On Call, Off Script

Disasters and emergencies are not a matter of if, but when. In this episode of On Call, Off Script, a Jackson Health System podcast, we sit with Bridget Pelaez, senior director of disaster and emergency preparedness at Jackson, to learn what it takes to expect the unexpected and prepare for it all. Pelaez shares how year-round planning, hands-on training, and strong community partnerships from her...

Episode 21: What does an emergency medicine physician do when she's not caring for patients at Jackson Memorial Hospital? In the case of Dr. Regina Martinez, she's training to compete on the world stage as Mexico’s first female cross-country skier to compete in the Olympics. In this episode of On Call, Off Script, host Ruelle Champion sits down with Dr. Martinez, an emergency medicine physician an...

Episode 20:  For some men, the hardest question to answer is ‘how are you doing?’. If your answer is like everyone else’s – ‘I’m fine,’ – it’s not always the truth. For Men’s Health Month, we take a special focus on mental health with Dr. Keith Lit, clinical psychologist at Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital (JBHH). Dr. Lit dives into why men struggle to open up about depression, anxiety, and stre...

Episode 19: In this episode of Jackson Health System’s On Call, Off Script, we sit down with Dr. Vanessa Padilla, a clinical psychiatrist at Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital, Commissioner René Garcia, chairman of Miami-Dade County’s Behavioral Health Advisory Board, and Michelle Kligman, Psy. D., MBA, MS, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Jackson Health System, for an...

Episode 18: What do vaping, incense, and long-COVID have in common? They can all impact your lungs in ways most people don’t consider. In this episode of On Call, Off Script, lung experts from the Lung Center at Jackson Health System/ Miami Transplant Institute, an affiliation between Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System explore, explain, and debunk fascinating lun...

Episode 17: Formula 1 is all about speed, precision, and split-second decisions. So is trauma care. In this high-intensity episode of On Call, Off Script, we take you behind the scenes of one of the most complex medical operations in sports. As Formula 1 returns to Miami, the team at Jackson Health System’s Ryder Trauma Center isn’t just on standby. They’re building a fully operational trauma unit...

Episode 16: The importance and value of organ donation takes center stage every April for Donate Life Month. It’s a time to spotlight the impact that being an organ donor can have on countless lives. With thousands of patients on the transplant waitlist and the growing gap between supply and demand, understanding the truth behind organ donation is crucial. In this episode of On Call, Off Script, a...

Episode 15: Jackson Health System is advancing the future of emergency care. A new, state-of-the-art emergency room (ER) is opening at Jackson Memorial Hospital in April. In this episode of On Call, Off Script, the minds behind one of the largest emergency rooms in the nation share how collaboration between clinical and construction brought this project to life. The new ER is more than just a bran...

Episode 14: From dramatic defibrillator scenes to instant diagnoses, pop culture shapes how many people think hospitals operate. But how much of what we see on TV actually reflects real life? On this episode of On Call, Off Script, two experienced nurse leaders from Jackson Health System separate fact from fiction. They break down the truth about “Code Blue” situations, explain why medical teams r...

Episode 13: In this episode of On Call Off Script, we go behind the scenes with Miami’s first responders and trauma care teams to explore what it truly takes to serve the 305. From coping with tragedy and finding humor in the toughest situations, to building trust with patients and their families, our guests share the human side of some of the city’s most demanding roles. Listen as Michael Vega, a...

Episode 12: It’s hard to imagine vomiting worse than it already is. The symptom of ‘scromiting’, or screaming and vomiting, is sending people to the emergency room in South Florida. Jeffrey Bernstein, MD, director of Florida Poison Control Center Miami, talks about the real medical condition behind scromiting, called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). Caused by excessive marijuana use, Dr. Be...

Episode 11:  You’d never guess that some of your favorite everyday activities are on our experts’ personal no-fly list. In this eye-opening conversation, Vincente Nelson, MD, a trauma surgeon at Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial and Timothy Tan, MD, chief of emergency medicine at Jackson Memorial Medical Center shares the habits, hobbies, and Miami-style behaviors that most often land people...

