Raise the Line

We continue our NextGen Journeys series today featuring fresh perspectives on education, medicine, and the future of health care with an impressive medical student who was brought to our attention by a previous podcast guest, Dr. Michael Foti, whom we'd like to thank for the recommendation. Nikolas Bletnitsky is in his third year at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Middletown, but that's just one element in his medical education. Over the last several years, Nick has done extensive work in the field of OB-GYN -- completing clinical electives in Paris, France and Bologna, Italy, in addition to the Mayo Clinic -- where he has pursued his intense interest in a variety of subspecialties, including maternal fetal medicine. “Right now I'm doing a lot because I'm young and I have the energy and I want to see a lot to give me different perspectives on things so that I can incorporate them into my own practice,” he tells host Michael Carrese. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation in which you’ll learn about current practice in OB-GYN in the US and Europe, neonatal palliative care and advances in fetal surgery, along with what Nick has learned about having crucial conversations with the parents of patients when tough news needs to be discussed.Mentioned in this episode: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

Today, our ongoing global tour of medical education on Raise the Line stops in the Republic of Ireland by way of a conversation with the head of school at Trinity College Dublin School of Medicine, Dr. Colin Doherty, who is in the midst of revising the school’s curriculum. In that process, particular attention is being given to how medical education needs to change to adjust to the potentially transformative impacts on health, healthcare and society from artificial intelligence, big data and climate change. As Dr. Doherty tells host Caleb Furnas, a recent creative workshop with internal and external stakeholders produced reassuring results. “It was really gratifying that central to the future of our workforce is not technology, but the humanity of the healthcare worker.” The widely-published epileptologist believes achieving that will require a regulatory framework that strikes the right balance. “Let AI help us with making the right choices for treatment, but don't put it between us and our relationship with the patient.” There is much to contemplate in this fascinating discussion of advances in understanding epilepsy, managing change in academia, instituting love as an outcome measure, and the many challenges and opportunities of leading a 300-year-old medical school into the future.Mentioned in this episode: Trinity College Dublin School of Medicine If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

On this episode of Raise the Line, we're going to learn about the organization behind one of the most important exams in healthcare: the NCLEX, which is the licensing exam for nurses in the US. The influence of the test, which is overseen by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), is hard to overstate because of its role in driving what nursing students and educators focus on. That was made evident when the heavily revamped Next Generation NCLEX, launched in 2023, placed much greater emphasis on clinical judgment than had been the case on past exams. “I think the education transformation prompted by the new exam is still going on. The launch was more of a catalyst than I expected,” says Dr. Philip Dickison, CEO of NCSBN, who was director of Health Professions Testing at Elsevier before joining the Council in 2010. Through administering licensing exams and serving as the collective voice of nursing regulators across the country, Dickison says NCSBN strives to achieve its ultimate goal, which is building public confidence in the competence of nurses.  “I see our job at the Council as making sure there is a moment of trust between a patient and their nurse.” Join host Liz Lucas, Senior Content Manager for Nursing at Osmosis from Elsevier, as she explores the important work that goes on behind the scenes in the healthcare industry to help ensure public health and safety, and uncovers what Dickison learned as a military medic that still influences his work today.Mentioned in this episode:National Council of State Boards of Nursing  If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

