Thinking About Ob/Gyn

Howard and guest hose Sivani Aluru unpack why the new PMOS name matters, how PCOS got tied to “cysts,” and what the evidence actually says about diagnosis, metabolic risk, and treatment. We also challenge a few habits we have all inherited, from pre-op antibiotic dosing to the way we talk about hormones, weight, and fertility with patients. • the evidence gap behind 2 g vs 3 g cefazolin in obese cesarean patients and how practice inertia forms • why PMOS shifts attention toward in...

We sit down with Joshua Oommen to get nerdy about clinical reasoning, FDA standards, and why “good evidence” is harder to define than most of us admit. We challenge the reflex to trust p-values and meta-analyses, then test our instincts against real OBGYN examples where the literature has whiplashed practice. • why the podcast is called Thinking About OBGYN and how clinical reasoning shapes our work • the NEJM proposal to make one pivotal trial the FDA default and what “confirmato...

We answer vaccine questions head-on, using real numbers to separate online fear from how vaccines, immunity, and public health actually work. We break down why diseases feel “gone,” what the modern schedule really exposes babies to, and how to spot misleading claims around ingredients, autism, and VAERS. Featuring Kate Moloney and our vaccine-hesitant friend Anah. • why vaccine success makes diseases look eradicated while risk returns when coverage drops • Stanford modeling estim...

We talk with Dr. Emily Donelan about how conflicting labor management guidelines can derail communication between nurses and physicians and quietly raise patient safety risks. We map the biggest friction points and lay out practical ways to reconcile guidance locally while pushing for a unified national approach. • defining “communication dystocia” and why guideline discrepancies create real bedside conflict • how evidence gaps drive teams toward institutional culture and inertia...

We unpack the Gray Journal’s special edition on Cesarean Delivery, separating strong evidence from expert habit, and spotlight where technique, culture, and policy collide. From TXA and barbed sutures to better metrics and imaging, we share what to adopt now and what to question. Featuring Maddie White. • evidence versus expert opinion across the special issue • TXA at cesarean shows no meaningful outcome gains • barbed versus braided sutures and the cost of “speed” • why fundamentals beat g...

We map a prevention-first approach to OBGYN surgical complications—from environmental fixes and technique to early detection, skilled repair, and honest recovery—so fewer patients are harmed and clinicians carry less hidden burden. Practical steps, board-level reasoning, and real cases bring it to life. • applying primordial to quaternary prevention to surgical harm • avoiding unnecessary hysterectomy and favoring safer routes • bladder repair tactics by size and location • ureter injury rec...

Jamie Perry joins this episode as we share ten standout women’s health breakthroughs from 2025 and then get practical about value in endoscopic hysterectomy. The focus is simple: cut waste, save time, protect quality, and expand access through better selection, technique, and team flow. • Key 2025 breakthroughs shaping care and counseling • Why OR time outweighs device price • Preference cards as a lever to reduce waste • Three-arm robotics and smarter instrument choices • Laparoscopic tips:...

We trace the arc from variolation and Jenner to mRNA, show how vaccines leverage natural immunity, and explain why maternal shots protect both parent and newborn. Data, history, and personal stories make the case that prevention beats cure for OBGYN care. • pertussis surge in Kentucky and preventable infant deaths • child mortality then and now and what changed • variolation to Jenner and the origins of vaccination • how innate and adaptive immunity learn and remember • vaccine types and why...

Antonia and special guest Kristi Angevine explore how physicians can rethink habits beyond routines to include default thoughts, feelings, and reactions, and how that shift relieves burnout and restores purpose. Practical micro-habits, internal validation, and redefining productivity help us lead better and live better. • habits as automatic thoughts, feelings, reactions • perfectionism, people pleasing, catastrophizing as learned solutions • survival seasons and low‑friction wins • two micr...

In this episode, Howard and Maddie White challenge shaky claims linking autism to circumcision and Tylenol, then zero in on speed as the byproduct of essential, evidence-based surgery. We show how essentialism, confidence, and efficiency reduce complications, lower costs, and improve outcomes in the OR. • correlation vs causation in autism narratives and bias in research • why operative time predicts complications across procedures • surgeon volume, variability, and outcome differences • evi...

Dr. Howard Herrell explores common questions about birth alternatives posed by Anna, a mom-to-be with questions, examining scientific evidence behind claims often found online that challenge evidence-based obstetric practices. The discussion separates facts from philosophy by analyzing actual research data on interventions like epidurals, oxytocin, and birthing positions. • Maternal mortality has decreased 173-fold since 1850, coinciding with the rise of modern obstetrics • The "cascade of i...

Dr. Jacqueline Vidosh shares her powerful journey as both an obstetrician and mother to Noah, who has trisomy 18, challenging traditional medical understanding of this condition and providing insights into compassionate patient care. Her story, recently featured in The New York Times, illustrates how medical perspectives on chromosomal conditions can evolve through lived experience, highlighting the spectrum nature of trisomy 18 and the importance of accurate, unbiased counseling. • Receivin...

Dr. Scott Guthrie joins us to explore the significant advances in neonatal care and the critical partnership between obstetricians and neonatologists to improve outcomes for newborns. Highlights include: • Successful implemented delayed cord clamping across Tennessee hospitals through collaborative quality improvement project • Neonatal mortality has decreased 30% between 1999-2022 due to advances in medical care and prenatal management • Survival rates for 22-week premature infants ha...