Medicus

In this powerful episode, we explore moral injury in healthcare - the profound distress physicians face when they’re forced to make decisions that go against the very reason they entered healthcare. We sat down with Dr. Carol Paris, a retired psychiatrist and the former President and current Vice President of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) to discuss their moral injury survey, part of a project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 

To learn more about moral injury in healthcare, follow the link below!

In this 4th year medical student (MS4) series, we chat about the field of Pathology. Our guest, Dr. Anaisa Quintanilla-Arteaga, shares advice on how to set yourself up for success regarding matching into this unique specialty and shares tips to help you stand out both on paper and in person.

Anaisa (Nisa) is an incoming PGY1 pathology resident at Northwestern University. She is originally from El Paso, Texas where she had her first exposure to pathology through forensic pathology. After attending Brown University for her undergraduate studies, she earned a master’s degree at Georgetown University and worked at the National Institutes of Health before matriculating to Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine to pursue her medical degree. Nisa is a proud Hispanic/Latina woman in medicine of Mexican descent who is passionate about improving diversity and equity in medicine, healthcare, and pathology. When she isn’t talking about how cool pathology is, Nisa can be found with her nose in a book or playing Dungeons & Dragons.

To connect with Nisa, reach out to her on X @Anaisa_QA

To further explore pathology, check out @Path_SIG and @MatchToPath

Episode produced by: Rasa Valiauga

Episode recording date: 4/8/25

In this mini-series, we explore different health professions to get a better understanding of the variety of team members involved in patient care. In this episode, we spoke with registered dietitian and educator Kevin Pietro about his journey into the world of dietetics and the role of dietitians in healthcare. 

Dr. Kevin Pietro, PhD, RDN, LDN, CSSD, is an Assistant Professor and Director of Dietetics Education Programs at Loyola University Chicago.  As Program Director and SoTL-based scholar, Dr. Pietro’s primary goal is to enhance dietetics education, supporting students in becoming caring, compassionate, and effective dietitians.  As an academic and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Dr. Pietro is committed to being an approachable, inclusive, and understanding educator.  His work as an RDN and board-certified Sports Dietitian (CSSD) has centered around nutrition education, helping hundreds of patients/clients/athletes improve their nutrition, health, and wellness.

The goal of this mini series is to spark conversations of these new tools and practices within the community of current and future medical practitioners and staff. It is important for medical professionals to have a say in how these AI tools impact practice to ensure practical and ethical use. Join us in discussions of the history of AI, machine and deep learning, computer visions, natural language processing, responsible AI, and so much more. Let’s take a step into the future together.

To kick off our first episode of this series we have Dr. Mehul Sheth, the medical director for health informatics for Illinois and Indiana based at Loyola. For his training, Dr. Sheth went to Midwestern University for medical school after which he completed a residency in pediatrics at University of Illinois Chicago. Dr. Sheth has been working in clinical informatics full-time for over 12 years most recently with oracle (formerly Cerner) where he was a member of the AI board and supported the development of machine learning algorithms and generative AI tools like Sax and Actions assist. In this episode we discuss various topics in AI and medicine including its history, capabilities and limitations, current applications, how to prepare for AI’s impact in medicine, and a special announcement of a new AI elective at Stritch!

Episode produced by: Rohan Sethi

Episode recording date: 02/04/2025

In this mini-series, we explore different health professions to get a better understanding of the variety of team members involved in patient care. For this episode, we chatted with Angela Kwon about her journey in successfully matriculating into a Physician Associate program.

Angela is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Department of Pulmonology at Stanford. While originally from Los Angeles, California, Angela grew up in the small agricultural town of Salinas on the central coast of the Golden State. As a first-generation American born to Korean immigrant parents, Angela was immersed in the world of healthcare from a young age, often stepping into roles as a translator, healthcare navigator, and even caregiver for her family. These experiences sparked her passion for healthcare and shaped her dedication to improving the lives of others. She earned her Honors Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare, with a minor in Global Poverty and Practice, from the University of California, Berkeley. Her honors thesis focused on women’s health, reproductive justice, and its intersection with health and law. Over the years, Angela has gained various experiences in healthcare, having worked in diverse roles, from an oncology Medical Assistant to Research Coordinator in general surgery. Currently, she is contributing to research in pulmonology focused on COPD, the genetic basis of interstitial lung disease, Bronchiectasis and clinical trials for nontuberculosis mycobacteria. This fall, Angela will take the next step in her medical career by starting Physician Assistant school where she will pursue a dual degree in Physician Assistant and Master of Public Health.

