have a content suggestion?Email us at Ideas@interestingmd.com
Contact me:Email us at Rob@interestingmd.com
 

In this episode of The Interesting MD Podcast, Dr. Rob Beck speaks with Dr. Mariam Washington, a physiatrist who transitioned from practicing medicine in the United States to working in Canada.
Dr. Washington shares her experience navigating significant student loan debt, building her career in the U.S., and ultimately deciding to make a major professional and personal change. The discussion explores physician compensation, healthcare administration, private practice realities, and the financial myths that often surround medicine on both sides of the border.
They also discuss the licensing process for physicians moving to Canada, the differences between the Canadian and American healthcare systems, and why stability and sustainability often matter more than headline salary figures.
A thoughtful and informative conversation for physicians, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in the realities of modern medical practice.
 
Podcast Link: The Interesting MD Podcast YouTube Link: The Interesting MD Website Link: https://www.interestingmd.com/
Have a content suggestion?Email us at Ideas@interestingmd.com
Contact me:Email us at Rob@interestingmd.com