By Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
The podcast currently has 74 episodes available.
Are you drawn to a specialty that bridges the brain and body, builds meaningful relationships, and embraces the unique challenges of adolescence? Do you find teens fascinating - actually do you like teenagers? In this episode, host Cameron Wong hopes to demystify the world of Adolescent Medicine, a field that’s as complex as it is rewarding.
Our guest, Simone Lebeuf, MD, FRCPC, shares her journey into this dynamic subspecialty. Her compassion and passion for her patients are the foundation of her practice.
Dr. Lebeuf reflects on the privilege of supporting vulnerable teens through life-changing moments. From navigating mental health and eating disorders to providing gender-affirming care and reproductive health support, Adolescent Medicine offers endless opportunities for those with a passion for advocacy, education, and outreach.
It’s never been said that there are too many medical specialists who work with teens. If you have a pull toward trauma-informed care and truly want to impact a young person’s future… Adolescent Medicine just might be for you.
Check out the Specialty Café episode on Pediatrics (published October 7, 2022).
Why can’t dogs eat grapes? What does a day look like for a Clinical Pharmacologist & Toxicologist? Is this really one subspecialty? Are there many routes to becoming a Clinical Pharmacologist & Toxicologist? Do you see patients in this fascinating subspecialty? Does being an excellent team member with allied health members really matter?
Today’s guest, Riley Hartmann, MD, FRCPC, balances four staff roles with life as a father, husband, hiker, skier, cook, and goalie alongside his nurse colleagues. A true enthusiast for all things pharmacology (and coffee!), he enjoys learning about obsure poisonous events. Somehow, he makes balancing work and life look... possible and fulfilling.
Host Cameron Wong’s fascination shines through, especially as they tackle the complex puzzle of de-prescribing.
If you want to be an true expert in all aspects of your field, love teaching, are open to unlimited career possibilities... then press play and listen on. You may have found a hidden subspecialty that could change the course of your journey.
Thanks for tuning into Season 7. We've got loads in store. We'll continue to delve into the many Royal College subspecialties whilst addressing topics of interest identified by you - our Specialty Café community. Enjoy the series!
Clear, memorable, succinct, and consistent—these qualities should define both your CaRMS application and interview. In this episode, Sarah Klapman MD, a PGY2 in General Surgery, joins host Cameron Wong (who’s embarking on his own CaRMS journey) to share how she crafted an application that truly stood out. Dr. Klapman managed to highlight her passion for both surgery and opera (and how they interrelate!), showing interviewers that she’s not just a skilled candidate but a genuinely interesting one, too.
Dr. Klapman offers insights into key steps like asking for "strong" letters of reference and structuring a compelling narrative in your application. She also shares her frank thoughts on planning for a possible unmatched situation. One of her top tips? Allow yourself double the time you think you’ll need for prep. With careful planning and some self-care along the way, you can tackle the CaRMS process with greater confidence and less stress.
Check out the CaRMS website for more information, or have a listen to past Specialty Café's episodes on CaRMS:
Thanks to you, our Specialty Café community, we're gearing up for the next season. In the meantime - are you interested in winning a $50 gift card? Here's how:
Winners will be announced at the Canadian Federation of Medical Students' (CFMS) Annual General Meeting in Moncton, New Brunswick on September 20, 2024. Specialty Café will be hosting a live podcast with a few Royal College specialists (afternoon Sept 20, details to follow soon).
Good luck!
Once you hear today’s guest express her deep and unwavering dedication to Pediatric Emergency Medicine, teaching, and advocacy, you’ll understand why her career is perfectly suited to her passion.
Kirstin Weerdenburg, MD, FRCPC, shares her global journey which led her to practice in Halifax, NS. She expected to focus solely on clinical practice but soon discovered there’s a world of opportunity in addition to being a Peds Emerg specialist (such as medial journalism and caring for newcomers to Canada).
Dr. Weerdenburg holds her patients and their families in the highest regard, always attuned to their concerns and worries. For her, earning their trust and seeing a smile on their faces makes it a truly rewarding day.
Join host Cameron Wong as he discovers that Dr. Weerdenburg is eager to share her knowledge not just with her patients and families, but also with her colleagues, learners, and the public. She finds great joy in seeing her team thrive and grow.
Check out the Specialty Café primary specialty eps on:
Pediatrics (Oct 7, 2022) https://specialtycafe.libsyn.com/pediatrics
Emergency Medicine (Dec 3, 2021) https://specialtycafe.libsyn.com/emergency-medicine
This is the last episode of Season 6. We can't wait to bring you more great eps in the fall. Any questions, suggestions, ideas? Reach out to us [email protected].
