#214 - Jon Reisman, M.D., on THE UNSEEN BODY

Doctor of internal medicine and pediatrics Jonathan Reisman, M.D., chats with Trey Elling about THE UNSEEN BODY: A DOCTOR'S JOURNEY THROUGH THE HIDDEN WONDERS OF HUMAN ANATOMY. Questions include: How did an early love of exploring the outdoors benefit his eventual medical career? (1:21) How did an elderly patient help him better appreciate the throat? (3:31) Why is the cardiovascular system analogous to the Earth's waterways? (7:14) What exactly is the Indian-style way of wiping one's butt? (13:11) How are fecal transplants administered, and how do they work? (15:28) Why do bodily rhythms come up in the chapter dedicated to genitals? (18:25) What exactly is the pineal gland? (23:19) Why do our brains swell the further we get from sea level? (26:49) Where does the brain end and the mind begin? (30:29) Why is the skin 'intelligent'? (33:52) What does he love about urine more than any other bodily fluid? (36:29) How much of obesity is a medical disease versus a person making continually poor lifestyle choices? (43:44) Do medical schools provide adequate training on nutrition? (47:39) Why are the lungs a forbidden food in the US? (50:16) Why is eye contact an important component of his patient care? (54:04) Why is it important to assess the temperature of a finger or toe when treating an injury to the digit? (56:26) Why do plastic surgeons use leaches? (58:22) Why is empathy crucial for patient care? (1:01:15)