Dr. Vin Gupta
Appearances
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
Please, if you know somebody that's taking high doses of vitamin A for that purpose, they're injuring themselves, they're potentially causing significant harm to their body. Number two, Really important to keep in mind here that two doses of the vaccine, 97% effective at preventing measles.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
Protection is lifelong, aside in very unusual, exceptional cases, like if you have an immunocompromising condition, that's where you might want to make sure and talk to your medical provider to make sure that you're fully covered. And really critically, if you were just not sure if you have had two doses of the measles vaccine, Just go ahead and get a booster.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
If you're in that group that was born before 1957, I'm sure you've heard, well, you're probably naturally exposed. You should be all good. Listen, if you're somebody in that age group and you're worried or you're living in a community where there's a lot of measles, just either you can do one of two things. Get the measles booster, nothing wrong with it, or get your titers checked.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
Those are two actionable things you can do. So in closing, there's a lot going on. There's a lot of noise. We're going to be doing this frequently because you all deserve the best health information possible. What's happening at the highest levels of government is not acceptable. It's being conducted by people who've never really taken care of patients at the bedside, frankly, in the first place.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
So it's even more reprehensible that we're seeing this. Bunch of non-health experts ruining how we speak about important public health issues. topics to the American public. We need a better, better way here. We're going to develop it with all of you. Thank you, Midas Mighty, for your trust. I look forward to seeing you again soon.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
Thanks so much, Ben. And hey, Midas Mighty. It's great to be on the Midas Touch Network and on the Midas Touch Podcast. I'm going to be a correspondent on the Midas Touch Network talking about all matters health, giving weekly updates on key issues just to make sure you and your family are informed and have accurate health information. Because you know what? It's pretty self-evident.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
We're not getting that from the sources that we should be getting it from, like the U.S. government. The information environment right now is chaotic, especially on health. And we're going to fix that. We're going to make sure that you have information when stuff hops in the news, like this measles outbreak, which we'll be talking about for this week's update.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
Or if it's something unexpected, like say bird flu, we'll be making sure that you have all the information you need. I'll be keeping my pulse on the current events. And we're going to be doing this frequently. Before I get into that, I wanted to give you a little bit of a background on myself. I'm a pulmonologist.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
Spent about 30% of my time at the bedside caring for patients in a hospital here in Seattle. I'm a reservist in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, specifically in the Medical Corps. Been in there for 11 years. I've deployed multiple times. And it's really doing what I do in a civilian ICU up at 30,000 feet in the Bay of the Sea 130. So I see...
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
American healthcare, I see patients across the spectrum from a lot of different lenses though. And what I promise to you is what I do in my other contributions for media. I'm going to give it to you straight. I'm going to tell you the truth. We're going to focus on actionable things that you and your family can do to stay safe.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
So with that being said, what are the things that you need to know right now this week that are happening in health? Well, number one, I think we can't ignore the news coming out yesterday that RFK Jr. is deciding to cut 10,000 people from the roles of HHS. That's a big deal. And it's going to have real impacts. to everybody, to all of us, to all of our families.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
And I think we should be talking about that in those terms. How are these cuts going to actually impact you and your families? Well, number one, he's bringing all communications under him. So no longer do the NIH, to the FDA, to the CDC get to actually have independence in what they talk about to the American public. They're all going to be now responsible and going up to him.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
And he's going to have a say in terms of what actually gets communicated to all of us. So there's going to be a lot of bias injected into what's actually being said and communicated from all those agencies. By the way, that's not how this has been before.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
All those agencies, NIH, FDA, CDC, have had independence for a reason because we shouldn't be in any way mixing politics and political appointees and their priorities with what these agencies are meant to do, which is to keep all of us safe and informed. So that's a concern. And that concern is already playing out in real time. I'm going to touch a little bit about meat on measles momentarily.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
