My Favorite Learners Podcast

Advanced lab interpretation is about more than memorizing normal values -it’s about understanding why a test was ordered, what the result tells you about your patient, and how it changes your anesthetic management.

In this episode of My Favorite Learners, we break down the advanced laboratory testing SRNAs need to understand for the NCE, anesthesia clinicals, and future CRNA practice.

We cover platelet count...

12-lead EKG interpretation does NOT have to be overwhelming. 🫀⚡️

In this episode of My Favorite Learners, we break down EKG/ECG monitoring specifically for SRNAs, CRNAs, anesthesia providers, ICU nurses, and anesthesia learners—with simple analogies and clinically relevant pearls you can actually remember.

We start with one of the most confusing concepts: What is the difference between an ECG lead and an electro...

Pediatric and obstetric anesthesia can feel overwhelming when you're first starting clinical - but they don't have to be.

In this episode of My Favorite Learners, we simplify two of the most intimidating anesthesia rotations by focusing on physiology first. Instead of memorizing countless facts and syndromes, you'll learn why pediatric and obstetric patients get into trouble and how that changes your anesthetic m...

Today we’re diving into the future of anesthesia pharmacology with three major topics changing perioperative practice: Remimazolam, Sugammadex, and Novel Opioids. These medications were designed to improve what we care about most—faster recovery, safer profiles, more predictable pharmacokinetics, and better patient outcomes.

In this episode, we break down:

✔️ Remimazolam – the ultra-short acting benzo...

Three life-threatening syndromes. Similar presentations. Very different causes and treatments. In this episode, Chloe Gomez, DNP, CRNA, breaks down how to quickly differentiate Serotonin Syndrome, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), and Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) - a must-know topic for anesthesia learners and board prep.

We cover:
✔️ Key clinical signs and classic presentations
✔️ Triggering medications and anesthetic...

What makes a CRNA school applicant stand out—and what mistakes can hurt your chances before the interview even begins? In this special panel episode of My Favorite Learners, I sit down with the leadership of the UC Davis Nurse Anesthesia Program admissions team: Dr. Bryan Tune, Dr. Becky Ashlock, Dr. Jake Sareerak, and Dr. Terence Burrows. Together, we discuss what admissions committees valu...

In this episode of My Favorite Learners, we break down three high-stakes anesthesia emergencies that every provider must recognize quickly: cyanide toxicity, carbon monoxide poisoning, and methemoglobinemia.

You’ll learn how to differentiate these conditions in real time when oxygenation doesn’t match the clinical picture, why standard monitors can be misleading, and how to choose the correct treatment under pr...

Antihypertensive medications don’t have to feel overwhelming or memorization-heavy. In this solo lecture, Chloe Gomez, DNP, CRNA breaks down antihypertensive pharmacology through physiology, mechanisms of action, and real-world anesthesia implications - exactly what SRNAs, CRNAs, and anesthesia providers need for boards and the operating room.

This episode walks through the major classes of antihypertensives, focusing on how e...

Antiarrhythmics don’t have to feel like chaos. In this solo lecture, CRNA educator Chloe Gomez, DNP, CRNA breaks down antiarrhythmic pharmacology using clear physiology, memorable frameworks, and anesthesia-specific clinical relevance - perfect for SRNAs, CRNAs, and anesthesia providers preparing for boards and clinical practice.

This episode walks step-by-step through the Vaughan Williams classification system (Class I–...

Anticoagulants don’t have to feel overwhelming. In this solo episode, CRNA educator Chloe Gomez, DNP, CRNA breaks down the coagulation cascade and anticoagulant pharmacology in a clear, intuitive way designed for SRNAs, CRNAs, and anesthesia providers preparing for boards and real-world clinical practice.

We start with a simple, step-by-step walkthrough of the intrinsic, extrinsic, and common pathways, then connect that physio...

Respiratory pharmacology can feel deceptively simple — until you’re managing bronchospasm, hypoxia, or an unstable airway in the OR. In this solo episode of My Favorite Learners, CRNA and clinical faculty Chloe Gomez, DNP, CRNA breaks down respiratory physiology and pharmacology in a way that actually makes sense for boards, anesthesia practice, and real-time decision making.

In this episode, we cover:

• Beta-2 agonists...

In today’s episode of My Favorite Learners, Chloe sits down with Dr. Becky Ashlock, DNP, CRNA - UC Davis faculty member, OB anesthesia clinician, and lifelong educator - to break down one of the mosthigh-yield and clinically essential topics in anesthesia: endocrine pharmacology.

Whether you're an SRNA preparing for boards, a CRNA in clinical practice, or a learner who wants to understand physiology on a deeper level, this con...

In this episode, Chloe sits down with Tanner and Cole from Core Anesthesia for a high-yield, conversational breakdown of malignant hyperthermia - one of anesthesia’s most urgent and misunderstood crises. From the molecular dysfunction of the ryanodine receptor to the early OR red flags that every anesthesia provider must recognize, this episode blends science, clinical pearls, and real-world experiences that bring MH to life.

...

In this episode of My Favorite Learners, Dr. Chloe Gomez, DNP, CRNA sits down with Dr. Zafar Anwar, DNP, CRNA of NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell for a high-yield, clinically grounded deep dive into vasopressors and hemodynamic management.

Together, they break down the pipes and the pump approach to understanding vasopressors - covering alpha, beta, and dopamine receptor physiology, selectivity, and how common agents like phenylep...

CRNA educator Chloe Gomez is joined by Chrissy Massaro, MSN, CRNA and Anna Jobe, DNP, CRNA to break down perioperative anaphylaxis -from the first red flags (rising peak pressures, bronchospasm, hypotension) to epinephrine-first treatment and what to document so patients stay safe long-term. We walk through a real-world appendectomy scenario, discuss common OR triggers (NMBAs, cefazolin, latex), tryptase labs, biphasic reactions, a...

In this episode of My Favorite Learners, host Chloe Gomez, DNP, CRNA sits down with Becky Motykiewics, DNAP, CRNA, a pediatric anesthesia expert and educator at Drexel University. Together they break down why “kids are not just small adults,” diving into pediatric pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) and pharmacodynamics (volatile agents, opioids, benzos, neuromuscular blockers). From the h...

In this episode of My Favorite Learners, Chloe Gomez, DNP, CRNA, sits down with Dr. Rhea Temmermand, PhDc, MSN, CRNA, FAANA—neuropharmacology researcher at Drexel University, adjunct professor, textbook co-editor, and co-founder of Atomic Anesthesia—to make pharmacogenetics practical for the OR.

We unpack how genetic variability shapes drug response beyond PK/PD: SNPs, drug targets and transporters, and the CYP450 story ...

In this episode of My Favorite Learners, host Chloe Gomez, DNP, CRNA sits down with Dr. Richard Wilson, DNAP, CRNA, FAANA to explore one of anesthesia’s most urgent crisis scenarios: Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST).

Together, they break down:

• How LAST progresses from early CNS warning signs (tinnitus, metallic taste, agitation) to cardiovascular collapse

• The mechanism of sodium-channel blockade and why high-risk po...

Struggling to stay awake while reading your anesthesia textbooks? In this episode of My Favorite Learners, CRNA and educator Chloe Gomez, DNP, CRNA dives into Make It Stick - the groundbreaking book on how we actually learn best - and translates its key lessons for Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs).

You’ll learn practical strategies like:
✅ Retrieval practice & brain dumps (your brain’s workout)
✅ S...