Checking the Vitals: Recent Episodes
SpecialtyCare
The heartbeat of healthcare is strong and ever-changing and we look forward to bringing you both the latest trends and the personal stories of those whose lives have been touched by healthcare professionals.
Joining me today is Dr. Quraishi, a pediatric intensivist and ECMO advocate. In this episode, we discuss how he began his medical schooling at 16 in Mumbai, India, his transition to America to continue medical training, and how ECMO is changing and will continue to change healthcare.
Joining me today is Dr. Quraishi, a pediatric intensivist and ECMO advocate. In this episode, we discuss how he began his medical schooling at 16 in Mumbai, India, his transition to America to continue medical training, and how ECMO is changing and will continue to change healthcare.
Joining me today is Dr. Choll Kim, a Harvard Medical School graduate who completed his residency at UCSD Medical Center and a complex spine fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. He is currently in private practice in San Diego, CA, where he specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery. In this episode, we discuss a number of topics including what made him leave the world of research and pursue a career as a surgeon, how the field of minimally invasive spine surgery has changed over the 20 years he has been practicing, and how future technology, like augmented reality, will change the surgical landscape.
Joining me today is Dr. Choll Kim, a Harvard Medical School graduate who completed his residency at UCSD Medical Center and a complex spine fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. He is currently in private practice in San Diego, CA, where he specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery. In this episode, we discuss a number of topics including what made him leave the world of research and pursue a career as a surgeon, how the field of minimally invasive spine surgery has changed over the 20 years he has been practicing, and how future technology, like augmented reality, will change the surgical landscape.
Joining me today is Dr. Alan Daniels, chief of spine surgery at brown university and University Orthopedics. In this episode, we discuss how Dr. Daniels found his way to both healthcare and to his surgical specialty. We also discuss how he handles training his residents and his theory on how a patient should seek out the best surgeon for their needs.
Joining me today is Dr. Thomas Gruber. Board-certified neurosurgeon in Paducah Kentucky at Baptist Health. In this episode we discuss. How the democratization of technologies is making patient care better, and how his passion for helping patients with glioblastoma‘s has led him to write a patient’s guide for the illness.
I’m Todd Schlosser and joining me today is Dr. Charles Levy, MBA, neurological surgeon and CEO of Affordable Healthcare Solutions. In this conversation, we discuss his transition from soldier to doctor. We also take a look at how a mentor’s faith in his abilities changed his medical career and how new technologies can be used in healthcare to reduce overall costs.
Joining me today is Dr. Leon Eydelman, an Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care Unit Physician. In this conversation, we discuss why he decided to focus on emergency medicine. We also take a look at his focus on ECMO and his experiences with setting up ECMO programs. Enjoy the conversation.
In this episode, we examine what has led to the current blood crisis in America and how this issue is impacting hospitals, healthcare workers, and patients. We also discuss how we can all work together to overcome this crisis. Enjoy the conversation.
Joining me today is Greg Mork, Director of Clinical Perfusion at Rush University Medical Center. In this conversation, we discuss how he “backed into” his job as a perfusionist, how the training for perfusionists has changed over the years, and he shares an incredible story that left both of us in tears.
Joining me today is Ed DeLaney, the Director of Perfusion at Northwell Health, and Dr. Derek Brinster, a cardiovascular thoracic surgeon and Director of Aortic Surgery at Northwell Health. In this conversation, we discuss how perfusionists and surgeons work together to provide excellent patient care during heart surgery. We also examine how vital communication is in the operating room, how innovations happen, and how they are then shared with other surgery teams.
Joining me today is Dr. Ziad Hage from Novant Health in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Hage is a board-certified skull-based neurosurgeon specializing in cerebrovascular and endovascular approaches. In this episode, we talk about how his family inspired him to enter the healthcare space, what exactly led him to the surgical space, his transition from Lebanon to the United States after medical school, and how a conversation with a friend made him change his surgical focus from plastics to neurosurgery.
Joining me today is Artem Zhosan. In this episode, we discuss how he transitioned from being a perfusionist in Ukraine to becoming an RN and ECMO Specialist in the United States. We also discuss what his day-to-day is like as an ECMO specialist, who exactly he works with everyday, and what he loves about his job.
