The Fertility Insider

We speak with Dr Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, clinical instructor of infectious diseases and associate program director of the fellowship program in infectious diseases at WashU. She shares her experience as a pregnant black woman and ID specialist on the frontlines of the global COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss issues of representation in medicine, the media and beyond.

We talk to Dr Andrea Hagemann, gynecologic oncologist at Washington University School of Medicine, who explores her path from music to medicine. She discusses her passion for preventing pelvic cancer and the challenges physicians face in this space.

In this episode we talk to Washington University St Louis School of Medicine neurologist and palliative medicine specialist, Dr Elyse Everett. We talk about having difficult conversations with death and dying, the importance of setting expectations with patients when breaking bad news and wrap up with the intersection of women's health and what she wishes she remembers from her obgyn rotation that would help her today.

In this episode, we talk to Dr Chris Lewis, pediatric endocrinologist, Director of the WashU/SLCH Differences of Sexual Development Clinic, and Co-Director of Pediatric Transgender Health about his path to caring for gender-expansive youth. He reflects on the challenges faced by his patients and the future directions for endocrine care.

We talk to Dr Piroska Kopar, a WASHU SOM ETHICIST, TRAUMA and CARDIAC SURGEON who shares her path in surgery, trauma, critical care and how she found her calling in medical ethics culminating in the creation of the Center for Humanism and ethics in surgical subspecialties. (CHESS).

In the first episode of season 2, we interview Dr Eva Aagaard, professor of Medicine and Senior Dean of Education at Washington University St Louis School of Medicine. In this episode she recalls her memories of women's health and how it informs her practice and her career. She reflects on the biggest challenges facing reproductive health in 2021.

Season Finale: WASHU REI Fellowship Director, Dr Patricia Jimenez, MD talks about her path to becoming a leader in education, how the program provides a balance of research and clinical training while emphasizing education over service. She also reflects on her experiences in medicine as a Hispanic woman.

Rising third year fellow, Dr Vinita Alexander, MD talks about growing up in academia and how that led her to different institutions. She talks about her pursuit of a Masters of Science In Clinical Investigation as a WASHU REI fellow and what is next. In the wake of George Floyd's death, she shares her experiences with racism and her hope to not lose the momentum.

Dr Omurtag talks to soon-to-be first year REI fellow, Dr Kelsey Anderson, MD about why she is St Louis's biggest fan, her excitement about being at WASHU for fellowship and being the first class to start something post COVID. Recorded 5/20/2020

I interview graduating fellow, Stephanie Gunderson, MD as she reflects on her past career as a fellow, her anxieties and joys about going back home to Wisconsin. Interview recorded on 5/21

We interview our first year REI fellow, Dr Caitlin Martin, MD who shares what it's like returning to work post COVID, how Teach for America inspired her to be a better doctor and why, as a native New Yorker, St Louis and Washu is the right place for her and her family

In this episode we learn what attracted Dr Christina Boots, MD to fellowship at Washington University St Louis School of Medicine. We learn how a Chicago native embraced St Louis (but not the Cardinals😉), the best advice she got and how fellowship prepared her for a career in academia. She also shares her memories of Michael Jordan (and The Last Dance) and how medical education may change post COVID.

The first of five interviews I will do with current and former Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) fellows from the Washington University School of medicine in St Louis REI Division. In this episode I talk to Dr Broughton who graduated in 2018 and currently practices in her hometown of Seattle, Washington. She talks about what attracted her to St Louis, MO and the fellowship program, dealing with COVID in her practice, and whether or not her beloved Seahawks will have a season.

Dr Kenan Omurtag, MD Board certified Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist goes over the history of insurance coverage (or lack thereof) in the United States and the efforts undertaken in the past present and what might work in the future.