Behind the Drapes: Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine

In this second part of Saving for Retirement, I talk with financial advisor, Tracy Cahill, about what retirement investment options there are for when you become an attending and see a sharp increase in your income. Your ability to invest in a Roth IRA is limited by your total household income, so when you exceed that limit it helps to know what other options are available to you. Listen along as we talk about backdoor Roths, College Funds, and when you can (should) finally touch those retirement savings. 03:00 Backdoor Roth IRA 06:30 Retirement Plans from Various Employeers 08:30 Saving for College Plans (529 Plans) 12:00 Personal Investing Advice 18:00 Pitfalls with Personap Investing 20:00 When to Reach Out for Professional Advice 22:00 When Can I Touch My Retirement Accounts? 24:30 Top 5 Takeaways for Retirement Savings

This episode if the first part of a two-part series where I speak with financial advisor and friend, Tracy Cahill about the importance of saving for retirement and where to get started. Listen along as he defines different savings account options, how much you should consider setting aside, and recommended resources to learn more about financial planning! 01:30 Tracy's personal story 04:00 Steps When Starting a New Job 05:00 IRA vs 401k/403b 08:30 Get Started As Soon As You Can 11:00 Picking Which Retirement Plans to Use 12:30 How Much $ Should You Set Aside 14:30 Recommended Resources *Books that were mentioned* "The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel "The Power of Zero" by David McKnight

In this episode of Behind the Drapes, I talk with decorated real estate agent Kara Pierce about how to approach the real estate market throughout the different phases of our medical careers. She is a wealth of information and provides valuable insight from the perspective of an expert in the field. Listen along as we discuss renting vs buying in residency, what the current state of the housing market is, and how to create a real estate portfolio to increase your wealth over time. 04:15 Renting vs Buying 12:45 Estimating Housing Prices 19:45 Seller’s/Buyer’s Costs 23:30 Physician Mortgage Loans 31:30 Kara’s Personal Real Estate Journey 33:00 Creating a Real Estate Portfolio 37:00 Property Management 43:00 Closing Remarks

In the second episode of the second season, we talk with Dr. Andrew Winegarner, one of my co-residents, who I believe is financially insightful and savvy and offers the listeners some pieces of advice from his own personal financial experiences. Listen along as we talk about how he went through three used cars in the summer leading up to residency, what he budgeted for when taking out loans for medical school, how his budgeting shifted once he graduated, and how him and his wife organize their finances. 01:30 This car is on fire 08:30 Saving up for an emergency fund 10:40 Taking out loans with a budget 11:50 Budget living expenses 12:50 Prioritizing Costs in Medical School 15:15 Budgeting as a Resident 16:20 Apps for Tracking a Budget 18:50 Joint vs Split Bank Accounts

Why does financial literacy matter? Because money can be stressful, and reducing stress can make you productive in other parts of life - like your job. Being able to navigate debt and earning a paycheck starts with seeking out information and knowledge that can help aid you in your decision making. Everyone has different financial situations and understanding your own is most important. Hopefully some of the lessons in this episode (and the rest of the season) will make you feel like a more informed manager of your money. This season starts off again with one of my favorite guests, Dr. Shyamal Asher, who inspired the theme of this episode after I sat in on his medical student lecture about finances. Here’s what’s coming this episode: 03:00 Why is financial literacy important 09:30 Financial stressors leading to burnout 12:30 Financial Independence 17:00 Disability Insurance 22:50 Life Insurance 27:00 Personal Belonging Insurance

This episode is the finale of what I consider to be a season full of interesting, knowledgeable, and impactful Anesthesiologists - this episode fits all of that and more. There are countless moments that I will never forget when working with Dr. Maslow. From cardiac cases, ambulatory surgery, and even tonight as I write this while on OB call with him, Dr. Maslow (intentional or not) will teach me something new every time I work with him. You’ll be able to tell from my introduction how much I look up to him. He is incredibly smart, talented procedurally, and can get almost any patient laughing even in life and death situations. Tune in to see what’s going on Behind the Drapes with Dr. Maslow in this Season 1 finale. 01:40 Introduction 05:30 Joining the Army 09:05 Why Anesthesia? 13:30 How to calm a patient before surgery 17:45 Beginning of Career 22:20 Life at RIH 27:15 Starting a Residency at RIH 31:00 Calling Residents the Night Before 35:00 Proudest Moments of Career 38:30 Plans for Life After Anesthesia

Welcome back to another episode of Behind the Drapes! In this episode, we talk to Dr. Brenda Satterthwaite - one of the assistant program directors and the clinical site director for The Miriam Hospital. In this episode we not only talk about her academic and administrative roles, we get into scuba diving, Settlers of Catan strategy, and how she decompresses from a stressful day. If you’re a parent and are curious what to expect if your child ever needs surgery, Brenda also does a good job explaining what it’s like being a Pediatric Anesthesiologist. Come see what’s going on Behind the Drapes with Dr. Satterthwaite! 02:00 Board Games 05:30 Scuba Diving 11:30 What got you into anesthesia? 14:30 Favorite/hardest parts w/ anesthesia 16:45 How do you decompress? 18:45 Decision to pursue pediatrics 21:00 Advice for residents on pedi 23:30 How to communicate with parents 32:00 Site Director for The Miriam Hospital 34:45 What future goals do you have?

