Medicus

In this episode, Rasa chats with Dr. LaMenta Conway, founder of the I Am Abel Foundation, about creating communities that allow the dream of becoming a physician a possibility for underserved youth. Trained in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Illinois, Dr. LaMenta Conway has celebrated over 22 years as a physician with most of her career teaching in top academic hospitals...

In this episode, Raj chats with Dr. Leslie Rydberg, who is a general physiatrist and associate residency director at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. She discusses her path to physical medicine & rehabilitation, and why medical students should consider it as a future specialty choice. Dr. Rydberg has a special interest in resident and medical student education. Join us as we learn about the day-t...

In this episode, Brittany chats with Miriam Pierce, MSW, who is a School Social worker at Chicago Public Schools. Before becoming a licensed social worker, Miriam graduated from Loyola University Chicago with her Bachelors in Communication Studies: Advocacy and Social Change, and a minor in Education Policy. She received her Masters in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Join us a...

Dr. Nicola Orlov is a pediatric hospitalist with an interest in improving the sleep and health of hospitalized children. She is also an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Program Director for the Pediatric Residency Training Program, and Co-Clerkship Director for the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School Medicine. All of which require exceptional communication skills, do they not? Afte...

In this interview, we chat with Kody Wakasa, a former professional soccer player who traded in his cleats for a stethoscope and is now a medical student at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine. Kody is a second year medical student from Burlingame, CA. He studied Biology while playing division I soccer at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He then went on to play professionally in Arizona—two years with a se...

In this episode, we chat with microbe and pathology aficionado Cullen Lilley about exciting initiatives in the world of microbiology and pathology, utilizing social media and online platforms to educate the masses. Cullen Lilley is a third-year MD/MA student at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine studying medicine and bioethics/health policy. He is also co-founder of PathElective....

Interested in thinking more about the intersection between literature and medicine? We were - and found an expert on the topic at the Georgetown School of Medicine.  Dr. Marchalik is the creator and director of the Literature in Medicine Track at Georgetown and the associate director of the Medical Humanities Initiative . He also holds a masters degree in English literature from Georgetown an...

This is the second episode in our series, "Social Media in Medicine," where the Medicus team will be speaking with medical social media influencers about their experiences utilizing these new social platforms to further their goals as professionals. For students or medical professionals who are interested in this budding sector of healthcare, this series will explore the advantages, motivations, a...

This is the first episode in our series, "Social Media in Medicine," where the Medicus team will be speaking with medical social media influencers about their experiences utilizing these new social platforms to further their goals as professionals. For students or medical professionals who are interested in this budding sector of healthcare, this series will explore the advantages, motivations, an...

Living without a diagnosis is hard. Being a mom of two undiagnosed children is perhaps even harder. In this episode, we interview Amanda Upton, who has two medically complex daughters who continue to live without a name for their condition. Throughout their journey, the Upton family has learned to roll with the punches and make the best out of every good day. Listen to learn what it is like to man...

Inspired and unified by the humanitarian spirit of Wonder Woman, the Wonder Woman Passion Project aims to assemble a Healers League that empowers and mentors the next generation of healthcare team leaders and members by responsibly leveraging social media. The Wonder Wisdom Series features individuals from all aspects of healthcare and science who provide truthful and resilient stories of their jo...

We are keeping the ball rolling with another amazing MS4 match episode! Alek sits down with Dr. Cesar Delgado, MD, and Dr. Hannah Slovacek, MD, two recent 2021 Loyola Stritch School of Medicine graduates that matched into Urology at University of California San Diego (UCSD) and University of Texas, Houston (UT Houston) respectively. Here, Cesar and Hannah reflect on their journey in pursuing a car...

We have another amazing MS4 match episode! Alek and Katherine sit down with Colten Wolf, MD, and Emily Bacalao, MD, two recent 2021 Loyola Stritch School of Medicine graduates that matched into Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Loyola Hospital Systems and University of Colorado respectively. Here, Colten and Emily reflect on their journey in pursuing a career in Otolaryngology Head and Neck...

