Primary Medicine Podcast

Dear listeners, Today’s episode is a deeply moving conversation about grief, resilience, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going after unimaginable loss. We’re joined by Marcia Earhart — certified life, grief, and trauma coach, educator, mental health first responder, and founder of The Sterling Rose Sanctuary. But beyond her professional work, Marcia brings something even more powerful to this conversation: lived experience. After the loss of both of her sons, alongside chronic illness and significant family trauma, Marcia found herself navigating what she calls the “garden of grief.” In this episode, she shares what it truly looks like to live inside grief — not just emotionally, but physically and spiritually — and how her faith became an anchor in the midst of profound suffering. We explore the meaning behind her book, Gripping Grace in the Garden of Grief, and the idea of “gripping grace” — holding on to something steady when everything else feels like it’s falling apart. Marcia also opens up about the process of writing through pain, and how that journey helped transform her grief into purpose. Through her work with The Sterling Rose Sanctuary, Marcia now supports others facing loss, creating a space for honesty, compassion, and healing. She shares what people often misunderstand about grief, how healing really unfolds, and what it looks like to move from simply surviving to beginning to live again. This is a conversation for anyone who has experienced loss — or who wants to better understand how to show up for someone who has. If you or someone you love is carrying grief, this episode is a reminder: you are not alone. Listen to the full podcast episode here. Link to The Sterling Rose Sanctuary Link to Gripping Grace in the Garden of Grief Sincerely, Dr. Dimitre The post Episode 119: Marcia Earhart on Grief, Faith, and Healing appeared first on Primary Medicine Podcast.

Dear Listeners, In this episode of the Primary Medicine Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. John Oliffe, a renowned expert in men’s health promotion and Professor at the University of British Columbia. As the founder of UBC’s Men’s Health Research program and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Dr. Oliffe has led groundbreaking studies on how masculinity impacts men’s health behaviours, illness management, and overall wellbeing. With over $44 million in funding and 450+ publications, his work spans prostate cancer, smoking cessation, mental health, and suicide prevention—helping shape policies and clinical practices across Canada. We explore the newly released national report on men’s health in Canada, co-authored by Dr. Oliffe, to uncover why many men delay seeking medical care and the gendered barriers they face—particularly in marginalized communities. He shares insights on how a national men’s health strategy and initiatives like a Canada-wide Men’s Health Centre could radically improve outcomes. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, policymaker, or simply curious about men’s health, this episode offers timely, actionable perspectives. Listen to the Podcast Episode here! Cheers, Dr. Dimitre The post Episode 107: Rethinking Men’s Health Dr. John Oliffe on Barriers and Building a National Strategy appeared first on Primary Medicine Podcast.

Dear Listeners, Welcome back to the Primary Medicine Podcast! Today’s guest is Ron Richard, a true healthcare innovator with over 35 years of experience in respiratory, pulmonary, and sleep medicine. From launching over 40 medical products and holding 15 patents to working with industry leaders like ResMed and Qualcomm, Ron has helped shape the future of patient care. He’s also a creative force—an author, musician, and entrepreneur. In this episode, we dive into his journey, the hurdles clinicians face when innovating, and practical tips for bringing new medical ideas to market. If you are interested in more Canadian Medical Podcast content check Feedspots Top 10 https://bit.ly/3E66Wst Listen to the Podcast Episode here! Cheers, Dr. Dimitre The post Episode 105: From Bedside to Breakthrough: Ron Richard on Innovation and Invention appeared first on Primary Medicine Podcast.

Dear Listeners, Today, we’re diving into the critical topic of enhancing interoperability in Canadian health care with an exceptional guest, Dr. Rashaad Bhyat. Dr. Bhyat is a family physician, digital health expert, and Senior Clinician Leader at Canada Health Infoway, a federally funded, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing digital health solutions across Canada. Canada Health Infoway is on a mission to create a more connected and efficient health care system by accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies like electronic health records and e-prescribing services. Interoperability—seamless and secure sharing of health information across the system—is a key component of this mission, helping to improve access to care and enhance the patient experience. Dr. Bhyat brings over a decade of expertise in health informatics, health policy, and digital transformation. A respected voice in the field, he’s been featured in media outlets like the CBC and Toronto Star and has shared his insights at national and international conferences. In this episode, we’ll explore the importance of interoperability in health care, how it’s being addressed across Canada, and what it means for patients, providers, and the future of digital health innovation. Stay tuned for an inspiring conversation about how enhancing interoperability can make health care more connected, efficient, and patient-focused for all Canadians. Let’s get started! Listen to the Podcast Episode here! Hope you enjoy! Cheers, Dr. Dimitre The post Episode 103: Dr. Rashaad Bhyat from Canada Health Infoway on tackling Health Care Interoperability appeared first on Primary Medicine Podcast.

Dear Listeners, Welcome to the Primary Medicine Podcast. Today, we’re spotlighting Quilt In-Home Care, an innovative company founded by Blake Cheeseman and Peter Kotzeff, born from a personal experience with Peter’s grandmother and Blake’s mother during the pandemic. They faced the challenge many families do: finding high-quality, reliable in-home care. So they created Quilt to improve the in-home care experience for seniors and their families. Quilt’s mission is simple yet profound—help people grow old wherever they want to. With a vision that puts technology and compassion at the forefront, Quilt aim is to make it easier than ever for families to connect with the right caregivers while empowering those caregivers with flexibility and support. Listen to the Podcast Episode here! Hope you enjoy! Cheers, Dr. Dimitre The post Episode 101: Revolutionizing Home Care with Quilt appeared first on Primary Medicine Podcast.

Dear Listeners, Join us on the Primary Medicine Podcast as we explore the dynamic world of healthcare technology with Dr. Jonathan Baktari, CEO of e7 Health, eNational Testing and US Drug Test Centers. Discover how his companies are revolutionising patient care through innovation and software, and why they are a recognized leader in the healthcare tech industry. Dive into a conversation with Dr. Baktari, a national business thought leader and opinion writer, as we discuss the digital future of health and wellness. Listen to the Podcast Episode here! Hope you enjoy! Cheers, Dr. Dimitre The post Episode 99: Dr. Jonathan Baktari on medical innovation and digital health appeared first on Primary Medicine Podcast.

Dear Listeners, On today’s episode we will be talking to Dr. Sasha High, an Internist and Obesity Medicine Physician, who has leveraged her extensive medical training and board certification in Obesity Medicine to lead the High Metabolic Clinic in Ontario. She’s also the creator of Best Weight, a prominent medical weight loss coaching program for women, focusing on sustainable weight loss through cognitive behavioural coaching, nutrition counseling, and medical treatment. Additionally, Dr. High shares her expertise as an international speaker, social media educator, and host of the High on Life podcast. Listen to the Podcast Episode here! Hope you enjoy! Cheers, Dr. Dimitre The post Episode 97: Dr. Sasha High on the importance of psychological care in Obesity Management appeared first on Primary Medicine Podcast.

Dear Listeners, Dr. Kevin Mailo is an emergency physician based out of Edmonton, Alberta. He is the founder of Physician Empowerment, an organisation dedicated to transforming the lives of Canadian physicians through education in finance, practice management, wellness, and leadership. During the podcast, we have a chance to talk about his vision about the long-term wellness of the medical profession and his desire to see physicians and their families succeed personally and financially. Hope you enjoy! Cheers, Dr. Dimitre Listen to the podcast here The post Podcast 95: Dr. Kevin Mailo on empowering physicians to be mentally, physically and financially healthy appeared first on Primary Medicine Podcast.