EM Pulse Podcast™

Summer travel is in full swing and, for physicians, that means more than just packing swimsuits and sunscreen. In this episode of EM Pulse, we sit down with wilderness medicine expert, Dr. Mary Bing, to unpack the real-world essentials of travel medical kits. From duct tape and whistles to epinephrine and steroids, you’ll learn what to bring, how to tailor your supplies based on destination and gr...

In this follow-up to our artificial intelligence in EM series, we’re diving into how AI can enhance your professional life outside of clinical shifts. Joined by Dr. Jaymin Patel—Assistant Residency Program Director and tech-savvy educator—we explore three practical AI tools that can streamline teaching, content creation, communication, and even how you consume literature on your commute. From Chat...

In this episode of EM Pulse, Dr. Daniel Hernandez, an emergency medicine and addiction specialist at UC Davis, joins the team to spotlight methadone—one of the original and still powerful tools for treating opioid use disorder (OUD). While newer medications like buprenorphine often steal the spotlight, methadone remains a critical option, especially in the era of fentanyl. Tune in for a practical...

This is the next episode of our Push Dose Pearls miniseries with ED Clinical Pharmacist, Chris Adams. In this ongoing series we’ll dig into some of the questions we all have about medications we commonly see and use in the ED. In this epsidoe, we unpack the complexities of anticoagulation reversal in the emergency department – It’s not just about vitamin K anymore! Tune in as we explore the...

Big news for emergency medicine residencies! The ACGME is proposing several major changes to EM program requirements. To comply with these new requirements, programs would need to be 4 years long. This is a hotly debated topic at the moment as most EM residencies in the U.S. currently are 3 year programs. So what are the proposed changes? How would they affect the curriculum and training for futur...

In the fourth and final episode of our advocacy mini series with guest host, Dr. Anna Yap, we dive into a powerful story of advocacy led by a mother-daughter duo. Pediatric nurse practitioner Robyn Lao and her 9-year-old daughter, Addie, who has severe food allergies, turned their personal challenges into a statewide movement by co-authoring California Senate Bill 68—the Allergen Disclosure for Di...

In the third episode of our advocacy mini series with Dr. Anna Yap, we explore the evolving challenges faced by transgender patients and medical professionals in today’s political climate. We’re joined by Charlie Adams, a fourth-year medical student and dedicated advocate, who shares his powerful journey fighting for transgender rights and health equity. Together, we discuss the importance of gend...

In the second episode of our advocacy mini series with Dr. Anna Yap, we dive into the critical intersection of emergency medicine and immigration health. As emergency physicians, we frequently care for undocumented patients, asylum seekers, and refugees—individuals who face significant barriers to medical care, including fear, cost concerns, and language obstacles. Dr. Ellen Shank, a UC Davis heal...

When corporate interests threaten patient care, who speaks up for doctors and their patients? This episode kicks off a special EM Pulse mini-series with guest host, Dr. Anna Yap, in which we explore the power of advocacy in medicine. In our first episode, Dr. Michelle Wiener shares how she and her colleagues took on a private equity-backed staffing group, formed a union, and fought for safer worki...

In this final installment of our three-part series on artificial intelligence in emergency medicine, we explore the rapid expansion of AI and its implications for clinical practice. In previous episodes, we explored how AI is revolutionizing tasks like diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient monitoring. In this final chapter, guest expert, Dr. Brian Patterson, joins us to discuss how to safely...

In the second episode our three part series, we dive deeper into the practical impact of artificial intelligence on emergency medicine with expert, Dr. Gabriel Wardi. Building on our previous discussion about AI’s role in healthcare , we explore clinical decision support systems (CDS)—how they aim to improve diagnostic accuracy but can sometimes miss the mark. Dr. Wardi shares insights from his ow...

In this episode, we dive into how AI is changing emergency medicine with Dr. Peter Steel, an expert in AI and EM at Cornell. We break down the basics of AI, machine learning, and deep learning, explore real-world applications like improving triage and clinical decision-making, and tackle challenges like bias and integration in high-pressure settings. Dr. Steel shares insights on generative AI, lar...

