Both Sides of the Stethoscope

In this episode we talk all things traveling with Travels With Transplant. She is a pilot and kidney transplant recipient who spends her time flying all over the world. Travels With Transplant gives us great insight into what to worry about when traveling, some tips and tricks, and a little insider information about the flying industry. This is a really great interview that we really enjoyed so we hope you enjoy it too! 

In this episode Alin and Colby discuss how having an organ transplant and chronic illness can have a significant impact on your mental health. May is mental health awareness month so this seemed like an excellent time to dive into this subject. Colby and Alin both share their personal experience with anxiety and depression surrounding their illness. 



References:
https://journals.lww.com/transplantjournal/fulltext/2013/10150/Mental_Health_Disorders_and_Solid_Organ_Transplant.3.aspx

https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/pn.46.15.psychnews_46_15_10_1

In this episode Alin and Colby talk to Dr. Sejal Patel. Sejal is a pancreas and two time kidney transplant recipient. Sejal discusses going through multiple transplants, being on dialysis, and how this changed her career path. Additionally we discuss the pre exposure prophylaxis treatment for Covid 19 named Evusheld. Evusheld is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies that both Sejal and Alin have received. 


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In this episode Alin and Colby become the Mythbusters! They take us through some of the most common myths about organ donation and discuss why they are in fact just myths and not true. April is National Donate Life month so they want to shed light on the importance of organ donation and bust these organ donation myths that may cause people to not sign up to be donors! 

Become a podcaster yourself: https://alitu.com?fp_ref=bothsides

In this episode Alin and Colby discuss all things nutrition for the post transplant and immunocompromised patient. They interview Madeleine Hallum who is a registered dietician who specializes in heart transplant patients. Topics covered include foods to avoid, food cleaning habits, balancing electrolytes and much much more. 

In this episode Alin and Colby answer some of the most frequently asked questions after transplant. They tackle topics including Alcohol and Marijuana use after transplant, willingness to accept a heart from a high risk donor, and post transplant dietary changes. 

In this episode Alin and Colby talk about their personal genetic histories and how they came to understand they had genetic heart diseases. They open up about how this affected their mindset into having a family and decisions they had to make when it came to how to not pass along these genetic diseases. It is a very open and honest discussion we hope you enjoy. At the end of the episode they answer a listeners question about risk of skin cancer in the immunocompromised population. 

In this episode Alin and Colby return from an unexpected long time off to kick off season two of both sides of the stethoscope. They discuss how they have been managing the current Covid surge.  Alin reflects on being 3 years post transplant and discusses some of the hurdles she has had to overcome along the way. We learn about Alin dealing with AVN and  pulmonary emboli. We also answer listener questions about Covid 19 and about nerve connections to a transplanted heart. 

In this episode, the first of our Thanksgiving series, Colby speaks with Stephanie Tomaino MSN, CCRN. With Thanksgiving coming up we wanted to focus on some things Colby and Alin are thankful for. One of those things is nurses. Stephanie is not only a critical care nurse but she was Colby's nurse for the 6 month period he was in the hospital and now he is one of her good friends. They discuss how they met, how Steph went above and beyond in her duties as his nurse and much, much more. Lastly they discuss Steph's hero dad who was an organ/tissue donor that improved many lives at the time of his death. 

In this episode Alin and Colby interview Dr. Steve Pergam. Steve is a kidney transplant recipient and an infectious disease expert. Steve is an Infection control researcher and clinician based out of Seattle Washington. Steve gives in depth answers about what led to his kidney transplant, what it is like working in infection disease being immunocompromised, and gives invaluable information about the Covid !9 pandemic. Steve also sticks around at the end to answer a listeners question.

In this episode Alin and Colby interview Dr. Ken Sutha, a pediatric transplant nephrologist and 2 time kidney transplant recipient. Ken tells his story of what led to him needing two kidney transplants, why he decided to get into medicine, and gives amazing insight into being a transplant patient and physician. Ken also explains a special movement he is behind which focuses on doctors with disabilities and how we need to change the culture of medicine to be more inclusive of these medical professionals. 

In this episode Colby and Alin discuss trying to balance a hectic work schedule with taking medications, going to appointments, and finding time for themselves. They get into detail about dealing with pill burden, how they try and fit their own doctor appointments in and adjustments they have made since transplant. They also discuss how this has changed how they are as physicians and how they discuss things with their patients and deal with patient noncompliance. 

In this episode Colby and Alin give their opinions on all things Covid 19. They discuss working throughout the pandemic as immunocompromised physicians, how they made the decision to get the Covid 19 vaccine, and also do a little teaching about why this vaccine is so important. 

In this episode Colby and Alin trade places and Colby interviews Alin about what led her to become a physician. Alin also explains how she found herself facing the need of heart transplant and how her life has changed since then.

Welcome to our new podcast Both Sides of the Stethoscope! This is a brief trailer of our purpose of the podcast and what we are hoping to accomplish. We hope you will join us on this new adventure!