The Spark
UCSF School of Medicine
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Presenting the people and stories behind medical education at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and our community of learners.
Available episodes
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Aug 25, 2023
Staying curious throughout your career with Chancellor Sam Hawgood
In the last episode of our season, Paul and Chloe sit down with UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood, MBBS, to discuss the stages of his career, what's inspired him to stay at UCSF for over three decades, how keeping an open mind has led him to interesting places, and the importance of an inquisitive spirit as you take on new roles. Music by Podington Bear, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Jul 31, 2023
Leading from the middle with Dean Talmadge E. King, Jr.
In the penultimate episode of the season, Paul chats with Dr. Talmadge E. King, Jr., Dean of the School of Medicine & Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs at UCSF, about how clinicians and specialties choose each other, the intentionality of truly collaborative environments, and how his career has steered him towards leadership.
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Jun 29, 2023
Using every experience to become a better person & clinician with Dr. Lorriana Leard
Chloe chats with (then incoming) Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education, Lorriana Leard, MD, about the value of physician coaching (for both coach and medical student), how AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard may change how students learn and physicians work, balancing personal and professional life goals, and what she's most looking forward to in her new role.
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Jun 14, 2023
Following your heart down the winding road of medicine, with Dr. Valerie Gribben
Chloe chats with Valerie Gribben, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, about embracing the unknown throughout training, adopting a growth mindset, and the power of storytelling in medicine. Music by Podington Bear, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Apr 21, 2023
Nurturing the mentor within with Dr. Peter Ureste
Paul chats with Dr. Peter Ureste, Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Ureste has roles across campus that allow him to mentor the next generation of medical professionals, and he explains the journey that led him to that. Paul and Chloe also discuss what they look for in a mentor/mentee relationship.
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Mar 16, 2023
Bringing love into clinical settings with Dr. Shieva Khayam-Bashi
"You will not always know enough, but you will always be enough." These are the words of wisdom that Dr. Khayam-Bashi shares with each new class, encouraging them to tap into useful emotions when caring for patients. Paul and Chloe talk about the perspective this lesson has given them in their medical education.
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Feb 17, 2023
Dr. Justin Sewell
Dr. Justin Sewell, Professor of Medicine, joins Paul and Chloe to discuss getting into med school on the first try (or not), maintaining boundaries between professional and personal lives, and the dream of living in the moment even as you look to the future.
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Jan 23, 2023
Dr. Andy Josephson
Chloe and Paul are joined by Dr. Andy Josephson, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology. They discuss the importance of mentorship, how teaching is a skill that can be taught and learned, and the ways medical school offers opportunities to try new things, even for those on a straightforward path.
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Nov 28, 2022
Dr. Anna Chang
In the first episode of the season we meet our new hosts, Chloe Sales (MS2) and Paul Brandfonbrener (MS1). Chloe talks to Anna Chang, MD, a professor in the Department of Medicine's Division of Geriatrics. Dr. Chang also directs the School of Medicine's Bridges Curriculum Clinical Microsystems Clerkship, the integrated clinical skills and health systems curriculum for all first- and second-year medical students. They discuss Dr. Chang's career, finding and hanging onto meaning over the arc of a long and challenging career, and the importance of asking oneself, "have you done something that made you happy today?" Music by Podington Bear, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Nov 28, 2022
Season 5 Trailer
Welcome our new hosts, Chloe Sales (MS2) and Paul Brandfonbrener (MS1), as they present guests with the question: Where do you find joy, meaning, or purpose in your work?
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Jun 8, 2021
Special Episode - Dr. Lee Jones
In this episode, Mihir Joshi interviews Dr. Lee Jones, then-Associate Dean for Students at the UCSF School of Medicine. Dr Jones will join Georgetown University’s School of Medicine as the Dean of Medical Education later this summer.
*Please excuse any background noises as our interviewers & interviewees are speaking remotely via video chat.
Music by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Jan 6, 2021
The Spark, Episode 22 - A Tale of Two Reopenings (Part 2)
(Recorded in Fall 2020) This episode is part 2 of 2 in our "Tale of Two Reopenings" miniseries. Dan Cummins first speaks with Drs. Alan Shindel, MD and Tami Rowen, MD, each faculty with UCSF, about what is has been like to be parents of young children and busy physicians during COVID-19, educational and broader inequalities underscored by the virus, and the prospect of returning to in-person schooling. Dan then speaks with Hyun "Honey" Kim, a teacher at East Side Union High School in San Jose, about the difficulties of remote education and the concerns many teachers have, both for remote education and returning to in-person classes.
Music: "Sneaker Chase" and "Operatives" by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Nov 17, 2020
The Spark, Episode 21 - A Tale of Two Reopenings (Part 1)
This episode is part 1 of 2 in our "Tale of Two Reopenings" mini-series. Dan Cummins speaks with Xavier 'Abe' Cortez, a third-year medical student reflecting on his experiences returning to the clinical wards after being removed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Then, Mihir Joshi speaks with Fiona Miller, a second-year medical student and mother of three, speaking on the process of stopping and starting school both for herself and her children.
