Pro-PA Podcast

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, breaks down Diarrhea , a common GI complaint with a wide differential diagnosis. You’ll learn how to classify diarrhea as acute, persistent, or chronic and distinguish among watery, fatty, and inflammatory patterns to help narrow the cause. We’ll review important history and exam clues, when stool studies and additional te...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Colorectal Cancer (CRC) , one of the most common gastrointestinal malignancies and an important cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. You’ll learn to recognize key risk factors and warning signs—including changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, iron deficiency anemia, and unexplained weight loss—and un...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Polyposis Syndromes , inherited conditions characterized by the development of multiple gastrointestinal polyps and, in some cases, a markedly increased risk of colorectal and other cancers. You’ll learn the high-yield features of syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Gardner syndrome, Peutz-Jeghe...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Adenomatous Polyps , neoplastic colorectal polyps with the potential to progress to colorectal cancer through the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. You’ll learn to distinguish tubular, tubulovillous, and villous adenomas, recognize features associated with greater malignant potential, and understand why polyp size, histo...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Non-Neoplastic Colorectal Polyps , a group of generally benign lesions that do not carry the same malignant potential as adenomatous polyps. You’ll learn the key features of common types—including hyperplastic, inflammatory, and hamartomatous polyps—and the clinical settings in which they may appear. We’ll also dis...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Toxic Megacolon , a life-threatening complication characterized by acute colonic dilation accompanied by systemic toxicity. You’ll learn to recognize key warning signs such as abdominal distention, pain, fever, tachycardia, and systemic illness, as well as its association with severe inflammatory bowel disease and...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Ulcerative Colitis (UC) , a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by continuous inflammation of the colonic mucosa beginning at the rectum. You’ll learn to recognize hallmark features such as bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, urgency, and tenesmus, while distinguishing UC from Crohn disease through it...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Crohn Disease , a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any portion of the GI tract from mouth to anus. You’ll learn to recognize hallmark features such as abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, skip lesions, and transmural inflammation, along with complications including fistulas, strictures,...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Ischemic Bowel Disease , a spectrum of conditions caused by inadequate blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract. You’ll learn to distinguish acute mesenteric ischemia from ischemic colitis, recognize high-yield presentations—including severe abdominal pain out of proportion to the physical exam—and identify importa...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Colon Obstruction , a potentially serious cause of acute abdominal pain resulting from mechanical blockage of the large bowel. You’ll learn to recognize hallmark features such as progressive abdominal distention, crampy pain, constipation or obstipation, and vomiting, while reviewing common causes including colorec...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) , a disorder of gut-brain interaction characterized by recurrent abdominal pain associated with changes in bowel habits. You’ll learn how to recognize the major IBS subtypes, apply the Rome IV diagnostic criteria, and identify alarm features that should prompt evaluation for an altern...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Diverticulitis , inflammation of colonic diverticula that commonly presents with left lower quadrant abdominal pain, fever, and changes in bowel habits. You’ll learn to recognize the classic presentation, understand the role of CT imaging in diagnosis, and differentiate uncomplicated from complicated disease. We’ll...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Diverticulosis , the presence of sac-like diverticula within the colon that becomes increasingly common with age. You’ll learn how diverticula form, recognize that most patients are asymptomatic, and distinguish uncomplicated diverticulosis from complications such as diverticular bleeding and diverticulitis. We’ll...

In this episode of CARDIO101, guest host Dr. Angelica Urbina, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) from a cardiovascular perspective. You’ll learn how AVMs bypass the normal capillary bed to create high-flow shunting, how they present in the brain, lungs, and extremities, and their association with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). The episode also covers key cli...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Appendicitis , one of the most common causes of acute abdominal pain requiring surgical intervention. You’ll learn to recognize classic symptom progression from periumbilical pain to right lower quadrant tenderness, understand key exam findings such as McBurney point tenderness and rebound pain, and review diagnost...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Small Intestine Polyps , uncommon but clinically important lesions that may present with bleeding, anemia, obstruction, or be discovered incidentally. You’ll learn about different polyp types—including adenomatous, hamartomatous, and those associated with hereditary syndromes such as Peutz-Jeghers and familial aden...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Food Allergies and Food Sensitivities , helping you distinguish immune-mediated reactions from non-immune food intolerances. You’ll learn the difference between IgE-mediated food allergies—which can cause urticaria, angioedema, or anaphylaxis—and food sensitivities such as lactose intolerance or other non-allergic...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Lactose Intolerance , a common cause of osmotic diarrhea due to lactase deficiency in the small intestine. You’ll learn how to recognize hallmark symptoms such as bloating, flatulence, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea after dairy ingestion, understand the difference between primary and secondary lactase deficiency,...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Celiac Disease , an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion that leads to small intestinal villous atrophy and malabsorption. You’ll learn hallmark features such as chronic diarrhea, weight loss, iron deficiency anemia, and dermatitis herpetiformis, along with key diagnostic testing including tissue trans...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Paralytic Ileus , a functional obstruction caused by decreased intestinal motility rather than a mechanical blockage. You’ll learn to recognize hallmark features such as abdominal distention, hypoactive or absent bowel sounds, and diffuse dilation of bowel loops on imaging. We’ll also break down common causes—inclu...

In this episode of GI101, host Dr. Christina G. Gonzales, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO) , a common and potentially serious surgical condition. You’ll learn to recognize hallmark symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, distention, and obstipation, understand the most common causes—including adhesions, hernias, and malignancy—and identify key imaging findings on abdomina...

In this episode of CARDIO101, guest host Dr. Angelica Urbina, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, breaks down Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) , a potentially life-threatening wide complex arrhythmia responsible for the majority of cardiac arrest episodes. You’ll learn to recognize key ECG features, differentiate sustained versus nonsustained VT, and distinguish monomorphic from polymorphic patterns. The episode also r...

In this episode of CARDIO101, guest host Dr. Angelica Urbina, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Ventricular Fibrillation (VFib) , a chaotic and life-threatening arrhythmia that results in immediate loss of cardiac output and sudden cardiac arrest. You’ll learn the hallmark ECG findings—absence of identifiable P waves or QRS complexes—along with the most common causes, including ischemic heart disease. The...

In this episode of CARDIO101, guest host Dr. Angelica Urbina, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Sinus Bradycardia and Sick Sinus Syndrome , two rhythm disturbances involving the heart’s natural pacemaker. You’ll learn when a slow heart rate is completely normal—such as in athletes or during sleep—and when it signals true sinus node dysfunction. The episode breaks down key ECG findings, symptom correlation...

In this episode of CARDIO101, guest host Dr. Angelica Urbina, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, reviews Atrial Tachycardia , an uncommon but clinically important supraventricular arrhythmia. The episode focuses on focal atrial tachycardia—characterized by bursts of rapid, regular tachycardia originating outside the sinus node—and also briefly covers multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT), often seen in patients with...