Episode produced by: Deborah Chen

Episode edited by Angeli Mittal and Deborah Chen

Episode recording date: 1/4/2025

In this mini-series, we explore different health professions to get a better understanding of the variety of team members involved in patient care. For this episode, we chatted with social worker Lauren Judd about her journey and the essential services social workers provide to patients.

Lauren Judd is a dedicated and experienced social worker with over 12 years of practice in the healthcare setting. Lauren obtained her Masters of Social Work from the University of IL at Chicago and holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Germanic Language and Literature from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  She has worked since 2015 in the Emergency Department at Loyola University Medical Center providing advocacy and support to patients, families, and medical staff.  Lauren is a member of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry and has worked as an expert witness. Passionate about self determination and patient rights, Lauren has found empowering those experiencing mental health crises as part of an interdisciplinary team fulfilling. When not in the ED, Lauren enjoys container gardening and offbeat road trips with family and friends. 

For more information, please visit the following resources:

In this mini-series, we explore different health professions to better understand the variety of team members involved in patient care. For this episode, we spoke with Anh Phu about his journey to becoming a physician-scientist.

Anh Phu is an MD-PhD student at the Yale School of Medicine. He was born in Vietnam and moved to San Francisco, CA at 11. He attended City College of San Francisco and transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, where he received his Bachelor of Arts with/ Honors in Molecular & Cell Biology in 2019. Anh then worked as a research assistant at UCSF and the San Francisco VA Center studying the roles of macrophages in cardiometabolic diseases. He has published three first-author articles in prestigious scientific journals that further contribute to understanding the metabolic reprogramming of macrophages to regulate chronic inflammation and atherosclerosis. Anh also co-authored numerous publications that investigated the functional properties of extracellular vesicles in atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes, sepsis, and cancer. He is now a 3rd year student and just recently joined the Department of Immunobiology at Yale to begin his PhD work. His scientific interest focuses on understanding the effect of aging on the immune system and cardiovascular diseases. This also translates to his clinical interest, which he aspires to pursue a career in cardiovascular medicine. As an immigrant himself, Anh is also passionate about immigrant health. He volunteers at the HAVEN Free Clinic, where he helps provide primary care services to immigrant patients in New Haven. 

Episode produced by: Deborah Chen

Episode recording date: 10/13/2024

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Laura Vater,  board certified Gastrointestinal Oncologist at Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and physician advocate. She shares her journey into medicine, how she started writing, and became a physician advocate at all levels of medical education.

Dr. Vater is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology, and is currently an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine. She is also the founding director of the Young-Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancer Program at IU and co-founder of the narrative medicine program, Writing for Wellness. She was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society in 2018 and is a member of the Pegasus Physician Writers at Stanford University. She has developed a wellness behavior tool for patients and clinicians (called the SMILE Scale) and has published several narrative medicine essays and peer-reviewed publications. Besides being a writer, Dr. Vaah-ter is a TEDx and commencement speaker, mother, and advocate for patients and healthcare workers. She believes that patients should be treated as whole human beings and that clinicians deserve the same.

We explore the topics of humanism in medicine, compassion, the importance of physician wellness and mental health, burnout in healthcare, and the nuances of medical care both in the clinic and at the institutional level.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Mary King, an internal medicine physician and POCUS enthusiast, to discuss how point-of-care ultrasound is transforming patient care and medical education. Dr. King shares her journey into medicine and her passion for making ultrasound more accessible.

We explore the latest advancements in portable ultrasound technology, the barriers to wider adoption, and the controversies surrounding POCUS in documentation and billing. Dr. King also offers insights into teaching ultrasound to medical students and residents, highlighting its growing role in shaping diagnostic confidence and clinical decision-making.

Whether you’re a seasoned clinician, a medical trainee, or simply curious about the future of bedside medicine, this episode is packed with valuable perspectives and expert advice.

Episode produced by: Ari Peikes and Griffin Johnson

Episode recording date: 10/29/2024

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Mary Lynn, an obgyn at Loyola University Medical Center, about the often overlooked topic of female sexual wellness and dysfunction. From low libido and pain during sex to emotional barriers and hormonal shifts, we explore the physical, mental, and emotional aspects that can impact sexual health. Our goal is to foster understanding, break down stigma, and provide practical insights.

