Guest: Dr. Lauren Redfern

Co-Host: Dr. Christopher Morosky

Co-Host: Dr. Ashley Comfort

Overview

Episode 8 of Season 2 of Modern MedEd is a rich and thought-provoking conversation featuring Dr. Lauren Redfern, medical anthropologist and founder of the non-profit Hormonally, discussing the social, cultural, and clinical aspects of menopause and hormonal health. It explores how medical education can better prepare clinicians for patient encounters by broadening their understanding of perimenopause and menopause and the cultural influences that shape hormonal narratives, while exploring ways to restore trust through shared decision-making and meeting patients where they are.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest Dr. Lauren Redfern

07:12 Gaps in menopause and reproductive health education

08:06 The shift away from the clinician being the first touch point in healthcare

12:01 The phenomena of the overinformed patient and care-seeking fatigue

17:27 Restoring trust and the importance of care in clinical encounters

22:38 The importance of clinicians staying current with evolving evidence

27:45 Shared decision-making and communicating risk in menopause treatment

31:21 Importance of broadening the understanding of menopause beyond hot flashes

36:18 The impact of prior health history on menopause presentation

38:11 The influence of culture and language on hormonal narratives

42:37 Conclusion: Changing the conversation around hormones and menopause

Guests and Hosts

Dr. Lauren Redfern 

Lauren Redfern | LinkedIn

Dr. Christopher Morosky

https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Morosky-Christopher

Dr. Ashley Comfort  

Ashley Comfort, MD | Oula Health

References 

Hormonally https://hormonally.org/ 

The Menopause Society https://menopause.org/ 

International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health https://www.isswsh.org/

Financial Support

Season Two of Modern MedEd, an APGO podcast, was made possible in part by an unrestricted educational grant from CooperSurgical.

Disclosure

APGO and Modern MedEd have no financial relationship with Hormonally.

Guest: Dr. Lisa Meeks

Co-Host: Dr. Renee Morales

Co-Host: Dr. Huma Farid

Overview

Episode 7 of Season 2 of Modern MedEd features a conversation with Dr. Lisa Meeks and co-hosts, Drs. Renee Morales and Huma Farid. They explored how medical education can more effectively support learners with disabilities by embracing systemic change, applying universal design principles, and cultivating a culture of inclusion. Key themes included the prevalence of disabilities among medical students, the persistent barriers to disclosure and accommodation, the role of universal design in reducing the need for individual requests, the influence of hierarchy and institutional culture on whether students feel safe disclosing, and emerging possibilities such as AI‑enabled tools to enhance accessibility in the future.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Supporting Learners with Disabilities

01:26 Dr. Lisa Meeks' Focus on Equity in Medical Education

02:31 Data on Disability Prevalence, Disclosure Barriers, Safety to Disclose

04:36 Structural Barriers and Stigma in Medical Education

06:48 Common Disabilities Among Medical Students

09:11 Evolution of Attitudes Toward Disability in Medicine

11:53 Universal Design, Systemic Approaches

13:35 Practical Strategies for Inclusive Education

18:49 Assessment Culture and Accessibility

22:30 Hierarchy, Power, and Psychological Safety

27:22 Faculty Development and Expectations

30:05 Supporting Learners in Patient Interactions

32:01 Future of Accessibility: Standardization and AI

33:58 AI-Supported Precision Accommodations

37:51 Mentoring Future Leaders in Disability-Informed Practice

38:03 Addressing Myths and Supporting Disclosing Learners

40:50 The Power of Kindness and Trust in Disclosure

41:30 Conclusion: Culture and Systems Change for Inclusion

Guests and Hosts

Dr. Lisa Meeks

Dr. Lisa Meeks' Profile at University of Illinois Chicago

Dr. Renee Morales

Provider profiles | Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences EVMS Medical Group at Old Dominion University

Dr. Huma Farid

https://findadoc.bidmc.org/details/2026/huma-farid-obstetrics__gynecology-miltonReferences 

References

Academic Medicine Special Supplement Issue on Disability Inclusion

https://academic.oup.com/academicmedicine/issue/100/Supplement_2 

Assessment of Accommodation Requests Reported by a National Sample of US MD Students by Category of Disability, JAMA 2022

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2795360 

Removing Barriers and Facilitation Access: Increasing the Number of Physicians with Disabilities

https://academic.oup.com/academicmedicine/article/93/4/540/8349097 

Financial Support 

Season Two of Modern MedEd, an APGO podcast, was made possible in part by an unrestricted educational grant from CooperSurgical.

