In this episode of The Smartest Doctor In The Room, host Dr. Dean Mitchell sits down with world-renowned allergist and immunologist Dr. Thomas Platt's Mills to explore the shocking true story behind a healthy airline pilot who died after what seemed like a simple steak dinner. The cause was not choking or food poisoning. It was a delayed, deadly allergic reaction from a condition many people and even many doctors still overlook.

Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Platt's Mills walk listeners through the mystery of alpha gal syndrome, also known as red meat allergy syndrome, a unique allergy triggered by tick bites that can cause severe reactions hours after eating beef, pork, lamb, venison, and other red meats. They discuss how this condition was discovered in the 2000s, its link to the lone star tick, why abdominal pain is often the main and most confusing symptom, and why standard autopsies may completely miss fatal anaphylaxis.

You will hear how epidemiologic clues, patterns across the southern United States, and unexpected reactions to the cancer drug cetuximab helped Dr. Platt's Mills and his team uncover that alpha gal, a sugar molecule found in mammalian meat and certain medications, can become a target for IgE antibodies. The conversation also explains how to interpret alpha gal blood test levels, why total IgE matters, when tryptase can help confirm severe reactions, and how alcohol, NSAIDs, and exercise can make symptoms worse.

Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Platt's Mills also touch on related allergy puzzles, including pork cat syndrome, dust mite cross reactivity with shellfish, and how children and adults may present differently. If you or your patients have unexplained nighttime abdominal pain, hives, or severe reactions hours after a steak dinner or other red meat, this episode will help you think like a medical detective and consider alpha gal syndrome as a possible answer.

In this episode of The Smartest Doctor In The Room, Dr. Dean Mitchell sits down with neurologist and author Dr. Ray Dorsey to explore why Parkinson’s disease has become the world’s fastest growing brain disorder. Dr. Dorsey explains what Parkinson’s looks like, the early signs many people miss, and why it is not simply a disease of aging or genetics.

They dive into the mounting evidence that environmental exposures are driving the rise in cases. Dr. Dorsey breaks down the roles of air pollution, pesticides, dry cleaning chemicals, contaminated drinking water, and repeated head trauma in increasing risk. He also discusses how Parkinson’s may begin in the nose or the gut years before symptoms appear, and why loss of smell, constipation, or acting out dreams can be important early clues.

Drawing from his books Ending Parkinson’s Disease and The Parkinson’s Plan, Dr. Dorsey offers practical, science backed steps to lower your risk, clean up your environment, and protect your long term brain health.

Book website:
https://pdplan.org/

Purchase page: https://www.amazon.com/Parkinsons-Plan-Path-Prevention-Treatment/dp/1541705386/

Explore how EMDR therapy can help heal deep psychological trauma with psychiatric nurse practitioner and EMDR expert Susan Sullivan. In this episode of The Smartest Doctor In The Room, host Dr Dean Mitchell talks with Susan about her unique path from trauma intensive care nursing to advanced work in psychiatry and psychotherapy.

Susan explains what EMDR really is, how adaptive information processing works in the brain, and why EMDR can be so powerful for people who feel stuck after years of traditional talk therapy. She shares how EMDR intensives differ from weekly sessions, and why careful preparation, parts work, and attachment focused support are essential for complex PTSD and childhood trauma.

You will also hear how somatic practices, vagus nerve regulation, and nervous system education help patients understand what their bodies are trying to say and finally move toward healing. If you have ever wondered whether EMDR is right for you or how to find a properly trained EMDR therapist, this conversation offers clear, compassionate guidance.

Order your copy of Conquering Candida here

Celebrate our 200th episode as Dr. Dana Cohen turns the tables and interviews host Dr. Dean Mitchell about his new book on Candida and what it really takes to heal. They trace the evolution from Dr. William Crook’s classic work to today’s microbiome science, explain why Candida overgrowth is still misunderstood, and lay out a clear clinical approach that actually helps patients feel better fast.

