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Welcome to our 39th episode and the fourth installment in the resident physician series. Today, we have Dr. Tara Gaston, a fifth-year orthopedic resident at Rowan University and Jefferson-Kennedy Hospital. Prior to receiving her DO degree at Rowan University, she obtained a master's in physiology and biophysics and a bachelor's in biology at Gettysburg College. She is married to a previous guest we have had on this podcast, Dr. Ryan Moncman, a neurosurgery resident.

In this episode, Dr. Gaston talks about what made her choose orthopedic surgery and her journey into the challenges faced by female physicians in what is historically perceived as a male-dominated field. We hope you enjoy this episode and our others dedicated to Women’s History Month.

This episode was hosted by Daniella Rodriguez OMS-III at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Edited by Thomas Jasionowski

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Third-year osteopathic medical student Madli Vahtra is joined by her colleague, Tiffany Carlson, in speaking to Dr. Teresa Hubka, a D.O. practicing obstetrics and gynecology in Chicago. Dr. Hubka graduated from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed an internship year in New Jersey at the Atlantic City Medical Center and her residency in OB/GYN at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago. After residency, Dr. Hubka started a private practice that subsequently grew into Comprehensive Wellness Care, a practice that specializes in the total care of women of all ages. Dr. Hubka is a clinical professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is also the Obstetrics and Gynecology Program Director at Presence Resurrection Medical Center. We hope you enjoy this episode.

Hosted by Madli Vahtra & Tiffany Carlson
Edited by Nicholas Buskill

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Carisa Champion is the third resident DO physician we have had on the podcast. She is currently a fourth-year surgical resident at the University of Florida Health in Jacksonville, FL.

In medical school, she not only graduated with a concomitant doctor of osteopathy degree and a jurisprudence doctorate, making her a physician and lawyer, but also a master's in public health.

Dr. Champion's resume includes acting as a White House intern, AOA Board of Trustees Student Representative, national chair of the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP), and member of the Board of Trustees of the Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health, to name just a few of her accolades.

On top of her duties as a surgical resident, Dr. Champion has been working as a member of the production staff for the TV show "Grey’s Anatomy" and with the FDA to find a treatment for COVID-19! We hope you enjoy the interview!

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In today’s episode, we have Dr. Cindy Hoffman. Dr. Hoffman graduated from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1985 and completed both family medicine and dermatology residencies by 1990.

Dr. Hoffman's practice ranges from general dermatology to Mohs surgery and even cosmetic and laser treatments. She rounds out her busy schedule by acting as the dermatology residency director at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx and is the course director of the dermatology department at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine.

In episode 19, we spoke with her about how DO students can be competitive for dermatology residency positions. Today, we will learn more about the competitive field of dermatology through her own private journey. We hope you enjoy this episode.

Edited by Thomas Jasionowski

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In this episode of D.O. or Do Not, I interview Dr. Ashley Peterson. She grew up as a military kid, started kindergarten at age four, and attended UNC Charlotte, graduating at the ripe age of 19 with a degree in anthropology. She then went directly to the Georgia campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and is very candid about her mistakes and successes there. As a student, she served as the Student National Medical Association's Georgia Chapter President. She was able to take advantage of and learned a lot during away rotations at the flagship PCOM campus.

At 24 years old, she earned a residency spot in family medicine at the prestigious historically black college and university Morehouse School of Medicine.

She has her own podcast called "Real Medicine with Doctor Rox" and her Instagram account has 7,000 followers. She and her family run a non-profit that supports minority students in their educational pursuits. She also continues to give back through the Student National Medical Association as a board member, ensuring the advancement of minority students in osteopathic medicine.

I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did as its host. Thanks for listening!

Host: Tiffany Carlson
Editor: Nick Buskill

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For our fourth Black History Month episode, we had the privilege to speak with Dr. Darnita Anderson Hill, DO. Dr. Anderson Hill is the daughter of Dr. William Anderson, DO, a surgeon and pioneer in the Civil Rights Movement who we interviewed previously this month.

At a young age, Dr. Anderson Hill knew she wanted to pursue a career as a physician. Ultimately, her passion led her to apply to both osteopathic and allopathic institutions. Dr. Anderson Hill quickly discovered that the philosophy and principles of osteopathic medicine truly resonated with her, leading her to attend the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Today, Dr. Anderson Hill is a board-certified family medicine physician who remains deeply connected to osteopathic principles in her practice.