But the reality is the communications environment on health has already been completely distorted. The CDC's chief spokesperson resigned in protest last Friday for a reason. He wrote a damning op-ed in the Washington Post on Friday detailing why, but basically saying,
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
that the American public was not getting accurate information because RFK had already co-opted all the megaphones of those health agencies to advance his own agenda, which is, as we already know, highly, highly skeptical when it comes to vaccine safety and effectiveness, highly anti-science, and frankly, just putting forth a bunch of junk information when it comes to what people should and should not be doing when it comes to, say, measles.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
It's a bunch of nonsense. And so the communications environment is only going to get worse, which makes this engagement even more important. That's number one. The information that we're getting from the highest sources, the highest appointed officials, you can't trust it. Number two.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
It's important to keep in mind that he's actually reducing workforce personnel from key parts of the FDA that oversee our food and drug supply, specifically quality and safety of our food and drug supply, especially when it comes from imported sources. That doesn't make any sense.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
I mean, we just came out not too long ago from a baby formula crisis where we didn't know what was causing contamination of baby formula. I mean, this is not even two years ago. And we are having constant issues with food contamination. I mean, we talk about salmonella. outbreaks in some of our produce. We've had norovirus issues. We've had multiple cases of listeria in raw meats.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
I mean, this is something that the FDA needs, frankly, more manpower, more human capital to be investing in when it comes to making sure our food supply is safe, not less. It doesn't make any sense.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
Our drug supply, we know that we rely, and we knew this especially throughout the pandemic, we rely a lot on drugs being imported from other parts of the world to make sure that Americans have what they need, whether it's Tylenol, whether it's a prescription drug. We don't produce all of that onshore for a variety of reasons.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
So if we don't have enough people at the FDA to actually do critical evaluation of quality and safety of our food and drug supply, which is basically what he's removing when it comes to these cuts, when you look deep down, and he scrutinized where these cuts are coming from, he's doing it in these key, really important areas that frankly need to be reinforced, not widowed. That worries me.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
And then lastly, it's this focus, this sort of marketing-type phrase that he's saying on his YouTube video yesterday that somehow the CDC is gonna return to its core focus on infectious diseases, and that that needs to be kind of its foundational cause, and it needs to return to those roots. You know, it's a nonsensical statement. It may sound good.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
I think he's probably fooling a lot of people when he says that, and they're probably just blindly agreeing with him, but it makes no sense. And here's why. For the last at least 30 years, probably dating well past the last 30 years, the top 10 killers of Americans, and frankly, most people worldwide, are chronic diseases, things like high blood pressure, diabetes. being obese, smoking.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
It's not things like influenza or diarrheal diseases, infectious diseases. It's not any of those things. Those are important. The CDC needs to be investigating outbreaks. Like for example, the measles outbreak, when and where it happens.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
It needs to be keeping its pulse on things like the bird flu outbreak across all mammalian species, luckily not humans, but pretty much every other species has been impacted. CDC needs to focus on that. But this concept that the CDC, that that should be its only focus, completely misses the point. legions of Americans are dying because of chronic disease.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
If it doesn't focus on what's killing us, then what good is it? Who else is going to do that? The answer is no one. It doesn't make sense. Don't listen to it. Question everything he says. He's going to own the comm shop, which is not a good thing because there's going to be no independence. There's going to be no accountability, no cross-check to say, is what he's going to put out actually true?
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
Or is it just tinged with political priorities and political jargon? Is the FDA going to actually be able to do its charge and its mission when it comes to evaluating food, especially imported food, especially imported drugs, for quality and safety? I doubt it. If we're losing key personnel, I don't know how that happens. And what's the future of the CDC?
