See, Hear, Feel

I love to talk to people who are honest and confident in their honesty! Dr. Richard Carr is an internationally known expert in dermatopathology and pathology, and he speaks honestly about emotional intelligence as a muscle, recognizing our own weaknesses, and tailoring emotional intelligence to the individual. Being hypercritical can be a strength in that you think deeply about things, and it is worth hearing how he deals with hypercritical thoughts. Dr. Richard Carr trained in dermatopathology with Dr. Phillip H. McKee and Dr. Eduardo Calonje at St Thomas’ hospital and the St John’s Institute of Dermatology. He received the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) Diploma in Dermatopathology (set at expert referral level) and consults on cases throughout the United Kingdom. After being educated in Sheffield which is north of London, he started practicing in London with “big city ways”. He has now been practicing in the same community for 25 years in Warwick, England. He is a dedicated teacher, locally, nationally, and internationally. He is married with two daughters.

Dr. Ron Stotts has been meditating for decades, and he shares some of the foundational building blocks of being able to transformatively lead. Learn about "big mind", "STOP", and how to breathe. We touch on emotional intelligence, self-compassion, other compassion, and more. Dr. Ron Stotts, PhD explores what is possible for individuals, organizations, nations, and the world. He guides people into the highest levels of conscious leadership where they create a 40% percent increase in productivity and profit through creating what are referred to as “learning” or “developmental” organizations to bring out the best of all the stake holders involved. Dr. Stotts is a three-time best-selling author, has a Ph.D. in psychology, is a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic, and has been a meditation teacher for decades. 

Dr. Mitesh Patel is a physician and behavioral scientist! He helped found the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit, a first for healthcare. We talk about behavioral nudges, both for healthcare and home life, and the small things that we can each do to nudge behavior. Dr. Mitesh Patel MD MBA is a physician executive and behavioral scientist. He is currently Chief Clinical Transformation Officer at Ascension , the largest non-profit healthcare system in the US. He works on strategic vision and implementation of programs to transform clinical care using behavior nudges, EHR Apps, machine learning, artificial intelligence, remote patient monitoring, and virtual care. Previously, he was the Founding Director of the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit, the world’s first behavioral design team embedded within health system. 

LOOK AGAIN! A world full of colors can become gray due to habituation. Waking ourselves up to truly see the amazing things around us, as well as the problems that should be fixed, takes dishabituation. This conversation focuses on habituation and dishabituation, how they are defined, and what we can do to get life to resparkle. Cass R. Sunstein is the nation’s most cited legal scholar and is also a prolific writer of popular nonfiction. His most recent book, which he coauthored with Dr. Tali Sharot, is Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There, which will be hitting bookstores on 2/27/24. He is also the coauthor of Nudge with Dr. Richard Thaler as well as the coauthor of Noise with Drs. Daniel Kahneman and Olivier Sibony. He served in multiple different capacities in the US government and has advised the United Nations as well as the World Health Organization. He is currently the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School.

Dr. Angelina Hong wrote about love and medicine, describing  “the blurry spectrum, balancing out physical, mental, and emotional pain with the immense honor of saving and cherishing human life, while simultaneously struggling to reconcile our altruistic goals with realistic but necessary human incentives.” Her writing resonates with me. Dr. Angelina Hong, MD, is currently an internal medicine resident at HCA Healthcare in Florida. She attended the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine and the University of Houston for her undergraduate degree. She is a poetess who has written about love and medicine, and in honor of Valentine’s Day, she is here today.

2023 was a tough year for me (if you've been listening, you know some of the reasons why). My memory was somewhat affected, and it was hard for me to hold things in my head (thankfully, this has gotten better). Listening back to these past episodes was a treat for me, and I hope that this compilation might help other listeners as well. 

Dr. Ashley Wysong is a force of nature, and I recently had the pleasure of hearing her lecture at Yale. She seamlessly integrated practical advice in a presentation full of clinical pearls. She's learned a lot to help her be successful, and she shares some of her useful tips with me. Dr. Ashley Wysong, MD is the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Dermatology Founding Chair, Professor, and William W. Bruce MD Distinguished Chair of Dermatology. She is a nationally recognized leader, Mohs micrographic surgeon, and translational researcher. She is passionate about educating and mentoring others.

