Vitals and Voices

In the thirty-seventh episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Kayla Martin, a second-year medical student with a strong passion for preventive and lifestyle medicine. Currently preparing for her board exams while completing her final year of pre-clinical training, Kayla is deeply involved in leadership and research initiatives focused on pediatrics, health equity, and whole-person care. Out...

In the thirty-sixth episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Dr. Morgan Dresvyannikov, a board-certified family medicine physician and founder of the nonprofit organization Medical Explorers . As a full-time primary care provider in Kansas City, Dr. Dresvyannikov cares for patients across all stages of life while also mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals through innovat...

In the thirty-fifth episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Ogochukwu Azagba, a Registered Nurse-Midwife with over four years of experience across clinical practice, academics, and healthcare leadership. Ogochukwu’s journey into healthcare is rooted in a deep love for humanity and a belief in the power of compassionate, patient-centered care. From the beginning of her career, Ogochukwu has...

In the thirty-fourth episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Anna Leyrer, a second-year medical student on the MD track, currently completing her final year of didactic training before stepping into clinical rotations. Anna’s path to medicine was shaped early on by her own experience as a patient—one that revealed both the profound impact of compassionate care and the harm that can come fro...

In the thirty-third episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Mariam Atnasious — a first-year physician assistant student at MCPHS University in Massachusetts. As she reflects on completing her didactic year, Mariam shares what it’s been like to pursue medicine across borders, cultures, and challenges. Mariam’s passion for healthcare is deeply rooted in her lived experience as an immigrant an...

In the thirty-second episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Sadie, a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, psychosomatic symptoms, trauma, and chronic pain. Sadie’s path into mental health work is deeply personal. Inspired by her own recovery journey, she brings both clinical expertise and lived experience into the therapy room. Her approach centers on creatin...

In the thirty-first episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Dr. Tharshika Thavayogarajah — a clinician-scientist, hematologist, and social entrepreneur conducting leukemia research at Harvard University. Trained in hematology and internal medicine in Switzerland, Dr. Thavayogarajah brings a unique perspective to medicine, blending patient care, scientific innovation, and a commitment to eq...

In the thirtieth episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Brian Kendall, MD — a board-certified emergency medicine physician and core faculty member with the HCA/Trident Emergency Medicine Residency in Charleston, South Carolina. Brian has known he wanted to be a doctor for as long as he can remember, inspired by his grandfather, Dr. Bill Rumsfeld, an OB/GYN whose compassion, skill, and dee...

In the twenty-ninth episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Juliana Schlaen, also known as @glottisgoddess — a clinical fellow speech-language pathologist specializing in voice, swallowing, and upper airway disorders. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Juliana completed her graduate training at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she gained hands-on experience across diverse me...

In the twenty-eighth episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Reena Prajapati — an Optometrist and Ocularist whose work spans both primary eye care and the highly specialized art of ocular prosthetics. As an optometrist, Reena focuses on comprehensive vision care, and as an ocularist, she creates custom prosthetic eyes for individuals who have lost an eye due to trauma, illness, or accident...

In the twenty-seventh episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Tiffany Pecoraro (Haug)   — a registered dietitian specializing in eating disorders and co-occurring chronic illness, including autoimmune disease, MCAS, EDS, GI disorders, and chronic conditions such as OCD and ADHD that impact nourishment and recovery. Tiffany’s work centers on integrating the full medical picture into eating...

In the twenty-sixth episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Jennifer Cheung, widely known online as Nurse Cheung — a nurse with over 13 years of experience in critical care and emergency medicine, a master’s degree in nursing education, and a former corporate critical care education training manager. Jennifer has spent her career not only caring for patients in high-acuity settings, but als...

In the twenty-fifth episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Chloe Urias — a second-year Master of Public Health candidate at Vanderbilt University concentrating in Global Health, a Clinical Research Assistant in Labor and Delivery, and an intern at Comma, a social enterprise advancing menstrual health innovation and equity. Chloe’s journey reflects a deep commitment to bridging public heal...

In the twenty-fourth episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Yesenia M. Malave — a dedicated Family Nurse Practitioner with a certified specialty in Urology, now pursuing her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) at the University of Florida. Her journey is a powerful example of resilience, purpose, and the impact of combining clinical expertise with a commitment to patient advocacy. Yesenia’...

In the twenty-third episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Brandon Vazquez, a Certified Surgical Technologist whose journey into healthcare has been anything but linear. With over three and a half years in the operating room, Brandon works alongside surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses across a wide range of specialties, helping ensure procedures run safely and smoothly. Outside the OR...

In the twenty-second episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Alejandra — a dedicated pre-med student who is now stepping into her next chapter as an incoming MS1. Her path captures what it looks like when curiosity, compassion, and persistence intersect. Before even beginning medical school, she built a foundation shaped by research, advocacy, and a desire to expand the reach of evidence-ba...

In the twenty-first episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Pablo — a neuroscience and emergency medicine student whose path into healthcare began long before college, sparked by an unexpected middle-school class that cracked open the wonder of the human brain. Now a sophomore in college with hands in autism and immunology research, Pablo is charting an ambitious future: medical school, mi...

In the twentieth episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Krystal — a public health professional, ophthalmology technician, and future nurse practitioner whose journey through medicine has been anything but linear. With a deep commitment to culturally competent and trauma-informed care, Krystal is now preparing to pursue an ABSN and ultimately the NP route, drawn to the versatility, leadersh...

In the nineteenth episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Dr. Christy Kestner — a neuroscientist, science writer, and the founder of Brain & Beyond, a fast-growing science communication platform dedicated to making neuroscience, immunology, and oncology accessible for all. Dr. Kestner currently serves as a Scientific Writer for Endosymbiont, where she blends scientific precision with co...

In the eighteenth episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Molly Sankey, a second-year dental student at the University of New England in Portland, ME. Originally from Florida, she has lived in six states, gaining a love for new experiences and connecting with people from all walks of life. Molly shares how her journey in dentistry began in high school after shadowing a local dentist, where...

In the seventeenth episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Dr. Nicole Salame, a double board-certified and fellowship-trained medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs micrographic surgeon. Dr. Salame completed her dermatology residency at Emory University, where she served as chief resident, followed by an ASDS-accredited Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery Fellowship at SkinCare P...

In the sixteenth episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with a newly graduated veterinarian from outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who’s currently completing her internship at Abington Equine Hospital. Her journey, which began with a love for animals on her grandfather’s farm, led her to earn her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Simmons University and her veterinary degree from University...

In the fifteenth episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Grace (she/her) — a psychiatric nurse practitioner and the founder of Rediscovered Psychiatry , an insurance-based private practice serving adults 18 and older. Grace provides medication management and supportive therapy for those navigating eating disorders, disordered eating, depression, anxiety, trauma, mood disorders, and ADHD. S...

In the fourteenth episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Dr. Jackson Call, a pediatric dental resident, educator, and advocate for accessible oral healthcare. After graduating from the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry in 2024, Jackson spent a year as a general dentist before discovering his calling in pediatric denistry. His journey — inspired by his father’s compassi...

In the thirteen episode of Vitals and Voices , we sit down with Sakhi Patel — a PharmD student at UC Irvine, community pharmacy intern, and co-founder of CuraVoice, an AI voice-simulation platform helping healthcare students strengthen their patient communication and bedside manner with personalized feedback. Through her work in pharmacy, education, and mentorship, Sakhi is bridging the gap betwee...