Guest: Dr. Sarena Hayer

Guest: Dr. Santosh Pandipati

Co-Host: Dr. Fei Cai

Co-Host: Dr. Christopher Morosky

Overview

In Episode 6 of Season 2 of Modern MedEd, this podcast discusses the critical intersection of environmental justice and ob-gyn practice, emphasizing the importance of understanding environmental factors that affect maternal and fetal health. The conversation covers the definition of environmental justice, its historical context, and its relevance in medical education. The speakers highlight the need for awareness of social determinants of health, the communities disproportionately affected by environmental issues, and the integration of environmental justice into medical curricula. They also discuss advocacy efforts beyond clinical settings and the importance of ongoing research in this field.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Environmental Justice

01:02 Defining Environmental Justice

05:17 Importance of Environmental Justice in OB-GYN Education

12:17 Communities Affected by Environmental Justice

15:35 Integrating Environmental Justice into Medical Curriculum

23:19 Beyond the Clinical Encounter

28:47 Research Areas in Environmental Justice

34:11 Key Takeaways for Educators

Guests and Hosts

Dr. Sarena Hayer

Sarena Hayer, MD | Cedars-Sinai - Obstetrics & Gynecology | Cedars-Sinai

Dr. Santosh Pandipati 

Dr. Santosh Pandipati, M.D. | Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology | Sutter Health

Dr. Fei Cai

https://www.ohsu.edu/providers/fei-cai-md

Dr. Christopher Morosky

https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Morosky-Christopher 

References

Crenshaw, K. (2015). On Intersectionality: Essential Writings (New Press). ISBN 9781595587046.

Eckelman MJ, Sherman J. Environmental Impacts of the U.S. Health Care System and Effects on Public Health. PLoS One. 2016 Jun 9;11(6):e0157014. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157014. PMID: 27280706; PMCID: PMC4900601.

Financial Support 

Season Two of Modern MedEd, an APGO podcast, was made possible in part by an unrestricted educational grant from CooperSurgical.

Guest: Dr. Priya Garg 

Co-Host: Dr. Fei Cai 

Co-Host: Dr. Ashley Comfort 

Overview 

In Episode 5 of Season 2 of Modern MedEd, Dr. Fei Cai and Dr. Ashley Comfort discuss the implementation of an anti-racist medical education curriculum with Dr. Priya Garg. They explore the motivations behind the curriculum, the importance of student buy-in and participation, and the challenges of faculty engagement. Dr. Garg shares insights on how to infuse anti-racism into various medical disciplines, the significance of community involvement, and the need for accountability in measuring the impact of these changes. The conversation emphasizes the importance of collaboration among students, faculty, and leadership in creating a more equitable medical education system. 

Chapters 

00:00 Introduction to Anti-Racist Medical Education 

01:24 Dr. Priya Garg's Role and Vision 

02:20 Student-Led Initiatives and Motivations 

04:18 Curriculum Redesign for Equity 

06:26 Faculty Engagement and Collaboration 

08:11 Themes of Change in Medical Education 

12:25 Community Response and Transparency 

13:41 Surprises in the Journey 

16:00 Measuring Impact and Accountability 

18:09 Addressing Structural Racism in Curriculum 

20:06 Integrating Anti-Racism into Medical Science 

21:24 Emotional Labor in Anti-Racist Work 

23:01 Building a Supportive Community 

25:01 Looking Forward: The Future of Diversity in Medicine 

27:10 Parting Thoughts and Hope for Change 

Guests and Hosts 

Dr. Priya Garg 

Priya Garg | Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine 

Dr. Fei Cai 

https://www.ohsu.edu/providers/fei-cai-md 

Dr. Ashley Comfort 

Dr. Ashley Comfort, MD - Oula 

References 

Green KA, Wolinsky R, Parnell SJ, Del Campo D, Nathan AS, Garg PS, Kaplan SE, Dasgupta S. Deconstructing Racism, Hierarchy, and Power in Medical Education: Guiding Principles on Inclusive Curriculum Design. Acad Med. 2022 Jun 1;97(6):804-811. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000004531. Epub 2021 Nov 23. PMID: 34817407. 

