Fresh Flow Podcast

This episode explores whether physicians can sustain sobriety while maintaining clinical responsibilities and why supportive systems matter for patient safety and clinician recovery. Guest: Christopher Godlewski, M.D., MSHA, shares lessons from his own recovery, the structure of Physicians Health Programs, and how to navigate licensing, drug testing, and aftercare. Searchable topics covered include anesthesiologist recovery, perioperative addiction, physician health program requirements, and strategies to prevent relapse. For support and further reading, subscribe and visit uabmedicine.org.

This episode gives a tactical playbook for reducing needless anesthesia demand through protocols, smarter preoperative screening, and clearer service agreements with surgical teams. Dr. Amr Abouleish (Professor of Anesthesiology, UTMB) walks through protocol design, AI-enabled scheduling tools, NORA governance, and communication strategies to keep patients safe while preserving limited anesthesiology resources. Key searchable phrases include protocol-driven care, preoperative screening, NORA governance, anesthesia demand management, anesthesia care team, and perioperative operations

Dr. Charles W. “Chuck” Whitten, M.D. discusses the future of the specialty — from predictive analytics and remote patient monitoring to AI-assisted care — and what it means for staffing, supervision, and clinical practice. This is a focused conversation on recruitment, culture change, and the “grace and grit” qualities Dr. Whitten looks for when building a modern academic department — plus tactics to retain millennials and Gen Z clinicians.

In this conversation Jarrett Heard, M.D., MBA shares how a scoring algorithm combining patient comorbidities and surgical risk can direct the right patients to the right preop pathway — reducing redundancy, unnecessary travel, and last‑minute cancellations.

He walks through the development and deployment of an Epic‑embedded predictive tool that triages surgical patients to virtual screening versus in‑person preop clinics — and why that matters for safety, access, and cost. 

In this episode we dig into Medicare Advantage overspending, the role of risk scores, and what hospitals and policymakers can do to protect patient dollars. Featuring Sanjay Letchuman, MD candidate (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai) — incoming anesthesiology resident at Mass General Brigham — we unpack Medicare insolvency timelines and practical fixes hospitals should watch.

Don't miss this exciting episode to hear how a medical student turned policy researcher navigated Congress, wrote legislation on Medicare issues, and built projects like KidzZone TV — useful inspiration for clinicians interested in non-clinical leadership.

Dr. Zev Kane shares insights into the current state of perioperative medicine and highlights how collaborative efforts across specialties could lead to better patient outcomes. Understand the unique challenges our specialty faces and explore innovative solutions for better care.

In this episode, we delve into the transformative idea that leadership is not just tied to titles in healthcare. Dr. Leon E. Moores, a seasoned neurosurgeon and leadership educator, shares his insights on how every physician has the power to influence culture and patient care daily. Discover practical strategies for enhancing your leadership skills, regardless of your current role and learn how humility and the recognition of one's influence play vital roles in improving patient care and team dynamics. 

Dr. Roy Soto reveals what qualities make a resident stand out in the competitive field of anesthesiology. From technical skills to personality traits, learn what program directors are truly looking for in the next generation of anesthesiologists.

The challenge of workforce shortages continues to grow in the healthcare industry. In this insightful episode, Dr. Mo Azam from US Anesthesia Partners shares his journey into innovation and how it's transforming anesthesiology practices. Discover the importance of adapting to change, building collaborative environments, and the steps hospitals must take to embrace innovation. Tune in as we shed light on how technology can enhance clinical decision-making and patient care and uncover practical strategies for creating an inclusive environment that attracts and retains talents in the field of anesthesiology.

Join us as we delve into the concept of the fourth branch of anesthesia with Dr. Dan Sessler, a leading figure in clinical research. This episode addresses post-operative care and how anesthesiologists could fill this critical gap in patient management. We explore the impact of mid-level providers, staffing shortages, and the potential decline in demand for anesthesiologists. Discover how anesthesia can adapt and evolve in this fascinating episode!