In our latest episode we welcome new Host Mikayla Winn MSN as she speaks with Pulmonologist and Critical Care Attending Dr. Christopher Kearney. They discuss the convoluted and frustrating topic of Prior Authorizations. Prior authorizations were originally designed to be used by insurance entities to ensure high-quality, evidence-based, and cost-effective treatments, but have proven to be a time consuming, and what seems to be purposely difficult process that can lead to denials of treatments and delays in care. Dr. Kearney joins us to discuss his experiences and personal frustrations with the current "prior auth" process, how it works (or doesn't), and who it effects.

Dr. Kearney completed his undergraduate studies in Mathematics and Biology at Villanova University before earning both his MD and Master of Public Health from Harvard Medical School.

At Boston Medical Center, Dr. Kearney serves as a board-certified pulmonologist and critical care attending physician in the Medical ICU, where he provides expert care in areas such as organ failure, sepsis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). He also holds the academic title of Assistant Professor in Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep & Critical Care Medicine at Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

As a clinician-educator and health services researcher, Dr. Kearney is dedicated to improving outcomes for critically ill patients. He works closely with fellows, residents, and nursing staff, emphasizing patient-centered care and leveraging his expertise in pulmonary and critical care medicine to enhance patient outcomes.

Dr. Kearney has also been widely published in leading peer-reviewed journals, contributing important research and insights into treatment trends, asthma management, and critical care interventions.

In under 10 minutes we delve into this destructive and sometimes deadly parasite, we discuss what it is, what it does and why decades after being eradicated from the US this flesh eating insect is again raising concerns.

In our first YMMS! Snapshot, we take a quick look at the Measles virus. In under 10 minutes, we discuss what it is, how it's spread, who it's affecting, the importance of vaccination, and the current state of measles in the U.S.

In our latest episode, we’re extremely fortunate to be joined by evolutionary virologist and avian influenza researcher Dr. Louise Moncla to discuss the current H5N1 situation in the U.S. and around the world. We cover the history of H5N1, how the virus might mutate, the current risks to both animal and human populations, and the potential for a future pandemic. Dr. Moncla also shares insight into her work on surveillance, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) tracking, and vaccine development. For anyone looking to better understand H5N1 or curious about what the current outbreak might lead to, this episode is a must-listen.Dr. Louise H. Moncla is an assistant professor of pathobiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, where she leads cutting-edge research on the evolution of avian influenza viruses, including highly pathogenic H5N1 strains. Her work focuses on understanding how these viruses adapt across hosts—especially during zoonotic spillover events—by combining computational phylodynamics, population genetics, and experimental virology.

Dr. Moncla has contributed to major surveillance efforts, including the development of a Nextstrain dashboard tracking H5N1 evolution in cattle, where her team identified key mutations suggesting mammalian adaptation.

She has briefed lawmakers on the current H5N1 crisis and is frequently cited by organizations like the WHO and USDA. Her publications include studies on within-host evolution in humans and poultry, and she is a co-author of the Nature paper on the global H5N1 panzootic.

In recognition of her impactful work, Dr. Moncla was named a 2024 Pew Biomedical Scholar. Her research is helping shape how we understand, monitor, and respond to emerging pandemic threats.

In this episode, we speak with Suzette Bianchi, RN. Suzette is a Charge RN in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Boston Medical Center and has been at the bedside for over 30 years. She has been on the front lines of medical crises from the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s to the COVID-19 pandemic. She holds a permanent Charge RN role and also serves as an instructor for continuous dialysis, or continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). She joins us today to talk about her experiences as an RN, how the field has changed, and how she has managed to remain at the bedside in the ICU without succumbing to burnout or becoming jaded. We are grateful to have Suzette with us for this Nurses Week episode!

In this episode, we are joined by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) COO, April Ramsey, to discuss the incredible—and often overlooked—care provided to people experiencing homelessness in Boston. We explore how, over the past 40 years, the program has evolved to not only deliver care on the streets but also offer several unique and life-saving services, including adult and pediatric medical and dental care, as well as programs focused on mental health and addiction.

In addition, BHCHP operates facilities that provide 120 respite beds for individuals who are ready to leave the hospital but not yet ready to return to the streets. This is a truly unique and inspiring program that serves those most in need.

BHCHP COO April Ramsey joined the organization in 2011 as a clinic staff nurse at shelter partner Pine Street Inn, and later served as a respite staff nurse at The Barbara McInnis House. In 2013, April began coverage as the respite nursing supervisor and subsequently served as interim respite director of case management. She then helped develop the Care Management Program with the Commonwealth Care Alliance One Care Program, where she served as one of the first nurse care managers on that team.

In 2016, April was named site director of the Pine Street Inn clinics, and after two years, she became associate director of clinical operations for the program. In August 2024, she was appointed as BHCHP’s chief operating officer.

April began her nursing career at CAB Health and Recovery Services in Danvers and Boston. From 2014 to 2022, she also served as a public health clinical instructor for the Northeastern University School of Nursing. April holds a BS in Nursing from Northeastern University, having completed clinical roles at the children’s hospitals in Boston and Philadelphia.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Adam Yala to explore his groundbreaking research on using A.I. to predict breast cancer with his deep learning model, Mirai. We dive into the potential of A.I. in healthcare, the challenges it faces, and what the future may hold—including whether A.I. could one day take on the roles of nurses and practitioners. This is a fascinating and eye-opening look at how A.I. is transforming medicine today and what’s next on the horizon.

Dr. Yala is an assistant professor of Computational Precision Health at UC Berkeley and UCSF. His research focuses on developing machine learning methods for personalized medicine and translating them into clinical care.

His previous research has focused on two areas: 1) predicting future cancer risk, and 2) designing personalized screening policies. His breast cancer tool, Mirai, has been tested at 43 hospitals from 14 countries.

Adam's tools now underly prospective trials, and his research has been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times, and the Boston Globe. Prof Yala obtained his BS, MEng and PhD in Computer Science from MIT where he was a member of MIT Jameel Clinic and MIT CSAIL.

In this episode we are joined by special guest Taylor Rogerson NP. Taylor works as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in the Medical ICU at Boston Medical Center. Taylor joins us to discuss her very unique role as an NP in an ICU setting and how this differs from most NP roles.. Taylor's ability to perform many of the same interventions typically only granted to physicians makes her position extremely unique, and with the projected shortage of physicians in the coming years, may be a glimpse of the future with regard to ICU providers. From placing centralized IV catheters, to lumbar punctures, to managing multiple complex ICU patients, Taylor helps to explain how the NP in the ICU is utilized, and her experiences in this very busy and challenging environment.