Tag Archives: Julie Vuong

Dark Humor in Medicine, Family Expectations, and The Inviolable “Zone”

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[Content warning: this episode contains frank discussions of X, Y and Z that many listeners will find disturbing.]

Once again, we decide who’s the asshole.

Dave is joined MD/PhD students Riley Behan-Bush and Miranda Schene, M3 Jeff Goddard, PA2 Julie Vuong, and M2 Holly Hemann for yet another AITA episode on humor in medicine, debating the appropriateness of jokes at others’ expense and the limits of comedy among emotionally volatile family members. The group also considers the complexities of family expectations, particularly in cultural contexts where children are perceived to owe careers to their parents’ investments. Listener feedback is highlighted, addressing concerns about biased opinions on PA and NP independence discussed in a previous episode. They share candid insights on dealing with criticism and the professional way to handle conflicts, and dissect themes of academic preparation, sibling rivalry, and the stress of high-stakes professional examinations.

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It’s Thanksgiving. Let’s “Help” People.

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Reddit Health Questions, Answered

It’s the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, so M4 Katie Higham-Kessler, PA2 Julie Vuong, and MD/PhD students Miranda Schene and Riley Behan-Bush give thanks to their future patients’ for their surprising questions (as suggested by Reddit’s r/AskDoctors and similar subs). Should one be concerned about foamy pee? How can one get white again? What can one do about a head dent? The crew also express thanks by giving and receiving compliments, something Dave thnks doesn’t happen enough (although that’s probably just him). Happy Thanksgiving!

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MD and PA Students Aren’t Buying The Scope Creep Fight

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Why are the AMA and the AAPA Fighting?

PA2 Olivia Quinby, PA2 Raginya Handoo, PA2 Julie Vuong, and M4 Katie Higham-Kessler dig into the intense debate between the American Medical Association (“Scope creep will destroy everything!”) and the American Association of Physician Assistants (“WTF we’re just trying to fill the gaps, bro!”) regarding ‘scope creep.’ They discuss arguments from both sides about non-physician practice rights and the impacts on healthcare quality and access. And then there’s this question: should this rivalry break out into the patients’ view, what will it mean for their trust in a system many already find untrustworthy?

AMA on “Scope Creep”: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/scope-practice/advocacy-action-fighting-scope-creep AAPA Response to the AMA: https://www.aapa.org/download/135695/

Meanwhile, listener Olivia, a hopeful PA student herself and fearing that she missed the mark this year, seeks advice on strengthening her application while she waits to hear back from her schools. The hosts provide personal insights and practical tips on standing out in PA school applications, focusing on experiences, recommendation letters, and writing skills. We’ve all been there, Olivia–hang tight!

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Does the Medical Profession Glorify Misery? (Recess Rehash)

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[With Dave taking a vacation, here is your opportunity to enjoy this rerun. We’ll be back with a new episode next week!]

Do everything you can to avoid the misery trap

On this episode we welcome guest Dr. Joshua Trebach, an emergency medicine physician here at Iowa. This past spring he posted on X that medicine must “lose the mentality of thinking its okay to be miserable for years (or decades) to justify it being ‘finally worth it’ in the end.”

We couldn’t agree more–live now, not later! Which is why PA2 Julie Vuong, M2 Fallon Jung, and MD/PhD student Madi Wahlen are each finding ways to reject that mentality. Indeed, medical education is changing, perhaps slowly, to reinforce the idea that just because medicine can be a difficult life doesn’t mean that you should obsessively look forward to the day it gets better. That day is a long way away, so do what you can (what you must) to be who you want to be even as you’re drinking from the firehose.

Also, we answer one of listener Mohamed’s questions on how he can jump right into his first year this fall with his eyes on patient advocacy.

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Is Med School Impossible with a Serious Mental Illness?

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[Content warning: this episode contains frank discussions of mental health and mentions suicide.]

Getting your support systems in order is key to success in med school with a mental health diagnosis

In this episode listener Haley, who is considering medical school while managing a bipolar diagnosis has been told by her psychiatrist that med school probably isn’t for her. PA2 Julie Vuong, M3 Shana Liu, M1 Riley Dean, and MD/PhD student Sebastian Gomez, join host Dave Etler share their personal experiences with mental health challenges, including anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD. The crew candidly discusses the importance of seeking support, the stigma around mental health, and the accommodations available in medical school. Advice is offered on forming a strong support network, being open about personal struggles, and leveraging mental health diagnoses as a unique strength in the medical field. The episode concludes with insights into the support systems to look for in a school, the balance of life and medical education, and the significance of mental health awareness.

