The Level Up Podcast

Buckle in, ya’ll. We had an epic conversation! I really appreciated this open and candid conversation with someone who I admire greatly, Dr. Robert Streb. He has over 30 years of experience under his belt and lots of wisdom to share! What I admire the most about Dr. Streb is his practically skeptical and transparent approach he takes to his own learning and his student's learning! 

I won't spill to much and keep it short. In this episode we cover hot topics surrounding manual therapy, pain science, and everything in between. If you are a practicing clinician (especially new grad) this is a must listen!!!! Please share with someone who you think would benefit from hearing this episode. As always, thanks for listening and if you find value in this show please leave us a review on iTunes!

This episode is sponsored by our good friends at Trust Me Ed- an unbelievable online learning platform essentially working as a "netflix for physiotherapists." Use the discount code LevelUP30 to get 30% off an annual subscription!

TRUST ME ED

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In todays episode we have a very special guest, Dr. Bronnie Lennox Thompson, live from New Zealand.

Bronnie is someone we admire and look up to in this field, and we feel so lucky to learn from her in this episode.

We mostly focused in around her PhD thesis "What can learn from those living well with chronic pain?" but also included: 

BIG QUESTIONS (questions posed and addressed in this episode):

 Why can some people cope well with chronic pain, while others cannot?

How can one live well with chronic pain? (focus of Bronnie’s research)

What beliefs and attitudes surround pain in our culture?

Should clinicians focus only on pain reduction, or recognize that pain reduction might not be possible and help clients live well in the meantime?

How can new clinicians deal with failure to eradicate pain?

What is the difference between pain and suffering?

And, how is pain management like brushing your teeth?

We really hope you enjoy this episode, and if you feel compelled, leaving a review would mean the world to us!

This episode is sponsored by Physio Network, a company that is changing the game in helping us stay up to date AND translating research into practice. Learn more about their extremely affordable service HERE

I remember when Teddy and I were both first starting out on “the gram.” The immediate thing that connected us was that we were both hell bent on creating a passionate network of likeminded people just trying to be better for our patients.⠀

As the years have passed, I have been so impressed with how Teddy has been able to grow his account, maintain great content, AND keep his integrity. But above all else, I truly respect Teddy because he is a critical thinker, and takes his public authority very seriously and responsibly.

In this episode, we have a very candid (maybe too candid) discussion regarding some of these topics:

Growing an Instagram account w/ integrity

Dunning Kruger-ing/Radical Thinking regarding current clinical paradigms

Going about constructive conversations with others you might disagree with

And much more…

Also important to note for the new grads and students out there listening: our hope is you can learn from our mistakes!!! We have been prime examples of what we talk about during this episode. So hopefully it helps!

So appreciated this open conversation, Teddy! Thanks for pushing healthcare forward and leading by example.

This episode is sponsored by our proud affiliates at Physio Network, an incredible monthly research review to help you stay on top of the latest evidence! If you are interested in learning more - consider checking them out here

PHYSIO NETWORK

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"We have to honor tradition...but we don't have to follow it."

Dr. Daniel Kang just recently received teacher of the year for GFU graduate programs and after listening to this episode it is pretty clear why this is the case.

Not everyone is ready to hear some of these hard truths regarding what needs change in academia. But at the end of the day, it is constructive, and we are working on trying to be a little bit better and a little less wrong each day.

Hopefully we can use podcasts like these to stir up discussion amongst academics and students, so we can all work together and strive towards a better tomorrow. Please reach out if you are an Academic that wants to learn more or get involved!

In the meantime, sit back and enjoy this episode. Dr. Kang has tremendous wisdom to share, how he goes about structuring his curriculum while balancing CAPTE reqs, and a wonderful vision for what Academia can look like.

Contact Dr. Daniel Kang - [email protected]

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Breslow gives us some amazing insight in her clinical philosophy as a primary care sports med physician. We discuss:

How she goes about empowering her patients through education and strength training

The role of psychological factors in providing best treatment for her patients surrounding their identity

The importance of inter and intra professional communication and teamwork

Insights into trends in the Medical field with regards to practicing under a BPS framework

This one was super refreshing, as I think we often make a lot of assumptions about what goes on in the medical community. Hope you enjoy!