Today we are talking to Tina, Kristen, and Jeff from Fairfield Medical Center’s sterile processing department. In this episode, we discuss the interesting realm of SPD. We highlight what they handle on a daily basis, sterile processing’s impact on patients, and the subsequent achievement of surgeon satisfaction.
In this episode, we take a deep dive into the realm of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). ECMO has become a very common support for COVID-19 patients, and Michael and I explore the reasoning behind that option. We discuss how ECMO should be administered, how doctors determine when to put patients on ECMO, and how it is impacting COVID-19 outcomes.
In this episode we discuss how an early experience in a hospital led him to want to practice medicine, how reading a book about neurosurgery helped him decided that was the speciality for him and how his rural hospitals lack of navigation systems lead him to creating his own utilizing the computing power of his iPhone
Joining me today is Kristian Young (title) at SpecialtyCare. In this episode, we discuss how her path in medical school led her to a career in intraoperative neuromonitoring, how she developed a passion for guiding new IONM clinicians, and how she does that in her role at SpecialtyCare. We also examine what a new hire in SpecialtyCare’s IONM program can expect out that experience.
Joining me today is Sam Weinstein, MD, MBA, CEO of SpecialtyCare. In this episode, we discuss the SpecialtyCare Medical Mission trip endowment, how the endowment is helping perfusionists participate in medical missions, and how Dr. Weinstein’s life and career have been impacted by his participation in similar trips. Enjoy the conversation.
Joining me today are Aaron, Irene, and Owen, surgical neurophysiologists that are currently in the Intraoperative Neuromonitoring New Hire program at SpecialtyCare. In this episode, we discuss their individual motivations to enter the IONM field, what they were doing before IONM, and how they are handling the intensive training program at SpecialtyCare. Enjoy the conversation.
Today, Al and I discuss his path to perfusion. We examine how his career in perfusion research began, how it has changed over the years, and how it led him to winning the John H. Gibbon Jr. award. This prestigious award honors a candidate for making a significant contribution to the cardiopulmonary discipline interrelating with the field of extracorporeal circulation. Enjoy the conversation.
Today, Ray and I discuss the motivation behind his journey to become a neurosurgeon. We also examine why exactly someone might seek out his medical speciality and how his field is innovatively prioritizing patient care.
Today Quincy and I discuss The New School of Perfusion that will soon be opening its doors at Lipscomb university. In doing so we talk about what goes into opening a school of perfusion, how Lipscomb came to the decision to open such a school, And how a partnership with SpecialtyCare was vital in helping make that decision
Joining me today is Dr. Jonathan Rasouli, a Spinal Neurosurgeon at the Cleveland Clinic. In this conversation we discuss what it was that made him shift his collegiate path from engineer to Surgeon. We also discuss why he choose to focus on neurosurgery, how drastically the field of neurosurgery has changed in the 13 years since he started med school, and how he uses social media in a professionally responsible way to engage other thought leaders in his surgical space.
Joining me today is Dr. Stephen Griffith, a board certified neurosurgeon
In this conversation, Dr. Griffith and I discuss how he achieved his childhood goal of become a doctor. We also discuss how he developed an interest movement disorders and how he goes about treating those disorders to great success. We also discuss his approach to dealing with physician burnout
Today my guests are Jodi Jason and Rikta, who were all surgical neurophysiologists at SpecialtyCare. In this episode, we discuss why they chose to go into intraoperative neuromonitoring as a career, how they found out about, and then subsequently joined the SpecialtyCare IONM training process, as well as how that training went and what they've done since graduated. Enjoy the conversation.
In this conversation, Nathan and I focus on how he decided to break the family tradition and become a surgeon rather than becoming a farmer. We also discuss what it was that drew him to neurosurgery as a specialty, reasons patients might come see him, and techniques he uses to deliver high quality patient outcomes. Enjoy the conversation.
Joining us today is Kurt Strudwick, a clinical educator for ECMO services at Specialty Care. In today's episode we talked to Kurt about how a family tragedy in his youth led him to have a passion for working in healthcare, how we started working in extra corporeal membrane oxygenation which is what ECMO stands for, and how he has taken his vast experience at ECMO to help hospitals across America start their own ECMO programs. Enjoy the conversation.