In this episode of Behind the Drapes, we talk with Dr. Harish Lecamwasam. Harish is someone who first inspired me to consider the application of anesthesia and critical care outside of the traditional hospital-based care system. He is someone who is driven by innovation and has created a career path that fuels this urge. Not only is he a Chief Medical Innovation Officer, he is an educator and mentor at our residency program at Brown. Come take a listen to Dr. Lecamwasam’s story as we see what’s going on Behind the Drapes. 02:00 Boston sports fandom 03:55 Sri Lankan Roots 07:30 Starting Educational Path at MIT 12:45 Finding Anesthesiology 15:00 Innovation in Anesthesia 18:45 Private Practice in AZ 23:30 Getting Acquired by a National Group 29:20 Chief Medical Innovation Officer 35:00 How Hospitals Use Talis Technology 39:30 Traveling for Work 46:15 What Pulls You Back to Anesthesia

In this episode of Behind the Drapes, we talk to one of the best there is at what she does - Dr. Caroline Hunter. She is someone who will expertly teach you cardiac physiology, how to perform a transesophageal echocardiogram, and how to handle conflict resolution in the OR. She is also great at mentoring residents and has earned the title “mom of the residency”. Listen along to hear about her path to anesthesia, the roles she plays in our residency, why she loves cardiothoracic, and what keeps her motivated to keep improving at her job. Stay tune to see what’s going on Behind the Drapes! 01:30 Introduction 07:20 Choosing Visiting Professors 11:30 Finding Anesthesiology 15:40 Relevancy of Standardized Tests 17:50 Evaluating Residency Applications 20:25 Role in Developing Residents 20:15 Why Do Residents Enjoy CT 24:00 Why Are Residents Terrified of CT 27:20 Working on Technically Skills 29:40 Conflict Resolution in the OR 34:15 What Keeps Her Motivated

Dr. Rotenberg is retiring today!! After around 40 years of service in Anesthesiology, he is finally hanging up his stethoscope and moving on to greener pastures with less airway emergencies. In this episode, we recap Dr. Rotenberg’s career, talk about various influences in his life, and finish with some of his anesthesia-related habits that make everyone think of Dr. Rotenberg. Take a listen to see what’s going on Behind the Drapes!

Welcome back to Behind the Drapes! In this episode, we talk to Dr. Alex Cohen who has carved a lane for himself in both Regional Anesthesia and Administrative roles in the hospital. Listen along as we talk about moving to Providence from Boston, what the future of regional anesthesia looks like, and how he ascending in the administrative side of the hospital. Come take a look at what’s going on Behind the Drapes! 00:09 Introduction 03:00 Life in Boston 04:10 From Rotating to Signing On at RIH 06:45 Why Anesthesia? 10:00 Time in Seattle 12:00 What is the Future of Regional? 15:45 Creating the Division of APS 21:30 Stepping into an Administrative Role 25:30 Saying No and Prioritizing 29:00 Average Day breakdown 33:45 Getting an Official Office 35:30 What Gets You Out of Bed in the AM

In this episode, we get nostalgic. I talk with my good friend, Danie Leahy, who I met back in college when we worked on UVM Rescue together. When I was in medical school, I watched her match into Anesthesiology and she ultimately helped me choose the same specialty for myself. She has graduated residency and is currently doing a combined Cardiothoracic and Critical Care Fellowship at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. Listen along as we relive our rescue days and talk about what it’s like being married to an anesthesiologist, why she chose her fellowship path, and how much she enjoys teaching. 00:08 Introduction 03:15 UVM Rescue Roots 09:45 Training Probies to Teaching Residents 12:00 Residency at UVM 16:00 Pandemic Pregnancy 23:15 Married to an Anesthesiologist 27:00 Decision to Pursue Fellowship 36:30 Future Job 39:15 What Makes Jobs Different 44:00 Proudest Moments So Far

Welcome back to Behind the Drapes! In this episode we hear from Dr. Taif Mukdohmi who was a part of the first graduating residency class for Brown Anesthesia. Since graduating, he has gone on to pursue a fellowship in Chronic Pain and is now in the process of opening up a practice with his brother and friend called “Pain Zero”. Take a listen to see what else Taif has in store for us this episode! Here’s a breakdown of what to look forward to: 01:50 Brown Anesthesia’s 1st Residency Class 06:33 Mentors at Brown 11:52 Passion for Chronic Pain 17:35 Titans in the Field 19:30 Research experience 22:45 Fellowship in NYC 27:00 Current business: Pain Zero 32:30 Ideal Day as a Pain Doc

Welcome back to Behind the Drapes. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Caramez - one of our recent graduates from Brown Anesthesia Residency who stayed on as staff here at Rhode Island Hospital. Paula is vibrant with energy and her story of how she found a career in Anesthesiology is a unique one! Stay tuned to hear more about her life in Brazil, moving to America, experiencing a second residency, and how she’s adopting to her new role as the Anesthesiologist in the OR. Here’s what you have to look forward to: 00:09 Introduction 01:40 Medical Career in Brazil 09:10 Coming to the USA 11:30 Path to Citizenship + Residency 18:50 Residency Take Two 26:00 How is life as an attending? 30:30 Becoming a Medical Educator

Welcome to the series premiere of "Behind the Drapes"! In this episode we talk to Dr. Shyamal Asher, Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist, about what it takes to be a new dad, how he found his way to Cardiac Anesthesia, starting the echo curriculum at Brown, and his uprooting from Kenya and moving to Worcester, MA. Take a look at the show notes below to see what's ahead! 00:09 Introduction 00:55 Half-marathon Talk 02:50 New Dad Life 13:30 Division of Cardiac Anesthesia 18:20 Echo Curriculum at Brown 21:40 Why did you go into Anesthesia? 24:20 Med School Story 27:15 From Mombasa, Kenya to Worcester, MA 30:30 International Medical Work 43:00 MBA - Ambitions and Goals