Podcasts
For more details about each podcast, select the podcast title so it appears at the top of the player. Place your cursor anywhere in the podcast box and you will see an info button  appear towards the right. Click on the button for speaker bio, related links, and a description (where applicable).
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In Case You Missed It: WOHC 2020 - Testing for SARS-CoV-2: Understanding Analytic and Clinical Cross-Over
APRIL 20, 2021
Dr. Kirstine Oh is an anatomic- and clinical pathology board-certified pathologist with a subspecialization in hematopathology. After completing residency, Dr. Oh practiced as a general anatomic and hematopathologist for 10 years before becoming the medical director of a lab in a roughly 550 bed hospital with a level II trauma center, OB-GYN center, oncology center and busy emergency department.
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett cared for the first COVID-19 patient in the United States, and Kirstine and the lab team were highly involved. After a brief lull following the patient’s discharge, the site became one of the first areas in the country to experience a surge in COVID-19 cases in March 2020. The 53 hospital system spanning Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon, Texas and Washington states has grappled with how to address the laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2, both in the inpatient and outpatient setting.
The HPI: The History of Present Interview, Part 3
APRIL 06, 2021
In the final part of the HPI podcast series, we continue our conversation with WOEMA's president, Dr. Scott Krasner. So far, we pondered the past and the present. We continue on Scott’s adventure as we rededicate ourselves to the future in this episode of History of Present Interview.
In Case You Missed It: WOHC 2020 - Leading Through Crisis
MARCH 23, 2021
Welcome to this edition of “In Case you Missed It, Highlights from the Western Occupational Health Conference, WOHC 2020 - Inspire and Interact”, held virtually Sept 24-26th.
Here, we present a highlight from “Leading through Crisis” with Dr. Stephen Beeson. Dr. Beeson is a nationally recognized author, board-certified family medicine physician, and speaker focused on improving clinician and healthcare leadership excellence for medical groups and hospitals across the country. He is the founder of “The Clinician Experience Project,” an app-based learning community at PracticingExcellence.com.
The HPI: The History of Present Interview, Part 2
MARCH 09, 2021
In part 2 of the HPI podcast series, we continue our conversation with WOEMA's president, Dr. Scott Krasner. Last time, we pondered the past. Today, we will continue on Scott’s adventure to see where he is today and how he lives in the moment in this episode of History of Present Interview.
WOEMA Features Dr. Donna Baytop in Honor of Black History Month 2021
Episode 1 and 2
FEBRUARY 26, 2021
In honor of Black History Month, WOEMA features an interview with Dr. Donna Baytop, a past president and veteran member of WOEMA. Dr. Baytop was interviewed by Dr. Rupali Das, co-chair of the JEDI Committee.
Making a Difference
Throughout her career, Dr. Baytop has given back to communities and helped minority physicians in medicine. As a medical student at the University of Florida, Dr. Baytop helped to develop a summer studies program that outlined and addressed challenges faced by minority medical students entering medical school so that they would be fully prepared to hit the ground running in the fall when they entered medical school. She remains proud of that program, which lasted for 16 years after she graduated from medical school. In 2014, Dr. Baytop received her alma mater’s highest honor when she was named to the University of Florida College of Medicine Hall of Fame.
She faced situations “that a professional would love to have. You know, you get that interesting case or you get an opportunity to help someone that you didn't realize, and the resources are made available that allow you to be helpful and occupational medicine makes a difference.”
Want to know more about Dr. Baytop? Listen now and check out the full-length article here.
The HPI: The History of Present Interview, Part 1
FEBRUARY 23, 2021
This podcast focuses on an important and crucial piece of medical information that is
instrumental in putting the pieces of the diagnostic puzzle together: the HPI.
Luckily, the first guest in this series is an expert in forensics! We will take a journey across time and space, from the birth of life until the final breath of death, and travel coast to coast. We’ll ponder our past, live in the moment, and rededicate ourselves to the future in this episode of the History of Present Interview.