What does mentorship mean to you? Join our podcast team Andrew, Emily, and Mark, as they explore the importance of mentors in their educational journeys. Their discussion highlights some of the amazing benefits of learning from a mentor in a rural setting (this includes of course knowing the entire health care team as well as dinner and ‘hanging out’ with your preceptor!).
They reflect on their past podcast hosting and mentor experiences, and look ahead to the future. Who knows where your path may lead. Take risks. Take chances. When one door closes, another opens! And... be present with your learning experiences. It's goes so quickly!
In addition to episodes on Royal College subspecialties, we'll present more Spotlight episodes covering topics such as preparing for CaRMS, balancing work and life as a learner, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, MedEd, and much more. If you have suggestions for a topic, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
Today’s guest is a singer, pianist, science fiction enthusiast, storyteller, listener, and creative writer. And as importantly, he’s a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology specialist. Join us as Kyle Mendonça, MD (PGY6... but not for long!), shares his fascinating journey with host Cameron Wong.
Dr. Mendonça opens up about his residency experiences, his passion for working with children, and why he chose this challenging yet rewarding subspecialty. If you're looking for a career in medicine that offers a variety of experiences, from inpatient to outpatient care, managing both critically ill and healthy patients, and forming long-term relationships with families, this might be the perfect path for you.
Bonus: it's a 2 in 1 specialty (listen on to learn more!).
You'll need to thrive in a collaborative environment, working closely with a big team of medical specialists and 'lots of' allied health professionals. While the emotional demands can be high, the specialty also offers immense joy and inspiration as you guide patients and their families through what can often be the hardest time of their lives.
You’ve heard this before on Specialty Café… but being a person with interests outside medicine simply makes you a more rounded, healthier, and happier doctor (and person!).
Check out our episode on Pediatrics (published Oct 7, 2022), https://specialtycafe.libsyn.com/pediatrics
"What do you want to do in this world with your life… and how are you going to meld that into medicine?". Some wise refelctions from today’s guest – Adrian Huang, MD, FRCSC.
Host Andrew Pauls (now an MD!) asks Dr. Huang to walk us through his experience as he jumped from medical school to his first year of residency in Orthopedic Surgery. What worked? What didn’t? What lessons did he learn? How did he cope with this new level of responsibility? Is a balanced life possible?
Dr. Huang shares answers to these questions and so much more. If you take away any message from this discussion, you might want to put this at the top of your list: Goals, habits, systems = resilience = crucial steps to avoid burnout.
Do you want to connect with Dr. Huang? Feel free to email [email protected]
Or check out Dr. Huang's social media:
Instagram: scrubbedout/YouTube: Adrian Huang (theRealScrubbedout)/TikTok: @scrubbedout
Linked In: Adrian Huang/Facebook: scrubbedoutdoc/Website: www.scrubbedout.com
Are you uncertain about which specialty to pursue, but know you want a career that is public-facing, involves patient and family interaction, and thrives on the dynamic, high-pressure hospital environment with quick results? And most importantly, do you love working with children?!
Tune-in to this episode as Allen Hayashi, MD, FRCSC tells host Emily Wu, MD why Pediatric Surgery gives him joy and a sense of immediate accomplishment. Dr. Hayashi's journey to this subspecialty wasn't driven by deep philosophical insights, but rather by reflecting on what he enjoys and what he doesn’t.
Dr. Hayashi is one of the rare specialists who still practices both General and Pediatric Surgery, and he wouldn't have it any other way. As a bonus, his dedication to his patients is so well-known that the local police often give him a pass for speeding during late-night emergencies!
If you’re interest has been piqued and you want to learn more about Pediatric Surgery, feel free to contact Dr. Hayashi: [email protected] .
Here’s the white paper Dr. Hayashi referred to: Joy in Work https://www.ihi.org/resources/white-papers/ihi-framework-improving-joy-work
Critical Care Medicine can be unpredictable and stressful, but it is also one of the most fulfilling and compassionate areas in medicine. Today's episode features an inspiring conversation with Omar Ahmad, MD, FRCPC, a specialist who not only manages stress well but thrives on it. Join host Andrew Pauls as he explores Dr. Ahmad's journey through medicine, delving into what drew him to this high-pressure yet rewarding specialty.
You'll hear about the delicate balance required to save lives while supporting patients' families during their hardest moments. Dr. Ahmad shares his passion for guiding families through these challenging times, assuring them that their loved ones are in skilled, caring hands.
Discover the many paths to Critical Care, what residency entails, and the diverse ways you can shape your career. This conversation emphasizes the importance of pursuing interests outside of medicine, finding joy in life beyond your career, and the role of humility and continual learning in achieving a fulfilling life in medicine.
Teamwork is key. Being humble enough to know that you are just one team member is equally key! Critical care offers more than collegiality... you gain supportive and lifelong friendships.
The podcast currently has 74 episodes available.