Today my guest is Dr. Jeffrey Allen, a bariatric and general surgeon at Norton Healthcare. In this conversation, Dr. Allen and I discuss what drove him to a career in healthcare and the mentors that help shaped his surgical and aviation interests. I think you will really enjoy the section where we discuss how minimally invasive surgical techniques are really improving patient outcomes.
In this conversation, Cris and I discuss what made him pursue a career in Perfusion, where that career has lead him, and how he perceptions about 3rd party healthcare companies have changed over the years. Enjoy the conversation.
In this conversation, Steven and I discuss how a great mentorship led him to a career in neurosurgery. We also discuss how pediatrics has its own specific challenges, both on the operating room table and in communicating with the patient.
In our next Heart of the Operation series episode, we talk with TJ Ricklefs, an Area Clinical Manager on SpecialtyCare’s Appleton, Wisconsin perfusion team. We discuss what led him to pursue a career in perfusion, how the perfusion job market has changed since the late ‘90s, and how having perfusionists involved in the hospital's heart program initiatives leads to improved patient outcomes.
In our third episode of the Heart of the Operation series, we talk with Ryan Curtis an Area Clinical Manager for perfusion at SpecialtyCare. We discuss what made him decide to switch careers from a funeral director to perfusion. We also discuss the positives and negatives of attending a 12-month profusion program, and the differences between working for an in-house program or a third party program.
In the second episode of our Heart of the Operation series, we talk to Kirti Patel, National Clinical Specialist, and Area Clinical Manager for perfusion at SpecialtyCare. We discuss the history of perfusion schooling from its early beginnings in the 1960s through today. We also explore what lead to a lot of perfusion schools shutting down and how Kirti started a perfusion school to help reverse that trend.
In the first episode of our new “Heart of the Operation” series, we are covering the history of perfusion with none other than Tom Coley, President of Perfusion and ECMO services at SpecialtyCare. Many are not aware of perfusion’s unique history and Tom talks us through the first-use of perfusion in the 1950s and ends with how it’s used today. Enjoy the conversation.
On this episode, we talk to a cohort of intraoperative neuromonitoring new-hires. We discussed what led them to the field, what the interview process entailed, and how the formal training that SpecialtyCare provides surpasses others in the industry.
In this conversation, Dr. Lanford and I discuss his career path to becoming a neurosurgeon and how he incorporates an entrepreneurial spirit into his medical practice. We also discuss the factors that led him to be an early adopter of new technologies.
In our conversation, Dr. Lima and I discuss what led him to a career in healthcare, specifically heart transplantation surgery and how future plans include him authoring his own book. I think you'll find the part of the conversation about engaging a heart failure specialist early on in the heart disease process very eye opening, I know I did.
Today my guest is Dr. Mark Li, the Chief of Neurosurgery at Lehigh Valley Health Network. In this conversation, Dr. Li and I discuss how imaging has changed the way we look at and treat issues with the brain. I think you’ll particularly enjoy our discussion about the three different medical innovations that have revolutionized neurosurgery.
In this conversation, Eric and I discuss the importance of and process of data collection at SpecialtyCare and how this information is analyzed and converted into peer-reviewed research papers
Today our guest is Dr. Zain Khalpey, the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Northwest Medical Center. In this conversation, we discuss why he gave up being a pilot to pursue medicine after his family experienced a medical emergency, how he developed ways of remodeling a damaged heart, and how he is using artificial intelligence (AI) to find new ways of preventing someone from having a heart attack.
In our conversation Dr. Feyma and I discuss how he decided to focus on Neurology, what led to his interest treating complex pediatric issues, And we discuss the great community of families that has developed around Gillette Children’s hospital
Today our guest is Dr. Richard Chua, a neurosurgeon in Tucson, Arizona. In this conversation, we discuss how he bounced back after the director of the medical school admissions committee encouraged him to seek out another career, why he chose to focus on neurology, and how the past 20 years of surgical innovations have changed the way he practices medicine.
Today our guest is Dr. Michael Firstenberg, Chief of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at The Medical Center of Aurora in Colorado. In this conversation, we discuss how spending a gap year working at the Cleveland Clinic helped him decide to focus on cardiac surgery as a specialty, how research from early in his career laid the ground work for some incredible innovations, and how COVID-19 will impact healthcare innovations moving forward.
