The Spark

By UCSF School of Medicine

Presenting the people and stories behind medical education at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and our community of learners.... more

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FAQs about The Spark:

How many episodes does The Spark have?

The podcast currently has 41 episodes available.

The Spark episodes:

February 17, 2026Culturally Centered Care & Community at Chinese Hospital with Drs. Angela Suen, Brian Graham, and Michael Lee
In this episode, host Rachel Huynh (MS3) speaks with Dr. Angela Suen, Dr. Brian Graham, and Dr. Michael Lee, UCSF physicians who also care for patients at San Francisco's Chinese Hospital. They discuss the historic mission of Chinese Hospital, its legacy as "The People's Hospital," and the importance of its collaboration with UCSF in expanding equitable and culturally centered care. The physicians share how culturally sensitive practices—such as honoring traditional health beliefs and providing language-concordant care—help build trust and improve patient experiences. They offer thoughtful advice to medical trainees who want to serve Chinese-speaking patients, even without language fluency, and describe meaningful ways to engage respectfully and curiously with the Chinatown community. Grounded in their strong commitment to Chinese Hospital, their stories illustrate the profound impact of culturally centered care and the challenges patients encounter navigating healthcare systems across institutions and cultures. The conversation concludes with their hopes for the future of Chinese Hospital and the continued strengthening of community-centered partnerships. Join the UCSF 2026 Alumni Weekend's "UCSF Talk: Podcasting Science," which will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 3:30–4:20 PM (PDT) at Fisher Banquet Hall at Mission Bay. Rachel Huynh will be one of the guest speakers discussing how podcasts reach global audiences and communicate health science in engaging ways. The session explores the storytelling, research, and perspectives behind UCSF-created shows and what makes them reflective of the UCSF community. You can find the full Alumni Weekend 2026 schedule here: https://www.ucsfalumniweekend.com/schedule

Additional Resources:

Chinese Hospital Website

UCSF–Chinese Hospital Collaboration:

https://www.ucsfhealth.org/about/our-affiliates/chinese-hospital

https://chinesehospital-sf.org/chinese-hospital-and-ucsf-health-collaboration

Risse, Guenter B. "Translating Western Modernity: The First Chinese Hospital in America." Bulletin of the History of Medicine, vol. 85 no. 3, 2011, p. 413-447. Project MUSE, https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/bhm.2011.0066.

Chinese Hospital Documentary

Chinese Hospital Documentary Part 1 - Late 1800's to 1925

Chinese Hospital Documentary Part 2 - 1925 to 1979

Chinese Hospital Documentary Part 3 – 1979 to 2016

Chinese Hospital Documentary Part 4 – History of American Medical Health Insurance and CCHP

Music by Podington Bear, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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39min
January 16, 2026The Challenges and Possibilities of Artificial Intelligence in Global Dermatology Settings with Dr. Sarah Coates
In this final episode of our AI in dermatology mini-series, Chloe sits down with Dr. Sarah Coates to learn more about global dermatology and the potential of AI to improve access to care in low-tech friendly settings.

Dr. Coates shares her experience developing an AI tool to diagnose Kaposi's sarcoma–a type of skin cancer that disproportionately affects people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa–and the importance of validating every step of AI development.

Finally, she and Chloe discuss the challenges and ethics of AI use for real-world, under-resourced settings, and exciting possibilities for improving patient care and provider education.

In honor of our final episode, a special thanks to the UCSF Department of Dermatology and the UCSF Dean's Yearlong Inquiry Funding office for supporting the creation of these episodes.

Additional Resources

Applications of Artificial Intelligence for High-Burden, Underserved Skin Diseases in Global Settings: a Review

Artificial Intelligence-based Diagnosis of Kaposi Sarcoma using Photographs in Dark-skinned Patients

Music by Podington Bear, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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30min
October 29, 2025Bridging the Gaps in Artificial Intelligence and Dermatology with Dr. Jenna Lester and Dr. Fatuma Rinderknecht
In this episode, Chloe, Dr. Jenna Lester, and Dr. Fatuma Rinderknecht discuss the importance of addressing health disparities in dermatology. They explore the Skin of Color program at UCSF, their personal journeys into dermatology, and delve into the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in dermatology — highlighting biases in AI models and the need for diverse and representative data sets to improve health outcomes. The conversation emphasizes the importance of education, representation, and patient involvement in addressing these disparities and ensuring the highest standard of care for all patients.

Additional Resources

Rinderknecht FA, Nwandu L, Daneshjou R, Lester J. The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Health Equity in Dermatology. Curr Derm Rep. 2024;13(3):148-155. doi:10.1007/s13671- 024-00436-w

Music by Podington Bear, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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39min
September 04, 2025What Patients and Doctors Want from Artificial Intelligence with Dr. Maria Wei
In this episode, Chloe and Dr. Maria Wei discuss the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into dermatology, particularly in skin cancer diagnosis and patient care. They explore the various applications of AI, the importance of precision medicine, and patient attitudes towards AI in clinical settings. The conversation highlights the challenges of robust data in AI training, the balance between AI benefits and risks, and the future directions for AI in dermatology.

References & Resources

Artificial intelligence-enabled precision medicine for inflammatory skin diseases. ArXiv. 2025 May 14. Tang A, Wei ML, Haemel A, La C, Sirota M, Lee EY. PMID: 40463698; PMCID: PMC12133082.

