Dr. Ashley Roxanne Peterson is a resident family physician in Atlanta, GA. She discusses her experiences as a black woman, physician, and business owner. We talk about the definition of an "ally" to the black community. I discuss some of the intrinsic bias I've identified in myself through these past few weeks. We talk about Black Lives Matters, and how our society can learn and improve. We had a great conversation about race, medicine, police, and communication.
Jun 21, 2020•48 min
My classmate and friend, Thida Myint, outlines her research around apps that help teach cognitive behavioral therapy. She focused on Woebot, an app where you chat with a robot. We discuss how strange it is to converse with this app, but also how the app makes you reflect and process your emotions. While we both feel traditional CBT therapy with a human is superior, these types of free apps can improve access and lower costs for people struggling emotionally. Thida is a 4th year medical student, ...
May 21, 2020•42 min
Anja lives with bipolar disorder and works as a mental health blogger. She is currently involved in suicide prevention research. She has been featured on bpHope, Yahoo (Lifestyle, News, and Finance categories), The Mighty, Consumer Health Digest, Odyssey, and MSN. You can follow her work on instagram @the_calculating_mind. While she has ideas on how to improve psychiatric care, she wants to inspire anyone struggling to get the help they need.
May 12, 2020•38 min
Dr. Amber Wooten, MD is a general surgeon in Yakima, WA. Maycee Gielow, a student pursing surgery, joins this episode to discuss the underrepresentation of women in various surgical roles. We discuss the evolving culture of the operating room, the stressful training and demanding schedule. Dr. Wooten gives her advice on being successful in medical school, pursuing surgery, and finding a balanced lifestyle. Dr. Wooten graduated from University of Oklahoma, College of Medicine, and completed her s...
Apr 30, 2020•31 min
Julie and I met way back in 2007 when we first started college at Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Julie had her first child in the last year, and has lived through postpartum depression. She discusses the challenges of this condition, and how she had to advocate for herself to receive appropriate care. She felt her symptoms were ignored and overlooked by her healthcare team. Julie outlines lessons she's learned and how she's improved depression symptoms.
Apr 19, 2020•48 min
Jamie Katuna (@SpeakOutMedicine) discusses Coronavirus, positives and negatives of social media, and politics. Jamie is a blogger, and highlights ways to improve medical culture.
Apr 14, 2020•44 min
Nothing like going to med school in the midst of coronavirus. This conversation has one student from each level of medical school to discuss how this epidemic has impacted our education. You'll hear from Kathryn Wanat (MS4), Maycee Gielow (MS3), Alan Boyd (MS2), and Jordan Holmes (MS1). We talk about our struggles, and strategies we're trying to implement to get through these strange times.
Apr 02, 2020•27 min
Anna wrote to me asking for advise and guidance on how to be a successful premed student living openly with bipolar disorder. We talk about the importance of community in mental health, disclosing mental illness, and how the stigma isn't nearly as significant as it's perceived. We dive into lessons I've learned throughout the last third years of med school. We talk about challenges physicians face in seeking mental health treatment.
Mar 16, 2020•1 hr 13 min
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is real, and it has every right to make you scared. Fear is one of the most powerful emotions, and causes use to act illogically. This short meditation can help alleviate some of the anxiety, frustration, and panic you feel during this pandemic.
Mar 13, 2020•4 min
Edward Ng (@ed.med) is a third year medical student at Western University in Pomona, CA, and serves as the National Public Relations and Web Representative for the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP). Ed's instagram page shows his experiences with medical school, student government, and how he balances it all. We discuss his mental health challenges and how he's learned to cope. We dive into how changes of board exams will impact students, and how we think medical studen...
Mar 08, 2020•59 min
Dr. Julie Randolph-Habecker, PhD in Pathology, professor at PNWU, speaks out her experiences with sexual assault, PTSD and depression. Dr. Habecker discusses the challenges of growing up around substance abuse. She outlines a traumatic experience, and ways she's learned how to cope. We talk about using anti-depressants and the importance of therapy. Lastly, Dr. Habecker discusses how the management of her depression has changed since experiencing menopause.