Nathan AS, Del Campo D, Garg PS. Where are we now? Evaluating the one year impact of an anti-racism curriculum review. Med Teach. 2025 Jan;47(1):58-63. doi: 10.1080/0142159X.2024.2316852. Epub 2024 Feb 21. PMID: 38382447. 

Garg PS, Barber A. Developing Antiracism Metrics: Steps Forward to Drive Change in Medical Education. Acad Pediatr. 2023 Nov-Dec;23(8):1522-1523. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2023.08.001. Epub 2023 Aug 10. PMID: 37572977. 

Financial Support  

Season Two of Modern MedEd, an APGO podcast, was made possible in part by an unrestricted educational grant from CooperSurgical. 

Guest: Dr. Valerie French 

Co-Host: Dr. Huma Farid 

Co-Host: Dr. Christopher Morosky 

Overview 

In Episode 4 of Season 2 of Modern MedEd, Huma sits down with Chris to reflect on his discussion with Dr. Valerie French about innovations in contraception and the importance of comprehensive reproductive health education in the post-Dobbs era. They explore recent advancements in contraceptive methods, including the evolution of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), and the role of telehealth in improving access to care. The conversation also highlights the need for medical education that covers more than contraception efficacy, including but not limited to teaching the importance of the patient’s perspective on contraception, patient autonomy, shared decision-making, disparities in cost and access at pharmacies, as well as recognizing one’s own biases when discussing contraception with patients. Ultimately, they emphasize the complexity of contraceptive care education and the need to stay nimble and up to date. 

Chapters 

00:00 Introduction to Innovations in Contraception 

02:55 Recent Contraceptive Innovations 

05:57 Addressing Pain Management in IUD Insertion 

08:50 Barriers to Accessing Contraceptive Methods 

12:02 Evolution of LARC Access and Same-Day Placement 

15:07 Telehealth and Contraceptive Care 

18:12 Personalized Care and Shared Decision Making 

20:57 Teaching Contraceptive Care Effectively 

23:52 Disparities in Access to Contraception 

27:12 Future Innovations in Contraception 

29:53 Emergency Contraception and Systemic Changes 

33:01 The Intersection of Contraception and Patient Care 

Guests and Hosts 

Dr. Valerie French 

https://findadoctor.kansashealthsystem.com/provider/valerie-a-french/2305452  

Dr. Huma Farid 

https://findadoc.bidmc.org/details/2026/huma-farid-obstetrics__gynecology-miltonReferences  

Dr. Christopher Morosky 

https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Morosky-Christopher  

References 

Wu J, Trahair E, Happ M, Swartz J. TikTok, #IUD, and User Experience With Intrauterine Devices Reported on Social Media. Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Jan 1;141(1):215-217. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005027. Epub 2022 Dec 5. PMID: 36473194; PMCID: PMC9892286. 

Dehlendorf C, Krajewski C, Borrero S. Contraceptive counseling: best practices to ensure quality communication and enable effective contraceptive use. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Dec;57(4):659-73. doi: 10.1097/GRF.0000000000000059. PMID: 25264697; PMCID: PMC4216627. 

French VA, Mattingly TL, Rangel AV, Shelton AU. Availability of ulipristal acetate: A secret shopper survey of pharmacies in a metropolitan area on emergency contraception. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2019 Nov-Dec;59(6):832-835. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2019.06.018. Epub 2019 Jul 26. PMID: 31358378. 

Financial Support  

Season Two of Modern MedEd, an APGO podcast, was made possible in part by an unrestricted educational grant from CooperSurgical. 

Guest: Dr. Alison Edelman 

Co-Host: Dr. Fei Cai 

Co-Host: Dr. Huma Farid 

Overview 

In Episode 3 of Season 2 of Modern MedEd – the first episode in a two-part series on reproductive health education post-Dobbs – Huma and Fei unpack a timely and thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Alison Edelman on the future of reproductive health education in a rapidly changing legal landscape. The episode explores how recent legal shifts are reshaping medical training, from gaps in clinical exposure to new pressures on transparency in ob-gyn clerkship and residency curricula. Dr. Edelman discusses the administrative and legal complexities educators now face, even in permissive states, and highlights innovative strategies—such as cross-state partnerships, “orphan programs,” and simulation-based learning—to ensure trainees receive comprehensive education. The conversation emphasizes the importance of proactive communication, adaptability, and advocacy to support learners and safeguard the future of reproductive health education giving learners the knowledge they need about contraception, pregnancy, consent, fertility, and overall wellbeing. 