Dr. Jeffrey Cohen took a course called Mindful Medicine as a medical student, and it continues to influence him today. He learned about metacognition and cognitive biases, and he emphasizes approaching all interactions with humility, curiosity, and grace. Dr. Jeffrey M. Cohen, MD is a board-certified medical dermatologist and the Director of the Psoriasis Treatment Program at Yale School of Medicine. Graduating from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Cohen completed his dermatology residency at New York University School of Medicine. His current research focuses on skin condition epidemiology, the links between skin disorders and other medical issues, and improving the delivery of dermatologic care. He has over a hundred peer-reviewed articles and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Dr. Doolittle has a Master's in Divinity as well as an MD, and his research spans hepatitis, HIV, and wellness and burnout. He'll often ask his trainees, "How is your spirit?" It was a pleasure to talk to him about the intersection of medicine and spirituality, the inner life, how it might relate to burnout, insights on how to stave off burnout, and the connection among curiosity, wonder, and love. Dr. Benjamin Doolittle, MaDiv MD is a Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Divinity, the Director of the Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program, Medical Director of the Faculty-Resident Continuity Clinic, and a Professor of Religion and Health at Yale University. He has special expertise in addition, hepatitis C, HIV, and primary care. His research focuses on the intersection of medicine and spirituality, wellness, and burnout. Dr. Doolittle is an ordained minister and serves at New Haven’s Pilgrim Congregational Church. He is quoted as saying, “The medicine is easy, but everything else is hard,” and, “Faith offers…mystery, wonder, love – which are not illogical, but are not logical either.” More on Dr. Doolittle as well as an article on bio-psycho-social-spiritual training for trainees.

It's always instructive to hear how someone who started a movement, like that of Narrative Medicine, defines it. Listen in to how Narrative Medicine began for Dr. Charon, why narrative capacity is a better term than narrative competence, and what burnout might really mean.  Dr. Rita Charon, MD PhD is a physician, literary scholar, and founder of the narrative medicine program at Columbia University. She is a Professor of Medicine and Professor of Medical Humanities and Ethics at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. She has received numerous awards, including a Kaiser Faculty Scholar Award, a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Residence, a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, the Virginia Kneeland Frantz Award for Outstanding Woman Doctor of the Year, Outstanding Woman Physician of the year in 1996, the National Award for Innovation in Medical Education from the Society of General Internal Medicine in 1997, and the 2018 Jefferson Lecturer in the Humanities by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Please join me in Part 1 of my conversation with Dr. Rita Charon, where we talk about what she is reading, death, the humanities, ontology, the industrialization of medicine, and reasons to be optimistic still. Dr. Rita Charon, MD PhD is a physician, literary scholar, and founder of the narrative medicine program at Columbia University. She is a Professor of Medicine and Professor of Medical Humanities and Ethics at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. She has received numerous awards, including a Kaiser Faculty Scholar Award, a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Residence, a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, the Virginia Kneeland Frantz Award for Outstanding Woman Doctor of the Year, Outstanding Woman Physician of the year in 1996, the National Award for Innovation in Medical Education from the Society of General Internal Medicine in 1997, and the 2018 Jefferson Lecturer in the Humanities by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This conversation really helped me understand why I am having more trouble understanding my own self these days. Laurie also shares how taking responsibility, but not blame or praise, and openness can help us make decisions. Dr. Laurie Ann Paul, PhD (publishes under the name L.A. Paul) is the Millstone Family Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Cognitive Science at Yale University. Her main research interests include metaphysics, cognitive science, decision theory, and the philosophy of mind. She has written several books, including one titled, Transformative Experience, in which she suggests that living “authentically” requires occasionally leaving your old self behind “to create and discover a new self.” Part of being alive is awaiting the “revelation” of “who you’ll become.”

