Common Sense Medicine

In which Shree talks to Dr. Benjamin Doolittle, a physician who is also a pastor who is interested in the intersection of burnout, coping, and spirituality, especially as it applies to residency education. He directs Yale School of Medicine’s Medicine-Pediatrics Residency while also finding time to pray and preach at various local congregations.

In which Shree talks to Suhas Gondi, a first year medical student at Harvard Medical School. He’s interned in the U.S. Government, Centers for Medicare and Medicard Services, and the Brookings Institution, and Shree asks him (read: picks his brain) on things that interest him about the U.S. Healthcare System.

In which Shree talks to Dr. Atheendar Venkataramani, an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the Perelman school of medicine and a board certified general internist at the Penn Presbyterian Medical center. They talk about Dr. Venkataramani’s research, the life course origins of health and socioeconomic inequality on adult health and well-being and the relationship between economic opportunities and health behavior, and also about making the best choices in life when involved in the medical world.

A prominent physician who is involved in his first year of fellowship, Dr. Siegler and Shree talked a lot about his life in the hospital, advances in his career, as well as physician’s habits and downplaying their own pain. Although only in his first year of fellowship, he has published more than 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and has spoken at several international neurology conferences, on subjects spanning the disciplines of stroke and medical education. His neurology background and interest in medical education inspired him to produce the BrainWaves neurology podcast, which has witnessed over 100,000 downloads since its 2016. 

In which Shree talks to Dr. Saurabh Jha, an Assistant Professor of Radiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania who tweets @RogueRad. He’s very interested in how people enjoy social media, and why tweets should be informative and incisive rather than being politically correct. He initially trained in surgery at various hospitals in Britain and Australia and then moved to the US for a residency in diagnostic radiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where he also completed his fellowship in cardiovascular imaging. He talks to Shree about thinking critically in medicine beyond emotional platitudes. Question everything that you do, Dr. Jha advises, and try to synthesize the ideas with others who are as interested as you about the topics which affect the world.

In which Shree talks to Dr. Drew Helmer, the Director at the War Related Illness & Injury Study Center at the Veterans Administration New Jersey Health Care System. He is the author of Sex After Service: A Guide for Military Service Members, Veterans, and the People Who Love them. In this episode, I just wanted to ask him about how he gets so much done in a day and what future he thinks medicine is headed towards in the VA as well as in private practices across the US. Also, it was a great conversation about his journey into medicine and how the power of circumstances really shaped his career trajectories from a museum curator when he was very little, to a genetics researcher, and finally, a physician.

In which Shree talks to Dr. Frank Warsh, a Canadian Family Doctor who was in clinical practice until 2015 who now works as a coroner. The author of The Flame Broiled Doctor: from Boyhood to Burnout in Medicine, he has had 2 experiences with physician burnout, and has written extensively about not being able to do it all as a physician. Shree and Frank talk about the transition from their pre-medical and medical school years, realizing whether medical school is right for you, and prospects for the future if you realize medicine isn’t for you.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal or just needs someone to talk to, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

In which Shree talks to Dr. Cory Fawcett, a “repurposed surgeon” who writes financial advice for fellow physicians at his blog a Prescription for Financial Success (http://drcorysfawcett.com/) He has published multiple books in The Doctor’s Guide Series, writes a weekly blog, and also dabbles in his hobbies like real estate now that he has been debt free for many years.

In which Shree talks to Carrie Whitaker, a nurse specializing in medical surgical-oncology, acute care, and home health and pursuing an MPH at UC Berkeley. She is currently practicing in a home health agency as their Lead in the wound and ostomy nurse specialist in San Francisco, CA.

In which Shree talks to Dr. Jae Won Joh, a physician who is interested in answering questions of internet strangers, tinkering with code on www.medicaldork.com, searching for the best bowl of ramen, and keep his herb garden alive.