In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Samantha Gambles Farr, MSN, AG-ACNP, FNP-C, RNFA, speaks with Brian Boling, DNP, AGACNP-BC, FCCM, an advanced practice provider (APP) in the Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Critical Care Medicine, at the University of Kentucky and host of the Critical Care Scenarios podcast. They explore the challenges and opportunities facing novice nurses and APPs as they transition into new roles in critical care.

Drawing from his own nontraditional path into nursing and advanced practice, Dr. Boling shares how self-directed learning—through podcasts, blogs, and social media—can supplement formal education and foster professional growth. He emphasizes the importance of building a personalized curriculum that balances foundational knowledge with emerging trends and encourages learners to focus not only on hot topics but also on the essential, everyday skills that drive patient outcomes. The conversation highlights strategies for identifying credible educational resources and maintaining work-life balance while pursuing lifelong learning.

Listeners will gain insights into how experienced clinicians can support novice colleagues through informal mentorship and bedside teaching and how honesty about knowledge gaps can lead to deeper learning. Whether you're a new graduate, a transitioning clinician, or a seasoned clinician looking to mentor others, this episode offers practical guidance for education, growth, and leadership in critical care.

Mentorship can be transformative, especially for immigrant critical care professionals navigating unique career challenges. In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Ludwig Lin, MD, speaks with Fajun Wang, MD, a neurocritical care specialist and assistant professor at St. Louis University School of Medicine, about his experience in SCCM’s Immigrant Critical Care Professional (ICCP) mentorship program.

Dr. Wang shares his journey from medical school in China to building a neurocritical care service line in the United States, highlighting how mentorship shaped his path at every stage. He reflects on the challenges of entering a healthcare system in a new country and emphasizes the benefits of connecting mentors and mentees who share similar backgrounds and experiences. Dr. Wang’s ICCP mentor provided guidance during the launch of his ICU leadership role, offering insights into service line development and support during challenging situations.

The ICCP program, developed from a proposal by José L. Díaz-Gómez, MD, MAS, FASE, FCCM, launched its first six-month pilot in January 2024. The program focuses on five key domains: psychological and emotional support, self-efficacy, career development, scholarly support, and role modeling. A second pilot, currently under way, extends the mentorship to a full year.

This episode will inspire listeners to seek mentorship and community to advance their careers and grow their confidence. Mentorship is not just about guidance—it’s about building relationships that empower individuals to lead, innovate, and give back.

In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Diane McLaughlin, DNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, FCCM, is joined by John Appino, MBA, founder and CEO of Contract Diagnostics, and Ryan Hakimi, DO, MS, NVS, RPNI, CPB, FNCS, FCCM, neurointensivist at Prisma Health in Greenville, South Carolina, for a conversation on salary and contract negotiations for advanced practice providers (APPs).

The guests explore the nuances of evaluating job offers and negotiating compensation, as well as prioritizing onboarding, mentorship, and job fit. Dr. Hakimi shares insights from his leadership roles in academic neuro-ICUs and his longstanding advocacy for APPs, while Mr. Appino offers a strategic perspective on contract structures, compensation models, and negotiation tactics.

The discussion highlights the variability in contract practices across academic and private institutions, the importance of defining full-time employment expectations, and the role of offer letters versus formal contracts. Listeners will learn how to approach salary discussions with confidence, including when to negotiate, which data to reference (e.g., Medical Group Management Association and American Medical Group Association benchmarks), and how to assess a job offer beyond salary.

This episode is valuable for APPs at any career stage seeking fair compensation and sustainable career growth. It emphasizes that successful negotiations are not just about salary—they are also about clarity, support, and long-term professional satisfaction.

In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Maureen Madden, DNP, RN, CPNP-AC, CCRN, FCCM, speaks with Jeremy Loberger, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics and medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Loberger shares insights from his work as lead author of “Implementing the Pediatric Ventilator Liberation Guidelines Using the Most Current Evidence,” and co-principal investigator of the multicenter collaborative Ventilation Liberation for Kids (VentLib4Kids), aimed at standardizing and improving extubation practices.

Their conversation explores the evolving challenges of pediatric ventilator liberation, such as balancing extubation readiness with risks related to prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation and noninvasive respiratory support. Topics include the role of spontaneous breathing trials, pressure support strategies, sedation practices, and the impact of noninvasive modalities such as high-flow nasal cannula and bilevel positive airway pressure. They address the importance of individualized care, especially for high-risk patients such as children with neuromuscular disorders.

Dr. Loberger explains the quality improvement efforts under way that focus on implementing current clinical practice guidelines, standardizing practice, and aligning goals. Listeners will gain a deep understanding of the nuanced decision-making involved in ventilator liberation and collaborative efforts to improve outcomes for critically ill children.

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In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Diane C. McLaughlin, DNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, FCCM, welcomes guests Kaitlin M. Alexander, PharmD, BCCCP, and Ankit Sakhuja, MD, MS, FCCM, from SCCM’s Leadership, Empowerment, and Development (LEAD) Program, to discuss the use of AI in critical care education and clinical practice.

Dr. Alexander is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Education and Practice at University of Florida. Dr. Sakhuja is the director of artificial intelligence and informatics at the Institute for Critical Care Medicine and director of clinical informatics research in the Division of Data-Driven and Digital Medicine.

The discussion highlights how critical care educators and clinicians benefit from learning how to use AI and understanding its benefits and limitations. Incorporating AI into critical care education teaches students how to use AI responsibly in school and later in clinical practice. Clinicians should understand the utility of different AI models for patient care and be well versed in the ethical and legal treatment of patient data.