Dr. Mary Lynn is an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Loyola University Medical Center. She is the co-director for the Loyola Sexual Wellness Program and recently published on outcomes of this multidisciplinary program in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. She is active in research and mentored medical students through the Star program as well as research honors. Dr. Lynn created the women’s sexual health education module which is part of the curriculum for 3rd year medical students and she lectures to them regularly on this topic. Currently, she serves on the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health education committee and as well as the Faculty Advisory Board for the Medical Student Forum on Female Sexual Medicine. Additionally, she contributes to the Sexual Medicine Society of North America women's sexual health committee and acts as an advisor for the Medical Student Forum on Female Sexual Health. She is an oral board examiner for the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecologists and serves on the recertification committee. She is a PCM1 Advisor and active on the Loyola IRB committee. Her current research focuses on Women's Sexual Health Medical Education and Sexual Health in Pregnancy.

In this episode of Medicus, we’re diving into the world of integrative medicine—a healthcare approach that goes beyond symptom management to treat the whole person. We talk with Dr. Jennifer Ron, an emergency medicine and integrative medicine physician about her practice. Join us as we explore how traditional medicine can work hand-in-hand with integrative practices to offer a more holistic path to health and wellness.

Whether you’re curious about what integrative medicine really means, looking for insights on how nutrition impacts health, or interested in how these practices can work within a traditional medical framework, this episode has something for everyone. Tune in and discover how integrative medicine might just be the key to creating a healthcare system that truly heals.

To learn more about Dr. Ron’s DPEP program, you can visit her website at: https://www.healingcancerfromwithin.com

Episode produced by: Griffin K Johnson

Episode recording date: 10/07/2024

In this mini-series, we explore different health professions to get a better understanding of the variety of team members involved in patient care. For this episode, we spoke with Cathy Quach, MPH about her journey to becoming a health educator.

Cathy Quach, MPH is a health educator with the Aggie Mental Health Ambassadors Program at the University of California, Davis. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior and a minor in theatre and dance. After undergrad, she worked as an emergency medical technician working in the greater Sacramento area, right just before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspired by her experiences, she later pursued her masters of public Health at UC Davis and continued her passion for supporting the local community. 

Episode produced by: Deborah Chen

Episode recording date: 7/11/2024

The autopsy has wide-ranging benefits on medicine, public health, and research. However, the rates of autopsies performed in the hospital have declined tremendously over the past several decades. The autopsy, accordingly, is often overlooked in medical education today. Emily Hagen, MD, has taken great interest in this. 

In this episode, we speak with Emily (former Medicus producer!) about her firsthand experiences with the autopsy, dating back to her pre-med days and continuing throughout her time at Stritch School of Medicine. She is a fierce advocate for the autopsy’s incorporation into medical education. While a medical student, Emily researched non-pathologist physicians’ experiences with and views toward the autopsy and she launched an autopsy observation program for Loyola medical students. The associated research has been presented at multiple academic conferences. She also helped to curate Autopsy/Forensic Pathology modules for the PathElective, an internationally utilized resource. 

As an aspiring internist, Emily discusses the relevance of the autopsy to physicians and the medical community at large. 

Tune in now to learn more about this important and interesting topic! 

In this 4th year medical student (MS4) series, we chat about the field of Neurosurgery. Our guest, Dr. Deja Rush, shares advice on how to set yourself up for success regarding matching into this competitive specialty and shares tips to help you stand out both on paper and in person.

Deja Rush, MD, was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She is currently an incoming neurosurgery resident at Brown University. Deja attended The Ohio State University for college where she studied Biomedical Engineering and Spanish and graduated cum laude with honors research distinction. She went on to obtain her medical degree from Howard University where she finished first in her class and developed a passion for neurosurgery under the guidance of Dr. Damirez Fossett. Deja is extremely passionate about research that underscores disparities in healthcare, as well as mentorship, particularly for those underrepresented in neurosurgery.

To connect with Deja, reach out to her on Instagram or Twitter at @djrush8

Episode produced by: Rasa Valiauga

Episode recording date: 5/2/24

In the U.S., a medical emergency can quickly turn into a financial crisis, leaving many patients buried under insurmountable medical debt. In this episode, we delve into the world of medical debt relief with Jared Walker, the founder of Dollar For—a non-profit dedicated to helping patients eliminate their medical bills through hospital charity care. But how widespread are these programs, and where does the funding come from? Join us as we uncover the answers and share stories of lives changed by this vital work. Tune in now to learn how Dollar For is making a difference, one bill at a time.

You can follow Dollar For on Instagram and TikTok:

In this mini-series, we explore different health professions to get a better understanding of the variety of team members involved in patient care. For this episode, we spoke with Simranjit Kaur, MPH about her journey to becoming an epidemiologist.

