00:00:00 Dr. Satya Hegde, a pediatric pulmonologist based in Gainesville, Florida, discusses his background and the importance of focusing on children's lungs. Dr. Hegde shares how he decided to pursue pediatrics after medical school in India due to the high demand for pediatricians and the positive impact early intervention can have on children's health, particularly in pulmonology. He then explains why the lungs are a fascinating organ, as they are the second organ directly exposed to the environment and have a large surface area, equivalent to a small tennis field. The latest technology, such as remote monitoring, digital stethoscopes, and integrated lung function tests, allows doctors like Dr. Hegde to diagnose and treat lung conditions more effectively.

00:05:00 Dr. Satya Hegde discusses the importance of the lungs as a large organ with a vast surface area for gas exchange, directly exposed to the environment. He explains that because of this direct exposure, the lungs serve as an entry point for infections and inflammations, making pulmonology knowledge essential for various medical specialties, including oncology and cardiology. Dr. Hegde shares how his discovery of the significant connection between lungs and other health issues led him to specialize in pulmonology. He also highlights the intricate relationship between cardiology and pulmonology, as the functions of the heart and lungs are interconnected, and they work together to supply oxygen to the body and eliminate carbon dioxide.

00:10:00 Dr. Hegde notes the collaboration between cardiologists and pulmonologists in diagnosing and treating respiratory issues. Coughing can be caused by cardiac or pulmonary problems, and they often work together to determine the root cause. One area of collaboration is congenital heart disease, where the heart may not form correctly, and the arteries may originate from the wrong chambers. This can cause compression on the bronchi or trachea, leading to coughing, shortness of breath, collapse of the lungs, and even pneumonia. In such severe cases, a bronchoscopy can help identify the compression. The relationship between a general pediatrician and a pediatric pulmonologist is not clearly defined, and it depends on the comfort level and expertise of the pediatrician, as well as the parents' preferences. In general, pediatricians can handle mild respiratory issues, but children with moderate to severe asthma, frequent hospitalizations, or the need for oral steroids would benefit from seeing a pulmonologist or an allergist, who specializes in asthma management.

00:15:00 Dr. Satya Hegde discusses two cases in his career: the easiest and the most complex. The easiest case involved a child with asthma who had been undiagnosed and undertreated for months. After testing and prescribing inhaled steroids, the child's symptoms improved, and parents were grateful. The most complex case was an adolescent female diagnosed with severe asthma but whose treatment did not respond. After further investigation, she was diagnosed with histoplasmosis, a condition caused by the mold Histoplasma. The diagnosis required various tests, including a thoracoscopy, and the treatment was different from standard asthma treatment. Histoplasmosis is a condition caused by the mold Histoplasma, common in the Ohio Valley area.

00:20:00 The guest discusses Histoplasmosis, a fungus commonly found in the Midwest and Ohio Valley, which affects over 80% of the population but usually causes no harm. However, in a small percentage of people, particularly those who are immuno-compromised, the fungus can invade the body and cause serious problems, including invasive histoplasmosis. The doctor shares a case of a patient with severe asthma who, despite not having any underlying conditions, was taking high doses of steroids to treat her asthma and inhaled steroids that suppressed local immunity. This made her more susceptible to the fungus, leading to invasive histoplasmosis and symptoms beyond respiratory issues, such as headaches, distorted vision, and depression. Dr. Hegde advises people to be proactive and look out for respiratory symptoms that persist for more than 2-3 weeks after a viral infection, as they could be a sign of an underlying environmental issue, such as mold.

00:25:00 Dr. Satya Hegde discusses his background as a pediatric pulmonologist and his current role as an independent contractor who offers his professional services to various universities and healthcare systems. He previously held a formal professor role until 2019 but now works as a voluntary professor at the University of Central Florida and other institutions. Dr. Hegde expresses his enjoyment of the freedom that comes with being an independent contractor, allowing him to decide where he works and what he teaches, which he finds fulfilling and essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. He also mentions the challenges of burnout in healthcare and how his current role has helped him address that issue.

00:30:00 Dr. Hegde shares his experience of transitioning from being a W2 employee to an independent contractor in the medical field. He explains how this change allowed him to dedicate 100% of his time to patient care while also having the flexibility to pursue research ideas and collaborate with universities. Dr. Hegde gives an example of a patent-pending technology he developed for airway clearance that died when he was a full-time employee but was able to revive and advance as an independent contractor. He also mentions the decision-making autonomy and energy boost he experienced from this transition. Dr. Hegde concludes by discussing how hospitals and medical schools are addressing burnout through standardized tools like questionnaires.

00:35:00 In this section, Dr. Satya Hegde discusses various topics related to lung health and well-being. During the conversation, they touch upon the importance of addressing mental and oral health in medical professionals to prevent burnout. Dr. Hegde shares an experience of using a voluntary burnout survey tool offered by some hospitals, which measures burnout levels and compares results with peers. The speaker then transitions to discussing their work in access pediatrics, a telehealth solution for pediatric specialties. Access pediatrics utilizes the latest technology, including digital stethoscopes and remote monitoring devices, to bring higher levels of care to patients at their homes or schools. For instance, a child with asthma can receive a kit with a digital stethoscope and receive guidance from a dedicated virtual assistant to perform pulmonary function tests at home.

00:40:00 Dr. Satya Hegde discusses the advancements in lung health technology, specifically the use of home devices for monitoring lung function and oxygen levels. The mother in the conversation shares her experience using an aspirator and pulse oximeter at home, but Dr. Hegde goes on to explain how Access Pediatrics has taken it a step further with Wi-Fi-connected devices that can send real-time readings to doctors, even if they are not in the same location. He also mentions the upcoming release of a sleep apnea monitoring watch by Samsung and a patent-pending smart headband for measuring air quality triggers for individuals with asthma. These advancements aim to provide personalized care and actionable insights for individuals with lung health issues.

00:45:00 Dr. Hegde discusses the development of a new device that attaches to inhalers and measures air quality parameters relevant to respiratory health. The device, which is not yet available in the market, will be carried by individuals in their backpacks or pockets. Dr. Hegde also mentions the existence of portable air quality monitors but notes that they do not provide high-resolution data, and there are regional and temporal variations in air quality that current systems cannot differentiate. The ultimate goal is to create a map of air quality triggers and understand their flow and movement to provide more accurate and personalized treatment plans.