COVID-19 Workplace Outbreaks Guidance
FEBRUARY 09, 2021
We are joined by Dr. Paul Papanek, lead author of a newly released WOEMA guidance document titled “Workplace COVID-19 Outbreaks: Suggested Actions by Employers and Workers’ Compensation Carriers.” Sourced with the latest evidence, this document provides practical steps that employers can use to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in the workplace. Access the guidance document here.
As practitioners of occupational and environmental medicine, we speak the language of risk assessment and risk communication, public health measures for safe workplaces, and business continuity based on health and productivity framework. It became apparent in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic that an information gap existed between reasonable public health strategies to keep populations safe, and the employer community who sought this information from various, and at times, contradictory sources. Recognizing the role that occupational medicine physicians could have in bridging this gap, and acknowledging the hardships this pandemic had on employers large and small, the WOEMA legislative committee began a discussion around the question, what should employers do, when more and more of their workers contract COVID-19? Listen in to find out!
The COVID-19 Vaccine - What we Need to Know, Part 2
JANUARY 26, 2021
The world is in the midst of the vaccine rollout and a few weeks have passed since part 1 of the COVID-19 Vaccine - What we Need to Know podcast was published. A lot has happened since then and many essential workers have already received the second dose of the vaccine. As expected, many more questions have come up, so join us for part 2 of the discussion with Dr. Wendy Thanassi and learn from her experiences during the vaccine rollout.
WOEMA 2020: A Reflection on the Past Year
JANUARY 12, 2021
2020 has finally come to a close and WOEMA has certainly had an eventful year. As we reflect on the last year and look forward to 2021, we are honored to have Dr. Erik Won, who has served as WOEMA president and is now the chairman of the board, to reflect on his experiences.
COVID Pulmonology: What We Know Now
JANUARY 05, 2021
For practicing physicians, the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020 has been an exercise in medical decision-making with incomplete, or at times, contradictory information. A rapidly unfolding pandemic, with a novel pathogen exhibiting great mortality and morbidity, encouraged physicians to search for the best available information in service to their patients. But what if the best available information during periods of medical uncertainly does not give clear answers or evidence is lacking? What is a physician to do?
Dr. Andrew Luks, professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Washington, joins us today to reflect on what physicians have learned about COVID pulmonology over 2020 and medical decision making in the face of incomplete information.
The COVID-19 Vaccine - What we Need to Know!
DECEMBER 22, 2020
The COVID-19 vaccine is finally here! There are a lot of questions about vaccine safety and efficacy. Listen now to our podcast to hear the discussion with Dr. Wendy Thanassi, Chief of Occupational Health for the VA Palo Alto Health Care System and an Affiliated Associate Professor at Stanford.
Space Radiation Effects: Comparison of Ovarian Toxicity of Low Dose Gamma Radiation vs High LET Charged Particle Radiation
NOVEMBER 10, 2020
In this episode, Dr. Oluseyi Awodele, discusses his winning virtual poster presentation, Space Radiation Effects: Comparison of Ovarian Toxicity of Low Dose Gamma Radiation vs High LET Charged Particle Radiation. Click here to view the poster presentation.
Dr. Awodele is currently in his second year of the UCI Occupational and Environmental Residency program. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut and attended medical school at the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC. He completed his internship at the Naval Medical Center San Diego in 2014. Dr. Awodele proudly served as a U.S. Naval Flight Surgeon during his active duty military service. Prior to starting residency at UC Irvine, he worked as a Medical Director at a large Occupational Medicine practice in Southern California. He plans to pursue a clinical career after graduation and is interested in developing new strategies to improve worker’s safety, health, and wellbeing. Dr. Awodele’s master thesis advisor is Ulrike Luderer, MD, Ph.D., MPH.
COVID19 Presumption Laws, Occupational Medicine Practice, and Employers - What you need to know
OCTOBER 27, 2020
In May 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom enacted an executive order that created a COVID-19 workers' compensation presumption for any employee who worked outside the home during the statewide shelter-in-place order. Prior to this executive order, under the California workers’ compensation system, employees need to present medical evidence that their illness or injury was related to work to establish causality that the workplace caused their illness or injury, but this order stated that any covered worker contracted COVID-19 would be automatically "presumed" to be work-related without the employee having to provide any further proof. This order expired on July 5th, 2020. In response to this, the California legislature put forth two COVID19 presumption bills, SB 1159 and AB 685, which were signed into law on September 17th and are in effect through January 1st, 2023. Today, Dr. Robert Blink will share with us the top things occupational medicine clinicians and employers should know about COVID19 presumption laws.
