White Coat Story

Gerald A. Grant, MD, is a neurosurgeon, scientist, and chair of the Department of

Neurosurgery at Duke University.

Dr. Grant received his undergraduate degree in neurosciences at Duke University

and his medical degree from Stanford University. He completed his residency in

neurosurgery at the University of Washington in Seattle and fellowship in pediatric

neurosurgery at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

After residency, Dr. Grant fulfilled his commitment to the United States Air Force. He

was chief of neurosurgery at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base

in Texas and the USAF Neurosurgical Consultant for Aerospace Medicine from

2003-2006. He deployed to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and

Balad Air Base in Iraq as Chief of Neurosurgery, in support of Operation Iraqi

Freedom. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded a

Meritorious Service Medal prior to his separation. 

In 2006, Dr. Grant joined Duke’s faculty as an associate professor in the

Department of Surgery. In 2013 he was recruited to Stanford as Chief of Pediatric

Neurosurgery and Vice Chair of Neurosurgery. He served as Associate Dean of

academic affairs at Stanford from 2021-2022. In April 2022, Grant returned to Duke as

Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery. 

In this podcast, Dr. Grant speaks about his passion for neurosurgery, the importance of

mentorship, how technology looks to shape the future of neurosurgery and so much

more.

Dr. Zain Khalpey's journey to co-founding the Applied Translational Artificial Research Institute (ATARI) in AI exemplifies the transformative potential of bridging medical expertise with cutting-edge technology. As a distinguished cardiac surgeon and Chief Medical AI Officer at Honor Health, Dr. Khalpey recognized AI's capacity to revolutionize healthcare.

His groundbreaking work in predictive analytics and AI-driven patient care, including a project on predicting silent hypoxia in COVID-19 patients, laid the foundation for ATARI. The institute serves as a nexus for translational AI research, bringing together physicists, data scientists, and medical professionals to accelerate the journey from in silico models to bedside applications. 

ATARI's interdisciplinary approach tackles complex medical challenges, developing interpretable AI tools that promise to enhance diagnostic accuracy, personalize treatment plans, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Through ATARI, Dr. Khalpey is pioneering the integration of AI into clinical practice, potentially reshaping the future of healthcare delivery.  

In this podcast, Dr. Khalpey speaks about the influence AI currently has and its future potential in the medical field, the many companies which he runs, the importance of teamwork in medicine, and just so much more. 

White Coat Story is a podcast series for school students to gain first-person insights into the practice of medicine, and what it takes to get there.

Dr. Atheendar Venkataramani, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the Perelman School of Medicine and a board-certified general internist at the University of Pennsylvania Presbyterian Medical Center. He is also Director of the Opportunity for Health Lab. 

Dr. Venkataramani obtained his PhD in Health Policy in Economics from Yale University in 2009 and his MD from Washington University in St. Louis in 2011. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine-Global Primary Care at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in 2015.

In this podcast, Dr. Venkataramani speaks about an interdisciplinary approach to medicine, his own research into the economic and social factors which impact health, the importance of self-reflection during one’s career, and much more. 

White Coat Story is a podcast series for school students to gain first-person insights into the practice of medicine, and what it takes to get there.

Dr. Alex Hajduczok is a second-year Cardiology Fellow at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. He is pursuing an academic career in Advanced Heart Failure/Transplant with a particular interest in remote monitoring, hemodynamics, and wearable devices. He is passionate about improving health care delivery using innovative strategies and optimizing systems of care, and fighting burnout in medicine. Outside of the hospital he enjoys working out with friends at Evolve Fitness PHL and following the Buffalo Bills and Sabres. He has used WHOOP to optimize training in CrossFit since 2017, and is a certified CrossFit Level-1 Trainer. In addition, he leads multiple clinical trials using the WHOOP device for various populations, including medical students, residents, and fellows, along with heart failure patients.

In this podcast, Dr. Hajduczok speaks about his passion for the medical field, his fascinating research into the effects of exercise on physician health, and advice for the next generation of doctors. 