Episode 10: The beginning of a new year often brings fresh starts, new goals, and for many families, the start of a journey into parenthood. In this episode of On Call Off Script, we’re joined by Joanne Ruggiero, senior vice president and chief executive officer of Jackson Memorial Medical Center, to talk about what expectant parents can really expect when preparing to give birth at The Women’s Ho...

Episode 9: The holiday season tends to be a time of excess – of celebration, of eating, and for adults it tends to include drinking alcohol too. On the heels of the new year, this episode of On Call Off Script explores the real health benefits behind breaking a holiday habit of heavy drinking. Our experts Dr. Brett Fortune and Dr. Chinmay Jani discuss how Dry January can be more than just a 31-day...

Episode 8: Eight-year-old Dylan Smith is all energy, jokes, and big dreams today—but his miracle story begins with every parent’s worst nightmare: a near-drowning in the family’s backyard pool. In this special Month of Miracles episode of On Call, Off Script, host Ruelle Champion sits down with Dylan’s mom, Tiffany Smith, pediatric critical care doctor Dr. Asumthia Jeyapalan, and pediatric physica...

Episode 7: December is our Month of Miracles, highlighting our strong patients and families, the excellent care at Holtz Children’s Hospital, and the power of community. In this episode, we meet 14-year-old Jake Alexander Kleppen, known to his Instagram community as “Jake the Victorious Warrior.” Jake has not only battled cancer once, but twice, showing a resilience that lifts up everyone around h...

Episode 6: In this lively holiday episode of On Call, Off Script, host Ruelle Champion brings together a joyful trio: Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Anitrice McKinnis-Jackson, also known as Mama Joy, founder of the nonprofit Nana’s Restart, and Rocio Garcia, a registered dietitian with Jackson Health System. Together, they celebrate beloved grandmother-approved holiday dishes, and g...

Episode 5: Are men really “allergic” to the doctor’s office until something’s falling off? And do women actually self-diagnose after a deep dive on “Google University”? In this eye-opening episode of On Call Off Script, a Jackson Health System podcast, our host Ruelle Champion sits down with Dayron Rodriguez, MD, a community urologist, and Mrudula Munagala, MD, a transplant cardiologist from Miami...

Episode 4: Step inside Miami’s medical history with Dr. Paul George, Miami’s preeminent historian, as we explore the Alamo — the oldest building at Jackson Memorial Medical Center. From the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic to the legacy of Dr. James Jackson and activist Roxy Bolton, this episode of On Call, Off Script uncovers the stories that shaped not only shaped Jackson Memorial, but also Miami...

Episode 3: Breast cancer awareness and women’s health go hand in hand. But did you know that there are symptoms and risk factors that men need to know about? In this episode of On Call, Off Script, host Ruelle Champion speaks with Danielle Fitzgerald, director of radiology services at Jackson North Medical Center, about breast health for everyone. Men shouldn’t overlook the red flags that may sign...

Episode 2: In the second episode of On Call, Off Script, host Ruelle Champion sits down with George Rosello, Jackson’s associate vice president for digital transformation, to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming health care. From faster documentation to smarter workflows, discover how Jackson is using AI to save time, improve care, and keep patient data safe – all while preserv...

Episode 1: Are viral health hacks actually healthy or just social media hype? In the premiere episode of On Call, Off Script, our host Ruelle Champion and Dr. Rick Arias, a family medicine doctor for UHealth Jackson Urgent Care, explore today’s most talked-about viral health trends. From mouth taping for better sleep to cold plunges, Dr. Arias shares whether these wellness hacks truly benefit your...

Every month, we drop two new episodes packed with lively conversations featuring Jackson’s top experts. From the latest health trends and groundbreaking innovations to fascinating medical curiosities and inspiring patient stories, no topic is off limits. But we don’t stop there. Special guests from our community pop in and share their unique perspectives, making every episode engaging and relatabl...