WOEMA Podcast Series: Get to know us!
SEPTEMBER 09, 2020
A discussion with podcast creators Alya Khan, MD, Sheri Belafsky, MD, and David Caretto, MD. Find out how the podcast series came about and learn a little about the people involved.
Commute - Work - Repeat: What about Sleep?
JULY 02, 2020
A discussion with Nate Clapp, MD, MPH, MS, FAAFP
Nate Clapp is a very recent graduate of the Occupational and Environmental Medicine residency at the University of California San Francisco, finishing on June 30th. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, San Diego and obtained his MD at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, in 2000. Dr. Clapp is Board-Certified in Family Medicine, completing his residency at Naval Hospital Pensacola, FL. He is a Navy veteran, serving as a Family Physician and Flight Surgeon in a variety of duty stations in the United States, overseas and on ship. He obtained a Master’s of Science with a focus on Emergency and Disaster Management from Touro University International in 2008 and completed a Master’s of Public Health at the University of California Berkeley in 2019.
Determining Work Relatedness of COVID-19 Infections
JUNE 19, 2020
A conversation with Sarah Johnson, MD.
Dr. Sarah Johnson is currently in her second year of the UCSF Occupational and Environmental Residency program. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University and attended medical school at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is also a proud alumna of Teach For America. Prior to moving to San Francisco, she completed two years of general surgery in Chicago and has worked as a Medical Review Officer for the past four years. She plans to pursue a clinical career after graduation and is interested in developing new strategies to improve worker health and wellness.
Skin Eruptions Associated with COVID-19 Infection and Prevention
JUNE 05, 2020
A conversation with Heather Lampel, MD.
This podcast discusses "COVID toes" and other skin manifestations, including conditions arising from excessive handwashing and sustained use of facial PPE.
Heather Lampel, MD, MPH, is double board-certified in Dermatology and Occupational Medicine. She received her medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed her Dermatology Residency at the University of California, Irvine. She obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh while completing an Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency. Dr. Lampel is a fellow of both the American Academy of Dermatology and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. She practices dermatology in Raleigh, NC, and also works in Research and Development. She is a speaker at national medical conferences and has authored numerous dermatology publications.
Additional helpful links
Skincare for Healthcare Workers During COVID-19
https://tinyurl.com/skincare-for-healthcare-worker
COVID Dermatology Registry: https://www.aad.org/member/practice/coronavirus/registry
Dry Skin and Hand Hygiene: https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/coronavirus-handwashing
SARS-CoV-2 Skin Findings:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/bjd.19163
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2765614
https://www.translationalres.com/article/S1931-5244(20)30070-0/fulltext
COVID 19: Infectious Disease and Epidemiology Perspectives
MAY 29, 2020
Presented by Shruti Gohil, MD, MPH.
This podcast discusses the state of the pandemic, asymptomatic spread, and what we need to take into consideration for those who are symptomatic and/or test positive for COVID as it relates to return-to-work guidelines.
Moral Injury
MAY 12, 2020
An interview with Mona Masood, DO.
“….we’re not necessarily heroes. We’re just humans, helping other humans and in that are allowed to be fallible.”
Dr. Mona Masood is an American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certified general outpatient psychiatrist practicing in the greater Philadelphia area after completing her general adult psychiatry residency at Temple University Hospital and medical school at Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is also a board member of Muslim Wellness Foundation, an American nonprofit mental health awareness and education organization. She often leads community mental health education events and her most recent role is the Founder and Chief Organizer of the Physician Support Line – a national, free and confidential peer support line by volunteer psychiatrists for US physician colleagues during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Physician Support Line: https://www.physiciansupportline.com/
Cal/OSHA Guidance for Employees and Workplace Safety during COVID-19
MAY 08, 2020
A discussion with Paul Papanek, MD, MPH
Paul J Papanek, MD, MPH is a Cal/OSHA Public Health Medical Officer and a member of the clinical faculty in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at UC Irvine. Previously, he served as the Chief of Occupational Medicine for two Kaiser Permanente Hospitals in Southern California, and as a Program Chief for the Toxics Epidemiology Program in the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), and served as a Board Member and President of the Western Occupational and Environmental Medical Association (WOEMA), where he is an active committee member. He is board certified in Occupational Medicine and was previously board certified in Family Medicine. He is a lifelong resident of Southern California.