This episode was sponsored by our good friends at Trust Me Ed, one of our favorite online con ed platforms for students and clinicians. If you are interested in receiving 30% off please message us at @Thelevelupinitiative on IG to redeem this code.

I remember going through an existential crisis after graduating PT school and just feeling so lost. Truth be told, I was feeling some resentment when I was presented with a lot of counter evidence that challenged what I had been taught in school.

Clinical Athlete was the innovative platform created by Quinn Henoch that was teaching a lot of progressive strength based content, but more importantly, rooted in an ethos of strong clinical reasoning and critical thinking on evidence. This platform was extremely valuable for me in my formative years as a practicing new grad, and I am forever grateful! I can honestly say that I have met the majority of my network through Clinical Athlete and is arguably a major reason that Level Up is even a thing.

We really think you will enjoy this episode where we:

• Learn more about Quinn's mission with Clinical Athlete
• Discuss any backlash with "speaking up" on challenging deeply held beliefs
• Advice for students and new grads who are struggling with how to navigate the current state of counter evidence
• Discuss some of Quinn's biggest lessons learned from creating this platform along with a discussion on current thoughts on how best to go about creating belief change.

It was honestly a jam packed and engaging episode with a ton of gems, so we really hope you enjoy!

To learn more about Clinical Athlete, click here

And would HIGHLY recommend trying their forum for FREE here. Guaranteed to level up your critical thinking!

What are the medical humanities and how are they received by students? 

What is the difference between pain and suffering? Do we as healthcare providers truly confront our own suffering? 

How can we instill vulnerability into medical curriculum? Can it truly be taught? If so, how?

Is the medical curriculum too narrow?

How does philosophy inform science, and how does science inform philosophy??

We get into some deep stuff, but this was a truly authentic and deep conversation with lots of gems. We hope you enjoy!

Join us for this compelling conversation with Nicole Piemonte PhD on the dark parts of being humans in healthcare.... But foreal. We get into it.

Level Up newsletter and information on mentorship: 

https://thelevelupinitiative.mykajabi.com/newsletter

Afflicted: How vulnerability can heal medical education and practice:

Afflicted - Buy Here! 

Dr. Jeff Houck, a professor and researcher out of George Fox University, just might be one of the most passionate people I have ever met.

I was lucky enough to learn from him my very first summer of PT school during an intense 10 week Anatomy course, but honestly, I was probably most lucky to be inspired by him.

In this episode, we discuss Dr. Houck's involvement with patient centered PRO research on the PROMIS scales.

More on PROMIS scales

Honestly, I know outcome measures are not "sexy" but these PROMIS scales seriously got me excited. Especially as they truly embody valuing a multi dimensional BPS perspective.

We finished up with discussing more about the innovative and progressive culture that Dr. Jeff Houck is a part of at GFU. Some serious gems in here. Enjoy!

Leda McDaniel is PT student at Ohio University and is graduating in May 2019!

She reached out voicing her support for what we are doing for Level Up, and it led me to hearing her story on a pain reframed podcast…

Pain Reframed Podcast Here

Long story short - Leda offers some INCREDIBLE insights and vulnerable perspectives from her journey of healing from chronic pain. We dove deep into the emotional journey and lessons from helping her make the shift to healing.

This episode was created in mind to help both healthcare students and professionals as well as patients out there suffering with chronic pain!

Leda's book: Moments from a Year of Healing can be found

Here

We hope you enjoy! 

In this second hour of this series, Mike and I discuss Engel’s proposals for a BPS model. More importantly, though, this leads us into an important critique of not only BPS model, but models in general. We dive into current definitions of pain, and ways we can be “less wrong.” Lastly, we finish with barriers to overcoming biomedicine and shifting the paradigm, as well as what we can do to invest in students and new grads who’s belief systems are now dissolved. If this episode doesn’t leave you fired up to take action, then we are not sure what will. Enjoy!

@Michael_Barbellmedicine (IG)

https://www.barbellmedicine.com/

@Thelevelupinitiative (IG)

https://www.thelevelupinitiative.com/ 

Pain Medicine and Its Models: Helping or Hindering? - Quintner et al.