EP1 | Love and Bullshit: Practicing Compassionate Medicine in Times of COVID
Our Guest
Dr. Rob Horowitz is the Georgia and Thomas Gosnell Distinguished Professor in Palliative Care. Board certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Hospice & Palliative Care Medicine, Dr. Horowitz is a physician, educator, and, since 2015, leader of the URMC Division of Palliative Care at Strong Memorial Hospital. Dr. Horowitz also founded and served as Medical Director of Rochester's Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program from 1999 until 2015, and he worked for 14 years as a rural emergency physician.
In addition to his clinical duties, Dr. Horowitz teaches palliative care and communication skills to medical and other health career students, residents, and fellows at the University of Rochester School of Medical & Dentistry. He also facilitates several reflection, Balint and support groups for trainees, colleagues and staff. Along with Dr. Tom Carroll, he is co-developer of the Advanced Communication Training program at URMC, which teaches serious illness conversation skills to interdisciplinary clinicians at all levels of training and experience.
Recorded Sep 30, 2021
In this episode we interviewed Rob Horowitz, chief of Palliative Care at URMC, about the challenges of supporting people with serious illness, even terminal illnesses, who often have very different views about medicine and truth than their doctors. Along the way we’ll hear about his unplanned journey into palliative care, the importance of love in medicine, and his advice for curing bullshit with a palliative care approach.
Listen to full episode :
Show Notes
2:20 - Any fresh hot bullshit on your mind?
6:00 - Have your views of medical misinformation changed?
10:08 - What do you see as the cure for bullshit?
11:30 - The hope for medical miracles
14:50 - Making difficult medical decisions
19:20 - Love in medicine
26:30 - Why did you choose to become a doctor?
30:11 - What prompted you to explore palliative care?
33:26 - What is palliative care?
36:35 - Facing death and suffering together
39:00 - What are the gifts and difficulties of working in palliative care?
42:21 - Applying the palliative care approach in neurology.
46:30 - Health care systems are made of humans that are fallible
51:00 - The cost of palliative care
55:50 - Delirium and other unexplainable events around death and dying
1:00:00 - Psychedelics and the power of letting go of the fear of death.
1:05:58 - How to advocate for palliative care for yourself or a loved one
1:08:00 - What advice would you have for people who want to die with dignity?
Theme Music (song provided by Timothy Ott and the Daily Afflictions)
Check out our theme song "Prescription Kills" and more music by The Daily Afflictions on Spotify!