White Coat Story is a podcast series for school students to gain first-person insights into the practice of medicine, and what it takes to get there.

Today on the podcast we have Dr. Michelle Kittleson MD PhD. Dr. Kittleson is a Cardiologist, Director of Post Graduate Medical Education and Heart Failure and Transplantation, and a Professor of Medicine at Cedars – Sinai California Heart Center.

Dr. Kittleson attended both Harvard and Yale Medical Schools. She then completed her Residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a fellowship at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

In this podcast, Dr. Kittleson talks about many of her past mentors and the benefits of having a mentor, the future of heart failure transplant cardiology, teamwork in medicine, and more.

White Coat Story is a podcast series for school students to gain first-person insights into the practice of medicine, and what it takes to get there.

Today on the podcast we have Dr. Margaret Stager MD FAAP. Dr. Stager is a Professor of Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Director of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics for the MetroHealth Medical System.

Dr. Stager received her MD from the State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. From there, she completed her residency in Pediatrics at the Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital in Ohio. Following that, she completed her fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at Boston Childrens Hospital.

In this podcast, Dr. Stager talks about her journey through the field of adolescent medicine, the relationship of revenue and preventative care/wellness, physician burnout, and more.

White Coat Story is a podcast series for school students to gain first-person insights into the practice of medicine, and what it takes to get there.

Today on the podcast we have Dr. Melinda Manolas MD, MPH! Dr. Manolas is a third year resident at Weill-Cornell Hospital in New York who, upon completing her residency seeks a fellowship in endocrinology. Additionally, Dr. Manolas is a storyteller and digital educator with followings on twitter, Instagram, tiktok, and more.

Dr. Manolas received her Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in 2015. From there she went onto receive her MD from Tulane University of Medicine in 2020.

In this podcast, Dr. Manolas talks about the desigmitization of Physician Mental health, her path to becoming a resident, her thoughts on the future of medicine, and cultural humility.

Today on our podcast we have Dr. Geoffrey Maracek! Dr. Maracek is an orthopedic trauma surgeon who treats fractures in the upper and lower extremities, pelvis, and acetabulum at Cedars-Sini in Los Angeles, CA.

Dr. Maracek completed his Bachelor’s Degree, MD, and Residency at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. He then completed his fellowship at Harborview Medical Center. From there, he completed his education with the AO Jack McDaniel Memorial Fellowship in Switzerland.

In this podcast, Dr. Maracek walks us through an average day for him as a doctor, the procedure for treating a broken femur or tibia, what he feels is the biggest problem in medicine today, and some of what it took for him to get to where he is today.

Dr. Gottfried is a Professor in Orthopedic Surgery, Professor in Neurosurgery, and Vice Chair for Clinical and Quality Outcomes at Duke University School of Medicine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Dr. Gottfried received his M.D. in 2001 from the University of Arizona. From there, he went on to do his Residency in Neurosurgery and Fellowship in Spine Surgery at the University of Utah. Before becoming a professor at Duke, Dr. Gottfried was an Instructor of Spine and Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University.

In this podcast, you will hear Dr. Gottfried talk about some of his daily work as a Neurosurgeon, his role as a medical consultant for many television shows, the future of medicine for both the physician and the patient, and what it takes to make it in his field.

White Coat Story is a podcast series for school students to gain first-person insights into the practice of medicine, and what it takes to get there.

Dr. Galgano is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Director of Spinal Oncology and Reconstructive Spinal Deformity Surgery, as well as Director of the Medical School Neurosurgery Clerkship Program at Suny Upstate University in Syracuse, NY. He specializes in Neurosurgery with a sub-specialty in spine surgery.

Dr. Galgano attended St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. From there he went on to complete his Residency in Neurological Surgery at SUNY Upstate Medical University, where he works now.

In this podcast, Dr. Galgano talks about his unique experiences and how he ties them into his work every day, his average day as a physician and as an educator, his personal life, work-life balance, and what he feels is wrong with the medical industry today.

White Coat Story is a podcast series for school students to gain first-person insights into the practice of medicine, and what it takes to get there.