Additional Resources
Guidance from Worker Economic Forum
ACOEM's Getting Back to Work Campaign
MAY 07, 2020
An interview with:
Tanisha Taylor, MD, MPH, MBA, FACOEM
Dr. Taylor attended Medical School at New York Medical College (NYMC) focusing her training in Internal Medicine through the Yale Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency Program, followed by an Occupational and Environmental Medicine Fellowship and an MPH at Yale University. Recently, Dr. Taylor completed an MBA through the Forbes School of Business and Technology at Ashford University. She is the incoming treasurer of ACOEM and has been on the ACOEM Board of Directors as the Young Physician Director then as Director. She is also the co-chair of ACOEM’s OEM Practice Council. Dr. Taylor’s work involves providing leadership as well as Occupational Health Services to the largest hospital system in NJ as CMO of RWJBH Corporate Care. She is active in her local component, helping to plan educational conferences as a combined effort with adjacent components to generate the annual (Mid-Atlantic Regional OEM Conference) MARCOEM conference, as well as a webinar series.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Decontamination
APRIL 25, 2020
An interview with Sheri Belafsky, MD, MS, FACOEM and David Rempel, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Dr. Belafsky is board-certified in occupational and environmental medicine and a fellow in the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. She is the medical director of the UC Davis Medical Surveillance Program, where she has worked since 2008. Dr. Belafsky completed residency training in Occupational and Environmental Medicine and a Master of Science degree in Public Health Science and Policy at UC Irvine and received her M.D. from Tulane University School of Medicine. In her work as director of the UC Davis Medical Surveillance Program, she collaborates with employers to identify potential workplace health hazards and designs medical surveillance programs for their employees. She currently serves as a director on the board for the Western Occupational and Environmental Medical Association (WOEMA) and is active in planning continuing medical educational content for both WOEMA and the UC Davis Center for Occupational & Environmental Health.
To learn more about Dr. Rempel, click here.
Additional Resources:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Prioritization
APRIL 21, 2020
A conversation with Professor Dr. Philip Harber
Dr. Philip Harber is a professor of Public Health at the University of Arizona. He previously served as Professor and Chief of the Division of Occupational-Environmental Medicine at UCLA. His training includes fellowships in Pulmonary and in Occupational-Environmental medicine at Hopkins. He combines research, teaching and clinical practice. He has done extensive research in occupational lung disease, respirator effects, and informatics systems. He also leads the ACOEM group on the Research and Educational Institution (REI) Occupational Hazards. He has served as President of WOEMA and on the Board of Directors of ACOEM.
Additional Resources:
COVID 19 Serologic Testing: What We Know and What We Need to Know
APRIL 09, 2020
An interview with pathologist Dr. Kirstine Oh
COVID-19 is on the forefront of the minds of all healthcare workers. As the US has moved from the containment to the mitigation stage, physicians across the country are wondering about the utility of COVID-19 testing. People are asking about testing for anti-bodies and how this will affect the current plan of managing this pandemic but also how this can be utilized in the future. Tune in to find out.
About Dr. Oh
Dr. Kirstine Oh is a partner pathologist at CellNetix Pathology and Laboratories in Everett, WA and is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and hematopathology. She is also the medical director of the lab at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, as well as the Swedish Edmonds Cancer Center. Dr. Oh attended medical school at the Mayo medical school in Rochester, MN. She completed her hematopathology fellowship, as well as her anatomical and clinical pathology residency, at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston, MA where she was the associate pathologist prior to her association with CellNetix.
Additional Resources:
View the COVID-19 Testing Presentation
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