In this episode, we talk with ophthalmologist Dr. Jennifer Grin about a practical, high-yield approach to evaluating eye complaints, documenting findings, and knowing when to urgently refer. The conversation covers a breakdown of an “easy eye exam” any clinician can do from starting with visual acuity as the eye’s vital sign to realistic expectations for the fundus exam. Dr. Grin reviews warning signs such as sudden vision loss, abnormal pupils, flashes/floaters with a curtain (retinal detachment), and concerning trauma. She also highlights common pitfalls like mislabeling serious diseases like conjunctivitis, missing open globe injuries, and prescribing topical steroids or anesthetics without a clear diagnosis.

This episode features Brian Dwinnell, Associate Dean of Student Life at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who shares his insights on medical school admissions, student support, and curriculum changes. The discussion touches on the competitive application process, the school’s holistic review philosophy, and how the new systems-based curriculum known as “Trek” is designed to better prepare and support students. The episode also covers trends in residency matching and dispels common myths about medical school, ending with an optimistic outlook on the next generation of physicians.

In this episode, we welcome Catrina Bubier, MD, an OB/GYN physician and member of Copic’s Board of Directors. Dr. Bubier details her experience with a serious hand injury that temporarily sidelined her from surgical practice. She shares how the injury and subsequent surgeries impacted her ability to work, her relationships with practice partners, and her finances. Dr. Bubier discusses the importance of disability insurance, the emotional challenges of facing a potential end to her career, and the value of planning ahead for unexpected life events. The episode also touches on her advocacy work with ACOG and offers practical advice for physicians on preparing for disability, understanding employment contracts, and building financial resilience.

This episode’s guest is Dr. Mark Earnest, Division Head of Internal Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School. The conversation centers on the concepts of psychological size and psychological safety in medicine. Psychological size is described as a relational dynamic involving power and status within professional interactions. Psychological safety refers to creating an environment where people feel comfortable having open, honest conversations. Dr. Earnest shares stories that illustrate these concepts in the healthcare setting and emphasizes how leaders must be proactive in recognizing and managing power dynamics. In addition, he highlights the benefits of early education, how ongoing modeling of positive behaviors are essential, and that organizational culture set by leadership has measurable impacts on outcomes, satisfaction, and risk.

We welcome Dean McConnell, deputy general counsel at Copic, as this episode’s guest who shares his thoughts on handling subpoenas, especially those involving medical records. McConnell starts by describing key details about subpoenas, the requirements of serving subpoenas, and how medical providers can confirm the validity of a subpoena. He explains the importance of carefully reviewing the scope of medical records requests and only producing the requested information while respecting confidentiality and privileges due to HIPAA, physician-patient privilege, and attorney-client privilege. In addition, Dean walks through a list of pitfalls to avoid with subpoenas, along with practical suggestions and when to seek legal counsel.

In this episode, we talk with Heidi Baskfield, the founder of Speak Our Minds, an organization dedicated to addressing the youth mental health crisis in the United States. Baskfield talks about her journey from political advocacy to health leadership and the committed effort required to transform youth mental health care. Their conversation explores the overwhelming mental health needs of children and the insufficiency of existing resources, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Colorado regarding youth mental health. Baskfield outlies four principle aims that Speak Our Minds is focused on: building robust systems of care, bolstering prevention and early intervention, addressing disproportionate impact in communities, and supporting the mental health workforce.

This episode features a conversation with Kate Castells, a risk management nurse at Copic, who talks about remote patient monitoring (RPM) wearables. They discuss the evolution and range of RPMs, from FDA-approved medical devices to consumer smart watches, with a focus on the clinical value of data collected and what can be used in medical decision-making. In addition, they look at the risks of using consumer device data, the importance of staff and patient education, and the potential benefits that may support care for certain patients.

This episode’s guest is Dr. Josina Romero O'Connell, Director of the Colorado Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Dr. Romero O'Connell highlights AHEC’s mission to improve healthcare access and education in rural and underserved areas of Colorado. She talks about AHEC’s focus to address workforce diversity, equitable provider distribution, and practice transformation by supporting students in rural clerkships, providing continuing education, and offering community health education events. Dr. Romero O'Connell also highlights how challenges in rural healthcare such as health center closures and obstetrics deserts are being addressed by fostering community integration for healthcare providers to improve retention. In addition, the discussion covers the HOPE program, which is designed to get high school students interested in healthcare careers; and the AHEC Scholars Program, which provides learners of all ages with experiential hours and educational modules focused on underserved care.

This episode features Darline Turner from Healing Hands Community Doula Project, which aims to support expectant mothers, particularly in the Black community, through their pregnancy journey. The grant from the Copic Medical Foundation is being used for a program that trains perinatal community health workers to provide extensive support, including birth and postpartum planning, lactation guidance, family dynamics, and more. This initiative primarily serves Medicaid populations, addressing additional complexities such as Medicaid reimbursement, and aims to improve overall birth outcomes.

Medication errors are traditionally defined as an avoidable event, but they don’t just happen during the prescribing phase. In fact, it’s important to remember that there are many steps—transcribing, dispensing, and administering—where an error can occur. To learn more about pediatric medication errors specifically, we invited COPIC Patient Safety and Risk Manager, Kayla Boyd, to the podcast. In this episode, Kayla looks at the overall process of pediatric medication prescription, from diagnosis to accurate compilation of records to ongoing monitoring. Plus, you’ll hear about ways to avoid adverse outcomes and mitigate risks with young children, appropriate ways to handle transfer of prescriptions, and continuing education to prevent mistakes.