Explore every episode of the podcast The Clinical Etymologist

This is Part 1 of a two-part podcast all about the adrenal glands. In this episode, we go back to the beginning — to anatomy, etymology, and the history behind cortisol. We'll follow a curious medical student and discover how adrenal glands were first identified, how cortisol was isolated, and what cow adrenal glands had to do with World War II. All of that, before we even talk about stress steroids.

Asterixis: If it's not a liver tremor, what is it then?
In this episode, Dr. Kim unpacks the etymology, pathophysiology, and clinical relevance of this peculiar sign.  From hepatic encephalopathy to hidden thalamic lesions, we explore the many meanings behind a fluttering hand.  And yes, it all starts with a Pedawan medical student and ends with a nerdy neurological farewell.

In this episode, Dr. Kim travels back to the summer of 1976 — when veterans gathered in Philadelphia and unknowingly faced a microscopic enemy hiding in the air.  Join us for an etymological dive into a bacterium that once wreaked havoc in Philadelphia.   From Greek etymology to cooling towers, and from Rocky to respiratory failure, this is the legend of Legionella — the pneumonia with a punchline. 

In this episode, Dr. Simon Kim takes you on a head-spinning journey through the physiology, history, and humor behind orthostatic hypotension. What do a fainting patient, a Greek root word, and a Jedi medical student all have in common? You’re about to find out.

From the true meaning of orthostatic, to the origins of the 30/20/10 rule, to why your patient might be tipping over during rounds, this episode breaks down complex clinical reasoning with storytelling, etymology, and just the right dose of levity.

🚨 Warning: May cause lightheadedness from excessive learning.

In the inaugural episode of The Clinical Etymologist, Dr. Simon Kim an internist and self-appointed Clinical Etymologist unpacks the case of “scleral icterus” — a phrase we all use, but one that’s anatomically inaccurate. Through storytelling, humor, and clinical clarity, this episode explores the physiology of bilirubin, the causes of jaundice, and why the yellowing of the eyes doesn’t involve the sclera at all.  We’ll trace the path of bile from hemoglobin to urobilin, decode the pre-, intra-, and post-hepatic patterns of jaundice, and revisit first-year ocular anatomy. Along the way: Star Wars references, a nod to BTS, and a butterfly flapping its wings in Tokyo. Because in medicine, every word has a pulse — and every misnomer has a lesson.