Today our guest is Mike Sheridan, COO of Comparably. In this conversation we discuss how healthcare recruiting has been impacted by COVID-19, why messaging is so important in the recruiting process, and how Comparably works with healthcare companies to present an authentic message that resonates with potential employees.
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For more information visit: https://checkingthevitals.com/
Today our guest is Dr. Barolat, the Director of Barolat Neuroscience located in Denver, Colorado. In this conversation we discuss how he developed an interest in neurosurgery, why he chose to leave Italy to come practice in America, and what he is doing to help patients with chronic pain that do not respond to traditional means.
If you enjoy the podcast please leave a rating and review.
For more information visit: https://checkingthevitals.com/
Today our guest is Charles Clarke an entrepreneurial perfusionist in Ventura, California. In this conversation, we discuss why he changed careers from respiratory therapy to perfusion, how he turned that career into a business, and how his perception of SpecialtyCare changed as they partnered with his perfusion company.
If you enjoy the podcast please leave a rating and review.
For more information visit: https://checkingthevitals.com/
Today our guest is Dr. Poelstra an Orthopaedic and Neurological Spine surgeon at OrthoNorCal. In this conversation we discuss how an early interest in mechanics lead to a life time of improving and advancing new technologies for orthopedic surgery, how he and others are working to improve robotic surgery, and what future innovation will be coming to orthopedic surgery in the future. Enjoy the conversation.
Today, on another special COVID-19 episode, our guest is Tysharra Belfon, a PICC nurse on SpecialtyCare’s Surgical Services team. In this episode, we discuss the role of a PICC nurse, how COVID-19 impacts this specialty, and what precautions are being taken at her hospital to keep front-line workers safe.
if you enjoy the podcast please leave a rating and review.
For more information visit: https://checkingthevitals.com/
Today our guest is Dr. Andrea Schwoerer who is a bariatric surgery specialist in Bridgeton, MO. In this conversation we discuss how working in a lab in college helped her decide to practice medicine. She also shares why she chose to focus on minimally invasive surgeries, and how robotic technology is changing the way these surgeries are done.
Today our guest is Dr. Paonessa, an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at Orthopedic Partners in Connecticut. In this conversation, we discuss how a meeting with some of his high school mentors led him to enroll in medical school, how orthopedic surgery has changed over the course of his 30-year career, and we also discuss the mission work that he is doing in Africa, Jamaica and the Philippines. Enjoy the conversation
In this episode, we talk to Gregg Agoston and Marcy Konja, two experts in the field of sterile processing. We discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Sterile Processing Departments in hospitals around the country and how some can start preparing for the influx of elective surgeries as the shelter-in-place orders begin to ease up. Enjoy the conversation.
Today our guest is Dr. Raj Raab, a board-certified neurosurgeon at the Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine, and Orthopedics. In this conversation we discuss his path to neurosurgery, how the changing healthcare landscape led to him creating the Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine, and Orthopedics, and what he sees as the future of health insurance and why it is vital that that system fundamentally change.
Today our guest is Dr. Jeeten Singha, an orthopedic surgeon at Connecticut Orthopaedic. In this conversation, we discuss why he chose to go into orthopedic surgery, what the benefits are for working for and seeking treatment at a private practice, and what advice he gives potential medical students that shadow him at his practice.
In this episode, we talk to Denise Wetsch, Keaira Howard, and Arizbe Sanchez, clinical technicians in our Minimally Invasive Surgical Support service line, who purchased one-way tickets to Everett, Washington. We discuss why they made the decision stay and assist throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, how they are staying connected to their loved ones during this time, and how the community is helping support their clinicians. Enjoy the conversation.
Today our guest is Dr. Peter Wagner, an orthopedic surgeon at Orthopedic Partners in Niantic, CT. In this conversation, we discuss why he chose to go into orthopedic surgery, what the residency process is really like, and how that process and the graduated autonomy it provides helped him prepare for orthopedic surgery.
Today my guest is Dr.Khaled, a neurosurgeon at Hartford HealthCare. In this conversation, we discuss his path to becoming a doctor that literally took him around the globe. We also discuss deep brain stimulation, exactly how it works, and some of the amazing innovations that are coming to that space. Enjoy the conversation.