Music: "Sneaker Chase" and "Operatives" by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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May 26, 2020
The Spark, Episode 20 - Gender in Medicine
For much of medicine’s history as a profession, it was a crime for women to be doctors. While women gained the right to study and practice medicine in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, by 1965 less than 10% of medical school graduates were women. That changed dramatically in the 1970s with the Equal Rights Amendment and Title IX. Today, more women than men are enrolled in medical school but have we reached equity? And how do other identities such as race intersect with gender? Host Tessnim Ahmad (resident) is joined by Dr. Urmimala Sarkar (Professor of Medicine) and Dr. LaMisha Hill (Director of the Multicultural Resource Center).
Some of the data on leadership is from Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic's book, Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders? (And How to Fix It). Special thanks to Sarah Ahmad, neurology fellow at UCSF, whose research on microaggressions helped spur the creation of this episode.
Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Feb 28, 2020
The Spark, Episode 19– Climate and Health: A Busy Two-Way Street
Host Tessnim Ahmad (MS4) discusses the health and health-system impacts of climate change with Dr. Katherine Gundling, Clinical Professor Emerita and former practice chief for the Allergy/Immunology faculty practice; Dr. Seema Gandhi, Associate Clinical Professor in the department of anesthesia; and MS3s Colin Baylen and Nuzhat Islam, who helped found the Human Health and Climate Change student group.
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Nov 22, 2019
The Spark, Episode 18 - Burnout (Part 2)
Burnout is part of the American vernacular. It refers to the emotional exhaustion brought on by chronic work-related stress, and can manifest as cynicism and feeling like your work lacks meaning. The term was coined in the 1970s by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger. He volunteered in a free clinic for patients with drug addiction and he used “burnout” to describe the exhaustion suffered by workers in helping professions, such as medicine, which carry rigorous demands and high ideals. While the term has been applied to other professions, burnout is particularly high in healthcare: a report released last month from the National Academy of Medicine describes rampant burnout, with up to half of doctors feeling it. There are many causes such as demanding work schedules and little autonomy. System changes have also created burdensome administrative tasks and new care models, leading some to feel the emphasis is on documentation billing and performance metrics instead of patient care. Li…
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Nov 22, 2019
The Spark, Episode 17 - Burnout (Part 1)
Burnout is part of the American vernacular. It refers to the emotional exhaustion brought on by chronic work-related stress, and can manifest as cynicism and feeling like your work lacks meaning. The term was coined in the 1970s by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger. He volunteered in a free clinic for patients with drug addiction and he used “burnout” to describe the exhaustion suffered by workers in helping professions, such as medicine, which carry rigorous demands and high ideals. While the term has been applied to other professions, burnout is particularly high in healthcare: a report released last month from the National Academy of Medicine describes rampant burnout, with up to half of doctors feeling it. There are many causes such as demanding work schedules and little autonomy. System changes have also created burdensome administrative tasks and new care models, leading some to feel the emphasis is on documentation billing and performance metrics instead of patient care. Li…
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Sep 30, 2019
The Spark, Episode 16: The Opioid Epidemic
Host Tessnim Ahmad (MS4) discusses opiate prescribing and related research with Dr. Wen Shen, Professor in the UCSF Department of Surgery, and his former mentee, Stephanie Kwan.. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Aug 27, 2019
The Spark, Episode 15: Gun Violence
Gun violence is one of the biggest Health & policy epidemics gripping the country right now. In 2017, nearly 40,000 people in the United States died from guns. Perhaps more surprising, in the United States of America firearms are the second leading cause of death for children. Suicide accounts for the majority of gun deaths, followed by homicides including mass shooting. While Suicide is complex and a product of a myriad of psychosocial and biological factors, access to firearms is associated with higher suicide completion rate, and studies have shown that the presence of a gun in the home increases the risk of suicide for all members of that household. In terms of mass shootings, they've become more common and deadlier in recent years. The shooting in Las Vegas in 2017 was the deadliest mass shooting in US history, killing 58, and last year was the worst on record for school shootings. Children in the US are 36 times more likely to be killed by guns compared to kids in other high-inco…
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Jan 15, 2019
The Spark, Episode 14: Improving the Care of Dementias
In this episode, we showcase the latest research and patient care initiatives at UCSF and its School of Medicine focused on treating people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementias, including student work in this area. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Nov 16, 2018
The Spark, Episode 13: Treatment of Chronic Pain
In this episode, we showcase the latest research and patient care initiatives at UCSF and its School of Medicine focused on treating people with chronic pain, including student work in this area. We’ll hear from Dr. Mark Schumacher, MD, PhD, Professor and Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine in the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, as well as third-year medical student Emma Levine. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Oct 9, 2018
The Spark, Episode 12: Health Care Equity
In this episode, we feature initiatives in the School of Medicine focused on diversity, equity and inclusion – both in approaches to patient care and research, as well as in medical education via the Bridges Curriculum. We’ll hear from Dr. Michelle Guy, a professor of medicine and a dean’s diversity leader in the Differences Matter Initiative, as well as second year medical student Daniella Cordero, who has been instrumental in activism around gun violence prevention, White Coats for Black Lives, as well as gender and health equity. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Aug 14, 2018
The Spark, Episode 11: Sleep Disorders
In this episode, we feature UCSF initiatives and research aimed at caring for people with sleep disorders. We’ll hear from Dr. David Claman, a sleep disorders specialist who directs the UCSF Sleep Disorders Center. We also talk to fourth-year medical student Daniel Schwartz, who completed a research project in this area as part of his learning in the Bridges Curriculum. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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May 4, 2018
The Spark, Episode 10
Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Apr 9, 2018
The Spark, Episode 9: Advances in the treatment of substance use disorder at UCSF.