Passionate about both the history of osteopathic medicine and her African American heritage, Dr. Anderson Hill set out on a spiritual journey to learn about the origins of osteopathy, the osteopathic philosophy, and the role that the Black community has played in the founding and progression of medical practice - more specifically, osteopathic medicine in America. Spanning from Kirksville, Missouri, the site of the first osteopathic medical school, to Jonesville, Virginia, the birthplace of Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathy, her journey ultimately led her to author a book entitled "Blacks in Osteopathic Medicine: An Idea Whose Time Has Come."

This book, which is a must-read for all medical students and physicians alike, aims to clarify not only the history of osteopathic medicine but more importantly highlight the role and contribution of Blacks to modern medicine - specifically, osteopathic medicine in America.

In our interview, Dr. Anderson Hill comments on history, but, more importantly, offers insight into how she feels osteopathic schools might work to better represent minorities, specifically Black students, and further discusses what Black students can do to learn more about the osteopathic profession.

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Dr. Jennifer Caudle is a board-certified family medicine physician and associate professor in the department of Family Medicine at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Caudle was a faculty member in the Johns Hopkins University/Sinai Hospital residency program in internal medicine in Baltimore, MD, and an instructor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Dr. Caudle graduated with honors from Princeton University and earned her medical degree from UMDNJ School of Osteopathic Medicine.

She appears as a regular on-air health expert for local and national news networks, including The TODAY Show, The Dr. Oz Show, CNN, FOX News, The Rachael Ray Show, The Steve Harvey Show, Fox 29 Philadelphia News, PBS, and many others.

Her health articles have been published in The Daily Beast, CNN.com, DoctorOz.com, and ABCNews.com, and she has been quoted by USA Today, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Prevention, Shape, The Huffington Post, Reader's Digest, Good Housekeeping, Men’s Health, and others.

Dr. Jen is a spokesperson for the American Osteopathic Association and a radio/video host for ReachMD.

She is a national lecturer on opioid prescribing for physicians. She presents the CORE-REMS “ER/LA Opioid REMS: Achieving Safe Use While Improving Patient Care” lecture throughout the country.  She also presents workshops on health, wellness, and motivation to companies and organizations, and she lectures on the topic of childhood bullying to hospitals and healthcare organizations.

As a musician who plays the cello, Dr. Caudle has performed in orchestras and string ensembles internationally. She attended Walnut Hill School for the Arts and studied cello at the New England Conservatory of Music Preparatory School during her high school years. Dr. Caudle is a former trustee of Walnut Hill School for the Arts. 

In 1999, Dr. Caudle earned the title of Miss Iowa and competed in the 1999 Miss America Pageant.

Interviewed by Dr. Carisa Champion
Edited by Thomas Jasionowski

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In this episode, I have the privilege of interviewing Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee, a woman whose accolades include building a successful family practice during the 70’s, a difficult feat at the time for a woman and an African American, to becoming the first woman of color to hold the position of dean at an American medical school.

Dr. Lee tells us about growing up in Detroit as the eldest daughter of a large family, her discovery of osteopathy, and her amazing life journey that led her to the dean’s position at two osteopathic schools, Ohio University’s Heritage COM and NYITCOM.

We know that you will be inspired by Dr. Ross-Lee’s exceptional journey.

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Dr. Anderson is a 93-year-old African American osteopathic physician who is currently a professor of surgery and senior advisor to the dean at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSU-COM). He holds the distinction of being the first African American on the American Osteopathic Association Board of Trustees and served as the president of the American Osteopathic Association in 1994 and 1995.

Dr. Anderson was born in Americus, Georgia, to the daughter of a slave in 1927. Dr. Anderson attended Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He returned to Albany, Georgia, where he was prevented from treating patients because of segregationist policies in 1957.

Dr. Anderson became a pioneer in the Civil Rights Movement and was a personal friend and colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His story is amazing and uplifting. This is an episode not to miss!

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In this episode, we are lucky to have a special guest: Dr. Jamie Lanzillotta. In prior episodes of our podcast, we have tended to focus on the excitement of specialties such as neurosurgery or emergency department and doctors who work on the frontlines saving lives. Today, we host a different type of “superhero”, who, in my opinion, is more impressive: a doctor who can balance her career and her family, making sure her three children feel just as important and well-cared for as her patients.

Dr. Lanzillotta practices general pediatrics on Long Island, New York. She graduated from the NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, where she also served as chief resident. 

Today, Dr. Lanzillotta will highlight the pros and cons of a career in pediatrics. She will describe the differences between working in the small private practice where she first worked after residency and the larger multispecialty group where she is currently employed. 

Dr. Lanzillotta will help us understand the challenges that face a physician/working mother and give us tips that help guide women in medicine who are considering a similar career path.