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
If we're saying it needs a return to a focus solely on infectious diseases, who's going to protect us? from the epidemic of chronic disease that we know is killing us. That's the focus here, and he doesn't have a plan. It's got to be the CDC. He can't take that away. Now on to measles. Where are we? You know, this last week, we've already, across the country, we've now crossed over 400 cases.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
We've seen it continue to simmer in places like West Texas and New Mexico. We've actually seen cases where some families have children who've taken so much vitamin A, thinking it's a preventative, potentially even a treatment because of what RFK and his former organizations have been putting out, that they come into the hospital with vitamin A toxicity, which is gonna cause serious organ damage.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
It's not a trivial thing. Here's the issue here. They put out all this garbage medical advice that has no basis in the scientific literature. Like, for example, a healthy diet replete with vitamin A is somehow going to prevent measles infection. Doesn't happen. That somehow it's going to be a substitute for vaccination. Again, not true. And they're putting people's lives at risk.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
I mean, the family of the child that lost their life is convinced that somehow the measles vaccine was part of the problem and that it's somehow precipitating all these rising cases. It is directly because RFK and this prior organization, the Child Health Defense, is putting this information out there. They're actually peddling this, and this is not a new thing for them.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
They've been doing this for a very, very long time, and his name was appended to all of it. right before he had to resign from that organization to then become the HHS secretary. So make no mistake, what's happening in West Texas, what's happening in New Mexico and across the country, by the way, we're well past. It's not even April yet.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
We're well past where we were in total case numbers over the last four years. We're already well past that. It's not even April. That's going to get worse. And the reason it's going to get worse is because our incumbent health secretary has created an environment where people think treatments for something like measles exist when they do not.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
Listen, RFK and the people around him are not practicing physicians. Pretty much everybody around him has not practiced medicine either in a really long time or has never practiced medicine. They're not credentialed. In most cases, they're not even well-respected by their peers. And yet... that are providing cover for him to put this information out there.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
Cod liver oil does not in any way treat measles. Vitamin A in select cases is used as a supplement to help in the management of, say, a child who's unvaccinated, exposed, and hospitalized with measles. It is used as an aid, as a supplement, as part of our treatment approach to a child once they're already super sick with measles. In no way does vitamin A actually prevent the illness itself.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
And by the way, where vitamin A can actually be useful in the world, where people are actually deficient in vitamin A, places like East Africa, parts of Southeast Asia, parts of South Asia, the USAID actually funded programs to actually help get kids that were vitamin A deficient the necessary vitamins and minerals so that they were no longer deficient.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
On day one of the Trump administration, he ended those programs through cutting ultimately USAID. So on the one hand, we're talking about the importance of vitamin A, and yes, it has its purpose in select use cases. not really relevant here in the United States, because the United States doesn't really have vitamin A deficiency.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
But in parts of the world that do, we were actually doing something about it. On day one, the Trump administration actually cut the funding to the ending of USAID. So let's be clear here. There isn't a logical train of thought. They're actually internally inconsistent in their policy.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
If they really cared about this issue, perhaps they wouldn't have cut the programs that are actually helping people when it comes to vitamin A and considerations about measles. So that's one. Two, let's just please keep in mind One shot of the vaccine actually produces detectable antibodies against measles within just a few days.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
Remember, you can get... If you are not sure you got two shots of the measles vaccine, just get a booster shot. If you have no proof that you got at least two shots of the measles vaccine, just get a booster shot. It's safe. It's very safe, contrary to misinformation out there. And it can only help you in the case of... If you don't think you got that second shot, if you're not sure...
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
If you have an immunocompromising condition, of course, talk to your medical provider. That's always gonna be the default answer, but it's something that you can also be proactive on. And if you're just not sure, get the booster shot. If you're pregnant, if you're pregnant, you're unvaccinated and exposed, immediately talk to your obstetrician.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
We might give you a medication called immunoglobulin to help protect you. So that's something also to keep in mind. But just as a summary here, Measles, we expect this is gonna get worse, probably far worse in terms of caseloads and potentially even kids getting really ill before hopefully it starts to subside. I'm hoping by sometime in the midsummer. This is gonna take some time.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Introducing Meidas Health with Dr. Vin Gupta, Episode 1
Remember, vitamin A is not something that's relevant to measles and the management of measles here in the United States. We do give it to kids that are hospitalized with measles as part of our supportive care, but in no way treats measles and in no way prevents measles.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Hey, Midas Mighty. It's great to see you again. I wanted to share a few words ahead of episode two, which I'm so excited to be sharing with you. It's a conversation with recent former FDA commissioner, Dr. Robert Califf. He is one of our nation's leading health officials. He was FDA commissioner under President Barack Obama and most recently under President Biden.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Dr. Cahill, do you feel Based on the cuts and sort of the gravity of the cuts and the loss of personnel, what I imagine is, I would imagine morale is not high. And amongst those that remain at FTA across these key functions, food quality and safety, vaccine approvals. I mean, we're seeing all these headlines come out. And I think even I sometimes wonder what's actually happening.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
What does this really mean? Can you speak to or just very directly, do you feel like can Americans trust the and do you feel like we have the mechanisms and personnel in place now still to FDA where we can trust our food supply and our and our imported drug supply that it's gone through the necessary scrutiny and rigor to be safe if we put it in our bodies?