Chapters 

00:00 Introduction to Reproductive Health Education Post-Dobbs 

01:21 Why Dobbs Changed Medical Education — Not Just Care Delivery 

02:43 Introducing Dr. Alison Edelman and the Oregon Training Context 

04:11 Permissive vs. Restrictive States: How Geography Shapes Training 

05:37 Transparency in Ob-Gyn Clerkship and Residency Training After Dobbs 

06:42 Navigating Administrative and Legal Confusion as an Educator 

08:06 Teaching when you “Can’t Say the Word Abortion”: Realities in Restrictive States 

09:55 Creative Training Models: Sister Sites and “Orphan Programs” 

11:11 Knowledge-Based Training When Clinical Exposure Is Limited 

12:36 The Role – and Limits – of Simulation in Procedural Education 

15:33 Balancing Roles: Clinician, Educator, Advocate, and Leader 

18:07 Keeping Curricula Current Amid Rapid Legal Change 

19:58 Sharing the Burden: Department-Wide Communication and Culture 

21:23 Conscientious Objection, Professionalism, and Patient Care 

24:23 Key Takeaways and Looking Ahead to Part 2 

Guests and Hosts 

Dr. Alison Edelman 

https://www.ohsu.edu/providers/alison-edelman-md-mph  

Dr. Fei Cai 

https://www.ohsu.edu/providers/fei-cai-md 

Dr. Huma Farid 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/authors/huma-farid-md   

https://findadoc.bidmc.org/details/2026/huma-farid-obstetrics__gynecology-miltonReferences  

References 

Patient-Centered Abortion Care Education Curriculum 

https://www.acog.org/education-and-events/creog/curriculum-resources/patient-centered-abortion-care-education-curriculum 

Innovating Education in Reproductive Health 

https://www.innovating-education.org/  

The College of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare 

https://www.cosrh.org/  

Financial Support  

Season Two of Modern MedEd, an APGO podcast, was made possibl

Guest: María Escobar-Bordyn

Co-Host: Dr. Renee Morales

Co-Host: Dr. Christopher Morosky

Overview

In Episode 2 of Season 2 for Modern MedEd, Chris and Renee explore the insights from their conversation with Maria Escobar-Bordyn, exploring the art and science of communication in medical education. They discuss the importance of understanding cortisol- and oxytocin-driven biochemical responses, and the significance of self-regulation and co-regulation in fostering trust for effective communication. They also discuss the impact of power dynamics, tips for making connections in a virtual environment, and the use of feedback to guide growth without triggering defensiveness in conversations.  María recommends pausing to reflect on your own intentions before difficult conversationsas a tool to help you regulate your own emotional responses.  María's insights on empathy, connection, and the importance of acknowledging mistakes are highlighted as essential skills for educators and healthcare professionals.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Medical Conversations

01:14  María's Background and Early Lessons

03:21 The Chemistry of Conversations

05:56 Self-Regulation in Communication

10:41 Recognizing Dysregulation

13:42 Co-Regulation and Power Dynamics

18:52 Building Trust Through Acknowledgment

20:52 Navigating Difficult Conversations

22:41 Feedback and Growth

25:40 Zoom Interviews and Connection

28:30 Myths of Empathy and Fear

30:43 Intentions and Emotional Baselines

34:04 Language and Trust in Conversations

Guests and Hosts

María Escobar-Bordyn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariaescobarbordyn/

https://creatingwe.com/https://www.we-iq.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/creating-we-institute/

Dr. Renee Morales

Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences EVMS Medical Group at Old Dominion University

Dr. Christopher Morosky

https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Morosky-Christopher

References

Glaser, J. E. (2016).Conversational Intelligence: How Great Leaders Build Trust and Get Extraordinary Results. Routledge.

Financial Support 

Season Two of Modern MedEd, an APGO podcast, was made possible in part by an unrestricted educational grant from CooperSurgical.