Feb 13, 2020•56 min
Dr. Emily Oestreich is a physiology professor and Assistant Dean of preclinical education at PNWU. She discusses her personal experience with anxiety and panic attacks. She describes a specific instance of agoraphobia where she had a panic attack in a crowded area. She outlines the physiology surrounding anxiety, and how to mitigate against this with meditation. We discuss how meditation has also been shown to improve focus and stress management.
Jan 24, 2020•49 min
Dr. Kathaleen Briggs Early is an expert in nutrition, obesity, diabetes, and metabolism. She currently teaches at PNWU, and also is a trained yoga teacher. We discuss how using yoga can help improve mental and physical health. We also discuss how eating healthy has shown to reduce stress and anxiety.
Jan 12, 2020•52 min
After a grueling series of patient deaths, Dr. Brady found himself unable to bring himself to work. He felt loss, depressed, and over medicine. He found himself retreating to Buddhist Seminary for a month of meditation and focus. Dr. Brady outlines how this break from medicine allowed him to provide better care for his patients. However, some of his colleagues felt this break was a flaw in character. Dr. Brady touches on how he remained balanced in the midst of constant stress throughout his car...
Jan 02, 2020•46 min
Ben Greene trained to become a Catholic Priest starting in high school, and spent some time at the Vatican in Rome. Ben always knew he wanted to serve and improve the lives of others. While in his mission in Mexico, he found himself contemplating his commitment to Catholicism. He decided he needed to find a new path, leave Christianity, and eventually pursue medicine. Ben and I discuss how religion and spirituality both help and hurt mental health. We talk about how we can be better physicians b...
Dec 20, 2019•1 hr 13 min
Sexual harassment is more prevalent in science and medicine. Over time, more women have entered into these fields, but unfortunately, we cannot assume their experience and safety has completely improved. Three of my favorite medical school professors, Dr. Oestreich, Dr. Randolph-Habecker, and Dr. Mapes discuss their personal experiences and take on why academia is different than other industries. We talk about sexual harassment on our campus and how we're trying to improve our medical school's c...
Dec 09, 2019•1 hr 9 min
Dr. Mark Baldwin believes that doctors unionizing can help improve healthcare. Previously, hospital CEO were doctors, and now, most healthcare CEOs are business men and women with MBA degrees. Doctors often feel like a commodity in the healthcare system. We discuss how the healthcare system has changed throughout Dr. Baldwin's career. We discuss how politics are influencing changes in healthcare, and how doctors can help point this in the right direction.
Dec 04, 2019•42 min
I am interviewed about my most recent hypomanic episode in September 2019 by my friend, Chris. We discuss my transition into clinical medicine, and what symptoms I felt during my hypomanic episode. "Feeling energized and exhausted at the same time" is the best way I can describe this feeling. In the midst of creativity, joy, and inspirational, hypomania also makes me feel irrationally irritated and angered. I discuss how I've learned to expect and manage hypomania through exercise, sleep, stress...
Nov 25, 2019•39 min
Bipolar Barbie is mental health advocate who is incredibly open and honest about her experiences. She lives with Bipolar disorder, Borderline personality disorder, Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and other health challenges. She originally pursued law, and now focuses on a career that brings her more joy and satisfaction. She shows all her emotions publicly online and is willing to share it all. She runs an online coaching program from individuals looking to build their self esteem and ac...
Nov 19, 2019•52 min
Dr. Pamela Wible is a physician, who is passionate about reducing physician and medical student suicide. She has been personally motivated after losing multiple colleagues in her own town in Oregon. Dr. Wible and I discuss how the healthcare system treats doctors, and the injuries that result. Dr. Pamela Wible travels the world discussing this epidemic, and has also given a TED Talk. She even consulted on "Do No Harm," the documentary that was reviewed on the previous episode!
Nov 12, 2019•55 min
"Do No Harm" documentary shines a light on the epidemic of physicians and medical students that lose their life to suicide. Hannah, from episode 9, comes on to discuss our reactions and review to this movie. Sadly, as medical students, we weren't all that shocked by the movie. We talk about the worries we have for our future, and how we will avoid burnout in our life. We discuss ways we think the documentary could be improved, including how the healthcare system could change.
