As physicians, we entered the field of medicine with certain expectations about how it would feel and look, but the reality often falls short of those ideals. Whether our aspirations involve establishing a private practice or working in a medical center with adequate compensation and freedom to make the best decisions for our patients, we encounter limitations in our practice. We often lack the control, autonomy, and independence we desire, even with our credentials. However, if we could quickly and securely authenticate our identities, it would grant us the leverage needed to negotiate for the resources and support our patients truly need. Join the conversation and learn more about how we can pave the way to achieve these goals.

In this episode, your host, Dr. Coombs, engages in an insightful conversation with two doctors revolutionizing the healthcare industry - Dr. Leah Houston and Dr. Oren Mechanic. Together, they explore the reasons behind the increasing exodus of physicians from the medical field, shed light on the future of medicine, and propose ways that we, as a community of physicians, can reclaim and shape the future of our profession. 

Tune in!

What You Will Learn:

[00:00] Intro and a bit about our guests today 

[03:34] What Dr. Houston is doing to alleviate stress and give autonomy back to physicians 

[05:59] Health care 2.0: Taking control of our data and protecting our patients  

[06:30] The mid-level practice and how it is impacting access to quality care  

[11:34] How the sole use of medical examinations for practice readiness is creating disparity 

[16:24] Strategies to prevent the mass exodus of doctors from the profession

[21:26] About HPEC (Humanitarian Physician Empowerment Community) 

[24:57] What HPEC is doing to help doctors be independent and stay in practice

[28:43] How to join the HPEC community 

[29:38] Dr. Mechanic's advice to doctors considering leaving their practice 

[32:07] How to reach and connect with Dr. Mechanic

[32:14] Dr. Coombs' advice to medical students and residents 

Standout Quotes:

“If we had the ability to authenticate who we are quickly, rapidly, and instantaneously, we would have so much leverage to negotiate the things we know our patients need.” - Dr. Houston [04:48]

“Dive in and develop your expertise; being an emergency doctor, a trauma surgeon, or a physician is a true expertise; excel above.”- Dr. Mechanic [17:21]

“Keep an open mind; don’t be so blinded into that specific specialty 100%; explore different areas, work with people outside medicine, and go to networking events.”- Dr. Coombs [32:19]

Let’s Connect www.friendsofmed.com

Friends of Medicine 

https://instagram.com/friends_of_medicine?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Dr. André Coombs (Trauma surgeon, Friends of Medicine Founder, and host of Behind the Scrubs)

https://instagram.com/trinitraumasurgeon?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://friendsofmed.com/

Dr. Leah Houston (Emergency Physician and founder of HEPC)

https://www.instagram.com/leahhoustonmd/?hl=en

Dr. Oren Mechanic (Chief Clinical Officer)

https://www.instagram.com/instaoj/?hl=en

Women in healthcare face a myriad of challenges along their professional journey, yet they continue to achieve remarkable triumphs. One of the distressing issues affecting them is the pervasive presence of sexual harassment, with studies revealing that approximately 50% of female medical students experience it at some point. Furthermore, as they enter leadership roles, they often lack the necessary guidance and mentorship, leading to self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Addressing this requires providing mentors who can empower and guide them as leaders. Join this conversation, and let’s dive more into that.

In this episode, our host, Dr. Coombs, is joined by three remarkable doctors championing women in healthcare. With Dr. Mecker Moller (Academic Surgical Oncologist), Dr. Sabrina Arshed (Medical Intensivist), and Dr. Sulynn Walker (Emergency Room Physician), we discuss what we can do for women in healthcare to overcome the many challenges they face. We can overcome these challenges through collective efforts and celebrate their invaluable contributions to the healthcare industry.

Tune in!

What You Will Learn:

[00:00] Intro and a bit about our guests today 

[01:32] The greatest challenge affecting women in healthcare

[06:10] Timely advice to young female medics aspiring to the ranks in their specialties

[11:51] What can be done to achieve the actionable change needed

[15:38] How men can be part of the solution 

[17:22] Dr. Moller’s views on the pressing issues with medical training and possible solutions

[25:03] Other ways to support more women in the medical leadership

[30:56] How to start a support group for women in healthcare

[31:40] Episode wrap-up and call to action 

Standout Quotes:

“Data suggests that 50% of all female medical students are going to be sexually harassed or assaulted at some point.” - Dr. Arshed [02:13]

“Women have been increasing in residency, a highly male dominated field, but the percentage is still not satisfactory.”- Dr. Walker [03:53]

“Having men who champion for women in medicine is vital for the collaborative work of reducing challenges that women face in this industry.”- Dr. Coombs [15:38]