Guest: Dr. Elise Everett

Co-Host: Dr. Christopher Morosky

Co-Host: Dr. Fei Cai

Overview

In Episode 1 of Season 2 for Modern MedEd, Chris and Fei breakdown a powerful interview with Dr. Elise Everett from the UVM Larner College of Medicine covering the controversial topic of an entirely pass/fail clerkship curriculum. The conversation explores the inadequacies of traditional assessment systems in medical education, emphasizing the need to move toward more equitable, formative, and growth-oriented approaches. It makes a case for assessment practices that prioritize learning, collaboration, and the development of a growth mindset. By shifting the focus from summative evaluations to formative assessments, educators can foster intrinsic motivation, support student development, and use assessment data to empower learners. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Pass-Fail Grading in Medical Education

02:36 The Shift to Pass-Fail Grading During COVID-19

04:11 Understanding the Impact of Grading Systems

08:14 The Role of Bias in Grading and Assessment

10:25 Reframing Grades as Developmental Tools

12:07 Inequities in Clerkship Grading

14:01 Competencies vs. Academic Metrics in Residency Selection

16:46 Implementing Effective Assessment Systems

24:14 Building a Supportive Team for Change

28:27 Challenging Misconceptions About Pass-Fail Grading

Show Notes

Dr. Elise Everett

https://www.uvm.edu/larnermed/bios/profile/elise-everett

Dr. Christopher Morosky

https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Morosky-Christopher

Dr. Fei Cai

https://www.ohsu.edu/providers/fei-cai-md

References

Highest and Lowest Physician Salaries by Specialty: 2025, Healthgrades 

The Core Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for Entering Residency, AAMC 

Iyer AA, et. al. Medical School Grading – Is “Good Enough” Good Enough?, N Engl J Med 2025;392:1254-1257, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp2415777 

Financial Support 

Season Two of Modern MedEd, an APGO podcast, was made possible in part by an unrestricted educational grant from CooperSurgical.

Ashley Comfort, MD
Huma Farid, MD
  

Show Notes

Dr. Louis N. Pangaro:
Professor of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD

Dr. Renee Morales:
Eastern Virginia Medical School

Dr. Christopher Morosky:
UConn Health
https://twitter.com/cmmorosky 

References:
For more resources on RIME, check out Dr. Pangaro’s annotated bibliography of related papers

Dr. Pangaro’s Google Scholar Link

This season of Modern MedEd, an APGO podcast, was made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals.  

Co-host: Renee Morales, MD

Guest: Linda Street, MD

Overview

Join the Modern MedEd hosts as they explore the topic of Rethinking in medical education. Dr. Renee Morales reviews key excerpts from her interview with special guest Dr. Linda Street. What is Rethinking, and how do we begin to understand and practice this skill? How can Rethinking help clinicians address burnout and stress, challenges that are increasingly impacting medical professionals? And, how can we use Rethinking skills to improve the general culture of medical education and negotiate more healthy, sustainable career conditions that promote equity and diversity in medicine?

Show Notes

Dr. Linda Street:

Simply Street MD 

Simply Worth It on Apple Podcasts

Dr. Renee Morales:

Eastern Virginia Medical School

Dr. Christopher Morosky:

UConn Health

https://twitter.com/cmmorosky  

References:

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski, PhD and Amelia Nagoski, DMA 

Adam Grant, PhD 

Co-host: Fei Cai, MD 

Guest: Arthurine Zakama, MD 

Overview 

Join the Modern MedEd hosts as they explore the topic of DEI in medical education. Dr. Fei Cai reviews key excerpts from her interview with special guest Dr. Arthurine Zakama. What does DEI mean for patients, learners, faculty, and staff? How do efforts to promote DEI impact learners and faculty in medicine who identify as underrepresented minorities (URM)? And, what resources can help to promote a better understanding of DEI and ultimately improve the experiences for URM students and learners in our academic medical learning environments? 

Show Notes 

Dr. Arthurine Zakama: 

https://atozscholarship.org/team/    

https://www.instagram.com/a.zakama.md/ 

Dr. Fei Cai: 

https://creogsovercoffee.com/about-us  

https://twitter.com/fei_cai_md 

Dr. Christopher Morosky: 

https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Morosky-Christopher 

https://twitter.com/cmmorosky  

References: 

Stat News: Black doctors are forced out of training programs at far higher rates than white residents.  

Karen A. Scott, MD, MPH, FACOG: https://www.birthingculturalrigor.com/drkarenascott/   

Rachel Hardeman, PhD, MPH: https://directory.sph.umn.edu/bio/sph-a-z/rachel-hardeman