Oct 21, 2019•39 min
I answer questions I've received via Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. I talk about what to do when you are first diagnosed with mental illness. I dive into how to use exercise with medications, and how to be safe. I talk about how I disclosed my mental illness on my applications to medical school. I lastly talk about how to be weary when you trying to use supplements to improve your mental health, especially without the help of a trained provider.
Oct 11, 2019•20 min
Does skin tone impact mental health? I wish the answer to this question was an easy no, but it is much more complicated than that. My medical classmate and great friend Mehalate comes on to discuss her experience as a black women attending schools compiled of mostly white students nearly her entire life. Mehalate talks about her feelings of isolation, and the pressure she put on herself to succeed, and pave a way for other students of color. Mehalate is a third year medical student, with strong ...
Oct 01, 2019•54 min
Mark Donne is one of my closest friends, and extremely well versed in all aspects of technology. We discuss how social media affects communication, self worth, and mental health. We dive into how we use our cell phones, and what we've learned talking breaks from social media. We talk about how video games are often blamed for igniting violence. Lastly, we talk about positive and health ways that technology has helped improve our life. Mark was best man at my wedding, so we have always have a gre...
Aug 21, 2019•1 hr 7 min
Diane Mintz and I discuss how mental illness often gets the blame for mass shootings. Politicians seem to argue between gun control, improving mental healthcare, and violent video games. We both feel the route of mass murders are isolation, resentment and anger. We also talk about how drug use can impact psychosis and violence. Diane works as a mental health advocate, consultant and author in the Sacramento. Diane and I met about 6 years ago at the National Alliance of Mental Illness Walk, and j...
Aug 14, 2019•1 hr 16 min
Maycee, a great friend and PNWU classmate, discuss the wild, turbulent, depressing, grueling experience of our Level 1 Medical Boards. We explain why we decided to take both the USMLE (MD) and COMLEX (DO) exams. These tests are arguably the most important factor to match for residency, and that stress caused havoc on our lives. Maintaining a proper balance seemed impossible at times. Maycee and I talk about our successes and failures, and how to block out the distracting noise.
Aug 07, 2019•1 hr 25 min
And that's a wrap for season 1. Thank you so much for tuning in over the last 10 months. I have had an amazing time creating this podcast, and I look forward to producing more episodes in the future. At this time in my medical education, I need to solely focus on my board exam. As an osteopathic student, I am considering taking both the osteopathic and allopathic exams, but I still haven't made my final decision. While I am studying, please give me ideas on guests and topics you would like me to...
Apr 13, 2019•6 min
Alex is a 4th year medical student who successfully matched into an Anesthesia Residency in Chicago. However, it certainly wasn't smooth sailing. Alex matched in an advanced placement program, meaning he would join the other residents for his second year. Initially, Alex did not match into an intern year (first year) residency program. Alex describes the intense emotional experience of potentially losing his anesthesia residency. Alex talks about the wild ride of "scrambling" or going through SO...
Apr 03, 2019•1 hr 31 min
Dr. Albert Brady, Dr. Mark Baldwin, Nic Lalanne and myself have a fascinating conversation about physician assisted suicide and euthanasia. These physicians have extensive backgrounds in oncology and nephrology. Many of their patients have dealt with chronic, debilitating, and terminal medical conditions. Nic and I ask our professors their experiences with initiating physician assisted suicide. We discuss when we feel it is appropriate, and how to advocate on behalf of our future patients. These...
Mar 27, 2019•1 hr 49 min
Dr. Anthony Lyons is a professor at Pacific Northwest University, and an expert in neuroscience. We discuss what runner's high is, and many of its misconceptions. While many people think this "high" is from endorphins, Dr. Lyons explains how endocannabinoids also play an important role in this sensation from exercise. We discuss how to achieve a runner's high, and what researchers know and don't know how these endocannabinoid receptors relate to consuming cannabis (marijuana). Dr. Lyons received...
Mar 13, 2019•38 min
