The Host Response — Episode 9: Blame It on the Drugs 💊

Every drug has side effects—but which ones actually matter at the bedside? In this episode, Paul Bunce (infectious diseases and internal medicine specialist) shares his teaching framework for approaching medications:

• Anything can cause anything (clinical humility matters).

• The most common side effect (what your patient will ask about).

• The most dangerous side effect (for safety and informed consent).

• A curveball or trivia fact (the kind your attending might quiz you on).

From amoxicillin-clavulanate to vancomycin, TMP-SMX to fluoroquinolones, we walk through antibiotics with this four-part lens—highlighting what’s essential for both patient care and clinical teaching.

Whether you’re a trainee, a seasoned clinician, or just someone who’s ever wondered why metronidazole is…Flagyl, this episode will sharpen how you think about prescribing.

🎙️ Listen now, and check out more teaching resources at firstcallid.ca.

In this short bonus episode, Paul Bunce, an Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine specialist, reflects on bias and transparency in medical education. Where do our perspectives come from? How do personal values, training, and outside influences shape the way we practice and teach medicine?

Paul shares his own lenses — from minimalism in practice and antimicrobial stewardship to distancing from industry — along with financial disclosures and the background of the FirstCallID project. This episode is about honesty, trust, and making medical education just a little more transparent.

🎙️ The Host Response — Episode: This Email Could Have Been an Alphanumeric Page

Welcome to The Host Response, the FirstCallID podcast hosted by Dr. Paul Bunce, adult Infectious Diseases specialist and Internal Medicine physician.

In this episode, we dive into a surprisingly powerful but often overlooked tool in infectious diseases consultations: the humble email. Whether you’re advocating for your patient, collaborating across specialties, or course-correcting clinical decisions, effective email communication can make or break your consult experience.

Learn why well-crafted emails matter in ID practice — from clarifying complex clinical recommendations asynchronously to managing tensions before they escalate. Get practical tips on tone, structure, audience awareness, and common pitfalls to avoid, so your messages land with clarity and professionalism.

If you want to sharpen your communication skills as an ID consultant, trainee, or any healthcare provider involved in infectious diseases care, this episode is for you.

Tune in and master the art of consulting by email — a tool that’s low-tech but high-impact.

🔗 Check out firstcallid.ca for more podcasts and educational videos on ID consultation strategies.

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In this episode of The Host Response, Dr. Paul Bunce dives into the art and science of writing infectious diseases consult notes that get read, understood, and acted upon.

Learn how to craft clear, concise recommendations that not only answer the clinical question but also reveal your clinical reasoning — all while fostering collaboration with the care team.

Whether you’re an ID trainee or a seasoned consultant, discover practical tips to:

• Focus your recommendations on the consult question
• Be explicit and precise with your suggested orders
• Organize your notes for maximal clarity
• Time your suggestions thoughtfully in complex cases
• Use your consult notse as a teaching tool and legacy for future care

Visit firstcallid.ca for more podcasts and educational videos.

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Why do some decisions in ID haunt us months later? In this episode of The Host Response, Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine specialist Dr. Paul Bunce explores the role of anticipated regret in Infectious Diseases consultations. From empiric TB therapy to culture-negative PJIs, learn how to navigate uncertainty, avoid common traps, and make decisions your future self won't curse you for.

Perfect for ID consultants, medical trainees, and clinicians interested in the art of medical decision-making.

Infectious diseases is a specialty built on inference, nuance, and—not infrequently—doubt. In this episode, Paul Bunce reflects on the uncertainty baked into ID practice, from ambiguous diagnoses to the risks of overconfidence.

Why are we rarely sure, even after years of training?
How do we keep moving forward without pretending we’re certain?

The practice of Infectious Diseases isn’t always about finding “the answer”—it’s about learning to work in the fog, and still make decisions that matter.

Antibiotics might be the headliners in ID—but there’s a whole supporting cast of medications quietly influencing outcomes. In this episode, Dr. Paul Bunce explores the non-antibiotic drugs that affect infection risk, immune response, and antibiotic safety. From warfarin and DOACs to steroids, biologics, QT-prolongers, and methadone, it’s a tour through the meds that should catch your eye on a medication list.

If you’ve ever glossed over a transplant patient’s meds or wondered how serious that QTc really is—this one’s for you.

Before you can treat an infection, you need to define the syndrome. In this episode, Paul Bunce unpacks the foundational ID skill of naming the clinical syndrome — the key that unlocks investigations, management, and meaningful recommendations.

Welcome to The Host Response, a FirstCallID podcast for clinicians navigating the uncertainties of infectious diseases. In this opening episode, Dr. Paul Bunce introduces the mission behind FirstCallID — to help clinicians feel more grounded, confident, and less overwhelmed when facing ID questions. Unlike the structured teaching tools on the website, this podcast offers space for reflection, clinical insight, and honest conversations about the messiness of real-life decision-making. Whether you're early in training or decades in, you're not alone in the grey zone.