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
has eliminated the expertise and the personnel that communicates with the American public on vital health issues. So who's going to do it now? We don't know. You've probably seen esteemed longtime experts like Dr. Peter Marks, who oversaw our vaccine approvals over the last many, many decades, including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He basically resigned in protest.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Because it strikes me that for those that remain, obviously you were the leader of this organization twice, both under former President Obama and most recently under former President Biden. You know them well. There's been a lot of high-profile departures.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
It strikes me as a clinician, you know, with a few roles across healthcare, that if I knew that my job was maybe potentially at risk, it would fundamentally make me want to consider proactively switching jobs. Certainly I would lose any sense of connectivity to the organization. So I'm wondering, even for those that remain
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
If you can speak to the risk of brain drain and just talent leaving, not wanting to come back, just the difficulty it is of retention and recruitment into a place like FTA. Because I do think that some of those things don't get talked about enough.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
and was recently came out saying that he was asked by the RFK Jr. team to come up and present data that was favorable to them on the measles vaccine and somehow linking the measles vaccine to autism. This is from recent reporting from the New York Times and other sources that he was asked to produce that information. Obviously, in his own telling, that information does not exist.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Well, you know, just hearing you speak, I have to ask. I agree with you that we have to give Dr. Macri the new FDA commissioner job. an opportunity. I will say just me, independent of you, looking at early signals, I worry whether or not he's going to have the independence to push back.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
And, you know, seeing Dr. Peter Marks, who is a legend, just like yourself, and has made his career at FDA on one of the lead vaccine safety experts, leave, and it seems like with the permission of Dr. Macri, That worries me on what that heralds.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
And I'm wondering how you take Dr. Peter Marks leaving and sort of how we should take that recent news coupled to the fact that these advisory committees on important vaccine decision making, especially before Dr. Macri even joined, looked like those were delayed significantly. I'm wondering how much, one, independence you feel like the FDA commissioner can have in this environment.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
And then two, what these early signals herald, if anything.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
I didn't realize the... That's news to me that all but two of the senior-level officials that once reported to you now have been let go. That is a stunning number. And you're right, a lot of institutional knowledge that bridged presidential administrations. I think it's important to recognize in the case of, say, Dr. Peter Marks,
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
So he was being asked to invent false information. I think it's important, as we see inevitably more and more headlines on these topics and other budget cuts, to understand well beyond the headlines, why does this impact all of you, all of us? Why does it impact if you have children? Why does it impact your children? in an apolitical way, how does it impact maybe grandma and grandpa?
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
He bridged presidential administrations and, you know, regardless of whatever the prevailing politics may be in the White House, he was still there for many, many administrations. That's where I'm sure some of the has your.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
When it comes to vaccine safety, I feel like I get a lot of questions as a pulmonologist, as somebody that speaks often to the public on health matters. Can people trust vaccines and their safety profile moving forward? Or do we have to go to Canada to get our flu shot? Will it be as accurate and as useful as the last vaccine developed under your leadership?
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
I'm wondering when you hear those questions, I'm sure you get some version directly to yourself, some riffing on those same themes. What's your response? And can you reassure us? And if not, what should we be vigilant for?
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
harm and you try to reduce that as much as you can but you can't eliminate it and for everybody listening right now i think dr caleb brings up a really important point one on measles for for all those tracking we already have one of the worst outbreaks we've seen in recent memory case counts here have exceeded the last several years um and this seems like this is only going to get worse before it gets better
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
How does it impact your healthcare access? We have to start talking about these issues. And when we see enormous budgetary cuts for NIH funding and basic science research, You know, that is impactful when I see that. Or maybe when you when you see that you can understand the ramifications. But we have to we have to dig multiple level levels deeper and understand and communicate.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
A reminder, if you're talking to those that might be exposed to measles, if they're pregnant, for whatever reason, unvaccinated, don't know their status, one shot of the measles vaccine is 93% effective at preventing infection. Two shots, 97% effective. Protection is, in nearly every case, lifelong, unlike what we've heard from the new health secretary.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
And it's important to keep in mind antibodies are detectable even within a few days. So if you've been exposed... And short of pregnancy, which is a different sort of edge case, if you've been exposed and don't know your status or are unvaccinated, getting vaccinated is indicated, it's the best thing you can do.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
If you're pregnant, exposed, and you don't know your status or know you're unvaccinated, immediately speak to your obstetrician or gynecologist because we might give you a different type of therapy called IVIG therapy. but something to keep in mind. Or if you know somebody that might be at risk, those are things just to keep in mind.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Dr. Kauff, I know that you're in an airport and we only have limited time with you. I do wanna zoom out a bit and just when we think about HHS cuts more broadly, the impact that this is gonna have on our talent pool, good jobs across biomedicine,
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
And frankly, what this means, again, I mean, I really want to laser in on things that impact the everyday America that may not be thinking about things that you and I think about often. Wondering if you can zoom out 10 years from now and assuming that what's happening today with these cuts across NIH, research funding cuts, impacts on...
