The Critical Care Commute Podcast

Dr. Mike Christian is a critical care and pre-hospital medicine specialist with extensive experience in aeromedical transport and military medicine. His diverse career spans work as a paramedic, internal medicine and critical care training, and roles as a flight physician with London Air Ambulance and the Canadian military. He is a leading advocate for integrating interprofessional teams and advan...

In this episode, hosts Leon Byker and Peter Brindley are joined by Dr. Elizabeth Viglianti, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, Pulmonologist and Critical Care Specialist, to discuss the crucial issue of gender based harassment in medicine. Gender-Based Harassment refers to any unwelcome behavior, comment, or conduct that demeans, intimidates, or disadvantages someone based on th...

We take another break as we are joined by Prof. Wendy Sligl, formidable ID and ICU doc, to discuss the critical topic of optimizing antibiotic prescribing in critical care settings. The discussion covers various aspects of antibiotic use, including the importance of timely administration, the role of communication in ensuring effective treatment, and the nuances of dosing strategies such as loadin...

Following the discussion on ECLS in AMI and cardiogenic shock, we go on to discuss eCPR for cardiac arrest specifically. This episode was recorded live at the Critical Care Canada Forum 2024 as part of our special series on cardiac intensive care. Our guest is Dr. Darryl Abrams, Associate Medical Director and Director of Research for the Medical ECMO Program at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia Unive...

In this episode, recorded live at the Critical Care Canada Forum in Toronto, we dive into extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in cardiogenic shock, with Dr Sean van Diepen. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta, Co-Director of the CCU at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, and a leading voice in cardiac critical care. Join us as we explore the evolving landscape of mechanic...

We’re taking a break from our Cardiac Critical Care series to bring you a conversation with one of the most influential figures in medicine. Peter had the huge privilege of interviewing Major General Tim Hodgetts, the recently retired, most senior medical advisor in the UK forces. Hodgetts shares his remarkable journey in transforming emergency medicine from its infancy to maturity, detailing poig...

Recorded live at the Critical Care Canada Forum 2024, this episode is part of our special Cardiac ICU Series. Dr. Rebecca Mathew, cardiologist and critical care specialist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, joins us to discuss the latest refractory cardiac arrest practice updates, including antiarrhythmic drugs, defibrillation strategies, and the role of ECPR. Chapters: • Defining refrac...

Welcome to our first episode in a series on Cardiac Intensive Care, recorded live at the Critical Care Canada Forum 2024. We kick off by looking at the latest Clinical Practice Update on post cardiac arrest care and refractory cardiac arrest. The "Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Cardiovascular Critical Care Society/Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology Clinical Practice U...

Recorded live at the Toronto Critical Care Canada Forum, this episode features a conversation with Prof. Derek Angus, Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, senior editor at JAMA, and Vice Chair of Innovation. We discuss the evolution of healthcare systems, the art of decision-making, the role of AI, and how to inspire the next generation of clinicians. Chapters: Welcome to the Forum Introduct...

Health Economics 101: "Code Green - How the big lie in health care affects us all." Prof. John Kellum, is a Professor of Critical Care Nephrology and now provocative author! Join us as he talks to us about his book: "Code Green - How the Big Lie in Healthcare Affects Us All." Conflict Declaration: The hosts and producers of this podcast declare no financial gain or conflict of interest from this e...

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of Hyperbaric medicine with Dr. Jeff Kerrie, a Hyperbaric specialist from British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Kerrie takes us through the science, history, and practical applications of Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as we explore the approved indications, physiological effects, and logistics of managing hyperbaric chambers. Episode Chapters: Introdu...

In this episode, Peter Brindley and Leon Byker sit down with Dr. Rob Bevan, immediate past president of the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM) and Critical Care Director at Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. Dr. Bevan shares his journey through leadership in intensive care, the role of intensive care colleges, and the evolution of critical care training. He also explores the pol...

Coping with dying and saying what needs to be heard: Elliot Sprague Introduction: In this emotional episode, Peter Brindley, Leon Byker, and Elliot Sprague revisit Elliot’s journey with metastatic cancer, a year after his initial appearance on the podcast, Elliot reflects on the impact of living with a terminal illness, sharing life lessons, and offering insights on how he continues to thrive desp...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Damon Scales and Dr. Niall Ferguson at the Canadian Critical Care Forum. We dive into a little bit of ARDS and spend a whole lot of time talking about the evolving landscape of conferences and critical care research. Tune in for insights from two leaders in the field!

Join us as Prof. Stephen Lapinski answers our questions on Obstetric critical care. Stephen Lapinsky is Director of the Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto and Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and trained in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. His clinical practice includes general Critical C...

Join us as we discuss ARDS, Research and balancing life as a researcher with Professor Charlotte summers, Director of the Heart and Lung Research Institute (HLRI).

Join James Downar Head of Palliative and End of Life Care and a Critical Care Doc in Ottawa. He has walked the walk on this topic since before its introduction in Canada. Nobody is better qualified to discuss this thorny topic. 

Join Brian Buchanan, Associate Professor and ultrasound guru, for a dose of iconoclasm and provocation. Recorded at the Critical Care Canada Forum in Toronto, and following a 2024 JICS publication by Brindley et al.  

Thank you for your patience! After a short break, we are back with a delightful interview with Dr. Jeff Drazen, the esteemed former Editor-in-Chief of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). In this episode, we explore the critical journey of transforming medical research into practical, patient-and-family centered care. We emphasize the importance of bringing humanity back into healthcare and...

Welcome to the Critical Care Commute Podcast! In this episode, we have the honor of hosting Dr. Dan Howes. Dr. Howes is a Professor in the Departments of Critical Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine. He is the founder and director of the Kingston Resuscitation Institute and initiated the first Fellowship in Resuscitation and Reanimation through the Department of Emergency Medicine at Queen’s. Joi...

We return to our Canadian Critical Care Forum series with this episode. In this episode, we delve into the world of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) with Dr. Eddy Fan, a leading expert in critical care and ECMO specialist. Eddy Fan is an associate professor in the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine and the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation at the Un...

We take a quick break from our Canada Critical Care Forum series, for a special episode. We had the privilege of hosting Dr. Rob Fowler, visiting professor at the University of Alberta as part of the Dr. Noel Gibney lecture series. Dr. Fowler is a critical care physician and Tory Trauma Program Chief at Sunnybrook Hospital and Chair of the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group. Rob’s academic intere...

In this episode, join us for an in-depth conversation with Dr. Andrew Baker, as he reflects on his time as the incident Commander of the Ontario Critical Care COVID Command Centre, during the COVID pandemic. Dr. Baker offers a firsthand account of the establishment and operation of this crucial hub in the battle against the pandemic, highlighting the collaborative efforts of healthcare professiona...

Welcome to our latest episode, recorded live at the Critical Care Forum in Canada. We're joined by Dr. Stephanie Sibley and Dr. Michal Cwhalek, a Critical Care Trainee, to discuss Atrial Fibrillation, the most commonly sustained cardiac arrhythmia in critical care. Dr Stephanie Sibley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Critical Care Medicine at Queens University, Kingston, Canada....

Welcome to the 2nd episode in our Critical Care Forum Canada 2023 podcast series, where we interview leading Canadian experts. In this episode, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and critical care medicine with Dr. Shelly Dev and David Maslove, recorded after a panel discussion held at the Conference in Toronto. Dr Dev is no stranger to our podcast and is a staff intensivist at...