Are needles, wires, and tubes your tools of preference? Are you looking for a rapidly expanding, exciting, and cool specialty? Are you a problem solver?  Look no further! Have a listen as our guests enthusiastically share their passion for Interventional Radiology (IR). Actually – they share their passion for the broad scope of radiology (you’ll hear why this is so important).

Sebastien Robert, MD (PGY5) and Jorden (Fu) Lo, MD (PGY2), demystify the route to becoming an IR resident. They provide a comprehensive glimpse into the vast opportunities of this multifaceted discipline. All the technicalities and processes aside… they both agree that you need to be in love with imaging to be an excellent IR.

Host Andrew Pauls learns why being an enthusiastic, curious, and present resident goes a very long way. After all - you want to stand out as a resident. 

This discussion is packed with nuggets of wisdom. Here's one for your CaRMS intereviews:  Be yourself. Be authentic. Be a good human being!

Would you like to get involved with IR? Contact the Canadian Association for Interventional Radiology (CAIR) https://cairweb.ca/en/

Check out Specialty Café’s episode on Diagnostic Radiology (published November 5, 2021).

There’s a delicate balance between expertise and the profound humility that accompanies caring for patients and their families. Life as a Cardiologist is not just healing patients - it’s a journey in ongoing check-ins with yourself.

Today’s guest, Raja Hatem, MD, FRCPC tells host Cameron Wong that he chose Cardiology because he ‘really cares for other people, and really loves to treat human beings’. This gives you an idea of a fundamental philosophy required in this field. Trust and a solid bond with your patients will make you the best physician you can be.

Dr. Hatem walks us through his route to Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology. He provides a comprehensive glimpse into his extraordinary career. He sets the record straight on ‘big egos’ in this field, and sheds light on the collaborative opportunities with Cardiac Surgery. He shares insight into how your brain will retain the massive amount of information you’re taking in during med school and residency (and throughout your career!). Dr. Hatem’s unwavering passion for medicine and for life drives his every day!

Is Cardiology for you? It could be if you are a full-on adrenaline fan, thrive in the unexpected, enjoy rapidly evolving technology, approach each day as a gift… and maintain a steadfast focus on the ultimate goal of becoming an excellent and compassionate human being (and of course physician too!). Jump in if you think Cardiology is for you… 'you’ll have the time of your life'.

Rhonda Zwingerman, MD, FRCSC recounts why snuggling her first Twiglet baby was so special.  Are you intrigued? Listen on! 

Would you thrive in a specialty that offers an 'awesome and amazing' combination of technology, patient counselling, and patient education? Can you see yourself being emotionally invested in your patients and their journeys? Is relationship building a priority for you? 

Dr. Zwingerman shares why Gynecologic Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (GREI or the fertility specialty!) spoke to her. She tells host Emily Wu, MD how she has been able to flex her entreprenurial muscles to co-found a fertility clinic (Twig Fertility). They delve into what the future of GREI might look like ... no surprise - lots of AI! 

You can hear the passion in Dr. Zwingerman's voice - how she cares deeply for all her patients and is committed to create an inclusive, open, and welcoming environment. And her humility shines through - it's a team effort and she happily touts the expertise of her fellow team members. 

Do you want to know more about OGBYN? Have a listen to a few Specialty Cafe episodes on  Obstetrics & Gynecology published on Feb 11, 2022 / May 3 & May 16 2023. 

Patience. Wisdom. Grace. Just a few amazing virtues an Internist Geriatrician absorbs on a daily basis from their patients.

Walkers in the corner. Canes in the corner. Patients, med students, residents, and staff dancing and singing as the attending plays the piano. Just a stolen moment of intergenerational happiness! (Of course there are moments of sadness too, but let’s firmly grasp these joyous times).

Dounia Rouabhia, MD, FRCPC shares her deep passion for Geriatric Medicine and the many rewarding and fulfilling moments she experiences each day. Host Emily Wu, MD, guides Dr. Rouabhia through the usual questions about a ‘day in the life of...’, however this discussion goes beyond and  touches on the importance of other aspects of life (such as travel) that simply make you a more rounded clinician and person.

Dr. Rouabhia observes that we are in an era of respect and dignity for our geriatric population. This philosophy is in sync with the mission of an Internist Geriatrician who strives to do their best for their patients… allowing these individuals to live their lives as they feel appropriate. She tries (!) to demystify the definition of frailty and indeed that of geriatrics too!

If you are curious and love puzzles, Internal Medicine, wise people, the globality of a patient, a balanced life... if you are a genuine team player and truly want to make a difference for your patients and their families... then Geriatric Medicine could be your calling! 

 

#followyourheart... just one of many pearls of wisdom you’ll hear from our passionate panel: Adina Feinberg, MD, FRCSC and Ariel Lefkowitz, MD, FRCPC.

Host Cameron Wong facilitates a truly friendly debate on Surgery vs Medicine (aka Medicine vs Surgery!). What do you love? What sparks and fires your drive? How do you see your relationship with your patients? What inspires you? 

There’s tons of great insight packed into this episode. Dr. Feinberg and Dr. Lefkowitz debunk the notion of ‘thinkers’ and ‘doers’ in the hospital. You’ll learn about the similarities… both are working toward a common goal:  of course, the wellbeing of their patients, but as important is a healthy and respectful (and fun) work environment.

