PAMED Talks

What does it take to become a physician leader while navigating the challenges of medical residency and immigration? In this episode of PAMED Talks, Dana Lombardo, Outreach Specialist at the Pennsylvania Medical Society, interviews Tejas Nikumbh, MD, an internal medicine chief resident, PAMED trustee, and Vice Chair of the Residents & Fellows Section. Dr. Nikumbh discusses his journey in physi...

In this episode of PAMED Talks, Julie Heaney speaks with Rose Wascher, first-year medical student at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and 2026 Lycoming County Medical Society scholarship recipient. Rose shares the complexity of being a first generation medical student, the hidden support of financial assistance like scholarships, and how being a patient informed her path towa...

In this episode of PAMED Talks, PAMED President Arvind R. Cavale, MD, FACE, FCPP, PCEO sits down with Dave Chase, Creator and Co-founder of Health Rosetta and author of the upcoming Relocalizing Health: Taking Back Healthcare & Rebuilding Communities. Together, they discuss the state of healthcare, the epidemic of physician burnout, and why the future of medicine may already exist. Visit www.p...

In this episode of PAMED Talks, Julie Heaney speaks with Kristen Sandel, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, emergency physician, leader at WellSpan Ephrata, and Trustee of The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, about her work as a physician reviewer for the LifeGuard Program. Dr. Sandel shares insights on how emergency medicine is evolving, common challenges physicians face with board certification, a...

Clinically integrated networks and value based care are reshaping how Pennsylvania physicians practice, and this episode breaks down what that actually means. In this episode of PAMED Talks, PAMED President Arvind R. Cavale, MD, FACE, FCPP, PCEO sits down with John Pagan, MD, MBA, FACS, CEO of the Pennsylvania Clinical Network and President of the Bucks County Medical Society, to explore the histo...

Community-Owned Health Plans and direct contracting are changing the conversation about what is possible for physicians in Pennsylvania, and this episode explains exactly how. Join us as PAMED President Arvind R. Cavale, MD, FACE, FCPP, PCEO sits down with Tina Wilt, GBA, Senior Consultant in Advanced Healthcare Strategies at Alera Group, an expert with more than 25 years in employee benefits and...

In honor of Nurses' Day, join us for a conversation with Karen Allen, RN, retired nurse and current member of the Nurses' Health Program (NHP) Advisory Committee, as we explore the reality of substance use disorder in nursing and Karen shares her own recovery story. Substance use disorder is a real and often hidden challenge within the nursing profession, affecting dedicated professional...

Pennsylvania physicians, residents, fellows, and medical students have the power to shape health policy through PAMED resolutions, and this episode walks you through exactly how to do it. In this resident wrap-up episode of PAMED Talks, PAMED Outreach Specialist Dana Lombardo sits down with PAMED Policy Administrator Minahil Abbas to explain the resolution writing process ahead of the 2026 House o...

Rural hospital closures in Pennsylvania are reshaping access to care, and PA physicians are on the front lines of the crisis. In this episode of PAMED Talks, a Pennsylvania physician breaks down the real drivers behind the rural healthcare crisis and what it means for patients and the future of medicine. From workforce shortages to private equity and declining reimbursement, this conversation expl...

Independent practice in Pennsylvania is under pressure, and Pennsylvania physicians are building something new to fight back. In this episode of PAMED Talks, PAMED President Arvind R. Cavale, MD, FACE, FCPP, PCEO sits down with PAMED's Director of Physician Services Amy Boyd, BSBA, CCMA to introduce two resources launching for independent practice physicians across Pennsylvania. They walk thr...

What does residency actually look like from the inside? In the debut episode of our Residents & Fellows series, PAMED's Outreach Specialist Dana Lombardo sits down with Joshua Wyner, MD, internal medicine PGY-2 at Allegheny Health Network and Chair of the Pennsylvania Medical Society's Residents & Fellows Section, for a candid conversation about life in training. Dr. Wyner opens...

Join us for a conversation with Edwin Kim, MD, medical director of Pennsylvania’s Physicians’ Health Program (PA PHP), as we explore how The Pitt portrays physician burnout, substance use disorder, and the critical work of the PHP in its Season 2 storyline. Through Dr. Frank Langdon’s monitored return to practice and Dr. Robby’s lingering COVID‑era PTSD and burnout, the show illuminates real chall...