Simranjit Kaur, MPH is an epidemiologist at a local public health jurisdiction in Northern California. Before becoming an epidemiologist, her experience spans a wide range of disease management aspects related to COVID-19, including case investigation, infection control, and disease prevention. She also managed all COVID-19-related website content and played a key role in developing outreach materials. She received both her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a Master of Public Health from the University of California Davis. She will be applying for medical schools in hopes of becoming a primary care physician to integrate her public health knowledge into her medical practice.

Episode produced by: Deborah Chen

Episode recording date: 3/29/2024

In this 4th year medical student (MS4) series, we chat about the field of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics. Our guest, Bran Garcia, shares advice on how to set yourself up for success regarding matching into this unique specialty and shares tips to help you stand out both on paper and in person.

Brian Garcia, MD was born in Mexico City and immigrated to the United States at the age of 10. He grew up in a border town in south Texas, where he attended high school and completed his undergraduate education at Texas A&M International University. Growing up in a border town, he experienced the unique blend of Mexican American culture highlighted by its unique cuisine, traditions, and people. However, he also witnessed health disparities that exist within low-income communities. 

Prior to medical school, Brian worked in construction where he learned valuable lessons about resilience and hard work, while noticing the detrimental effects on people’s health due to lack of access to care as well as the language barrier that exists between Spanish-speaking immigrants and physicians. These experiences inspired Brian to pursue a career in medicine. During medical school, he focused on finding ways to extend access to care among low-income communities and minorities. Brian chose to pursue a specialty in Internal Medicine-Pediatrics because it allows him to treat patients of all ages while also working and learning from colleagues in other specialties. Brian is now an Internal Medicine-Pediatrics resident at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York.

In this 4th year medical student (MS4) series, we discuss the field of Psychiatry. Our guest, Julia Versel, shares advice on how to set yourself up for success regarding matching into this increasingly competitive specialty and shares tips to help you stand out both on paper and in person.

Julia Versel, MD, MSc is a current resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School Psychiatry Residency Program. She is passionate about medical education, with a particular interest in incorporating medical student mentorship into her career. Please reach out to the Medicus team if you would like to get in touch with her!

To learn more about the field, check out these resources:

Join us for a discussion about the journey through medical education and the destination of becoming an emergency medicine attending physician. Hear about the up and downs, and the courage to push forward when things get tough.

Episode produced by: Ari S. Peikes

In this 4th year medical student (MS4) series, we chat about the field of Anesthesiology. Our guests, Steph Ryan and Will Chan, share advice on how to set yourself up for success to match into anesthesia and share tips to help you stand out both on paper and in person.

Steph Ryan and Will Chan are both former students from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, and will be transitioning to their first year of residency this summer. We chat about the things that separate anesthesiology from other specialties in the context of the residency application process. 

Episode produced by: Griffin K Johnson

Episode recording date: 04/08/2024

In this 4th year medical student (MS4) series, we chat about the field of Radiation Oncology. Our guest, Dylan Ross, shares advice on how to set yourself up for success regarding matching into this competitive specialty and shares tips to help you stand out both on paper and in person.

Dylan Ross, MD, attended the University of Minnesota for his undergraduate education where he met his now fiancée, Lindsey Greenlund, who is also a recent medical school graduate. While at Stritch, Dylan got involved with medical education and research with the radiation oncology department which were influential in his specialty decision. After a successful couple's match, Dylan is heading to Johns Hopkins for his radiation oncology residency following a transitional year at HCA Riverside Community Hospital.

In this episode, we discuss everything you need to know about the Residency Couples Match, and more! We interview two recent graduates from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Hana O’Hagan and Adam Cardone, who participated in the Residency Couples Match.

Hana O'Hagan is from the suburbs of Chicago. She matched into internal medicine residency at the University of Chicago where she is excited to grow as a general internist before further subspecializing in Geriatrics or Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Hana discovered her passion for working with older adults prior to medical school through working as a private caregiver in college and as a nursing aid in a memory care facility during her gap year. Throughout medical school she continued working with local senior citizens by running Senior Programing for a local community center, an endeavor for which she received a prestigious nationally recognized service fellowship awarded to healthcare professionals leading projects aimed at addressing health disparities and improving the well-being of underserved communities. Additionally, Hana loves to teach and thus plans to pursue a career in academic medicine so that she can support the next generation of physicians as she herself was supported by her incredible mentors. Overall, Hana is grateful for her time at Stritch and excited for her future career in the incredible field of medicine.

