Medicus

In this series, we are exploring the common and not-so-common specialties in medicine. Nuclear medicine sits at the crossroads of imaging and molecular science, revealing how disease behaves at a cellular level rather than just how it looks. In this episode, we explore how this often-overlooked specialty is shaping diagnosis, guiding therapy, and redefining the future of precision medicine.Dr. Erica Major is the Assistant Chief of Nuclear Medicine and Site Director of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Education at Edward Hines VA, where she oversees medical student and resident training. She holds multiple leadership positions in the American College of Nuclear Medicine and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, and is a past member of the ACGME Residency Review Committee. Her primary interest is advancing the field of theranostics, which combines nuclear oncology with personalized cancer therapy. You can contact Dr. Major at [email protected] To learn more about nuclear medicine, check out these sources:https://acnmonline.org/https://snmmi.org/ Episode produced by: Rasa ValiaugaEpisode recording date: 4/2/26www.medicuspodcast.com | [email protected] | Donate: http://bit.ly/MedicusDonate

What does it take to prepare healthcare providers for the cases they'll never see coming? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Croft, a fellowship-trained simulationist and emergency medicine physician, to explore the world of medical simulation. Dr. Croft breaks down what simulation actually is, why readiness, not perfection, is the ultimate goal, and how techniques borrowed from the aviation and oil drilling industries are reshaping how clinicians learn. We also dig into in situ simulation: what it means to run training scenarios inside a live hospital, how it uncovers hidden safety threats, and why it sometimes just takes a carafe of coffee to get everyone on board. Plus, Dr. Croft shares the story of Operation Cobra, a preparedness drill for one of the world's most dangerous snake bites. If you're curious about medical education, patient safety, or just want to know what a simulationist's week actually looks like, this one's for you. Episode produced by: Griffin K JohnsonEpisode recording date: 01/28/2026www.medicuspodcast.com | [email protected] | Donate: http://bit.ly/MedicusDonate

What actually happens when a US-trained physician packs up and moves their practice to another country? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Brock Andreatta, an anesthesiologist who has spent the last 11 years splitting his practice between the United States and the United Kingdom. Dr. Andreatta walks us through the year-long credentialing process required to practice in the NHS, the day-to-day differences in the OR, from anesthetic rooms to team briefs to the complete absence of billing codes, and what a nationalized healthcare system really looks like from the inside. Whether you're a med student curious about international medicine or just want an inside perspective of the NHS vs. the US healthcare system, this one is for you.Episode produced by: Griffin K JohnsonEpisode recording date: 01/27/2026www.medicuspodcast.com | [email protected] | Donate: http://bit.ly/MedicusDonate

By their 4th year of medical school, most students have chosen one specialty - one path forward. But what if the career you actually want doesn’t fit neatly into a single box? For students drawn to both the fast-paced, undifferentiated world of emergency medicine and the physiology- and pharmacology-driven world of anesthesiology, there was once a fork in the road. Now for some, that fork may not have to exist. In this episode, we explore one of the most unique medical training pathways: combined emergency medicine and anesthesiology residency. What does it look like to train in two specialties at once? How do the two skill sets complement each other, and what kind of career options open up on the other side? To learn about this, we spoke to Dr. David Leon, an anesthesiologist and emergency medicine physician at UC Davis Health in Sacramento, California.Episode produced by: Griffin K JohnsonEpisode recording date: 12/05/2025

In this mini-series, we explore different health professions to get a better understanding of the variety of team members involved in patient care. In this episode, we spoke with Jordan Meckel, PharmD, BCCCP about his journey to becoming a neurointensive care pharmacist and how pharmacists serve as an integral part of the healthcare team.Jordan Meckel is currently the Neurointensive Care Pharmacist at Loyola University Medical Center and an Affiliate Assistant Professor at Stritch School of Medicine. Jordan completed his undergraduate and pharmacy doctoral program at the University of Texas, Austin before completing his acute care and critical care residency training at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and becoming a Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist (BCCCP). Working alongside physicians, nurses, dieticians, respiratory therapists, physical therapists and many other team members in the NeuroICU to optimize patient care, and save lives through shared decision making and research is what keeps him coming back every day. When not in the four walls of the hospital he enjoys getting outside whenever possible with his family and two dogs.Episode produced by: Rasa ValiaugaEpisode recording date: 1/24/26www.medicuspodcast.com | [email protected] | Donate: http://bit.ly/MedicusDonate