In this episode, Dr Rui Ariyapala welcomes back Dr. Michael Baca-Atlas for another conversation. Dr. Baca-Atlas is originally from Baltimore, MD. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Maryland, College Park and medical school at University of Maryland in Baltimore. He completed his Family Medicine residency at UNC and an Addiction Medicine fellowship at UNC in the Department of Psychiatry. He serves as the Medical Director for UNC REACH Enhanced Primary Care and Associate Medical Director for the Tobacco Treatment Program. Dr. Baca-Atlas has a special interest in the intersection of physical and mental health and addiction. He also serves as a contributor for Primary Care RAP (Reviews and Perspectives), a medical education podcast.
For this third part, we discuss the subtle transitions from senior resident to fellowship and general career advice at this stage. Dr. Baca-Atlas then talks about the intricacies of being a newly minted attending, the news levels of responsibility tied to this level of care, and how to sustain a meaningful professional career once you have ‘made it’.
Be sure to check out part 1 (episode 65) which introduces Dr. Baca-Atlas' broader background and part 2 (episode 78) which focuses more on residency advice with respect to wellness.

In this episode, Dr Rui Ariyapala welcomes back Dr. Michael Baca-Atlas for another conversation. Dr. Baca-Atlas is originally from Baltimore, MD. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Maryland, College Park and medical school at University of Maryland in Baltimore. He completed his Family Medicine residency at UNC and an Addiction Medicine fellowship at UNC in the Department of Psychiatry. He serves as the Medical Director for UNC REACH Enhanced Primary Care and Associate Medical Director for the Tobacco Treatment Program. Dr. Baca-Atlas has a special interest in the intersection of physical and mental health and addiction. He also serves as a contributor for Primary Care RAP (Reviews and Perspectives), a medical education podcast.
For this second part, we explore deeper into the nuances of residency. Dr. Baca-Atlas articulates how to manage the expectations and clinical responsibilities as one transitions from medical student, to intern, to senior resident.
Be sure to check out part 1 - episode 65 - which introduces Dr. Baca-Atlas' background.

In this episode, Dr. Rui Ariyapala sits down with Dr. Kofi Opoku, a passionate physician and advocate for global health. Dr. Opoku earned his Bachelor of Science in Human Biology in 2013 and his medical degree in 2016 from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology School of Medicine and Dentistry. After nearly six years of practicing medicine in Ghana, primarily as a general practitioner, Dr. Opoku also served in Ghana's Ministry of Health, where he led initiatives to monitor and evaluate healthcare facilities, ensuring compliance with national standards.

Driven by his mission to improve healthcare access and quality in resource-limited settings, Dr. Opoku pursued an MPH in Global Health from UNC to deepen his impact through research and systemic improvements. As he prepares to begin his internal medicine residency in the United States in July 2024, Dr. Opoku shares his incredible journey, from navigating the challenges of being an International Medical Graduate (IMG) to working on the front lines during COVID-19 in Ghana.

In this insightful conversation, we explore:

• Public health perspectives gained from his work in Ghana.
• His strategies for matching into a U.S. residency program as an IMG.
• Practical tips for thriving during residency, including wellness strategies to maintain balance amidst rigorous demands.

Whether you're a medical student, an IMG, or simply interested in global health and wellness, Dr. Opoku’s story is both inspiring and informative. Tune in for a rich discussion on resilience, cross-cultural healthcare, and the pursuit of better standards in medicine worldwide.

In the third episode of our series on parenting during medical training, host Dr. Sara Helvey speaks with Dr. Araba Ofosu-Somuah, an interventional cardiologist, who shares her journey of becoming a parent during her cardiology fellowship.

Araba beings with her path to medicine was inspired by her grandmother's cardiologist, whose compassionate care left a lasting impression. Despite initially considering reproductive endocrinology, she found her passion in cardiology and eventually specialized in interventional cardiology. Araba became a mother during her third year of fellowship, navigating the challenges of pregnancy and parenthood while honing her skills in the Cath lab.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Ofosu-Somuah discusses the complexities of managing time and responsibilities as both a fellow and a parent. She emphasizes the importance of a strong support system, including her spouse, family, and colleagues, in helping her balance these roles. Dr. Ofosu-Somuah also shares insights on how her experiences as a parent have influenced her approach to patient care and the value of open communication and setting clear expectations.

