Alert and Oriented

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Lee Jones, who is a clinician, medical educator, mentor, and leader. Dr. Jones completed his bachelor of arts in psychology at Dartmouth, his doctorate of medicine at Columbia, and his residency in psychiatry at UCLA. Dr. Jones then served as chief resident at UCLA, before completing a fellowship in clinical and research consultation-liaison at Memor...

Welcome to the fourth episode of our Early Clinical Learners Series, a series dedicated to fostering clinical reasoning skills and strategies in early clinical trainees. This episode focuses on the musculoskeletal (MSK) block and uses a clinical case to guide listeners through approaching joint pain, identifying key red flags, and narrowing a differential diagnosis. Hosts : Caroline Wang, Samantha...

In this episode of The Doctor’s Playbook , we sit down with Dr. Bruce Henschen, MD, MPH , Associate Professor of Medicine and Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center. Dr. Henschen shares how leading by influence has shaped his approach to medical education, clinical reasoning, and patient care. We explore what it means to build a positive...

This special episode of The Doctor’s Playbook steps outside the usual clinical lens to explore the ethical, spiritual, and human dimensions of medicine. My guest is The Reverend Clayton L. Thomason, J.D., M.Div., who holds the Bishop Anderson Endowed Chair of Religion and Ethics in Medicine at Rush University Medical Center, where he serves as Chair of the Department of Religion, Health & Huma...

In this episode of The Doctor’s Playbook , we sit down with Dr. Sonali Khurana—academic hospitalist, educator, and core faculty at Rush University Medical Center. With a career spanning oncology hospitalist care, medical education leadership, and quality improvement, she brings a wealth of insight into both the bedside and the classroom. We explore her clinical reasoning frameworks, the lessons on...

Welcome to our third episode of the Early Clinical Learners Series - a series dedicated towards fostering clinical reasoning skills and strategies in early clinical learners. This episode is sponsored by LearningCortex - visit www.learningcortex.com to start learning smarter today! Hosts : Caroline Wang, Andrew Mohama, Mohan Bhadriraju Guests: Nicole Glick, John Kim Produced By: Caroline Wang, And...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Christine Tsai, a doctor, educator, and mentor whose career exemplifies excellence in medicine. Dr. Tsai is an associate professor of medicine and attending physician of hospital medicine at RUSH medical center. She completed her B.A. in biochemical sciences at Harvard, her M.D. at Columbia, and her residency in internal medicine at Oregon Health and...

Welcome to our second episode of the Early Clinical Learners Series - a series dedicated towards fostering clinical reasoning skills and strategies in early clinical learners! In this episode, hosts Caroline Wang , Dr. Kevin Grudzinski , and Samantha Shih guide M1 students Kenny Pham and Naomi Bennett through a classic Alert and Oriented case discussing a farmer's cough. Next, our hosts share clin...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Tim Rowe, a leader in pulmonary and critical care medicine. In this episode, Dr. Rowe shares his journey through medicine, his passion for teaching and mentorship, and his expertise in critical care and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). Whether you're a medical student, resident, or seasoned physician, you'll gain valuable perspectives on navigating...

In this episode of The Doctor’s Playbook , we sit down with Dr. Ben Singer—pulmonary critical care physician, scientist, and two-time Medical Jeopardy national champion. A leader in ICU and pulmonary medicine, he was a trusted voice during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to be the go-to expert for tackling the toughest clinical cases. We explore the art of clinical reasoning in an era of rapid...

Dr. Naim Batik’s journey through medicine is nothing short of extraordinary—12 years of Internal Medicine training across three countries, multiple visa rejections, and an unrelenting drive to become the best physician he can be. From 8 years of combined residency in Syria and Qatar to finally landing at Cook County Hospital in Chicago for his third IM residency, Naim’s path is a masterclass in pe...

Welcome to our first episode of the Early Clinical Learners Series - a series dedicated towards fostering clinical reasoning skills and strategies in early clinical learners! In this episode, hosts Caroline Wang , Andrew Mohama , and Samantha Shih guide M1 student Adrian Jenson through a classic Alert and Oriented case. Joined by expert clinician Dr. Richard Abrams , they break down key clinical r...

What does it take to master clinical reasoning in an ever-evolving medical landscape? Dr. Daniel Boctor, MD dives into the complexities of decision-making in medicine, why asking “why” is a skill every doctor should cultivate, and how AI can complement—but never replace—the human touch in healthcare. In this intellectually stimulating conversation, host Andrew Mohama seeks out Daniel's insights on...

In this inspiring episode of The Doctor's Playbook , host Andrew Mohama sits down with Dr. Richard Abrams , a distinguished internist, educator, and Associate Dean of Learning Environments at Rush University Medical Center. Dr. Abrams reflects on nearly 40 years in medicine, sharing insights on finding joy in patient care, mentorship, and personal growth. We explore the evolution of medicine, from...