Drs. Alexander and Sakhuja provide examples of practical uses for AI in critical care. AI can help students test their knowledge with interactive case simulations paired with discussion with instructors and peers. AI can analyze vast amounts of patient data, supporting clinical decision-making.

The guests encourage clinicians and educators in critical care to engage with AI and contribute to its responsible use. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the uses of AI.

In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Marilyn N. Bulloch, PharmD, BCPS, FCCM, welcomes Matheus Bannach, MD, of Urgency Hospital of Goyes in the Eruseo-Dorne Cancer Hospital in Brazil. They discuss Dr. Bannach’s article, “Transfusion Practices in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials,” published in the April 2025 issue of Critical Care Medicine.

The study compared liberal and restrictive strategies for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). They found that a liberal transfusion strategy results in better neurologic outcomes than a restrictive strategy. Drs. Bulloch and Bannach discuss the importance of optimizing transfusion thresholds, the risks and benefits of blood transfusion for critically ill patients, and the limited supply of donated blood.

The conversation also covers study methodology. Dr. Bannach explains the choice of main end point for the study, the process of selecting articles to include, and the rigorous peer review process.

Listeners will find guidance for optimizing blood transfusion in patients with TBI, as well as key insights into review methodology. More discussion of this article can be found in the April 2025 Critical Content video.

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In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Kyle B. Enfield, MD, FCCM, welcomes Vincenzo Russotto, MD, of the University of Turin in Turin, Italy to discuss Dr. Russotto’s article, “Induction Agents for Tracheal Intubation in Critically Ill Patients,” published in the January 2025 issue of Critical Care Medicine.

Drs. Enfield and Russotto explore the decision of which induction drugs to use for patients undergoing tracheal intubation. They discuss research challenges such as the ethics of which drugs can be tested on patients and the emergent nature of many tracheal intubations.

Dr. Russotto discusses the advantages and disadvantages of ketamine as an induction agent and describes current clinical thinking on etomidate and propofol. His study made no definitive conclusions but found evidence that ketamine may have a safer profile and etomidate and propofol may be associated with negative effects.

Dr. Russotto emphasizes the need to individualize patient treatment and shares examples of induction agent combinations. He encourages clinicians to consider hemodynamic optimization along with the use of intubation agents. Listeners will gain insights to inform patient care.

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In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Marilyn N. Bulloch, PharmD, BCPS, FCCM, welcomes Bram Tilburgs, RN, PhD, of Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands. They discuss Dr. Tilburgs’ article, “Associations Between Physical, Cognitive, and Mental Health Domains of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome and Quality of Life: A Longitudinal Multicenter Cohort Study,” published in the January 2025 issue of Critical Care Medicine.

The conversation offers key insights into the prevalence and long-term effects of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). Dr. Tilburgs’ study surveyed intensive care unit (ICU) patients on their quality of life three months, twelve months, and two years after ICU discharge. The survey included physical, cognitive, and mental health domains. The findings show a significant link between PICS and diminished long-term quality of life.

Drs. Bulloch and Tilburgs discuss how these results highlight the need for PICS prevention across all three domains. They review potential strategies, such as diaries to help patients better understand their ICU experience. Dr. Tilburgs also highlights the benefits of his institution’s discussion group for ICU survivors.

Listeners will gain key insights on the long-term effects of PICS, actionable ideas for improving ICU patient care, and ideas for future research.

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In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Maureen A. Madden, DNP, RN, CPNC-AC, CCRN, FCCM, welcomes Christopher D. Newman, MBA, PA-C, FCCM, of Children's Hospital Colorado, and Victoria Howard, PA-C, of the University of Rochester to discuss professional advancement tracks for advanced practice providers (APPs).

APP professional advancement programs aim to improve retention and engagement. Mr. Newman and Ms. Howard highlight additional benefits as well. They explain how the pilot professional advancement tracks at their institutions address specific needs of APPs.

Mr. Newman’s program addresses the challenge of recognizing and supporting the nonclinical contributions of predominantly clinical faculty such as APPs. Ms. Howard’s program recognizes APPs’ careers beginning at an early stage and incorporates salary advancement into the program.

The guests discuss the practical challenges of implementing a professional advancement model, including finding financial resources, obtaining institutional buy-in, and making the recognition relevant and meaningful to APPs’ work.

Both guests emphasize that professional advancement programs should motivate and engage APPs over the course of their careers and encourage more appreciation for their work. The conversation will motivate listeners to explore similar career development programs at their own institutions.

In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Maureen A. Madden, DNP, RN, CPNP-AC, CCRN, FCCM, speaks with James R. Rodrigue, PhD, FAST, and Richard D. Hasz, MS, about their article, “Racial Equity in Family Approach for Patients Medically Suitable for Deceased Organ Donation,” published in the December 2024 issue of Critical Care Medicine.

The study found racial equity in organ procurement organization (OPO) family approach among patients who were medically eligible for organ donation. Dr. Rodrigue and Mr. Hasz explain that previous studies showing racial disparity in family approach were based on 25- to 30-year-old data. The changes in organ donation systems since then were what motivated Dr. Rodrigue and Mr. Hasz to conduct new research.

Their findings highlight the positive impact of standardized OPO practices on equitable access to organ donation opportunities. Dr. Rodrigue and Mr. Hasz emphasize the importance of timely referral, family-centered communication, and coordination between hospital teams and OPOs in facilitating donation conversations during emotionally charged moments. These practices complement advances in technology and expanded donor eligibility criteria to make more donations possible. Integrating organ donation information into driver education programs and expanding registration opportunities to settings such as voter registration can also help increase awareness and informed consent, especially among young people.

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