Listen for practical guidance on recognizing symptoms beyond vaginal yeast infections, the link between Candida and issues like chronic sinusitis, brain fog, and fatigue, and why diversity in the microbiome matters. Dr. Mitchell walks through his step-by-step protocol, including the role of diet, when antifungals like nystatin and fluconazole are appropriate, why certain herbs require caution, and how mast cell activation may overlap with Candida symptoms. You will also learn why testing is tricky, how his 15 question checklist guides diagnosis, and how to expand your diet after the first four to six weeks without backsliding.

If you or someone you love is dealing with persistent, unexplained symptoms and wondering about Candida, this conversation offers science, strategy, and real-world experience from two leaders in functional medicine.

Order your copy of Conquering Candida here

When you or someone you love lands in the ER, every choice matters. Dr. Dean Mitchell sits down with Dr. Tony Dajer, a recently retired emergency physician with four decades on the front lines, to share clear, practical steps that help you get the care you need when minutes count.

They cover how to prepare before you go, what to say at triage, and why bringing your medications and a concise medical history can speed decision making. You will hear when calling an ambulance is the smartest move, how to choose between urgent care and the ER, and why having a calm advocate at your side can change outcomes. Dr. Dajer explains the system challenges behind long waits, the pros and cons of teaching hospitals and community hospitals, and how leadership, scribes, and new AI tools can give doctors more time at the bedside. Real cases underscore crucial lessons, including pediatric and young adult pitfalls, missed appendicitis, stroke warning signs, and why not getting worse is not the same as getting better.

Listen for takeaways you can use today. Know what to bring. Know what to ask. Know when to push for imaging and when to return if symptoms are not fully resolved. This conversation turns ER chaos into a plan.

In this episode of The Smartest Doctor in the Room, Dr. Dean Mitchell sits down with headache specialist Dr. Robert Kaniecki from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School to break down everything you need to know about chronic headaches and migraines. Together they explore the different types of headaches, how to properly evaluate and diagnose them, and the latest treatments - from classic medications to cutting-edge options like CGRP inhibitors and Botox therapy. They also discuss common triggers such as stress, sleep, diet, and screen time, and when imaging tests like MRIs are actually necessary. Whether you experience tension headaches or debilitating migraines, this conversation offers clear, practical guidance for understanding symptoms, avoiding medication overuse, and finding real relief.

Can food allergies be treated safely without lifelong maintenance doses? In this episode of The Smartest Doctor in the Room, Dr. Dean Mitchell sits down with Dr. Moshe Ben Shoshan, Associate Professor at McGill University Health Centre, to explore the latest breakthroughs in food allergy treatment. Together they discuss low dose oral immunotherapy, the science behind desensitization, and how early exposure to allergenic foods like peanuts may actually reduce allergy risk. They also unpack real world challenges with treatment adherence, why milk allergies can be more dangerous than peanuts, and what new research is revealing about prevention, immunotherapy, and environmental factors.

In this wide ranging conversation, Dr. Dean Mitchell sits down with Professor Edward Quadros of SUNY Downstate to explore the critical roles of folate vitamin B9 and vitamin B12 in brain development and lifelong health. We unpack why some children show low cerebrospinal fluid folate despite a normal diet, how autoantibodies to the folate receptor can block folate from reaching the brain, and what the folate receptor antibody test FRAT reveals. Professor Quadros explains the research behind folinic acid leucovorin as a folate enhancer, what clinical studies show in children on the spectrum, and why earlier treatment tends to yield better outcomes. We also look at prenatal folate fortification, the potential value of screening parents, the milk and autoimmunity connection in susceptible kids, and clear up myths around the common MTHFR polymorphism. Finally, we connect B12 status, homocysteine, and the different B12 forms used in practice. If you care about evidence based insights on autism research, neurodevelopment, and smart supplementation, this episode is a must listen.