The MS4 Specialty Series is back! Here to kick things off is Melissa D'Andrea, MD, and John Hallsten, MD, two recent 2021 Loyola Stritch School of Medicine graduates that matched into the Integrated Vascular Surgery track at University of Arizona, Tuscan, and University of California, San Diego, respectively. Melissa and John reflect on their reasons for pursuing a career in Vascular Surgery, as w...

In the final bonus episode of a three part series, Katherine and Brittany interview current students at the Stritch School of Medicine about how COVID-19 has impacted their medical education. Join us as we talk with current M4, Lauren Lamparter, about her experience finishing her clinical rotations, applying to residency programs, and anticipating ways that the transition to residency may look dif...

Through personal, firsthand experience Stacia Dearmin, MD has witnessed the impact of unexpected negative outcomes and medical malpractice lawsuits on physicians and other medical professionals. Through her website and counseling company www.thrivephysician.com , she now works to support others through the confusion and uncertainty that often follows adverse outcomes and malpractice litigation. Ep...

This is the second bonus episode in a three part series where Katherine and Brittany interview current students at the Stritch School of Medicine about how COVID-19 has impacted their medical education. Join us as we talk with current M3, Gideon Levinson, about what it was like to wrap up pre-clinicals, study for STEP1, and begin clinical training during the pandemic. We found Gideon to be a natur...

We sit down with Dr. Will Brundidge to discuss financial education from the lens of a resident. Will is a PGY-4 Med/Peds senior at Loyola University Hospital Systems. Outside of spending time with his family, Will has interests in financial independence and real estate. Currently, Will and his wife own and rent out properties in both the California and Chicagoland areas. Through a process known as...

In the second part of this conversation, Luke talks about their experiences interacting with the healthcare system, and their thoughts on how we can better support our trans and nonbinary patients. From being mindful of making assumptions about patients’ health needs based on their gender identity or sexual orientation, to having the humility to listen and learn from our patients, there is a lot w...

Lucas Greeff (xe/they) is a dancer, choreographer, and circus artist in the Chicagoland area, who has done some incredible work with Joel Hall Dancers, Blue Fire Dance Collective, and Aloft Circus Arts. They also have personal experience exploring their gender identity, and going through the process of transitioning over the past several years. In this episode, Luke shares their experiences going...

For students interested in pursuing a healthcare career to serve communities in need both international and domestically, the process of finding an organization and travelling can be complicated yet incredibly rewarding. Aaron and Rasa speak with Dr. Amy Blair, a well-traveled faculty member at the Loyola Stritch School of Medicine about her global experiences who provides stories of her service e...

The COVID-19 pandemic has touched the lives of nearly everyone on the globe and has drastically changed how we live and interact on a daily basis. Join Katherine and Brittany as they speak with medical students on what the pandemic has meant for their medical education and the impact it’s had on medical student experiences. Stay tuned for three bonus episodes, including this one, where they speak...

Have you ever wondered how a medical student, low on the totem pole in the very rigid hierarchy of healthcare, can seek out opportunities for leadership in medicine? If so, then this episode is for you! Brendan and Brittany chat with Nicolette Codispoti, a second-year medical student at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine. She shares how she has pursued various leadership roles, both within medical...

Dr. Shahid is an expert on the topic of emotional intelligence. In this episode, he shares with us what it means to have emotional intelligence and how developing this important skillset can help physicians become effective leaders, build strong relationships with patients, develop resiliency, and perform well under stress. Improving your emotional intelligence starts with knowing your strengths a...

Dr. Alyssa Burgart is a board certified pediatric anesthesiologist and bioethicist. She specializes in pediatric anesthesia and pediatric abdominal transplant anesthesia. She also has a joint appointment in the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, serves as the Co-Chair of the LPCH Ethics Committee and as a member of the SHC Ethics Committee. She provides ethics consultation services for people...