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
committees and expertise across FDA that oversees quality and safety across a range of products. What does that mean for the American patient 10 years from now when it comes to access to treatments that might save their life for a cancer or say a chronic cardiometabolic disease or something in between? Can you make that real for us? What's the real patient impact here five, 10 years from now?
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Why does that impact every single American, again, who may not be in the health care field? And it's important to note that those NIH cuts on basic science research, research that, by the way, is long-term in nature. You know, Wagovi and Ozempic, you hear all about those drugs because they're all the rage now. They are incredibly, incredibly important.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
And he's somebody that, where there are very few candidates that could get through a Senate confirmation with bipartisan support, he's one of the few that did it. And so that's why it's really important for him, in my opinion, to be heard from at this moment.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
I think they're going to reshape the American healthcare landscape. They're going to hopefully portend a new and different and healthier life for people that have access to them.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
But it's important to note that 20 years ago, the foundational research that led ultimately to the development of Vagovi, Ozempic, and similar classes of drugs, those new weight loss drugs, was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
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The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
long before any pharmaceutical company saw that research and said, yes, I can do something interesting with that research and maybe make a revolutionary medication. It's important to keep that in mind, that the arc of innovation to get the next amazing medical therapeutic or medical breakthrough can take decades.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
,, But some people like him will leverage any sort of ounce of uncertainty and say that some of us are withholding information and that couldn't be the furthest thing from the truth. But I'm glad you brought that up.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
And by the way, there's no government out there that's going to step in and fill our gap, the gap that we're creating, that Musk and Trump are creating with their budgetary cuts. There's no private sector company that has the patience or willingness to take on that level of risk. Because remember, it's high risk, but potential high reward. But that risk can be felt over decades.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
And I appreciate your focus on post-launch patient registries so that people can get access to therapeutics, but maybe we're still learning as we go when it comes to sort of key questions like indications for use or how long somebody needs to be on a medication. Really, really important.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Also just want to say for cod liver oil, I'm trying to weave in some of the things that I know often get asked by a lot of folks. We're actually seeing people take excess doses of vitamin A either through cod liver oil, which has a lot of vitamin A, or directly as a supplement. then that's causing toxicity.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
And they're listening to those that want to misinform, taking these supplements in an unregulated, unsafe way with clear impacts on the body. And so, again, something really important that you're calling out, which is networks that are digital, that are omni-channel, putting better information out there is really important. Which is why I just want to thank you, Dr. Caleb. I know you're traveling.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
You're so gracious to join us. The whole intent of Midas Health is to work with the Midas Touch Network, which is one of the widest reaching digital media platforms in the country. And we're doing exactly what you said. And this is a first effort and we're going to evolve it over time. to reach people in different ways. And we're hoping to build a network of partners to do that.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
So, Dr. Caleb, I just want to say thank you for your years of service to the country. Thank you for being on with us this morning. And I hope this is just the first of many episodes with you. But thank you, sir.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
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The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
There is no other entity out there that's going to be able to replace the United States government, the National Institutes of Health when it comes to ensuring that your children, that all of us as we age, have access to necessary medications to fill critical medical white spaces. And I think it's important.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
that every single time we hear about the next headline, because we will all be bombarded with these issues and these headlines, not just now, but over the next weeks and months, to break it down and distill it as to why this matters to every patient across the country, to every single family.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Because that's the through line, I guarantee you, that our leading health officials and those in power are hoping we do not make and keep connecting the dots. They're hoping we don't do that. Because I'm not sure many of them understand the impacts of what they're doing to their family members. You know, this is not an apolitical. This is not in some way some sort of partisan issue here.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
When the FDA is being hollowed out, we're seeing all these cuts to HHS, more broadly to NIH, to CDC, to the committees and the personnel that are guiding our health information, communicating with the American public. They're pretty much all gone.