In this episode, we’ll hear from Dr. Scott Steiger, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry, and Deputy Medical Director of the Opiate Treatment Outpatient Program at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG). Dr. Steiger will discuss his research and patient care initiatives in treating people with substance use disorders in some of the city’s most vulnerable communities. We also talk to a first-year medical student who shadowed Dr. Steiger at ZSFG, and who will be pursuing a summer research experience in addiction medicine for adolescents. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Dec 12, 2017
TheSpark, Episode 8: Promoting Professionalism and Respect in Medical Education
This episode focuses on faculty excellence and professionalism in medical education. We’ll hear from Associate Professor of Medicine Dr. Stephanie Rennke, a recipient of this year’s Maxine Papadakis Awards for Professionalism and Respect. We also talk to a fourth-year medical student who nominated faculty for this year’s teaching excellence awards which were presented in October. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Nov 6, 2017
The Spark, Episode 7: Reflections on Medical School
This episode is part 2 of a special edition to welcome this year’s incoming class of first-year UCSF medical students. We’ll hear from the School of Medicine Dean Dr. Talmadge King, as he reflects on medical career highlights, inspirations, and mentors such as Alvin Poussaint, MD. We also talk to first-year medical student Ryan Badiee with his thoughts on what’s most exciting embarking on medical school at UCSF. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Oct 11, 2017
TheSpark, Episode 6: New developments in breast cancer research and patient care
This month’s episode is devoted to breast cancer awareness month. We talk to second-year medical student April Liang about her research project on breast mammography data and her goal to help improve breast cancer screening. We also interview Dr. Hope Rugo, a UCSF medical oncology and hematologist, who directs the UCSF Breast Oncology Clinical Trials program. Dr. Rugo gives perspectives on the latest advances in breast cancer research and patient care at UCSF. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Sep 11, 2017
TheSpark, Episode 5: PRIME, the Program in Medical Education for the Urban Underserved
In this episode, we’re celebrating the 11-year anniversary of PRIME, the Program in Medical Education for the Urban Underserved. PRIME-US is a five-year track at the UCSF School of Medicine and the UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program for students committed to working with urban underserved communities. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Aug 1, 2017
TheSpark, Episode 4: The Deans discuss medical school memories and motivators
This episode is a special edition devoted to back-to-school week, and a welcome to this year’s incoming class of first-year medical students. We’ll hear from three School of Medicine education deans as they reflect on their medical career highlights, plus their medical school mentors and inspirations. Listen to interviews with Vice Dean for Medical Education and Executive Vice Dean for the School of Medicine Dr. Catherine Lucey, Associate Dean for Students Dr. Lee Jones, and Associate Dean for Competency Assessment and Professional Standards, Dr. Karen Hauer. Find out what topped their list of medical school memories and motivators. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Jul 7, 2017
The Spark, Episode 3: Infectious diseases research and the continually curious scientific mind
In this episode, we talk to fourth-year medical student Christine Zachek, who explains her research on Chagas disease, a tropical parasitic illness, plus her upcoming research project in Brazil. We also talk to Professor of Medicine Dr. Peter Chin-Hong about his research into the detection and treatment of infectious diseases caused by the Zika virus, yellow fever, and dengue, how a continually curious scientific mind keeps pace with the rapid advances in this field. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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Jun 1, 2017
The Spark, Episode 2: Spiral learning and innovations in medical education
In this episode we talk with medical student Ogonna Nnamani about spiral learning and retiring Associate Dean Dr. Susan Masters about the innovations that inspired the Bridges curriculum at UCSF. Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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May 15, 2017
The Spark, Episode 1: Transforming medical education for better healthcare
Our first episode features an interview with new Associate Dean for Curriculum John Davis, MD, PhD, as well as a general introduction to our podcast series.
Music: Sneaker Chase by Podington Bear. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.
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