hands holding with light, podcast about medical miracles and race for the cure with Jeffrey Rediger MD & Dr. David Fajgenbaum

Medical Miracles: Spontaneous Healing and the Race for a Cure

Original Air Date Wednesday, May 13, 2020

We’ve all seen the ‘thoughts and prayers’ social media responses and the posts critical of them. But, is there any validity to sending thoughts and prayers to those we love who are enduring a terminal illness? Do cures that involve spiritual or psychological aspects transform a person’s health more than a merely physical one does? Should modern medicine prescribe hope as a functional remedy of illness?

To discover the gray area where divinity meets science, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two doctors who have real-life examples of how belief has triumphed over disease.

Tune in:

Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio · Medical Miracles: Spontaneous Healing and the Race for a Cure

Meet Our Guests:

Medical Miracles: Spontaneous Healing and the Race for a Cure with Jeffrey Rediger MD and Dr. David Fajgenbaum

Jeffrey Rediger, MD, MDiv is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, the Medical Director of McLean SE and Community Affairs at McLean Hospital, and the Chief of Behavioral Medicine at Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center. A licensed physician and board-certified psychiatrist, he also has a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. His research with remarkable individuals who have recovered from illnesses considered incurable has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz Shows, among others. He has been nominated for the National Bravewell Leadership Award and has received numerous awards related to leadership and patient care.

Book: Cured: The Life-Changing Science of Spontaneous Healing

Jeffrey Rediger MD — Medical Miracles and Spontaneous Healing:

Does spontaneous healing or remission have any scientific validation? {2:36}
Devastating personal events sparked Jeffery’s spiritual journey to discover what was true in life. {6:38}
Understanding the psychological and physiological aspects of disease. {8:18}
The Four Pillars of Healing includes nutrition and healing the immune system. {13:17}

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David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc is one of the youngest individuals ever appointed to the faculty at Penn Medicine. After spending months hospitalized in critical condition, having his last rites read, and having four deadly relapses of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) during medical school, David decided to fight back by conducting research and creating the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN). He is now in his longest remission ever thanks to a treatment that he identified and began testing on himself.

Dr. Fajgenbaum earned a BS from Georgetown University, MSc from the University of Oxford, MD from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from The Wharton School. He is a former Division I college quarterback, state-champion weightlifter, and co-founder of a national grief support network.

Book: Chasing My Cure: A Doctor’s Race to Turn Hope into Action; A Memoir

Dr. David Fajgenbaum — Turning Hope Into Action:

David reads a quote from his book, Chasing My Cure, and describes Castleman Disease. {29:16}
A journey of hope: David found his cure after a priest administered his last rites. {30:57}
Harnessing fear and turning it into action and taking the necessary self-care precautions when it comes to a virus. {33:22}
The importance of creating silver linings during difficult times and how humor provides connection and can end in medical miracles. {42:38}

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Shareables:

“I had three years to go deep into the theology and philosophy of science and it was a life-changing journey.” @jeffrey_rediger on @HHTalkRadio Share on X “We get a lot of misinformation in med school because there are so many industries and politics around food.” @jeffrey_rediger on @HHTalkRadio Share on X “The only reason I am here today is because I harnessed fear into action.” @davidfejgenbaum on @HHTalkRadio Share on X “During difficult times we should look for silver linings but we should also look for ways to create silver linings.” @davidfejgenbaum on @HHTalkRadio Share on X

Grab More Joy Below:

Are We Happy Yet? Eight Keys to Unlocking a Joyful Life — A boot camp manual for greater emotional fitness. Happiness waits for no one and sometimes we all need support. What is getting in the way of your happiness right now?

H–Factor: Where is Your Heart? — Lisa’s documentary film explores the journey of human happiness. Emotions are contagious and happiness is a universally desired state. We tend to forget we all have the freedom to be happy or the liberty to be miserable each day.