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Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Access to basic therapeutics that can fill big white spaces like the treatment of Alzheimer's. That impacts Republicans and Democrats. That impacts potentially mom or dad, whether you're a Republican or whether you're a Democrat. And I'm not sure they understand that.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Or if they do, one wonders what's really driving a lot of their decision making, because they're not making decisions in the best interests of their loved ones. And so as we have this conversation with Dr. Califf, please keep that in mind. That's the goal here. I'm going to be inviting on other leading government officials, both in power right now at the state level,
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
former officials who've guided policy for our country at the national level. We're gonna be having these types of conversations to try to make it as real as possible and to keep you informed. I'll also ensure that we cover the news of the day. If there are issues that are happening that need correction, we're gonna be doing rapid response corrections on this podcast.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
So we're gonna be doing those as necessary as things pop up. And then my goal to you is to bring you the nation's leading experts to hold to account what's happening in Washington so that we all have a voice. Okay, I'll turn to the other side with Dr. Califf. Thank you. Hello, everybody. Excited to welcome you to episode two of Midas Health.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
This is our effort to put good information, good public health information out to the masses to all of you, especially at a time in which I think it's very obvious to say that is lacking from the highest levels of government.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
I am honored to have somebody I consider a close mentor and a friend, the recent former FDA commissioner, Dr. Robert Califf, who's joining us en route back to his home in North Carolina. Dr. Califf, thank you for being here, especially amid the times. We're really honored, sir.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Well, Dr. Califf, I'm going to give you the floor here, just your comments and reaction to the last week and what you're seeing at FDA and more broadly.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
or they're people that we know have loyalties to the politics of the incumbent secretary, RFK Jr., not necessarily to the science and to the profession where their loyalties should be. And so I wanted to tee up and give you a sense of what to expect with me and Dr. Califf in conversation. We're going to talk about say, 35 minutes or so. And, you know, we were trying to make it real.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Well, Dr. Caleb, first of all, we should have done disclosures on your basketball affiliations for those that no longer want to listen. I hope that's not many. And congratulations to your Blue Devils. What a run. Exciting weekend ahead.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
I do want to, you know, I noticed you posted on LinkedIn and other social channels something to the effect that the FDA, as we've known it this week, you had posted this, is now finished. And, you know, when you talk about the impact of these cuts, I understand it's just having, you know, living and breathing health and health policy.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
But I'm wondering if you can make it real for our listeners who maybe aren't thinking about medical device safety and food safety. even if there's a self-evident quality to some of these cuts and their impact, how is this going to impact the life of an everyday American?
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
And I was trying to elicit from him and his expertise. Why are these HHS cuts? It may seem self-evident to us, but why are these cuts so impactful to all Americans, to families across the country? to people that may not be thinking about these issues the way maybe some of us are thinking about them every single day. Why does this impact everybody?
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
I do want to ask a follow-up on that and then zoom back out to just broader food and drug safety issues.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
So when you mentioned rare diseases, I noticed there's optimism around an experimental Alzheimer's treatment that I'm sure you saw some lay press around about last week, that for those with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's, this treatment, for all our listeners out there, delayed the onset
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
for a very high-risk group that was almost guaranteed to develop symptoms by at least a decade, if not more, and that the funding for this trial has been stopped in its tracks. And so who knows what happens to patients that are reliant on this medication.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Obviously, it's sort of pre-FDA, but it's an example of what's at risk here in terms of the treatments in our toolkit for providers across the country. Five, 10 years down the line for something that is unmet when it comes to treatments for Alzheimer's. Not necessarily a rare disease, but I think something that could ring home to a lot of people. I'm curious...
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
And how does it impact everybody from food safety, drug safety, especially as we're moving to secure more foods and more drugs from imported sources? It's important to note that a lot of these HHS and FDA cuts are gonna impact personnel and committees overseeing food and drug safety, especially from imported sources. That's number one. Two, he is effectively, RFK Jr.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Meidas Health, Episode 2: Dr. Gupta and Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf
Do you feel like there is public understanding of what these cuts mean when it comes to treatments and novel therapeutics? Or is that message not getting or is that the consequences of what's happening this week? Is that not landing at scale?