In this episode, we dive into the rising threat of cyberattacks on healthcare systems and their profound impact on emergency medicine. With 386 attacks reported in 2024 alone (as of October 7th), the likelihood of your hospital being targeted is increasing. But why are these attacks happening, and what can we do to mitigate their effects? To explore this critical topic, we’re joined by Dr. In Kim,...

In this episode, we address the growing concern over political violence in the United States as the presidential election draws near. Political violence, defined as the intentional use of power and force to achieve political ends, is a significant public health issue. Violence researcher and emergency physician, Dr. Garen Wintemute, joins us to provide a clear, evidence-based perspective on the to...

As emergency physicians, we are very familiar with giving naloxone to patients with concern for opioid overdose. Our EMS colleagues give naloxone all the time in the prehospital setting. We know it works well for patients who are obtained due to opioids, but what about for patients who have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest? Our expert on todays episode, Dr. David Dillon, set out to find out.   We...

Acetaminophen overdose is one of the most common medication concerns we see in the ED. It is important to know when to be concerned and when to treat as true overdoses can cause liver failure and death. UC Davis medical toxicologist, Dr. Hoan Nguyen, joins us in this episode to discuss a new consensus statement published in JAMA Network Open in August 2023: Managing of Acetaminophen Poisoning in t...

This is the next episode of our Push Dose Pearls miniseries with ED Clinical Pharmacist, Chris Adams. In this ongoing series we’ll dig into some of the questions we all have about medications we commonly see and use in the ED. This episode focuses on naloxone. Naloxone is a staple in every ED docs toolbox but it can save more lives if it’s immediately available in the community. We’ll discuss ED b...

In this special episode, we celebrate the incredible 19-year tenure of Dr. Nate Kuppermann as Chair of the UC Davis Emergency Department. As he transitions to his new role as Executive Vice President, Chief Academic Officer, and Chair of Pediatrics at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., Dr. Kuppermann reflects on the growth and evolution of the department since he started in 2006. He...

Many of our ED patients come in because they were told to. Whether it’s by an advice nurse, primary care provider, urgent care, call center, specialty coordinator, etc., it often feels to us like the default is “go to the ED”. But, of course, that’s not the case. There are myriad reasons why patients may be sent to the ED. In this episode, we talk with two of our favorite outpatient physicians &#8...

Oncologic Emergencies: Part 2 In this two-part series, we dive into the world of oncological emergencies with guest expert, Dr. Monica Wattana. In part 1 , we covered everything from making new cancer diagnoses in the ED, to hypercalcemia, febrile neutropenia, and tumor lysis syndrome. We also discussed some of the tricky complications that often accompany cancer treatments, like mucositis, vomiti...

In this two-part series, we dive into the world of oncological emergencies. Our guest expert, Dr. Monica Watana, an emergency physician specializing in this area. In part 1, we cover everything from making new cancer diagnoses in the ED, to hypercalcemia, febrile neutropenia, and tumor lysis syndrome. We also talk about some of the tricky complications that often accompany cancer treatments, like...

In this episode of Push Dose Pearls, we delve into the use of push dose pressors in emergency medicine. Dr. Chris Adams talks about their use, potential side effects, and the importance of a clear plan for the administration of push dose pressors. Did this episode change your practice? Let us know on social media @empulsepodcast or at ucdavisem.com Hosts: Dr. Sarah Medeiros , Associate Professor o...

Managing pregnant patients in the ED can be stressful – especially because you have (at least) two patients to think about! Emergency physicians are generally comfortable managing first trimester emergencies but are less familiar with complications in the later stages of pregnancy. It is these complications that contribute in part to the maternal health crisis in the US. In this episode, we...

In this episode we talk with Dr. Julie Leonard about the PECARN C-spine Rule that was just officially published! Dr. Leonard is the senior author of the study and walks us through the findings, why its important, and how she uses the rule in her own clinical practice. Host: Dr. Julia Magaña , Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Guest: Dr. Julie Leonard , MD, MPH, Professor of Ped...

In this episode of our ongoing miniseries “Push Dose Pearls,” we discuss the use of intranasal medications in the emergency department with Chris Adams, an ED clinical pharmacist at UC Davis. We talk about the benefits of intranasal administration, intranasal medications, and advantages for pediatric patients. Did this episode change your practice? Let us know on social media @empulsep...