Adam Cardone has roots only 10 minutes from Loyola University Medical Center as he is from  LaGrange, Illinois, and is a proud alumnus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Specializing in Internal Medicine, Adam is drawn to the field for its deep patient relationships and the intellectual rigor it demands, with particular interests in Cardiology and Hematology/Oncology. Beyond medicine, he's passionate about mentorship and education, evident in his leadership of the Health Career Collaborative, a program introducing high school students to medical careers. Adam looks forward to learning and growing in a field that offers deep patient relationships and intellectual challenges, grounded in his commitment to service and education.

Stephanie Moss is an incoming PGY-1 Psychiatry Resident Physician at Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago. With her passions for diversity, health equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), she strives to be a voice for marginalized communities. During COVID-19, she co-founded the Chicago Homelessness Response Group for Equity, which brought together organizations across Chicago to combat disparities experienced by individuals who were most at risk of illness from COVID-19. During her clinical years of medical school, she advocated for trauma-informed mental and sexual health care through presenting at conferences such as American Medical Women Association (AMWA), Illinois Academy of Family Medicine (IAFP), and advocacy committee at the International Society for the Study of Women Sexual Health (ISSWSH).  

During medical school, she publicly disclosed her own academic and health challenges including failing STEP1, taking a leave of absence, and living with chronic health conditions. Through her experience, she has become an advocate for combating stigmas in medicine and provided mentorship through social media, her blog medpsycmoss.com, and most recently, her podcast “Life as a Patient-Doctor.” During the 2023-2024 Residency application cycle, she dual applied to both Family Medicine and Psychiatry across the Midwest, ultimately matching in her top specialty and program. 

Episode produced by: Emily Hagen, Rasa Valiauga

Episode recording date: 3/25/24

Join us as we delve deep into the evolving landscape of medical residency unions. In this insightful episode, we sit down with Dr. Josh Neff, Member Liaison for Physician Organizing at the Committee of Interns and Residents, to explore the growing movement of residents organizing for fair working conditions, better patient care, and professional development. We discuss common questions about residency unions and uncover the challenges, successes, and future prospects of this vital aspect of medical education and practice. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that sheds light on the intersection of medicine, labor rights, and advocacy.

Your Money or Your Life:

In this episode, we chat with return guest Dr. Cyndie Chow about her complicated pregnancy and birth experience. Dr. Chow is a 36-year-old mom of two beautiful and healthy children. She experienced complications with her second pregnancy due to placenta previa and placenta percreta. Placenta percreta is a severe form of placenta accreta, a condition in which the placenta grows through the uterus and has the potential to invade surrounding organs. This condition has been steadily on the rise and here she describes her first-hand experience dealing with an unexpected complicated pregnancy, which thankfully had a happy ending for both her and her son.

The transition from learning in an undergraduate or graduate program to learning in medical school is a big one, and some may wonder the reasoning behind the structures of a medical school didactic curriculum. In this insightful episode, Griffin engages in a discussion with Dr. Gregory Gruener, Vice Dean for Education at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, delving into the intricacies of preclinical curriculum design. Dr. Gruener sheds light on the in-depth process of curriculum development, elucidates the underlying principles, and explains the challenges posed by recent changes to the USMLE Step 1. Listen as they explore Dr. Gruener's goals for the future of medical education and his aspirations to personalize the learning experience for medical students.

Episode produced by: Griffin K Johnson

Episode recording date: 01/05/2024

Dr. Kayhan Parsi and Dr. Emily Anderson, two faculty members at the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Healthcare Leadership, give us an understanding of how they became bioethicists and expand upon why it’s important to implement bioethics into medical education. Specifically, this episode dives into the concept of research ethics, the current state of trust in research and medical institutions, the importance of physicians conducting research for clinical and public health improvement, and the crucial role ethicists play in facilitating that research. We touch on devices used to give the public a better understanding of ethics at large and forecast the potential landscape that bioethics will be facing in the future. 

Episode produced by: John Engelbert

Episode recording date: 12/07/2023

Looking for a good read, show, and/or podcast (besides Medicus of course)? It is in fact the holidays, so what are you waiting for? Tune in now to our third Medicus Reading List episode! You will hear Medicus team members recommend great books and other media content from the medical world. 

