Episode 107 Notes and Links to Dr. Benjamin Gilmer’s Work
On this episode of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Dr. Benjamin Gilmer, and the two discuss, among other topics, Dr.’s early days at the rural Mountain Area Health Education Center, his directly following Dr. Vince Gilmer, and the ways in which Dr. Benjamin Gilmer got to know Dr. Vince’s story and generous medical work, and then Dr. Vince himself. The conversation includes discussion of the newly-released book, the neurological disease that Dr. Vince discovered he had, and the specific implications for his case and society’s understanding and treatment of mental health’s connection to incarceration.
Dr. Benjamin Gilmer is a family physician and Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Mountain Area Health Education Center’s (MAHEC) Family Medicine Residency Program. He is an international Albert Schweitzer Fellow and attended Davidson College followed by medical studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, France and East Carolina University. As the Medical Director for MAHEC’s Rural Health Initiative and Rural Fellowship, he is passionate about advocating for global and rural health disparities. He has worked extensively in Central and South America and West Africa. Benjamin is committed to advancing medical education, point of care ultrasound, interprofessional collaboration and inspiring students to pursue rural health.
His advocacy work currently focuses on bringing media attention to the social injustice of mass incarceration. His book, The Other Dr. Gilmer (Ballantine/Penguin Random House) and feature film project (Concordia Films) both highlight the injustice of mass incarceration of people with mental illness. The book is out as of March 1! Both projects are based on a 2013 This American Life podcast (Dr. Gilmer and Mr. Hyde), a collaboration between Benjamin and Sarah Koenig (“Serial”) which has had more than 10 million listeners. A former neurobiologist turned rural family doctor, Dr. Gilmer has lectured across the country about medical ethics, global and rural health, bias in medicine, and the intersection of medicine and social justice. He lives with his wife, Deirdre, two children, Kai and Luya, and their dog Prince Peanut Butter in Asheville, North Carolina.
Buy The Other Dr. Gilmer
Penguin Random House Page for The Other Dr. Gilmer
Dr. Benjamin Gilmer's Website
Hollywood Reporter Article about Movie Adaption of The Other Dr. Gilmer
The legendary This American Life episode, “Dr. Gilmer and Mr. Hyde” (10+ million downloads to date!)
At about 3:10, Dr. Gilmer responds to Pete’s questions about his parents’ and family influences on intellectual curiosity
At about 4:30, Pete asks Dr. Gilmer about early reading experiences and childhood exploration
At about 6:20, Dr. Gilmer describes the outsized impact of Dr. Albert Schweitzer and speaks of some of his own work in Gabon; Pete and Dr. Guilmer also speak of the late, great Dr. Paul Farmer
At about 8:50, Pete and Dr. Gilmer talk about corporatization/for-profit medicine, and Dr. Gilmer talks about service-oriented medicine as experienced in Gabon; he also discusses a symbolic anecdote of the “throne” being shared by a town leader in Gabon
At about 13:20, Dr. Benjamin talks about his time-his “baptism in medicine”-at Broughton Hospital as an instructive and inspiring time
At about 15:25, Pete and Dr. Benjamin discuss the ACE testing and tests for gauging sociopathy
At about 16:45, Pete references Ira Glass’ understated, stunning beginning of the legendary This American Life episode, “Dr. Gilmer and Mr. Hyde”
At about 17:30, Dr. Gilmer talks about starting work at the clinic (MAHEC Family Health Center at Cane Creek) as an “outsider” and almost not being hired due to the fact that his name was the same as his imprisoned predecessor
At about 19:25, Pete and Dr. Gilmer reference a humorous and inauspicious anecdot
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