Today our guest is Peter Illig, the CEO and general counsel for NCCAP, the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals. In this episode, we discuss how the COVID-19 outbreak is impacting the aging population, the importance of activity and engagement in that aging population, and how the activity directors in these in-home facilities are using some ingenious ways of still interacting with their aging residents all to protect that population that seems to be most susceptible to this COVID-19 crisis.
Today our guest is Dr. Reznick, an amazing orthopedic surgeon out of the Orthopedic Group in Connecticut. In this conversation we touch on his strange path to orthopedic surgery, how approaching situations with an inventor's mind led to his many patents for medical devices and both the different types of AI and how it is changing the industry
Today, our guest is Kirti Patel, the National Clinical Specialist for Perfusion at SpecialtyCare. In this episode, we discuss how the COVID-19 outbreak is impacting the Houston area, where Kirti is located. We also discuss in detail, what ECMO is, why a patient might need to be placed on ECMO, and how it is the last line of defense in someone's fight against COVID-19. We also discuss some uplifting things that are happening in the Houston community to help these front line employees at the hospitals feel supported as they fight this COVID-19 outbreak.
In this special episode, we focus on the COVID-19 outbreak that is currently happening in the United States and around the world. We speak to Courtney Petersen, a clinical manager for perfusion at SpecialtyCare. She shares with us what is going on, on the front lines at the hospitals in Denver where she is located, and some of the challenges that frontline clinicians face day to day with this new COVID-19 reality.
I feel very lucky to have caught up with Gregg at a convention recently so that we could discuss the silent epidemic that is currently taking place at hospitals across America. What exactly is causing those issues and what can be done to resolve them? I think you'll also be very interested to hear what he has to say about the rate of surgical site infections and how a sterile processing department, when utilized correctly, can really mitigate those issues.
Today my guest is Bharat Datt, Director of Perfusion at Children’s Hospital of New Orleans. In this conversation, we discuss the beginning of his perfusion career in India, his transition to North America, and his passion for continued learning. I think you’ll be very interested to hear what he has to say about bloodless perfusion and his goal of using the technique in pediatric cases. Enjoy the conversation.
Today my guest is Dr. Vladimir Sinkov, an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon in Las Vegas, Nevada. In this conversation, we discuss how he followed in the footsteps of his parents, who were both internal medicine doctors, and why he ventured into orthopedic surgery. We also discuss the evolution and future of spine surgery. Enjoy the conversation.
Learn more about the show and the people that make it at: https://checkingthevitals.com/
Today my guest is Dr Yuan, an orthopedic Spine Specialist at Memorial Orthopedic. In this conversation, we discuss why he chose to pursue a career in medicine, why he decided to focus on Spine Surgery, and how robotics are innovating the minimally invasive surgical space. Enjoy the conversation.
Learn more about the show and the people that make it at: https://checkingthevitals.com/
Today my guest is Dr. Laudito, the Medical Director of The Heart Institute at Palmetto General Hospital. In this conversation, we discuss why he chose to pursue a career in Cardiothoracic Surgery. We also really dive deep into the double mammary heart bypass surgery technique, both what is it and it’s benefits for younger bypass patients. Enjoy the conversation
Learn more about the show and the people that make it at: https://checkingthevitals.com/
Today my guest is Dr Saphier, a neurosurgeon at Atlanta NeuroSurgical Specialists. In this conversation, we discuss why he chose to pursue a career in neurosurgery and how quickly the field has been innovating over the past 5 years. We also talk about techniques that soon could be providing options to stroke victims and their families like mine. Enjoy the conversation.
Learn more about the show and the people that make it at: https://checkingthevitals.com/
In this podcast we will dive deep into the healthcare space, from the people that dedicate their lives to patient care to the companies improving patient outcomes through innovation. From well-respected surgeons and thought leaders to those on the front lines of healthcare, we’ll bring you conversations with those making a difference both in the OR and beyond. Through in-depth interviews with nurses, sterile processing technicians, clinical managers, and even healthcare technology companies and startups, we’ll discuss what’s on the horizon in the industry in regards to careers, technology, and innovation. The heartbeat of healthcare is strong and ever-changing and we look forward to bringing you both the latest trends and the personal stories of those whose lives have been touched by healthcare professionals.
Learn more about the show and the people that make it at: https://checkingthevitals.com/