Content covered: 

-Good Reasons for Bad Feelings by Randolph M. Nesse

-The House of God By Samuel Shem

-Dopesick (show)

-Spoonful of Sugar Podcast and White Coat Investor Podcast

-Knock Knock Eye Podcast and Knock Knock, Hi! Podcast

Episode produced by: Emily Hagen

Contributors: John Engelbert, Isabelle Tan, Emily Hagen, Rasa Valiauga, Deborah Chen

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Iván Cuesta, MD. Dr. Cuesta was born and raised in the Dominican Republic (DR) where he attended and graduated from the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo. He completed his residency in Neurology at Temple University in Philadelphia and his fellowship in Neurologic Critical Care at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Currently, Dr. Cuesta serves as a Neurocritical Care Attending at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital here in the greater Chicago area as well as on faculty at the Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School.

We spoke extensively with Dr. Cuesta about the process he took to match into a US residency. Toward the end of medical school in the DR, his interest in pursuing a US residency was sparked after a rotation in Miami, Florida. We talk about the different hurdles that International Medical Graduates (IMGs) have to overcome to match into a US residency, including obtaining a visa and learning medicine in a new language. Additionally, he gives his advice to others who dream of following a similar path.

Episode produced by: Griffin Johnson and Aaron Deng

Episode recording date: 10/20/23

In this mini-series, we talk to individuals who took a detour in medical school and did not stick to the traditional 4-year curriculum. Nick Sasso, MAT comes from the world of education, having been a teacher in Chicago for half a decade before embarking on his medical school journey. He is currently a fourth-year medical student at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and is applying for residency in neurology. Already a non-traditional student, Nick's journey through medical school took further unexpected turns when his health began to quickly deteriorate. It took the care of one very tenacious physician to realize the diagnosis: postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and its associated complications. In this episode, Nick recounts his experiences with chronic illness during medical school, taking a leave of absence, and his desire to spread awareness around POTS, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and dysautonomia. He encourages all aspiring and current clinicians to read up on these conditions via the following articles:

Bryarly, M., et al. (2019). Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: JACC Focus Seminar. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 73(10), 1207–1228.

Bateman, L., et al. (2021). Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Essentials of Diagnosis and Management. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 96(11), 2861–2878.

Volcheck, M., et al. (2023). Central sensitization, chronic pain, and other symptoms: Better understanding, better management. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 90(4), 245–254.

Episode produced by: Rasa Valiauga

Episode recording date: 8/30/23

In this new mini-series, we talk to individuals who took a detour in medical school and did not stick to the traditional 4-year curriculum. We hope that this series will help shed light on the various reasons students have to adjust their trajectory, normalize how common this phenomenon is, and reduce the stigma associated with taking more time to get through medical school than allotted.

David Mata is a non-traditional student who attended Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and is now a current PGY-1 at UCSD Family Medicine. David had a non-traditional journey to medical school finishing his master’s at Western Michigan University and being in the public health workforce prior to starting medical school. 

Episode produced by: Rasa Valiauga

Episode recording date: 8/18/23

In this episode, Rasa discusses the innovative research being conducted by Dr. Lisa Barnes at Rush University Medical Center and how she is helping close the gap in Alzheimer’s disease research disparities faced by people of color.

Lisa L. Barnes, PhD is the Alla V. and Solomon Jesmer Professor of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine and a cognitive neuropsychologist within the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center. She is also the Associate Director of the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. She received her PhD from the University of Michigan in biopsychology and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience at the University of California, Davis. She has been a faculty member at Rush Medical College since 1999. Dr. Barnes has received many NIH grants and has published over 300 manuscripts. Her research interests include disparities in chronic diseases of aging, cognitive decline, and risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. She is the Principal Investigator of the Minority Aging Research Study (MARS), which has been funded by NIA since 2004, and the Clinical Core Leader for the Rush African American Clinical Core. She advocates for recruitment of under-represented groups into clinical studies and has received many awards and fellowships.

Episode produced by: Rasa Valiauga

Episode recording date: 8/21/23

In this engaging episode, Vamsi and Monica chat with Mira Krivoshey, the Director of Health Promotions at Loyola University Chicago. Mira, a certified sexual assault advocate and health education specialist, graciously shares her knowledge and professional journey. With over a decade of experience working in the realm of gender-based violence, Mira's insights are invaluable.

From offering essential support to survivors of gender-based violence to passionately championing violence prevention in schools and community agencies, Mira has dedicated her career to creating positive change in our community. She has worked with organizations like the National Center for Victims of Crime and the DC Rape Crisis Center and has even taught a course on sexual assault advocacy.

With her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Barnard College and her Masters of Public Health with specialization in Sexuality Studies from The Ohio State University, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. This is an episode you can’t miss!

