Delaware Health Care Reality

Episode 30: The Vaccine Conversation: From Polio to COVID-19

Welcome to Delaware Healthcare Reality, where medicine meets real conversation. In this episode, host Nicholas O. Biasotto, DO is joined by Kirsten Hauer, MD, FACP—Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, and Diplomat of the ABIM—for a deep dive into one of the most powerful tools in modern medicine: vaccines.
Together, they’ll explore the history and science behind vaccines like DPT, MMR, Polio, Varicella, Shingrix, HPV, and COVID-19—how they work, how they protect, and what we know about their benefits, risks, and side effects. The conversation doesn’t stop there—Dr. Hauer and Dr. Biasotto also tackle important questions about government mandates, patient autonomy, and freedom of choice in vaccination.
Get ready for an insightful discussion that blends medical expertise with real-world perspectives you won’t want to miss!

Episode 29: Psychedelics in Medicine

Host Nicholas O. Biasotto, DO sits down with Jeffrey Meyers, MD, LAc—attending physician at Delaware Back Pain & Sports Rehabilitation Center and founder of Minute 2 Mastery Peak Performance Consult—to explore the evolving field of psychedelic medicine.
From their historical roots to cutting-edge research, Dr. Meyers breaks down the science behind psychedelics, federal regulations, treatment timelines, and certification requirements for physicians. Whether you’re a clinician, policymaker, or simply curious, this conversation sheds light on one of the most compelling frontiers in healthcare today.
Tune in for an insightful discussion that challenges perceptions and considers how psychedelics might reshape the way we treat mental health, pain, and beyond.

Episode 28: Inside Dementia: Early Signs To Treatment Options

Join host Nicholas O. Biasotto, DO, as he sits down with neurologist Robert J. Varipapa, MD, for an important conversation on dementia. Together, they unpack the different types, common symptoms, how dementia is tested and evaluated, and the treatment options available today. Whether you’re a physician, caregiver, or simply curious, this episode sheds light on a condition that touches so many lives.

Episode 27: Food is Medicine

Host Nicholas O. Biasotto, DO is joined by Michelle Axe, MS, CHES and Katelyn Fritzges, MD, CCMS for a powerful Food is Medicine conversation. Together, they explore how nutrition can transform patient outcomes, covering everything from integrating healthy food into care plans and addressing nutrition security, to navigating patient barriers, finding the right programs, and understanding reimbursement. Get expert insights on culinary medicine, ultra-processed foods, nutrient density, organic vs. non-organic, fresh vs. frozen, and even how to eat healthy on a budget.

Episode 26: Legislation That Hits Home - Get the Updates!

Join host Nicholas O. Biasotto, DO and special guest Richard Henderson, MD, FACOG, a retired and formerly board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist, MSD Past President, and Chair of the MSD Government Affairs Committee for a rapid-fire update on the hottest health care Bills impacting Delaware physicians and patients. From the fight to address prior-authorizations to transparency in care titles, abortion consent laws, Tianeptine regulation, suicide prevention, and even red dye bans in schools—this episode is your fast-track briefing on what’s happening under the dome.
Catch the full list of legislative updates at www.medicalsocietyofdelaware.org.

Episode 25: The Truth About Corticosteroid Injections: Myths, Science, and Solutions

Think you know everything about corticosteroid injections? Think again. Join host Nicholas O. Biasotto, DO and renowned Orthopaedic surgeon Michael J. Axe, MD as they bust long-standing myths, break down the science, and reveal what’s really happening inside the joint. From the truth about cartilage damage and steroid limits to the surprising effects on diabetic patients—not all injections are created equal. Wet joint vs. dry joint, Bupivacaine vs. Lidocaine, inflammation research, and why physical therapy must follow—don’t miss this eye-opening episode!

Episode 24: Inside MedNet: Delaware’s Trusted Network for Independent Practices

Join host Nicholas O. Biasotto, DO for an insightful conversation with Michael J. Bradley, DO, Past President of the AMA State Medical Society and the Medical Society of Delaware, and Lori Ann Rhoads, CMPE, Director of Health System Innovation at MSD. 
They discuss Medical Network Management Services of Delaware, LLC (MedNet)—a subsidiary of the Medical Society of Delaware, a physician-owned and led organization supporting over 1,300 clinicians across Delaware. Since 1996, MedNet has helped independent practices thrive in a changing health care landscape, offering:
Higher reimbursements through fee-for-service contracts
Support for value-based care, quality metrics, and care coordination
Credentialing and insurance issue resolution
Shared savings programs—with over $3 million returned to primary care
We explore MedNet’s collaboration with the Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN), efforts to close care gaps and improve outcomes. Tune in to learn whether there’s been any real progress with Primary Care Reform in Delaware.
Why MedNet? Because it's trusted, physician-led, and built for the future of independent practice in Delaware. Let’s get into it!

Episode 23: The Broken Health Care System

In this powerful three-part podcast special, host Nicholas O. Biasotto, DO, takes listeners on a deep dive into the systemic flaws crippling American health care. From the vanishing number of primary care physicians and the mounting burdens that push them out, to the complex—and often opaque—ways hospitals and insurance companies generate revenue, this episode pulls back the curtain on a system in crisis.
Dr. Biasotto unpacks the forces behind physician burnout, the hospital profit machine, and how insurance companies are impacting both patients and physicians. With real-world examples, emerging legislative efforts, and potential paths forward, this is a must-listen for anyone who has ever felt frustrated or confused by our health care system.
If this conversation resonates with you, share your thoughts and stories with us at healthcare.reality@medsocdel.org.

Episode 22: Beyond the Silos: Why Physicians Are Unionizing for Change

Join host Nicholas O. Biasotto, DO, with two special guests from ChristianaCare: Bryan Haimes, MD, MPH, Internal Medicine Hospitalist and Pediatrician and Amber Higgins, MD, Emergency Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology physician: Together they played a pivotal role in forming the first and largest private attending, multi-specialty physicians union in the country.
In this episode, we explore what led to this historic move — from overcrowded emergency rooms and long wait times for inpatient beds to top-down decision-making that left physicians feeling unheard. We’ll also touch on the American Medical Association’s stance on unionization.
What does collective bargaining look like in medicine? What happens when negotiations stall? You’ll learn about key terms like “Bad Faith Bargaining” and the “Union Security Clause”, and how unionization is being used as a strategy to unify physician voices and advocate for change. — ultimately aimed at improving the physician workforce and delivering better patient care.  This is an eye-opening conversation you won’t want to miss.  Let’s get into it!

Episode 21: LET'S GET REAL ABOUT POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

Joining host Nicholas O. Biasotto, DO is special guest Ronald L. Lewis, DO, FACC, FACOI a Board-Certified Cardiologist, at ChristianaCare. We’re diving deep into a complex and often misunderstood condition affecting millions of Americans: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS - a complex condition that affects 1 in 500 Americans, primarily women, and often goes undiagnosed.
What you’ll learn:
Is POTS a heart issue—or something else?
Can autoimmune diseases trigger it?
What symptoms should raise red flags?
What must be ruled out first?
Available treatments?
Dr. Lewis explains how autonomic dysfunction drives symptoms like rapid heart rate, breathing difficulties, and regulation issues—and what patients and clinicians need to know.
A clear, compelling look at a misunderstood syndrome—only on Delaware Health Care Reality.