We have a special Raise the Line episode today that takes a look at some behind-the-scenes work happening at Osmosis from Elsevier to expand the reach and impact of our educational content, which is now being used by learners in nearly 200 countries. Over the past year, dozens of volunteers have been hard at work translating over 100 Osmosis videos into Arabic while simultaneously researching whether these translations increase student engagement and comprehension, and improve educational equity. Our host, Dr. Amin Azzam -- who has played an oversight role in this project -- is joined by two other key members of the team: Mohammad Kabakibi, the founder of Chain of Education, an online learning platform he developed while in school at Lebanese American University; and Dania Reina, who is an e-learning creator and a pharmacist from Brazil. “In the beginning, we had one or two volunteers, but now we have more than fifty. This is huge and this only happens because we are building this for us and to leave for other healthcare professionals who will hopefully keep it going,” says Reina. Research has shown significant learning improvement among video watchers and as a bonus, the people doing the subtitles report enhanced knowledge of the subjects they work on. These positive outcomes have spurred Kabakibi to look for other opportunities to make an impact, including helping Arabic speakers learn how to do research in English. “I believe one of the legacies that this project will carry through me will be my continuous mission in reducing barriers when it comes to healthcare and education,” he shares. Check out this inspiring episode to learn about other offshoots of the project, how this work supports lifelong learning, and why AI is not up to the task.Mentioned in this episode:Chain of EducationOsmosis Video with Arabic Translation  If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

We kick off 2025 on Raise the Line by sharing some good news for providers struggling to keep up with the growing number of applications for genomic testing: a new book from Elsevier Science Direct has been designed to arm you with the knowledge you need. Genomics in the Clinic: A Practical Guide to Genetic Testing, Evaluation, and Counseling dives into the use of this important tool in diagnosis and screening, indicating how individuals may respond to drug therapies, and more. “We really need to educate all healthcare providers about the practice of genetics because they're going to be involved directly or indirectly in genetic testing and conveying information about what the results mean to patients and their families,” explains co-author Dr. Ethylin Wang Jabs, enterprise chair of the Department of Clinical Genomics for Mayo Clinic. Jabs and her co-author, Dr. Antonie Kline, director of Clinical Genetics at the Harvey Institute for Human Genetics at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, chose a format that makes heavy use of case studies to help readers get a better grasp on this complicated field and they also include chapters on direct-to-consumer testing and the ethical and social implications in genomic medicine. “Any kind of potentially predictive testing can have ethical issues related to it, including insurance coverage, testing for family members, protections for minors, and more,” says Dr. Kline. Join host Caleb Furnas for an illuminating episode on an area of discussion in medicine that’s growing in importance as the use of genetic testing rapidly increases.Mentioned in this episode: Genomics in the Clinic: A Practical Guide If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

Brothers Inspire and Share Life Lessons Through Endurance Sports: Kyle and Brent Pease of the Kyle Pease FoundationToday, we have an especially inspiring episode in our Year of the Zebra series on rare conditions featuring Kyle Pease and his brother Brent, who recently helped each other complete the 140.6 mile Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, a challenge they also took on together in 2018. What makes their story extraordinary is that Kyle, who was born with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia, participated in these races with Brent's assistance, making them the first push-assist brother duo to finish the grueling competition. With over 125 endurance races under his belt, Kyle has become a leading disability advocate, demonstrating resilience and breaking barriers through sports. “Competing really reminds me of my life. I go through many ups and downs throughout my day just as I do in this sport. You get through a lot of different challenges throughout the competition by just focusing on the idea that anything is truly possible,” he tells host Lindsey Smith. To amplify their message of inclusivity and determination, the brothers co-founded the Kyle Pease Foundation which sponsors races and other awareness building events and they deliver speeches to a variety of organizations to share the lessons they’ve learned. “We want to encourage people to figure out what their finish line looks like. What are the things you work for and how do you get there,” says Brent. Tune in for an uplifting conversation to learn about the Foundation’s workforce inclusion program, their book, Beyond the Finish, and the “secret weapon” that makes their racing and other endeavors possible.Mentioned in this episode:Kyle Pease FoundationBeyond the Finish If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

