Category: Humanism & Physicianhood

Have a Heart

You can hear a clip from this episode on our BEST OF SEASON ONE file, available as a free podcast download on iTunes.

In this episode, we were joined by Dr. Franklin Handel (left), a cardiologist in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Handel discussed the changes he has seen in the field of cardiology during his 26 years of practice, while also offering insight regarding the future of the specialty. Dr. Handel also discussed the importance of humanism in medicine and shared stories from his own experiences caring for patients.

While live on the air, we learned that Dr. Handel was once the President of his medical school class, as a medical student at the University of Pennsylvania. This was especially fitting because of our second guest for this episode, TJ Hufford — the President of the first year class at the Boonshoft School of Medicine. TJ discussed medical student involvement in the community and shared experiences that highlight the importance of medical students “having a heart.”

In addition, we featured the musical talents of Steve Zitelli and Matt Hensel, third year students who recently won the School of Medicine’s annual talent show. Here is the Youtube clip of Steve’s and Matt’s winning performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4PL9yop9xQ

Women in Medicine

You can hear a clip from this episode on our BEST OF SEASON ONE file, available as a free podcast download on iTunes.

Thanks to the AMWA (American Medical Women’s Association) chapter at the Boonshoft School of Medicine, the Radio Rounds team hosted a Mother’s Day lunch event in the WWSU radio station!

Dr. Amy Reed is a vascular surgeon at the University of Cincinnati — one of less than 200 female vascular surgeons in the United States. She spoke to us about her decision to become a surgeon, her experience during her training, and her ability to balance her family with a demanding professional career. We were also joined by Dr. Sheela Barhan, an OB/GYN in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Barhan is also the Director of the Boonshoft School of Medicine’s “Women in Medicine” elective course, and she spoke to us about the benefits of that course.

Our other guests on this episode included Joanna Hurrell (accompanied by her mother; second year student and President of AMWA at Wright State), Michelle Kline and Nicole Majoras (first year students who took the aforementioned “Women in Medicine” elective course this year), and Laura Previll (a second year student who joined us on air and read a moving poem dedicated to her mother).

The Human Journalist

The free podcast of this episode is available on our iTunes page!

This episode features an interview with Dr. Elissa Ely (left) — a psychiatrist in Boston, MA and an accomplished journalist, contributing regular Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times and The Boston Globe. As she mentions when asked about medical journalism, she considers herself not necessarily to be a medical journalist but to be a “human journalist.”

Dr. Ely talks about the human interactions that can be so fleeting yet profound; these are interactions that underlie not just medicine but everyday life. She also discusses the concept of “caring too much” for a patient, as well as the options for physicians who themselves deal with psychiatric issues on their own.

You’re a Logical Doc

The free podcast of this episode is available on our iTunes page!

This episode features an interview with Dr. Dan Miller, a urologist in Dayton, Ohio (now… think about the episode title) and Clinical Professor for the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. Dr. Miller speaks with the ‘Rounds’ hosts about the high level of professional and personal satisfaction that he gains in the field of urology — a specialty that has become highly sought after by medical students for its lifestyle. Dr. Miller also discusses a unique aspect of urology — that, despite being a surgical specialty, it remains one that has a great amount of patient contact and one that can allow a physician to help patients in a short amount of time. As Dr. Miller says, he’s a “fix-it guy.” We also enjoy a discussion about Dr. Miller’s other interests — which ranged from running marathons to dressing up as a mummy on Halloween!

During this episode, we also recap our recent weekend in Chicago, where the Radio Rounds crew attended the American Medical Students Association (AMSA) Regional Conference. Hosts Avash Kalra, Lakshman Swamy, and Shamie Das interviewed Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky for a live-audience show at the conference.

Blue Collar, Cold Steel

The free podcast of this episode is available on our iTunes page!

In this episode, the Radio Rounds team speaks with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Collins, author of and Hot Lights, Cold Steel and Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs.

This episode was also Part II of our three-week “Experience of Residency” series that we aired in October, 2009. In Part I (Episode 210), we spoke with Dr. Sandeep Jauhar, author of Intern: A Doctor’s Initiation. The series concludes with Episode 212, featuring renowned author Samuel Shem (The House of God).

In this interview with Dr. Collins in Part II, we discuss his intriguing path to medicine — which included working as a construction worker and cab driver before deciding to go to medical school. Upon graduating and entering residency, Dr. Collins found himself thrown under the hot lights… on the cold steel of the operating room. And of course his intern year is the subject of Hot Lights, Cold Steel.

The humor and emotion of the book certainly come through in this conversation with Dr. Collins, and we encourage you to listen if you get the chance. This episode also features one of the more light-hearted moments in Radio Rounds history, as Dr. Collins discusses his favorite beers.

Hope with Honesty

The free podcast of this episode is available on our iTunes page!

In this episode, the Radio Rounds team is joined by Dr. Paula M. Termuhlen (left), the Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Director of the General Surgery Residency Program at the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine (BSOM).

Dr. Termuhlen speaks about the difficulties and rewards of treating cancer patients, noting that a physician must convey to the patient and their family a balance of “hope with honesty” — hence the title of the episode. She also shares her personal reasons for being so invested in the field of surgical oncology. In addition, Dr. Termuhlen discusses topics such as resident work hours, academic dishonesty, and the process of selecting fourth year medical students to enter a surgical residency — a process she undertakes each year as Residency Director.

An additional highlight of this episode is a brief conversation about co-host Lakshman Swamy’s recent skydiving appearance!

Cutting to the Heart of the Matter

The free podcast of this episode is available on our iTunes page!

Featured in this episode is Dr. Anthony Acinapura (left), a seasoned cardiothoracic surgeon in New York City. Dr. Acinapura has made an impact in both New York and nationally, lowering mortality rates on a national basis by helping to create a cardiothoracic database for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons still used today.

Having practiced for 47 years — going on 48 — Dr. Acinapura talks with the Radio Rounds team about the immense changes that he has seen in cardiovascular medicine and surgery during the last half-century. As one might expect, that change has been dramatic.

And Dr. Acinapura has had a front row seat.

The Healer’s Art

You can hear a clip from this episode on our BEST OF SEASON ONE file, available as a free podcast download on iTunes.

This week, we had an inspiring and heartwarming discussion with internationally renowned physician Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, the author of the New York Times bestseller Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories That Heal. Dr. Remen joined us via telephone and spoke for almost an hour on the role of the physician as a healer, and she discussed the great power of humanity that lies at the heart of medicine. Dr. Remen is the founder of the Healer’s Art course program that is used by medical schools all over the world, and as we heard on Sunday, she is a master storyteller.

In the second half of the show, we opened things up for a roundtable discussion. With Dr. Remen still on the line, we were also joined by two additional guests in the studio. First, we spoke to Dr. Evangeline Andarsio, who is an OB/GYN in Dayton, Ohio and a Clinical Professor at the Boonshoft School of Medicine (BSOM). She is also the co-director of BSOM’s Healer’s Art Program. Finally, we were joined by Dr. Dean Parmelee, a Child Psychiatrist and Dean of Academic Affairs at BSOM, who has helped implement the Healer’s Art program at BSOM in addition to other innovative educational opportunities.