Episode produced by: Monica Contractor and and Vamsi Rojulpote

Episode recording date: 10/5/23

In today’s episode we talk to Ryan Ferrante, a lawyer whose own experiences with infertility inspired him to pivot his career from tax law to assisted reproductive technology law.  Ryan focuses on third-party reproduction, representing intended parents, gestational surrogates, egg donors, sperm providers, and individuals pursuing arrangements utilizing assisted reproduction techniques. 

 Ryan is dedicated to raising awareness of the infertility community through professional and personal involvement, providing support of the continued progress in the treatment of infertility, and challenging the forces that might deny others the very same opportunity to be a parent for which he is so thankful. 

In this mini-series, we explore different health professions to get a better understanding of the variety of team members involved in patient care. For this episode, we spoke with Dr. Cyndie Chow about her journey to becoming an audiologist and the types of conditions audiologists do (and do not) treat.

Cynthia Chow, AuD, PhD, is an audiologist and owner of The Hearing Place, a private practice in Oak Park, IL.  Her professional interests include the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss, tinnitus management, patient education, hearing conservation, and teaching. Dr. Chow received her doctorate of Audiology and doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her PhD studies in hearing science provide her with a unique understanding of sound perception which she applies to the treatment and management of hearing loss and tinnitus.

In this mini-series, we explore different health professions to get a better understanding of the variety of team members involved in patient care. In this episode, we spoke with Gauri Pawar, PT about her journey to becoming a physical therapist and how physical therapists are an integral part of the healthcare team.

Dr. Pawar hails from Ann Arbor, MI, a university town home to the University of Michigan. She graduated with her BS from U of M in 2013 with a concentration in Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience. With an interest in the connection between the mind and body, and as a chronic pelvic pain survivor herself, she pursued her clinical doctorate in physical therapy at Andrews University, graduating in 2018. Her interests include functional weight training, visceral and osteopathic manual therapies, as well as treatment of chronic abdominopelvic pain, bowel/bladder dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, and postpartum rehabilitation.

Dr. Pawar is passionate about education and has attended courses through the APTA, Barral Institute, Herman & Wallace, and Great Lakes Seminars. She is working towards being a certified sex educator and sex counselor. She is devoted to patient education and empowering patients on their health journeys and improving their compliance in their medical plans.  

When she's not working, Dr. Pawar can be found in the kitchen! She is an avid foodie who enjoys cooking foods from global cuisines and especially enjoys touring cities with her belly. Things that bring Dr. Pawar the most happiness in her day to day life include but are not limited to: listening to NPR, reading Brene Brown and following her on social media, Nina Simone's voice, watching Bollywood dancing, the smell of sandalwood (very calming), walking/hiking, farmer's markets, Ethiopian coffee beans, making a successful meal (efficient and tasty!), and sharing.

In this mini-series, we explore different health professions to get a better understanding of the variety of team members involved in patient care. For this episode, we chatted with Jayne Phoenix about her journey to becoming a medical dosimetrist and the integrated team approach to treating cancer patients.

Jayne Phoenix, RT(R)(T), CMD is a Certified Medical Dosimetrist working at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. She completed her education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL.

Find out more about the career of medical dosimetry and how to become a medical dosimetrist at the following links:

In this episode, we speak with Maureen Kerr RN, who is certified as a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE). Maureen has been a registered nurse since 2019 and has been working in the emergency department at Glenbrook Hospital since then. Shortly after accepting that position, she also took it upon herself to become registered as a SANE nurse in order to thoroughly conduct sexual assault forensic exams and provide acute and empathetic care to traumatized survivors.

Throughout the episode, we touch on the rampant problem of sexual violence in our modern society. We describe the emergence of trauma-informed care and how it can help alleviate the impact these acts of violence cause towards victims and their families, as well as members of the healthcare team. 

We are back with another specialty series interview! In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Tate Halfman, MD, who graduated from the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in May 2023. After a Preliminary Medicine year at University of Chicago Northshore, he will be heading north for PM&R residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Born and raised in San Luis Obispo, CA, Tate came to med school with an eye on musculoskeletal medicine. After two years of exploration, he stumbled upon physiatry and has never looked back. Tate is a proud graduate and Mic Man alumnus of UC Berkeley (GO BEARS!) where he studied Integrative Biology and Spanish Linguistics. After college, he spent two years working as a research assistant in the Kinesiology department of Cal Poly, SLO. He is a lifelong gamer and huge esports fan. He is passionate about mentorship, medical education, and multilingual medical care. 