In the first episode of PAMED Talks: The Legislative Corner, we sit down with Zachary Gates, PAMED's Senior Director of Government Relations, to break down the AMA National Advocacy Conference (NAC) and why physician advocacy has never been more important. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or a physician who's never contacted a legislator, this episode breaks down exactly how you c...

In the final episode of The Physician's Choice series, Immediate Past President Lynn Lucas-Fehm, MD, JD, sits down with President Arvind R. Cavale, MD, FACE, FCPP, PCEO, to explore how his presidential initiative will continue the momentum of her work, focusing on advancing physician autonomy and creating conditions in which doctors can make patient-centered decisions in any practice setting....

Join us as we sit down with Chaminie Wheeler, DO, a board-certified pediatrician, to explore the direct primary care (DPC) model and her patient-centered practice.  Dr. Wheeler shares how her membership-based model gives patients affordable, unlimited access to care while allowing physicians the time and autonomy to focus on meaningful relationships, personalized treatment, and better health outco...

Join us as we sit down with Lindsay Goodstein, MD, an otolaryngologist and co-founder of Clarity ENT, an independent practice in Montgomery County, PA. Dr. Goodstein shares her journey from a larger group practice to building a patient-centered clinic that emphasizes autonomy, individualized care, and strong physician-patient relationships. She discusses the challenges of starting a practice from...

Join us as we sit down with Robert McNamara, MD, FAAEM, Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, to examine the growing influence of private equity in emergency medicine.  Drawing on more than 30 years of experience advocating for independent physician practices, Dr. McNamara discusses the history of corporate involvement in hospitals and...

Join us as we talk with Dr. Marilyn Heine, an emergency medicine and hematology-oncology physician, PAMED Past President, and AMA Board of Trustees Member. Through an experienced lens, Dr. Heine connects the gripping stories and striking realism of the Emmy award-winning HBO Max series The Pitt to the real-life challenges, teamwork, and emotional toll experienced by emergency physicians. In this e...

Join us as we talk with Edwin Kim, MD, Medical Director for the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society's Peer Assistance Monitoring Program, about the unique mental health and addiction challenges physicians face and how these challenges are represented in media. This episode also talks about Dr. Kim’s experience consulting with the writers of HBO Max’s The Pitt. In this episode, we e...

Join us as we talk with Dr. Timothy Flynn, a pediatrician whose career spans military service and independent practice. Discover how Dr. Flynn built a patient-centered, independent pediatric practice in Pennsylvania and why physician autonomy matters for both doctors and patients. In this episode, we explore the challenges and rewards of running a small practice, balancing work-life demands, and m...

In this special episode of PAMED Talks, hosted by Julie of The Foundation, we explore the power of giving and how it strengthens the medical community. Our guest, Donna Rovito, joins us to discuss year-end giving and her experience advocating as a physician family member. Rovito is an editor of Physician Family Magazine and Strategies Oncology, a passionate advocate for quality healthcare, and a d...

Through her presidential initiative, PAMED President Lynn Lucas-Fehm, MD, JD is exploring the landscape of health care and the myriad of choices physicians face in today's rapidly changing health care environment. In this episode, Dr. Lucas-Fehm interviewed former PAMED President and longstanding pillar in the Central Pennsylvania medical community, F. Wilson Jackson, III, MD. He talks to Dr....

Through her presidential initiative, PAMED President Lynn Lucas-Fehm, MD, JD is exploring the landscape of health care and the myriad of choices physicians face in today's rapidly changing health care environment. In this episode, Dr. Lucas-Fehm sits down with Jill Owens, MD the current Delegate Chair for Pennsylvania at the American Medical Association. Dr. Owens has a variety of experience...

Through her presidential initiative, PAMED President Lynn Lucas-Fehm, MD, JD is exploring the landscape of health care and the myriad of choices physicians face in today's rapidly changing health care environment. In this episode, Dr. Lucas-Fehm had the privilege of interviewing William Wenner, MD, a distinguished medical professional whose decades-long career provides valuable insight into t...

Through her presidential initiative, PAMED President Lynn Lucas-Fehm, MD, JD is exploring the landscape of health care and the myriad of choices physicians face in today's rapidly changing health care environment.  In this episode, Dr. Lynn Lucas-Fehm, spoke with William Van Decker, MD, on private equity. Dr. Van Decker is a professor at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University....