The use of simulation in nursing education has been growing in recent years not only because of its proven effectiveness as a training method, but because of limits on clinical training placements, and a dearth of nursing faculty. Today on Raise the Line, we’re happy to welcome one of the pioneers in this area, Dr. Pamela Jeffries, the Dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing which is consistently ranked among the top graduate nursing schools in the US. “Now that we've moved to competency-based education and outcomes, I feel simulation is one of the mechanisms that's going to help faculty to see our students demonstrate those competencies needed across domains,” Jeffries tells host Maria Pfrommer, director of Nursing Education at Osmosis from Elsevier. Dr. Jeffries is also known for her work improving the online learning landscape in nursing education. “Online learning is so important in nursing because if you look at our students, they're typically working part-time or even full-time and need that flexibility.” Maria and Dr. Jeffries also get into the details of Vanderbilt’s graduate nursing programs and discuss the game changing potential of AI in nursing education and practice in this informative episode.Mentioned in this episode:Vanderbilt University School of Nursing If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

“Being a provider yourself doesn't protect you or your loved ones from illnesses and it really brings the humanity back into medicine to recognize that we're all struggling and that the  patient in front of you is processing what they hear in their own way,” says Dr. Marta Perez, and OB-GYN and mother of a child with a rare condition. As Perez shares with host Lindsey Smith, her young daughter’s struggles with Smith-Magenis Syndrome – which causes an array of developmental delays and other challenges -- has made her, and her physician husband, better doctors by sharpening their understanding of the difficulty patients have navigating the healthcare system and dealing with dismissive providers. “That's been something really formative for us in how we approach patients in our own practices. We understand the stresses in medicine.” In this candid interview, Perez talks about how she and her husband juggle two demanding jobs and a child with special needs, the impediments to finding treatments for rare diseases and the emotional impact of realizing your child will not have the kind of life you hoped they would have. Don’t miss an episode rich with lessons for providers and parents as our Year of the Zebra series continues. Mentioned in this episode:@Dr.MartaPerezSmith Magenis Syndrome If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

This episode of Raise the Line is special for a couple of reasons. Our guest, Toh Hong Keng recently graduated from medical school at the age of seventy, making him one of the oldest medical students in the world; and Shiv Gaglani is taking a break from his 3rd year of medical school -- which he is completing at the age of 35 -- to make a rare appearance hosting the show so he can compare notes with Toh about being a non-traditional med student and to learn from his inspiring example. Toh is a retired tech sales executive who earned his medical degree this summer from Southwestern University PHINMA in the Philippines after a long career in the Asia-Pacific region. As he tells Shiv, Toh brushed aside the opinions of acquaintances that pursuing a medical degree in his late sixties was a little crazy. “I’m a firm believer that at this age, we should be able to do what we like to do, not what people think we should be doing.” Tune in to find out what sparked his interest in getting the degree, what his biggest challenges were, how his classmates interacted with him, what he considers highlights of the experience, and what he plans to do next.  You’ll also learn about the concept of “sayang” which Toh relied on when he was facing doubts along this very difficult, but rewarding journey. Mentioned in this episode:CNN Article About TohSouthwestern University PHINMA School of Medicine If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

Leaning into the ancient wisdom that ‘practice makes perfect’ nursing educators are increasingly embracing approaches such as simulation and competency based education that provide students with low-risk opportunities to practice skills. You might even say that the  ‘see one, do one, teach one’ framework has evolved into ‘see one, do one, debrief, get assessed and do it again.’ But while research shows these hands-on methods lead to increased patient safety and better clinical outcomes, they can be challenging to implement as we’ll learn on this episode from April Rowe Neal, PhD, RN, the graduate nursing simulation educator at Winona State University College of Nursing & Health Sciences. “It can be hard for a lot of faculty because it's not necessarily how we've all been trained, right? You have to take more of that ‘guide on the side’ role rather than having all of your lecture notes perfectly typed to deliver to your students,” she explains to new Raise the Line host Kelsey LaFayette, DNP,  Senior Content Manager at Osmosis from Elsevier. On the plus side, Rowe Neal thinks these methods build a partnership between the learner and the teacher. Find out why that happens, learn how her program uses scaffolding to set students up for success and get Rowe Neal’s take on the role of mindfulness for medical learners and providers in this insightful conversation.Mentioned in this episode:Winona State University College of Nursing & Health Sciences If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast