The Host Response: A FirstcallID Podcast

In this episode of The Host Response: A FirstCallID Podcast , Dr. Paul Bunce explores a familiar phenomenon in medicine...when someone wields a freshly learned fact like long-held expertise. We unpack why “the vulgar display of recently acquired knowledge” happens, how it affects team dynamics and learning culture, and what it says about our relationship with uncertainty and expertise. With humor...

This episode kicks off a new recurring series we’re calling Bundles — a grab bag of ID-adjacent topics we’re reading, noticing, and trying to make sense of. And for the first time, I’m not hosting alone. Joining me is Dr. Brooke Fraser, a general internist and newly minted infectious diseases physician. Together we tackle four prompts: Educational tool: How ChatGPT can help organize and synthesize...

Sometimes the best next step in infectious diseases isn’t to add more antibiotics — it’s to stop, reset, and start fresh. In this episode, Dr. Paul Bunce reflects on the value of a “mulligan,” borrowed from golf but applied to patient care: the strategic do-over. Through real-world cases, we explore when pressing reset can clarify confusing clinical stories, improve stewardship, and spare patients...

🎙️ The Host Response — Episode 10: Out of Step Ever had your careful, evidence-based plan shot down by your attending with little more than a shrug and a “let’s do the opposite”? You’re not alone. In this episode, Dr. Paul Bunce unpacks the uneasy moments when trainees and attendings seem just a little out of sync — not wrong, just misaligned. He reflects on the subtle signals that shape trust, th...

The Host Response — Episode 9: Blame It on the Drugs 💊 Every drug has side effects—but which ones actually matter at the bedside? In this episode, Paul Bunce (infectious diseases and internal medicine specialist) shares his teaching framework for approaching medications: Anything can cause anything (clinical humility matters). The most common side effect (what your patient will ask about). The mo...

In this short bonus episode, Paul Bunce, an Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine specialist, reflects on bias and transparency in medical education. Where do our perspectives come from? How do personal values, training, and outside influences shape the way we practice and teach medicine? Paul shares his own lenses — from minimalism in practice and antimicrobial stewardship to distancing from...

🎙️ The Host Response — Episode: This Email Could Have Been an Alphanumeric Page Welcome to The Host Response , the FirstCallID podcast hosted by Dr. Paul Bunce, adult Infectious Diseases specialist and Internal Medicine physician. In this episode, we dive into a surprisingly powerful but often overlooked tool in infectious diseases consultations: the humble email. Whether you’re advocating for you...

In this episode of The Host Response , Dr. Paul Bunce dives into the art and science of writing infectious diseases consult notes that get read, understood, and acted upon. Learn how to craft clear, concise recommendations that not only answer the clinical question but also reveal your clinical reasoning — all while fostering collaboration with the care team. Whether you’re an ID trainee or a seas...

Why do some decisions in ID haunt us months later? In this episode of The Host Response , Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine specialist Dr. Paul Bunce explores the role of anticipated regret in Infectious Diseases consultations. From empiric TB therapy to culture-negative PJIs, learn how to navigate uncertainty, avoid common traps, and make decisions your future self won't curse you for. Pe...

Infectious diseases is a specialty built on inference, nuance, and—not infrequently—doubt. In this episode, Paul Bunce reflects on the uncertainty baked into ID practice, from ambiguous diagnoses to the risks of overconfidence. Why are we rarely sure, even after years of training? How do we keep moving forward without pretending we’re certain? The practice of Infectious Diseases isn’t always about...

Antibiotics might be the headliners in ID—but there’s a whole supporting cast of medications quietly influencing outcomes. In this episode, Dr. Paul Bunce explores the non-antibiotic drugs that affect infection risk, immune response, and antibiotic safety. From warfarin and DOACs to steroids, biologics, QT-prolongers, and methadone, it’s a tour through the meds that should catch your eye on a medi...

Before you can treat an infection, you need to define the syndrome. In this episode, Paul Bunce unpacks the foundational ID skill of naming the clinical syndrome — the key that unlocks investigations, management, and meaningful recommendations.

Welcome to The Host Response , a FirstCallID podcast for clinicians navigating the uncertainties of infectious diseases. In this opening episode, Dr. Paul Bunce introduces the mission behind FirstCallID — to help clinicians feel more grounded, confident, and less overwhelmed when facing ID questions. Unlike the structured teaching tools on the website, this podcast offers space for reflection, cli...