In this episode, hosts Kevin Grudzinski & Caroline Wang present a clinical case of volume overload to medical students Andrew Mohama (Rush M3) & Samantha Shih (Rush M3). Listen along as this one takes many unexpected turns! Hosts : Kevin Grudzinski & Caroline Wang Discussants : Andrew Mohama & Samantha Shih Produced By: Kevin Grudzinski & Caroline Wang Alert & Oriented is a...

In this special first episode of The Doctor’s Playbook , we turn the spotlight on our very own host, Kevin Grudzinski, the mind behind Alert and Oriented . Join us as we delve into Kevin's journey through the world of medicine—how he got started, the challenges he's faced, and the moments that shaped his path as a clinician. Kevin shares invaluable insights into the art and science of clinical rea...

We’re back where Alert & Oriented began to kick off Season 4! In this episode, hosts Kevin Grudzinski and Koushik Kondapi present a clinical case of jaundice to medical students Caroline Wang (Rush M1) and Andrew Mohama (Rush M3), diving deep into the differential diagnosis and clinical reasoning process. Hosts : Koushik Kondapi & Kevin Grudzinski Discussants : Caroline Wang & Andrew M...

Nathan Kudlapur and Koushik Kondapi lead medical students Ateh Fonteh & Sam Reyes through a case of acute abdominal pain. Hosts : Koushik Kondapi & Nathan Kudlapur Discussants : Ateh Fonteh & Sam Reyes A&O Team Member : Kevin Grudzinski Produced By: Kevin Grudzinski, Nathan Kudlapur & Koushik Kondapi Alert & Oriented is a medical student-run clinical reasoning podcast dedic...

Nathan Kudlapur and Koushik Kondapi lead medical students Nami Kadambi & Michael Saporito through a case of markedly elevated liver tests. Hosts : Koushik Kondapi & Nathan Kudlapur Discussants : Nami Kadambi & Michael Saporito A&O Team Member : Kevin Grudzinski Produced By: Kevin Grudzinski, Nathan Kudlapur & Koushik Kondapi Alert & Oriented is a medical student-run clinica...

Nathan Kudlapur and Koushik Kondapi lead medical students Janet Song & Julia Carter through a case of a post-solid organ transplant patient with a rash. Hosts : Koushik Kondapi & Nathan Kudlapur Discussants : Janet Song & Julia Carter A&O Team Member : Kevin Grudzinski Produced By: Kevin Grudzinski, Nathan Kudlapur & Koushik Kondapi Alert & Oriented is a medical student-run...

Nathan Kudlapur and Koushik Kondapi lead medical students Fikayo Olamigoke & Saihej Basra through a case of a refugee with fever and headache. Check out Nathan's YouTube Channel for concise and high-yield MedEd videos! Host : Koushik Kondapi & Nathan Kudlapur Discussants : Fikayo Olamigoke & Saihej Basra A&O Team Member : Kevin Grudzinski Produced By: Kevin Grudzinski, Nathan Kudla...

Kevin Grudzinski is joined by special guest Dr. Bruce Henschen, Northwestern's IM clerkship director and everyone's favorite medical educator! Kevin and Bruce present a case of progressive altered mental status to A&O Hosts, Koushik Kondapi and Nathan Kudlapur. Listen along to hear how they handle being back in the hot seat. Host : Kevin Grudzinski Special Guest: Bruce Henschen Discussants : K...

Koushik Kondapi & Nathan Kudlapur lead Northwestern M4's Brandon Rafidi & Allie Valenzuela with a case of a young woman who presents with lower extremity swelling and a tremor. Hosts : Koushik Kondapi & Nathan Kudlapur Discussants : Brandon Rafidi & Allie Valenzuela A&O Team Member : Kevin Grudzinski Produced By: Kevin Grudzinski, Nathan Kudlapur & Koushik Kondapi Alert &am...

Cherie Lo leads Northwestern M4's Lauren Yoo & Twisha Sabloak through a case of a patient who presented from clinic with lower extremity edema. Hosts : Cherie Lo Discussants : Lauren Yoo & Twisha Sabloak A&O Team Member : Kevin Grudzinski Produced By : Kevin Grudzinski & Cherie Lo Alert & Oriented is a medical student-run clinical reasoning podcast dedicated to providing a uniq...

Nathan Kudlapur leads Northwestern M4's Tina Shehata & Trish Kaundinya with a case of a post-transplant patient presenting with fatigue. Hosts : Nathan Kudlapur & Koushik Kondapi Discussants : Tina Shehata & Trish Kaundinya A&O Team Member : Kevin Grudzinski Produced By: Kevin Grudzinski, Nathan Kudlapur & Koushik Kondapi Alert & Oriented is a medical student-run clinical r...