COVID Updates: A Podcast with Peter Chin-Hong and Lona Mody

COVID Updates: A Podcast with Peter Chin-Hong and Lona Mody

Author: Alex Smith, Eric Widera October 31, 2024 Duration: 43:56

In March 2020, we launched our first podcast on COVID-19. Over the past four years, we've seen many changes—some positive, some negative. While many of us are eager to move past COVID (myself included), it's clear that COVID is here to stay.

This week, we sit down with infectious disease experts Peter Chin-Hong and Lona Mody to discuss living with COVID-19. Our conversation covers:

  • The current state of COVID

  • Evidence for COVID boosters, who should get them, and preferences between Novavax and mRNA vaccines

  • COVID treatments like Molnupiravir and Paxlovid

  • Differences in COVID impact on nursing home residents and those with serious illnesses

We wrap up with a "magic wand" question. My wish was for better randomized evidence for vaccines and treatments, though I worry this might not be feasible. In the meantime, there's significant room to improve vaccine uptake among high-risk groups, particularly nursing home residents. Currently, only 1 in 5 nursing home residents in the US have received the COVID booster, compared to over 50% in the UK.

By: Eric Widera

 


Hosted by UCSF physicians Alex Smith and Eric Widera, GeriPal-A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast creates a vital space for conversation at the intersection of aging and serious illness care. This isn't a dry lecture series; it's a dynamic dialogue where Eric and Alex bring on leading experts to unpack the complexities of geriatric and palliative medicine. They delve into the latest research that should change practice, tackle the ethical dilemmas that provoke debate, and explore the nuanced clinical challenges that professionals face daily. The tone is engaging and often surprisingly lighthearted, with moments of humor and even the occasional song, making profound topics more accessible. Whether you're a clinician, nurse, social worker, or any professional dedicated to this field, this podcast offers a blend of evidence-based insights and practical wisdom you can use. It’s a resource that acknowledges the weight of the work while fostering connection and continued learning. For those seeking formal education credits, AMA PRA Category 1 CME and MOC credit are also available through the show. Tune in to join a community committed to improving care for older adults and those with serious illness.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Implementing Palliative Care in Nursing Homes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:06
The need for better palliative care in nursing homes is significant. Consider this: the majority of the 1.4 million adults residing in U.S. nursing homes grapple with serious illnesses, and roughly half experience dement…
Lucid Episodes: Andrea Gilmore-Bykovskyi & Andrew Peterson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:55
Have any of you watched the movie "The Notebook"? At the end, one of the characters, who has dementia, experiences an episode of lucidity. When I watched it, between tears (I'm a complete softie) I remember thinking, "Oh…
Music as Medicine: Jenny Chen, Tyler Jorgensen, & Theresa Allison [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:03
As you know, dear listeners, I love music. We start each podcast with a song in part to shift the frame, taking people out of their academic selves and into a more informal conversation. Well, today's guests love music a…
HIV, Aging, and Palliative Care: Peter Selwyn and Meredith Greene [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:59
Peter Selwyn, one of today's guests, has been caring for people living with HIV for over 40 years. In that time, care of people with HIV has changed dramatically. Initially, there was no treatment, then treatments with m…
Loss of DEI Hurts Everyone: Farah Stockman, Ali Thomas, Ken Covinsky [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:18
I read Farah Stockman's article in the NYT on why attacks on DEI will cost us all, and thought, "Yes, and 'everyone' includes harm to our healthcare workforce, our patients, and their families." So we're delighted that F…