Stress testing reveals gaps in clinic readiness of image-based diagnostic artificial intelligence models. NPJ Digit Med. 2021 Jan 21; 4(1):10. Young AT, Fernandez K, Pfau J, Reddy R, Cao NA, von Franque MY, Johal A, Wu BV, Wu RR, Chen JY, Fadadu RP, Vasquez JA, Tam A, Keiser MJ, Wei ML. PMID: 33479460; PMCID: PMC7820258.

Young AT, Xiong M, Pfau J, Keiser MJ, Wei ML. Artificial Intelligence in Dermatology: A Primer. J Invest Dermatol. 2020;140(8):1504-1512. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2020.02.02

Young AT, Amara D, Bhattacharya A, Wei ML. Patient and general public attitudes towards clinical artificial intelligence: a mixed methods systematic review. Lancet Digit Health. 2021;3(9):e599-e611. doi:10.1016/S2589-7500(21)00132-1

Music by Podington Bear, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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33min
July 28, 2025AI, Storytelling, and Health Policy with Dr. Jack Resneck, Jr.
In this episode, Chloe speaks with Dr. Jack Resneck, Jr. about his journey from self-proclaimed "policy nerd" to dermatologist, former President of the American Medical Association, and prominent figure in national and global health policy. He discusses the importance of physician storytelling in advocating for patients, the lessons learned from past technological revolutions in healthcare, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI in medicine. Dr. Resneck emphasizes the need for physician involvement in the development of AI tools to ensure they address real healthcare challenges and improve patient care. He also highlights the importance of ethical patient inclusion in research and the many implications of using AI in healthcare.

Additional Resources

Resneck JS Jr, Abrouk M, Steuer M, et al. Choice, Transparency, Coordination, and Quality Among Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine Websites and Apps Treating Skin Disease. JAMA Dermatology. 2016;152(7):768-775. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.1774

AMA's new president Jack Resneck Jr., MD, on the year ahead | Moving Medicine

Revisions to the Declaration of Helsinki on Its 60th AnniversaryA Modernized Set of Ethical Principles to Promote and Ensure Respect for Participants in a Rapidly Innovating Medical Research Ecosystem

Music by Podington Bear, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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36min
August 14, 2024 The Nepal Episodes, Chapter Three: The Mind of a Learner
What lessons can we learn from each other? At the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in Kathmandu, Nepal, ophthalmologists from around the world convene to improve their surgical skills – and share lessons learned in patient care, community outreach, and global health. In this third and final "Nepal Episode," Chloe discusses the importance of patient education with Srijana Adhikari, MD, Head of the Tilganga Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology. Finally, Chloe reconnects with UCSF ophthalmologists Neeti Parikh, MD and Madeline Yung, MD, to discuss the "mind of a learner" and the importance of viewing each experience as a learning opportunity. In celebration of this final episode, we give a special thanks to everyone at the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology for their time, generosity, and hospitality in creating these "Nepal Episodes." Music by Podington Bear, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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30min
June 03, 2024 The Nepal Episodes, Chapter Two: Creating Sustainable Impact
What are the similarities and differences in surgical training in Nepal versus the US? Chloe explores this question at the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in Kathmandu, where expert physicians share their own training experiences from home and abroad. In this second of three "Nepal Episodes," Chloe interviews Anu Manandhar, MBBS, MD, Head of the Tilganga Uveitis Department, about her training both in Nepal and at UCSF. Chloe also speaks with resident physicians Saksham Tamang, MD and Anu Amatya, MD about their journeys to ophthalmology, and how teaching and learning can create lasting change. Music by Podington Bear, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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37min
January 29, 2024 The Nepal Episodes, Chapter One: By Hand or by Machine?
When it comes to surgery, is "technologically advanced" always superior? Last summer, Chloe Sales (MS3) had the opportunity to explore this question in Kathmandu, Nepal, at the world-renowned Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology – whose doctors pioneered the use of a low-cost, low-tech procedure that's saved the vision of countless patients. In the first of three "Nepal Episodes," Chloe chats with UCSF ophthalmologists Neeti Parikh, MD and Madeline Yung, MD, about their experience in Nepal – including training in this surgical technique and expanding access to it in California. Chloe also chats with Nabin Kumar Rai, Director of Programs at Tilganga Institute, about lessons they can learn from each other. Music by Podington Bear, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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37min
August 25, 2023 Staying curious throughout your career with Chancellor Sam Hawgood
In the last episode of our season, Paul and Chloe sit down with UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood, MBBS, to discuss the stages of his career, what's inspired him to stay at UCSF for over three decades, how keeping an open mind has led him to interesting places, and the importance of an inquisitive spirit as you take on new roles. Music by Podington Bear, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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38min
July 31, 2023 Leading from the middle with Dean Talmadge E. King, Jr.
In the penultimate episode of the season, Paul chats with Dr. Talmadge E. King, Jr., Dean of the School of Medicine & Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs at UCSF, about how clinicians and specialties choose each other, the intentionality of truly collaborative environments, and how his career has steered him towards leadership.
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36min

FAQs about The Spark:

How many episodes does The Spark have?

The podcast currently has 41 episodes available.

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