Resonance - A Baylor College of Medicine Podcast

In this episode of the Resonance Podcast, hosts Sydney Larsen and Aruni Areti sit down with Dr. Peter Hotez, physician-scientist, pediatrician, vaccine developer, and Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. He traces his path from an MD-PhD student in New York to developing vaccines that have reached millions of people around the world and speaks on the growing challenge of anti-vaccine misinformation and what it’s meant for his life and work. Along the way, the conversation turns to mentorship, storytelling, and what keeps someone going after decades in the field. 

Dr. Ricardo Nuila, a hospitalist and faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine, discusses his background, including his upbringing in Houston, education at Georgetown University, and medical training at Baylor. He highlights his role as director of the Humanities Expression and Arts Lab (HEAL) at Baylor, which aims to integrate humanities into medical education to combat burnout. Nuila's book, "The People's Hospital," explores the history and current state of American healthcare, particularly at Ben Taub, a public hospital serving underserved populations. He emphasizes the importance of human connection in medicine and the need for a public healthcare option.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Thao Galvan, transplant surgeon and associate professor of surgery in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at BCM, about the role of mentorship in academic medicine. We discuss her journey to transplant surgery, her work across disciplines from ethics and policy advocacy to basic science research and innovation, how mentors have supported her throughout her career, and how she mentors students, residents, and fellows now.

Ms. Stacy Nigliazzo, a nurse and operations administrator with an instructor role for Baylor College of Medicine’s Humanities Expression & Arts Lab (HEAL) joins us to discuss the lasting connection that can be fostered through the practice of Narrative Medicine. She shares scientific data, techniques, and personal examples of how Narrative Medicine and art can not only improve the clinician experience but also foster a deeper human connection between provider and patient. We also dive into how these principles are being implemented and practiced at Baylor College of Medicine as a part of medical school curriculum design to better equip our next generation of physicians. 

In this episode of Resonance, Gianni Calderara and Nithya Erabelli sit down with Dr. Paige Reed, an interventional radiologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, to discuss her journey into IR, the variety and creativity of the field, and the unique opportunities it offers for patient care, procedural innovation, and research. Dr. Reed shares insights into her daily work, mentorship experiences, and the evolving role of women in IR. She offers advice for medical students and aspiring radiologists on finding their passion, building meaningful careers, and navigating the challenges of medical training. Listeners also get a glimpse of Dr. Reed’s personal interests, from horseback riding to cooking, highlighting the balance between professional fulfillment and life outside medicine.