“Female physicians suffer infertility four times higher than the rest of the population.”- Dr. Moller [18:59]

Let’s Connect www.friendsofmed.com

Friends of Medicine 

https://instagram.com/friends_of_medicine?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Dr. André Coombs (Trauma surgeon, Friends of Medicine Founder, and host of Behind the Scrubs)

https://instagram.com/trinitraumasurgeon?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://friendsofmed.com/

Dr. Mecker Moller  (Academic Surgical Oncologist)

https://www.instagram.com/mickiecita/?igshid=

Dr. Sabrina Arshed (Medical Intensivist)

https://www.instagram.com/ska_md/?igshid=

Dr. Sulynn Walker (Emergency Room Physician)

https://www.instagram.com/canijustbesuly/?igshid=

Balancing Life And Medical Training 

Balancing personal life with what we do at work, saving lives, can be challenging regardless of the specialty you are in or are getting into. It's a delicate balance that requires you to perform your best in your career while also prioritizing the fundamental aspects that keep your life together. Neglecting your basic needs can lead to burnout, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Mental health is critical for medical professionals, and finding equilibrium in your medical and non-medical life is essential for success. 

In this episode of the Behind the Scrubs podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Azimi, a chief surgical resident, Jasmine Beyk, a third-year medical student, and Dr. Renda, a trauma and acute care surgeon. In the conversation, we delve into everything about balancing life and medical training and how you can navigate the delicate balance between your work and personal life while maintaining your mental and physical well-being.

This is an exciting conversation. Tune in!

What You Will Learn:

• [00:00] Intro and a bit about our guests today 
• [01:27] Saving life and why it’s a rewarding and incredible experience 
• [03:54] Dr. Azimi's journey and how he was able to achieve success as a chief resident 
• [08:47] How Jasmine got into medical school and her goals as an aspiring Surgeon 
• [09:37] Medicine is a numbers game about how you know, not what you know 
• [13:47] Doing your best without ignoring the basic things that keep your life together  
• [15:06] Prioritizing your studies without jeopardizing your health 
• [15:54] How to develop who you are outside your medical career 
• [20:37] Friends of Medicine sponsors and how to check out our events and projects  

Standout Quotes:

• “Everything in life is about priority; there cannot be two number ones, and whatever the number one is, you devote yourself to it.”- Dr. Azimi [06:29]
• “Failure is a necessary ingredient to success. If you fail at something, that means you have more potential to be successful. So, take the failures as wins and apply them to the next goal.”- Dr. Coombs [06:53]
• “Medicine is a numbers game, it doesn’t matter who you know, at the end of the day, what your grade is dependent upon is how you do on exams and criteria that we measure.”- Dr. Renda [10:24]
• “You need the mental health going through medical school and residency; prioritize your studying but also prioritize working out, eating healthy and relationships.” - Jasmine [15:27]

Let’s Connect 

Friends of Medicine Upcoming event on June 17th, 2023:

https://www.eventcreate.com/e/fom2023enchantedsummer

Dr. André Coombs (Trauma surgeon and host)

https://instagram.com/trinitraumasurgeon?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Dr. Obteene Azimi-Ghomi (chief resident general surgery going into trauma surgery fellowship)

https://instagram.com/obie_1ne?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Jasmine Beyk (3rd-year medical student)

https://instagram.com/jbeyk22?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Dr. Michael Renda (Trauma surgeon)

https://instagram.com/dr_michael_renda?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Part 1: Dating In Medicine Navigating the dating world can be difficult, especially as a doctor. With long work hours and intense demands, finding the time and energy to pursue authentic relationships can be challenging. But having a fulfilling romantic life is an essential part of self-care and can help you maintain your mental health while continuing to make a difference in the lives of others. As a doctor, people's lives are in your hands, but you’re also a human who deserves to be happy. In this episode of the Behind the Scrubs podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Michael Renda, a trauma and acute care surgeon; Dr. Linda Velazquez, a surgical resident; husband and wife Drs. Dr. Kojo Marfo and Tammy John, both orthopedic surgeons. In this conversation, we discuss dating in medicine, misconceptions about it, our experiences as doctors, and how you can make your experiences and choices better and enjoy your journey. This is an exciting conversation. Tune in!

