6.2 Professor Bapu Jena - Freakonomics MD - Improving healthcare through natural experimentation

We are joined by Professor Bapu Jena. Physician, economist, author of ‘Random Acts of Medicine’ and host of the superb ‘Freakonomics MD’ podcast, we explore with Bapu the concept of ‘natural experimentation’. How might a marathon be bad for your health? Why might you be safer not seeing a cardiologist after a heart attack? What is the impact of striking doctors on health outcomes?

Bapu is Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School and a physician in the Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and so we discuss health economics, and the differences between US and UK healthcare. We also see a new interview style from Jamie as he poses some of his most challenging questions yet…

As with all of our guests, Bapu shares with us a Memory Evoking Medicine, a career anthem and book that has influenced his life. Bapu’s book choice proves challenging!

Read about Bapu here https://hcp.hms.harvard.edu/people/anupam-b-jena. Also check out the superb Freakonomics MD podcast https://freakonomics.com/series/bapu/ - it is one of Steve’s favourites.

Our new website is now live and as well as being a searchable database of all episodes, we will be uploading transcripts and extra content for your enjoyment and education. Have a look and let us know what you think! Our latest blog posts talks about our first live public show - ‘Music, Memories and Medicines’ - have a read here; https://www.theauralapothecary.com/blog/the-three-apothecaries-music-medicines-and-memories/

To get in touch follow us on Twitter @auralapothecary or email us at auralapothecarypod@gmail.com . Don’t forget to rate us and comment wherever you have got this podcast from.

You can listen to the Aural Apothecary playlist here; https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3OsWj4w8sxsvuwR9zMXgn5?si=tiHXrQI7QsGtSQwPyz1KBg

You can view the Aural Apothecary Library here; https://litalist.com/shelf/view-bookcase?publicId=KN6E3O