Listeners will gain valuable advice on time management, stress relief, and the importance of community support for those considering starting a family during medical training. Dr. Ofosu-Somuah's story highlights the resilience and dedication required to succeed in both medicine and parenthood.

We continue our series on parenting during residency with a conversation between host, Dr. Sara Helvey, and Dr. James Frisbie, a urology resident at UNC. James shares his journey to urology and becoming a parent at the end of his intern year.

The two explore the challenges of managing time and responsibilities as both a resident and a parent with his wife, who is also in the medical field, emphasizing the importance of a strong support system in helping him navigate these dual roles. Dr. Frisbie also shares insights into how his experiences as a parent have influenced his approach to patient care and the value of teamwork both at home and in the hospital.

Listeners will gain valuable advice on time management, stress relief, and the importance of community support for those considering starting a family during residency. Like so many others, Dr. Frisbie's story is a testament to the resilience and dedication required to balance these demanding roles.

This episode launches a new series of conversations with physicians who have navigated the rigors of residency or fellowship training while also balancing parenthood. In this inaugural episode, host, Dr. Sara Helvey speaks with Dr. Hagar Elgendy, a resident in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program at UNC.

Dr. Elgendy had an illustrious career as a swimmer, earning 7 National Championship Titles, a National Record, and finishing second in the Olympic Trials in 2012. She went on to receive her master’s degree in Neuroscience at Tulane University and completed her medical training at the University of Cincinnati, where she founded the university’s first family leave policy.

Dr. Elgendy has had to balance the arrival of several children during her education and training, raising them her husband, Cedric Peerman, a former professional football player with the Cincinnati Bengals. In this episode, Dr. Elgendy shares the challenges she faced becoming a parent during her medical training and how she managed her time commitments to both roles. She discusses her biggest challenges and most valued accomplishments, how parenting has influenced her medical practice, and vice versa. Lastly, she offers advice to those in similar situations and to those considering when to expand their families.

In this episode, host Dr. Robert Rowe welcomes back Dr. Karen Bluth, a leading expert in mindfulness and self-compassion at UNC, for a follow-up conversation two years in the making. Robert recaps their first conversation from Episode 4 (1:42) and Dr. Bluth discusses exciting updates on her research with healthcare professionals, including the transformative impact of self-compassion training on surgical residents facing burnout and the expansion to other training programs (03:14).

Dr. Bluth then explains "Embracing Your Life," a tailored self-compassion course for young adults navigating major life transitions (13:56). She shares exciting updates on the global expansion of self-compassion programs, including upcoming studies in China (18:40). For listeners interested in diving deeper, Dr. Bluth outlines ways to get involved in self-compassion training and highlights key resources (23:24).

The conversation also covers Dr. Bluth's recent publications, including her book on bringing self-compassion into schools, and an upcoming manual for young adults (26:22). As she prepares for retirement from UNC, Dr. Bluth reflects on her impactful career and what’s next for her (27:25). Finally, she shares a touching moment about what brings her joy (31:14).

Join us for this engaging discussion filled with practical strategies for cultivating kindness towards yourself and thriving in high-pressure environments. Perfect for medical trainees, educators, and anyone on a journey of self-growth.

Resources:

karenbluth.com

self-compassion.org

In this episode, Dr. Rui Ariyapala sits down with Dr. Adam Brown, a practicing emergency physician, founder of ABIG Health, and Chief Medical Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at Radiant Healthcare. Dr. Brown brings a wealth of experience, having climbed the ranks at Envision Healthcare, where he served as national President of Emergency Medicine and later as Chief Impact Officer, leading the company’s COVID-19 response.

As a respected LinkedIn Top Voice on U.S. healthcare issues, Dr. Brown is also the author of Prescriptions for a Broken System on MedPage Today. His contributions as a professor at UNC's Kenan-Flagler School of Business make him a beloved member of the Tar Heel community, and he is also a visiting professor at ESCP School of Business in London and Paris.

Join us as Dr. Brown delves into the value of mentorship during residency, discussing how positive guidance should "correct and protect" residents. Dr. Brown is a huge advocate for mental wellbeing and provides great resources for our listeners. He explores the importance of understanding one's worth when negotiating attending salaries and introduces the concept of optimizing your Life Portfolio. Dr. Brown puts on his Business Professor Hat, breaking down how physicians and residents fit into the broader business ecosystem of healthcare. This conversation is packed with practical advice for healthcare professionals navigating both clinical and business aspects of healthcare.