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The Disease Medicine Suffers From That’s Causing Immense Suffering

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Groupthink Kills

Do any of these ideas sound familiar?

Whether born by C-section or vaginally, outcomes are the same for babies.

Opioids aren’t addictive.

Appendicitis must be treated by appendectomy.

Children shouldn’t have peanuts until they’re at least 3 years old.

Antibiotics have no downside.

Hormone replacement therapy causes breast cancer.

These recommendations and many more were based largely upon unexamined ideas and bad science. And in recent years through well-designed science we’ve been learning that they made patients sicker.

Dr. Marty Makary is a public health researcher and bestselling author whose new book, Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets it Wrong and What It Means for Our Health, is an incredibly accessible exploration of the pitfalls of medical groupthink and the importance of questioning deeply held assumptions in medicine. It explores how medical training often suppresses big-picture thinking and critical questioning. Co-hosts M2 Alex Nigg, PA2 Julie Vuong, and M3 Jeff Goddard, and M2 Fallon Jung talk with Dr Makary about the disconnect between what’s practiced in medicine and science, the dangers of dismissing new ideas due to fear of association with discredited concepts, and the significance of maintaining scientific objectivity. The episode combines personal anecdotes, practical advice for navigating medical school, and a thought-provoking discussion on improving transparency and trust in healthcare. Join us for an engaging exploration of the critical issues in modern medicine and the role of young doctors in driving change.

More about Marty Makary:

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New Students Arrive, How to Live in the Present, and Staying Sane While Applying

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Welcome New MD/PA students!

M2s Leticia Franciso and Gizzy Keeler, who served as orientation leaders for this year’s new crop of medical and PA students, were in a good position to talk about the experience of transitioning from Orientation Week to the first year of medical school, highlighting the changes in attitudes and relationships they saw. They, along with PA2 Julie Vuong and M4 Katie Higham-Kessler compare the pre-med and medical school environments and offer advice to incoming students. And our admissions expert Rachel Schulista returns to help answer questions from listener JustAGirl who’s trying to stay sane during the application process while the other applicants around her are not being especially helpful, and listener Chris’s worry that he’s looking to the future at the expense of the present. Plus, the importance of having diverse experiences, the real value of personal statements in applications, and why the pursuit of genuine personal interests will help you get into med school and beyond. Join us!

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Blechardy and Beans

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Med School is Non-Trivial, but…

Against the backdrop of a new class of MD and PA students arriving at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Dave and the co-hosts–including M3 Hend Al-Kaylani, PA2 Julie Vuong, M2 Gizzy Keeler, and M3 Trent Gilbert–share their humorous and sometimes ‘smelly’ experiences from their first semester, play a trivia game Dave made up called ‘Blechardy with Alex Trebot 2.0,’ and eat jelly beans. This is high-yield stuff, folks.

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Public Studying, Ultrasound Oopsie, and Stealing Valor from Nurses: AITA

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It’s another trip through Reddit, arbiter of A-holishness

  • What lessons does medical school teach? Aside from the foundations of cellular life, mechanisms of health and disease, and clinical and professional skills? As M2 Holly Hemann, MD/PhD student Miranda Schene, PA Professor Jeremy Nelson, and PA1 Julie Vuong discover, it can teach you where it’s not appropriate to study external reproductive anatomy, that some people consider wearing scrubs an example of stolen valor, and that it’s sometimes best for a student to keep his mouth shut. It’s okay, we’re here to learn from each other!

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How Med Students Do Long Distance Relationships

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It’s all about the plan!

Listener Neurotic Premed dropped us a message at https://theshortcoat.com/tellus to ask what medical students in long-distance relationships, both platonic and romantic, do to keep them alive and healthy. MD/PhD student Madi Wahlen, M2 Fallon Jung, M3 Jeff Goddard, an PA2 Julie Vuong have a lot of experience in that area. From long-distance parenting to making sure friends still feel connected, it takes planning and intentionality along with a slight tweak to what it means to be “together.” They share how they do it successfully!

Plus, Chinese researchers appear to have cured a man of his diabetes, Ozempic is powerful enough to affect the food and beverage industry’s bottom lines, and Florida allows c-sections outside of hospitals in a bid to improve access.

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