You probably know that modern mental health care doesn’t mean lying down on a couch and looking at ink blots. But you might not realize that for many folks, mental health care starts in primary care. Your primary care physician could be your first—and maybe only—stop on your way to mental wellness.

On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with Dr. Jen Brull, a family physician and the president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, about how to start that conversation with your primary care team, what they can and can’t treat, and even some things you might be too afraid to ask.

For more mental health resources from the AAFP, check out familydoctor.org. If you or a loved one is in crisis, you can also call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

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We're excited to share an audio preview of our new book, Face in the Mirror: A Surgeon, a Patient, and the Remarkable Story of the First Face Transplant at Mayo Clinic.

You can order your print copy of the book from Mayo Clinic Press, or keep listening to the audiobook on Audible, Libro.fm, Audiobooks.com, or wherever you get your audiobooks.

The first face transplant was performed in 2005. Since then, only about 50 face transplants have been done in the entire world. It’s a complex surgery that requires all the expertise a surgeon can bring to the table. It can also be life-changing for patients.

On this episode of Health Matters, we’ve got two amazing guests: Dr. Samir Mardini, a facial plastic surgeon who performed Mayo Clinic’s first-ever face transplant, and Andy Sandness, the recipient of that transplant.

To learn more about Andy and Dr. Mardini's story, purchase your copy of Face in the Mirror from Mayo Clinic Press today.

In today's world, skincare is largely focused on aesthetics, but what about its impact on our physical well-being?

In this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Saranya Wyles joins us to discuss the vital functions of our skin, tips for maintaining its health, and the latest advancements in skin healing and rejuvenation.

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When was the last time you thought about your kidney? If you’re a healthy individual, maybe not so much. But this unassuming organ is vital—and kidney diseases, like polycystic kidney disease, can put people at serious risk of health complications.

On this episode of Health Matters, we’re talking with Dr. Fouad Chebib to sing the praises of the small but mighty kidney, learn how to maintain kidney health, and gain a deeper understanding of polycystic kidney disease, also known as PKD.

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Remember the childhood warning about rusty nails and tetanus? Turns out, there’s more to the story.

On this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Priya Sampathkumar unpacks the truth about tetanus—how it spreads, the signs of infection, and why staying up to date on your vaccines is crucial.

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Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

We've got a special episode for you today from our friends at Tomorrow's Cure! Tomorrow's Cure is a Mayo Clinic podcast that is bringing the future of healthcare to the present.

The stethoscope, one of the most iconic symbols of medicine, was invented over 200 years ago. Today, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing this essential tool, empowering doctors to detect cardiac disease at its earliest stages with greater precision during routine visits. The podcast episode features Demilade Adedinsewo, M.B., Ch.B., cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and Jason Bellet, co-founder of Eko Health.

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Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

Ozempic. Wegovy. Mounjaro. Zepbound. You’ve probably heard the name of one of these drugs in the past few years—maybe you’ve even thought about taking them. Every day, more Americans are taking these drugs known as GLP-1s, either for chronic conditions like diabetes or, increasingly, for weight loss. So do these drugs deliver on the promise of easy weight loss? And are they right for everyone? This episode, we talk with Mayo Clinic dietitian and host of Mayo Clinic On Nutrition Tara Schmidt about the drugs that have taken weight loss culture by storm.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.