EM Pulse Podcast™

In this first installment of our Medicine on the Go series, we explore how care is moving beyond hospital walls and directly into the community through UC Davis Fire Department’s innovative mobile mental health crisis unit, Health 34. You’ll hear how this no-cost, 24/7 team—staffed by providers with paramedic backgrounds and lay counselor training—meets people where they are to prevent crises, support mental health needs, and conne...

In this episode of EM Pulse, guest host Dr. Neelou Tabatabai joins Julia in a discussion with ED nurse and TeamSTEPPS advocate, Leigh Clary, to explore how structured communication tools can transform even the most high-stress medical and trauma resuscitations. Through a real-life story of conflict and resolution in the emergency department, Leigh illustrates how TeamSTEPPS strategies—like assertive communication, the Two-Challenge...

In this episode, we dive into the charged world of Morbidity and Mortality conferences—where good intentions can collide with fear, shame, and silence. We’ve all felt that jolt of adrenaline sitting in the audience—or worse, standing at the podium. Our guest expert, Dr. Jaymin Patel, helps us unpack why the traditional M&M model no longer works and how we can rebuild it into something better: a space that turns mistakes into me...

What happens when a febrile infant presents at 61 days old? Are they suddenly low risk for invasive bacterial infections? In this episode, we explore the gray zone of managing febrile infants aged 61–90 days with the help of two new clinical prediction rules from PECARN. Joining us are two powerhouses in pediatric emergency medicine: Dr. Nate Kuppermann and Dr. Paul Aronson, who walk us through their recent study published in Pedia...

Dive into the second half of our envenomation series! Dr. Jonathan Ford, a UC Davis Medical Toxicologist and Professor of Emergency Medicine, returns to the podcast to tackle scorpions and spiders. We’re going beyond the basics to discuss the “why” and “how” of these bites and stings. Learn about the neurotoxic effects of bark scorpion venom and the life-threatening airway risks. Explore the mechanism ...

Summer hikes and backyard play mean we’re bound to see a few snakebites in the ED—and getting the first steps right makes all the difference. In the first half of this 2 part series, Medical Toxicologist Dr. Jonathan Ford joins us to walk through the key steps in caring for patients with snake envenomations. We’ll walk through what to do (and not to do) in terms of pre-hospital care, how to triage and assess patients when they arri...

In the second half of this two part episode, Dr. David Leon unpacks some of the most hotly debated topics in resuscitation—fluids, blood products, ECMO, and post-arrest care. He breaks down the pros and cons of crystalloids (yes, even the “pasta water” debate), explains why lactated Ringer’s is often preferred over normal saline, and dips into the use of albumin and colloids. Dr. Leon also discusses the promise and challenges of ex...

In this high-yield two part episode, we dive into the evolving world of resuscitation with Dr. David Leon, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Anesthesia at UC Davis. From the shift in priorities from ABC (Airway-Breathing-Circulation) to CAB (Circulation first) to the practical use of peripheral vasopressors and rapid infusion catheters, this episode breaks down how frontline ED care is adapting to sicker patients, longe...

We’re back with another episode of Push Dose Pearls with ED Clinical Pharacist, Haley Burhans! In this episode, we break down the essentials of managing agitation in the ED—starting with why you should avoid diphenhydramine in the elderly and benzodiazepines in the 3 D’s: drunk, delirium, and dementia. We discuss how to quickly assess the cause, choose the right medication, and decide between IM and IV routes. And Haley offers some...

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. John Rose as cohost for a conversation with Dr. Gary Tamkin—Emergency Physician and Vice President of Provider Development at US Acute Care Solutions. Together, they explore what it really takes to find happiness and fulfillment in the high-stakes world of emergency medicine. From the trap of the arrival fallacy to the pressure of always chasing the next milestone, Dr. Tamkin shares personal ins...

Hypoglycemia can be subtle—or dangerously obvious—and knowing when and how to treat it is critical. In her first episode as our new Push Dose Pearls expert, Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist, Haley Burhans, joins us to break it down. We discuss glucose thresholds by age, when to draw critical labs, and how to choose the right treatment—whether it’s oral glucose, IV dextrose, or IM or intranasal glucagon. From neonates to older...

Summer travel is in full swing and, for physicians, that means more than just packing swimsuits and sunscreen. In this episode of EM Pulse, we sit down with wilderness medicine expert, Dr. Mary Bing, to unpack the real-world essentials of travel medical kits. From duct tape and whistles to epinephrine and steroids, you’ll learn what to bring, how to tailor your supplies based on destination and group, and why your role as a physici...

In this follow-up to our artificial intelligence in EM series, we’re diving into how AI can enhance your professional life outside of clinical shifts. Joined by Dr. Jaymin Patel—Assistant Residency Program Director and tech-savvy educator—we explore three practical AI tools that can streamline teaching, content creation, communication, and even how you consume literature on your commute. From ChatGPT to DALL·E to NotebookLM, we bre...

In this episode of EM Pulse, Dr. Daniel Hernandez, an emergency medicine and addiction specialist at UC Davis, joins the team to spotlight methadone—one of the original and still powerful tools for treating opioid use disorder (OUD). While newer medications like buprenorphine often steal the spotlight, methadone remains a critical option, especially in the era of fentanyl. Tune in for a practical conversation on when and how to ini...

This is the next episode of our Push Dose Pearls miniseries with ED Clinical Pharmacist, Chris Adams. In this ongoing series we’ll dig into some of the questions we all have about medications we commonly see and use in the ED. In this epsidoe, we unpack the complexities of anticoagulation reversal in the emergency department – It’s not just about vitamin K anymore! Tune in as we explore the key reversal agents, when and why t...

Big news for emergency medicine residencies! The ACGME is proposing several major changes to EM program requirements. To comply with these new requirements, programs would need to be 4 years long. This is a hotly debated topic at the moment as most EM residencies in the U.S. currently are 3 year programs. So what are the proposed changes? How would they affect the curriculum and training for future EM physicians? To answer these qu...

In the fourth and final episode of our advocacy mini series with guest host, Dr. Anna Yap, we dive into a powerful story of advocacy led by a mother-daughter duo. Pediatric nurse practitioner Robyn Lao and her 9-year-old daughter, Addie, who has severe food allergies, turned their personal challenges into a statewide movement by co-authoring California Senate Bill 68—the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences (ADDE) Act. Togeth...

In the third episode of our advocacy mini series with Dr. Anna Yap, we explore the evolving challenges faced by transgender patients and medical professionals in today’s political climate. We’re joined by Charlie Adams, a fourth-year medical student and dedicated advocate, who shares his powerful journey fighting for transgender rights and health equity. Together, we discuss the importance of gender-affirming care, the real-world i...

In the second episode of our advocacy mini series with Dr. Anna Yap, we dive into the critical intersection of emergency medicine and immigration health. As emergency physicians, we frequently care for undocumented patients, asylum seekers, and refugees—individuals who face significant barriers to medical care, including fear, cost concerns, and language obstacles. Dr. Ellen Shank, a UC Davis health policy fellow and expert in migr...