Learn how it is that Dr. Lipoff and I ended up connecting to have this conversation! (for the impatient ones [like me], find this info at 5:44). Dr. Jules Lipoff, MD is a dermatologist practicing in northwest Philadelphia and Clinical Associate Professor (Adjunct) in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.  He runs a PRIDE clinic (PRoviding Integrated Dermatology for Everyone) serving both LGBT patients and patients living with HIV for every major health system and LGBT center in the Philadelphia area.  He also serves as senior subspecialist telemedicine consultant for Medecins Sans Frontieres and writes as a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer.  In addition to his over 100 published academic articles, his creative work includes podcasts, screenplays, short films, medical consulting for television, and beyond the Inquirer, his writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Slate, Vox, The Hill, STAT News, and JAMA.

Dr. Jason Lee has written and presented on how we think, cognitive bias in medical diagnosis, and errors in the pathologic pathway of a biopsy from clinic to final report. The latter was recently published in the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology.  It is truly a pleasure to hear Dr. Lee talk with ease about errors, including his own. Dr. Jason B. Lee, MD is Professor, Director of the Jefferson Dermatopathology Center, Director of the Dermatopathology Fellowship, and Director of the Jefferson Pigmented Lesion Clinic at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. He interned at the University of California, Irvine and then did his residency and fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. He has a recent article in the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology that focuses on error in the pathologic diagnostic pathway. 

Dr. Jeremy Howick has spent his career studying evidence-based medicine as well as placebo effects. In part, this started from when he was a competitive rower, developed an allergy to a cat, and was prescribed ginger tea as a treatment. Dr. Jeremy Howick, PhD is the Director of the Stoneygate Centre for Excellence in Empathic Healthcare and a Senior Researcher at Oxford University. He is the author of Doctor You and The Philosophy of Evidence-Based Medicine as well as a book released November 14, 2023, The Power of Placebos: How the Science of Placebos and Nocebos Can Improve Health Care. He obtained his PhD from the London School of Economics. 

Many of the guests on this podcast have emphasized the importance of awareness. Awareness of how we think can help improve how we think. Awareness of implicit bias can improve how we implement our true values. Awareness of emotions can improve how we react or don't react to different situations. I find awareness difficult to cultivate, and I have always admired Dr. Earl Glusac's ability to be present, calm, and steady. Dr. Glusac has been meditating regularly since 2005 (as well as when he was younger), and he shares his view on meditation as well as tips for a productive career in academic medicine. Dr. Earl J. Glusac, MD is a distinguished dermatopathologist and esteemed professor at Yale University School of Medicine. He has actively shaped the field through his roles on various medical board. He has served the American Boards of Pathology and Dermatology and the editorial boards of the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology and the American Journal of Dermatopathology; he was program director and president of the American Society of Dermatopathology, and he is an author for the World Health Organization’s Classification of Tumours of the Skin. He attended Michigan State University for his medical degree, spent time in California for his residency training as well as dermatopathology fellowship, and has spent the majority of his dermatopathology career at Yale. Much of his research relates to the problem of overdiagnosis, especially as related to benign lesions that mimic malignant melanoma. 

Dr. Doris Day tells a powerful personal story that she carries with her, a story that has motivated her to get a degree in journalism before becoming a doctor. Together, we explore emotional intelligence, metacognition, and deliberate practice. We end up at self-compassion and the phrase, "but I still love you"! Dr. Doris Day, MD is a Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at New York University Langone Medical Center, is director of Day Dermatology and Aesthetics on the Upper East side of Manhattan, and also hosts Doctor Radio on SiriusXM radio. A Columbia University graduate in English Literature, she completed a master's in journalism and science reporting at New York University. After earning her MD at Downstate Medical School in New York, she became Chief Resident during her dermatology residency at Cornell University College of Medicine. Dr. Day is an author of four books and a clinical monograph on hyperpigmentation. As a wife and mother of two adult children and now new grandmother, she values family time, travel, educating herself and others and reading. You can find her on Instagram @drdorisday.

