Doorknob Comments

When Psychiatry Meets the Immune System with Dr. Tom Pollak

In this episode of Doorknob Comments, Grant and Fara chat with Dr. Tom Pollak about the complex relationship between the immune system, the brain, and mental illness. Dr. Pollak is a NIHR Clinical Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London and a specialty trainee general adult psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust with a specialist interest in neuropsychiatry. Listeners will learn how doctors distinguish true autoimmune brain disorders from primary psychiatric conditions, why tests like spinal fluid analysis are complicated but sometimes crucial, and how both “it’s all psychological” and “it’s all biological” explanations can miss the bigger picture. Their conversation offers a nuanced look at how mind, brain, body, and environment interact, and why good psychiatric care requires holding all of those pieces together.We hope you enjoy. Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Tom Pollakhttps://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/thomas-pollakhttps://drtompollak.substack.com/Dr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/

A Conversation with Dr. Siddharth Shah on Well-being, Resilience, and his Personal Journey

On today’s episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Siddharth Shah, the Founder and President of Greenleaf Integrative. Dr. Shah is a preventive medicine physician whose path into medicine wound through the humanities, a year traveling in India, and early work in interfaith dialogue and social justice. Siddharth talks about how he found his way into psychiatry after leaving medical school twice, the mentors who shaped his approach, and why he sees agency, curiosity, and small wins as central to healing. He also reflects on the challenges of working in a world full of injustice and how practices of rest and embodied presence help sustain both clinicians and the communities they serve.We hope you enjoy it.Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Siddharth ShahDr. Shah Guided MeditationsGreenleaf IntegrativeDr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/

Rupture and Repair with Dr. Soe Thein

In today's episode of Doorknob Comments, Grant and Fara are joined by Dr. Soe Thein, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist and the founder of the Good Enough Psychiatrist YouTube channel. On his channel, Dr. Thein creates animated videos that explain psychodynamic therapy concepts for a general audience and has won numerous awards for his work. Together, they discuss moments of rupture that can occur in relationships and the importance of repair. They emphasize that occasional ruptures are a normal part of any healthy relationship; what truly matters is how the individuals involved address these breaks and work together to mend what has been damaged.We hope you enjoy.Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Soe Theinhttps://downtownpsychiatry.com/about-soe-thein-mdGood Enough Psychiatrist YouTube ChannelWhy Conflicts Make Relationships Stronger - VideoDr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/

Suicide Prevention with Dr. Igor Galynker

On today's episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Igor Galynker, a psychiatrist, clinician, and researcher known for his work in bipolar disorder, suicide prevention, and the role of family dynamics in psychiatric illness, who currently serves as the Associate Chairman for Research in the department of psychiatry at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. Dr. Galynker talks about how he got interested in exploring suicide prevention, the signs that typically appear before someone commits suicide, and how therapists can better attune themselves to these markers.We hope you enjoy.If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or is in crisis, please seek help immediately by contacting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, visiting the nearest emergency department, or calling 911.Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Igor Galynkerhttps://profiles.mountsinai.org/igor-galynkerhttps://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/galynkerlab/https://www.bpfamily.org/about-2Dr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/

Organizational Psychiatry with Dr. Daven Morrison

On today’s episode of Doorknob Comments, Fara and Grant are joined by Dr. Daven Morrison, a psychiatrist with deep expertise in organizational and occupational psychiatry. A member of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry and an officer of the Academy of Organizational and Occupational Psychiatry, Dr. Morrison shares insights into the psychological dimensions of workplace life. From managing mergers and downsizing to fostering self-aware leadership, he walks us through the core principles of organizational psychiatry.We hope you enjoy!Resources and LinksDoorknob Commentshttps://www.doorknobcomments.com/Dr. Daven Morrisonhttps://www.ourgap.org/committees/work-organizationshttps://www.morrisonltd.com/about-us/daven-morrison-m-dhttps://www.aoop.org/Dr. Fara Whitehttps://www.farawhitemd.com/Dr. Grant Brennerhttps://www.granthbrennermd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-h-brenner-md-dfapa/If you like our podcast, please leave a review! Thanks in advance!