What You Will Learn: [00:00] Intro and a bit about our guests today [07:46] Balancing your career with relationships and dating [12:36] The misconceptions around the financial side of being a doctor [17:01] Dating inside or outside the medical field [28:25] Women’s and men's biological clock’s unnecessary pressure [32:19] Why online dating is a science experiment on the internet [36:19] The paradox of choice and the unlimited options of perfection [39:02] How to overcome dating difficulties in residency and enjoy your journey [44:27] Self-care: setting boundaries and being okay with it [48:58] The baseline for dating and building healthy relations [58:28] A tour of Alexis Lauren's facility [59:44] How to follow us and check out our events and projects [01:00:54] Advice to young medics [01:05:27] Ending the show

Tune in to part 2

Standout Quotes: “The biggest lie of all time is seeing red flags in a relationship and thinking you cannot end it because there is nothing better for you out there.”- Dr. Velazquez [28:18] “There is so much that is tailored to what people want on Instagram that it isn't real, and everyday options of different variations of perfection are negatively affecting us.”- Dr. John [35:59] “The Paradox of choice is the most numbing thing, and what we use to date or meet our significant other is the epitome of the worst paradox of choice possible.”- Dr. Renda [36:23] “Have controlled empathy when you’re at work, don't take it home with you; be present at work and leave it there; when you go home, be present with your loved ones ”- Dr. Coombs [51:05] “Love what you're doing and do what you need to do to help others, don’t think about the money aspects.”- Dr. Marfo [55:48] Let’s Connect Dr. Coombs: Email: info@friendsofmed.com

The Untold Truths About Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

In this episode of the Friends of medicine podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Kevin Mosca, a plastic surgeon and the founder of Mosca Plastic Surgery and Nina, a physical fitness influencer. In the conversation, we talk about the untold truths of plastic surgery, from the preparation, risks, and benefits to the body enhancement social pressure that is becoming a problem. We also discuss liposuction and breast augmentation surgeries to help you make informed choices about optimizing your appearance. This is a really fascinating conversation that we hope you enjoy!

What You Will Learn:

[00:00] Introduction to the show and a bit about our guests today

[03:03] The social pressure toward body enhancement and fitting in

[04:43] How many plastic surgeries can our bodies sustain? Find out

[06:29] Why plastic surgery has one of the highest depression rates

[07:22] Social pressure for plastic surgery in the physical fitness practice

[10:08] The path to becoming a plastic surgeon in the US

[11:47] Liposuction procedures and some problems in the space

[14:53] The average cost of liposuction

[18:00] General and local anaesthesia for liposuction

[19:52] Why it’s riskier for men to do liposuction plastic surgery

[23:06] About liposuction safe technique, SAFE

[23:38] Does liposuction provide long-term results? Find out

 [24:36] Post-surgery management and why it matters

[25:44] The lifestyle of a plastic surgeon and why Dr. Mosca is always available

[29:04] What a masculine BBL looks like and how it differs from females

[33:24] What to focus on to develop your body and be fit for the long haul

[38:58] Non-surgical body sculpting

[39:40] Nina's five questions on plastic surgery

[47:30] Wrap up and end of the show

Standout Quotes:

“Every surgery has its own inherent risks, and it’s very important for the patients to understand the benefit they are going to get and the risk they are partaking.”- Dr. Mosca [5:19]

“We have to all understand that nobody is perfect and not every surgery is going to come perfect as the world of social media suggest right now”- Dr. Mosca [5:36]

“In the right hands, plastic surgery is a very safe procedure.”- Dr. Mosca [23:04]

“The post-surgery care carries an incredible degree of South American and Central American influence, and it has changed the way liposuction is done.”- Dr. Mosca [25:10]

“Once you see results, workouts become addicting, and you’re not going to fall off, but you have to be patient because you’re not going to see results in a week or two”- Nina [33:03]

“You can eat kale, salmon, and oatmeal all day, but if you don’t work out, they are not going to do anything for you”- Nina [35:38]

Interested in becoming a guest or have a topic or someone in mind for the show? Fill out this form and let’s chat.

https://form.jotform.com/230514667879166

To sponsor an episode, click the link below:

https://form.jotform.com/230514150197146

Email: info@friendsofmed.com Article: https://tinyurl.com/yc84s6y9

Friends of Medicine- The Network & The Foundation

Article: https://tinyurl.com/yc84s6y9

Friends of Medicine- The Network & The Foundation

Website: https://friendsofmed.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friends_of_medicine/

Event sponsorship opportunities: https://tinyurl.com/ex8uc6xb

Friends of Medicine Foundation membership application form:  https://tinyurl.com/mst4nt7d

Friends of Medicine Foundation volunteer form: https://tinyurl.com/mvynur6k

Dr.Mosca Website: https://www.drbocaraton.com/

Nina https://tinyurl.com/2hy4uzuc