In our conversation, Tate describes his experiences applying and matching into PM&R this past March. Given the often overlooked nature of PM&R, he also explains what the specialty entails and why it appealed to him. Tate provides useful tips and tricks for students interested in PM&R, as well as valuable advice for the residency application process in general.

You can reach out to Tate at f.t.halfman@gmail.com

Episode produced by: Emily Hagen

Episode recording date: 4/9/23

This episode is part of our specialty series, where we interview MS4 students about their experiences applying and matching into their chosen specialty. In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Elizabeth Belford, MD, who graduated from the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in May 2023. Elizabeth now is a first-year resident in Internal Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. 

She reflects on her journey to Internal Medicine with us and shares valuable pieces of advice for medical students in various stages of training. Additionally, Elizabeth describes her decisions for choosing Internal Medicine and provides tips for how to wisely choose a specialty, crafting one’s narrative, and putting one’s best foot forward in the application process. 

If you are interested in getting in touch with Elizabeth, you may reach her at @ElizabethMD15 or elizabeth.drews97@gmail.com. 

Episode produced by: Emily Hagen, Nikki Ganeshan 

Episode recording date: 3/31/23

In this episode, we discuss the uncomfortable yet important issue that plagues our society - child sex trafficking. Dr. Cassandra Ma discusses what makes children vulnerable to trafficking, her work with the Chicago-based organization Reclaim13 in ending the cycle of sexual exploitation, and what healthcare providers can do to provide trauma-informed care.

Dr. Cassandra Ma, Psy.D., is the Founder and Executive Director of Reclaim13, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing healing services to survivors of sexual abuse, trafficking, and exploitation. Dr. Ma received her doctorate in clinical psychology and went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in marriage and family therapy at the Family Institute at Northwestern University, where she joined the staff team teaching and coordinating the Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic.

Reclaim13 forges healing pathways for survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation. The healing programs include two residential homes for children and young adults. The Child and Family Program, serves survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation and their families by pairing them with trained mentors and opportunities to meet with licensed therapists who specialize in trauma informed therapy. Reclaim13 also engages in prevention and engagement initiatives to equip individuals and communities about the cycle of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

In 2017, Dr. Ma and Reclaim13 were recognized by the Office of the U.S. Attorneys for the Northern District of Illinois for their work with victims of sex trafficking. She has been recognized by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services for her compassion, dedication and commitment to the children and families of Illinois and has served on various advisory boards, including the Illinois Children’s Justice Task Force, College of DuPage’s Human Services. In 2023, Dr. Ma was recognized as Woman of the Year by the Rotary Club of Chicago.

In this mini-series, we explore different health professions to get a better understanding of the variety of team members involved in patient care. For this episode, we chatted with occupational therapist Alex Le about his journey to becoming an occupational therapist and the essential care occupational therapists provide to patients.

Alex Le is originally from the northern VA area currently residing outside of Richmond, VA. He attended the University of Virginia majoring in Biology and Psychology and received his Masters in Occupational Therapy from James Madison University. Alex currently works at Sheltering Arms Institute where he collaborates with other speech therapists, physical therapists, physicians, nurses, recreational therapists, and psychologists to treat a variety of patients with diagnoses including but not limited to brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurological and orthopedic injuries. Alex has experience in acute care, long-term acute care, inpatient rehab, skilled nursing, psychosocial rehab and vocational training. He is happily married to his wife who is a speech language pathologist and enjoys traveling with her and their goldendoodle Monty, swimming, hiking, cooking, and hosting family and friends. 

In this episode, learn all you can about space medicine from Dr. Barratt! As a NASA astronaut and a flight surgeon double board certified in internal medicine and aerospace medicine, Dr. Barratt is an expert on human physiology here on Earth and up in orbit. We talk about the body’s adaptations from takeoff to spending time on the ISS, what aerospace medicine really is, and the future of spaceflight. Join us for an episode that’s truly out of this world!

Dr. Michael Barratt attended the University of Washington where he majored in zoology, and became interested in aerospace medicine while studying for the MCAT. He went on to earn his MD from Northwestern University, where he also completed residency for internal medicine, and after his year as chief resident, started aerospace residency at Wright State. Dr. Barratt joined NASA in 1991 and was shortly assigned as a flight surgeon. He worked on joint U.S./Russian shuttle missions until his selection as an astronaut in 2000. He has participated in two spaceflights and has spent 212 days in space, and is currently in training for an upcoming mission.

Episode produced by: Sarah Ditelberg

Episode recording date: 4/15/23