There are loads of takeaways for sure, but one thing that threads through all aspects of this discussion… surgery and medicine are simply collaborative across the board!

00:00-27:55:  Panel (residency, work hours, remuneration, EDI, a day in the life, and more!)

28:10–49:07:  Live Q&A with medical students (culture debunking, generalism, collaboration, advocacy, ‘aha’ moments, exploring a leap of faith, and more!)

This episode was recorded at the Canadian Federation of Medical Students' AGM in Toronto, ON (Sept. 15, 2023).  For more CFMS information, visit their website: https://www.cfms.org/ 

 

What exactly is the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS)? Why does it exist? How does it work?  It’s daunting… how can I keep on top of the process? How do I rank my preferences? Where do I go for help? Do these questions sound familiar!

Whether you’re a curious first-year med student, or in your final year embarking on your CaRMS path, this episode is for you.

Join Cameron Wong as he chats with CaRMS CEO, John Gallinger, to demystify the CaRMS process. This episode is packed with insight into the underlying rationale of the CaRMS algorithm, what the process looks like, tips to start and stay on track with your CaRMS journey, and heaps of invaluable advice.

Here's a sneak peak... The best and most effective ranking strategy is the simplest:  rank your true preferences in your rank order list. You’ll need to listen to this episode to find out why!

Your CaRMS journey takes place over months. Med students are busy and the application process might not be high on your list. However, you can reduce some of your stress level by ensuring you know well in advance what needs to be done when! 

As John mentions on more than one occasion, the dedicated CaRMS team is there to help. Never hesitate to reach out.  https://www.carms.ca/contact/

Are you fascinated by diagnostic tests and biochemical pathways? Do you find it thrilling to know that your specialty continually changes and will look very different in the not-so-distant future? Tune in… Medical Biochemistry could be your future career path!

Host Emily Wu, MD ticks off a list of questions for Andre Mattman, MD, FRCPC in order to demystify this collaborative specialty.  Dr. Mattman gives great insight into the various residency routes, a day in his life, and a look at the rich and vast patient cases seen by a Medical Biochemist.

Dr. Mattman shares his passion for aligning medical biochemistry practices to climate sustainability. He gives thoughtful insight into his work around assessing appropriateness of certain tests vs other tests, while keeping top of mind how lab tests can have a big impact on our fragile environment... and an impact on limited resources. The health of this planet is, after all, the responsibility of all medical specialists.  

And… as an important by the way… work/life balance is really good is Medical Biochemistry!  

Here’s the scenario… you get a call in the middle of the night to get out of bed and go to the hospital to view some blood smears. What’s your reaction? If this gets your blood pumping (!), well Hematology might just be for you!

Join Kelsey Uminski, MD, FRCPC (Staff) and Ellen Cusano, MD, FRCPC (Resident) as they easily convince host Cameron Wong that Hematology is exciting, collaborative, constantly evolving, and extremely satisfying.

This specialty is for those individuals who thrive in an environment surrounded by diagnostic puzzles, cutting edge biotechnologies, and frequent new developments.

Dr. Uminski and Dr. Cusano give insight into how the landscape of treatment in this field has radically changed in recent years. Their passion for treating, often curing, and turning around a patient’s life is … infectious!

Of course you’ll learn about routes to Hematology, residency, a day in the life of – but just as important this episode will peak your interest and demystify this specialty (and give you cause to admire your Hematology colleagues).

Olivia MacLeod, MD, FRCPC is today’s generous guest! She’s fascinated by getting to know peoples’ stories. She enjoys using her people skills as her diagnostic and treatment tool. And, she’s thoroughly invested in treating the family as a unit, with parents as a partner in her patients’ care.   Hence, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry was a ‘no brainer’ (yep, another intended pun) for her chosen specialty.   Dr. MacLeod tells host Andrew Pauls how child and adolescent patients keep her on her toes and make her work a bit harder to develop a rapport, but it’s so worth it. The ability to intervene in a young person’s life, and possibly change their life trajectory in a good way … well, what’s not to like about that?   This episode is packed with wise insights into different types of diverse practices; outpatient vs inpatient opportunities; residency; bread and butter cases; work/life balance, and more!   As a bonus, Dr. MacLeod shares some frank advice about the need to understand your role as a physician. This includes ensuring you have access to trusty mentors and interdisciplinary colleagues. Tune-in to find out more.

Does a specialty fueled with kind, giving, supportive, and generous colleagues appeal to you? Would you thrive in a discipline where a multi-faceted treatment approach is the norm? Could you see yourself forming deep and meaningful bonds with your patients and their families?   Keep listening… Medical Oncology might just be for you!   Shivani Dadwal, MD, FRCPC tells host Emily Wu, MD about her career journey and why this ‘team sport’ truly appeals to her. She provides a fulsome overview of residency, oncologic management, and insight into other specialties closely linked to Medical Oncology. There’s no such thing as ‘the cancer doctor’! And... she provides a brief overview of potential fee structures in this field.    One key message that shines through this episode is Dr. Dadwal’s conviction that it's a privilege to walk alongside and provide the best care to her patients.