Join Dr. Waters and host Christine Ko in this insightful conversation that delves into the emotional and human side of healthcare, offering guidance for both patients and healthcare providers. Discover practical tips for developing and teaching empathy to healthcare professionals and the positive impact it can have on patient care. Learn about the challenges patients face when navigating the complex healthcare system and how having an informed advocate can make a significant difference. Explore the joy and humanism in the field of medicine as Dr. Waters shares his passion for the profession. Discover the therapeutic benefits of writing as a form of self-expression and reflection for healthcare professionals, and how it can contribute to their overall well-being. Dr. Daniel J. Waters, DO, MA, retired in 2019 after three decades as a cardiothoracic surgeon and medical educator. He graduated from Rowan SOM and earned his advanced writing degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University. He is the author of six novels and numerous published scientific papers, stories, essays, poems and opinion pieces spanning more than 40 years. In 2019, he received the Charles L. Ballinger Distinguished Osteopathic Surgeon Award from the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. He has also received writing awards, including the Nancy Pearl Award for Best Book for his title, Ship Bottom Blues, as well as first place in Creative Nonfiction/memoir for his piece, “Breathe for Me”, by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Annular Literary Contest.

This episode provides a valuable perspective on imposter syndrome, emotional intelligence, and personal growth within the medical field while offering relatable insights for listeners from all walks of life. Learn about Paige Porter's inspiring journey from an athlete with a biology degree to a fourth-year medical student with aspirations in dermatology. Her experiences and path offer valuable insights into the world of medical education and career progression. Paige Porter grew up in the Metro-Atlanta area and received an athletic scholarship for soccer at the University of North Alabama where she completed a degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. She then completed an MS in Foods and Nutrition at the University of Georgia. Currently, she is a fourth-year medical student at Mercer University School of Medicine in Savannah, Georgia. She is interviewing for Dermatology residency in 2023-2024. She was originally drawn to the field of dermatology because of her family's profound skin cancer experiences. During medical school, she was astonished at the impact dermatologic pathologies can have on patients' quality of life and mental health. She has written on impostor syndrome, which is why I asked her to come on today. Link to article here. 

Anyone who makes critical decisions needs to be aware of dual process theory and the heuristics we use and are subject to. Dr. Pat Croskerry, Dr. Christopher Chabris, and Dr. Itiel Dror are all experts in critical thinking about how our minds work. This episode is also available for Yale CME credit (1.0 hour). Dr. Pat Croskerry, MD PhD, is a professor in emergency medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. For the past 10 years, he has been Director, Critical Thinking Program, Division of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, at that same institution. Trained as an experimental psychologist, Dr. Croskerry went on to become an emergency medicine physician and found himself surprised by the relatively scant amount of attention given to cognitive errors. He is one of the world's foremost experts in safety in emergency medicine and in diagnostic errors. He is humble, honest, and thoughtful; read this interview for more insight into his background and work in the emergency department (https://psnet.ahrq.gov/perspective/conversation-withpat-croskerry-md-phd). Other recent key links to his work include https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj-2021-068044/rr-1 and The Cognitive Autopsy (https://www.amazon.com/Cognitive-Autopsy-Analysis-Medical-Decision/dp/0190088745/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2UQIRFBZTX6JH&keywords=croskerry+cognitive+autopsy&qid=1648025342&sprefix=%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-1). Dr. Christopher Chabris, PhD is one of the originators of a famous psychology experiment (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo); he is currently Professor and Co-director of the Behavior and Decision Sciences Program at Geisinger Health System. His book with Daniel Simons, The Invisible Gorilla (link: http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/) is a bestseller that goes into much greater depth on the everyday illusions of attention, memory, confidence, knowledge, cause, and potential; as well as the myth of intuition. Dr. Itiel Dror PhD is a senior cognitive neuroscience researcher at the University College London. He received his PhD in Psychology at Harvard University. He researches information processing involved in perception, judgment, and decision-making. Dr. Dror has dozens of research publications, which have been cited over 10,000 times. His academic theoretical work is complemented with applied worked in healthcare, policing and aviation --to improve human training and decision making. More information and publications are available here. Links to some papers: 1) Short piece from Science, 2) A bit more 'meat' explaining bias sources & fallacies, 3) A 'solution' too, and 4) 'Hot off the press', just published, a new paper on forensic pathology decisions.