Medicine Talkers Podcast

Medicine Talkers promotes pathways to health careers and highlights Native health professionals, students and advocates who are working to improve the health and well-being of our Native people everywhere.

Listen

Listen to Medicine Talkers on Spotify

Medicine Talkers Episodes

Season 3

Holiday Episode: Byron Ninham on Supporting Indigenous Students Along the Health Professions Pathway

In this 2024 holiday episode of Medicine Talkers, our guest is Byron Ninham, director of the We Are Healers program, which sponsors an initiative called the Healers Community Circle Cohort. This 12-month initiative supports Native students who are passionate about health professions, providing mentorship, funding and community building.  With our guest, we discuss the benefits and how to get involved.

Episode 4: Indigenizing Research, with Dr. Lauren W. Yowelunh McLester-Davis, Dr. Kalanisaks Cornelius and Carrie Trojanczyk

This week on Medicine Talkers, we discuss research topics pursued by three UW Indigenous scholars, including Alzheimer’s and dementia research and other projects and initiatives. Guests share their personal education experiences and share insights for students interested in pursuing university research.

Episode 3: Exploring Mental Health Resources and Pathways with Serena Cisneros

This week on Medicine Talkers, we talk with Serena Cisneros, a mental health provider at UW–Madison’s University Health Services (UHS). We discuss career pathways in mental health, as well as resources for students and innovations in the field.

Episode 2: Discussing Preventative Care with Carol Cameron and Charlene Smith from the Pink Shawl Initiative

This week on Medicine Talkers, we discuss the importance of education and preparation in preventative care with Carol Cameron and Charlene Smith from the Wisconsin Pink Shawl Initiative, a non-profit that focuses on access to breast cancer screenings and health screenings for Indigenous people.

Episode 1: A Conversation on Indigenous Medicines with Author Misty Cook

This week on Medicine Talkers, author Misty Cook (a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Indian Tribe) talks about her book, Medicine Generations. We discuss views on western medicine and traditional medicine, as well as her future initiatives and projects.

Season 2

Episode 4: What Other Health Professions Are Out There? Part 3

This week on Medicine Talkers we will have a discussion with Chelsea Hanewall (MSTP) and Amy Schubert (DPT) on topics of admission times, admission requirements, and what life would like for a student in the Medical Science Training Program (MSTP) or Doctor of Physical Degree (DPT) Program.

Episode 3: What Other Health Professions Are Out There? Part 2

For this week on Medicine Talkers, we will be speaking with PharmD Admissions Manager, Jannelle Frey, and Academic Program Manager for the Master of Public Health Program, Mindy Schreiner. Both guests will speak about the application process and program timelines for Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Master of Public Health (MPH) students.

Episode 2: What Other Health Professions Are Out There? Part 1

For this week on Medicine Talkers, we will be speaking with MD admissions advisor Becky Duffy and Academic Program Manager/Admissions Director Erin McCarthy Orth. Both guests will speak about the application process and program timelines for Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) students. This episode is the first in a two-part mini series.

Episode 1: Pathways to Medicine: A Conversation About Student Support

On our first episode of season 2, you’ll hear a conversation with two NACHP students, Sydnee Livingston (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), a rising M2 (2nd year medical student), and Michael Istvanek (Brothertown Indian Nation), a rising M4 (4th year medical student), both here at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH). Sydnee and Michael are a wonderful fit for this episode because they are active in the SMPH chapter of ANAMS, the Association of Native American Medical Students, and they have both participated in various student support opportunities offered through NACHP.

Season 1

Episode 3: A Day in the Life of a Medical Student

This week on Medicine Talkers we are joined by Megan Murphy-Belcaster (Choctaw and Lakota Nations), an MD student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. In this episode we talk about what it’s like to be a medical student during the COVID-19 Pandemic and what the journey and experience is like for a non-traditional medical student.

Episode 2: Why Recruiting Natives into the Field Is So Important: A Conversation with Dr. Bret Benally Thompson and Danielle Yancey

This week on Medicine Talkers, we talked with Dr. Bret Benally Thompson, who is White Earth Ojibwe, and a palliative care physician in Madison, WI. We also spoke with Danielle Yancey, who is Menominee and Santee, and the director of the Native American Center for Health Professions. The topics of the episode cover the important efforts being made in increasing Native American representation in medicine. It’s a fun episode with segments you don’t want to miss!

Episode 1: Who Are We?

In our first episode of the season, we learn who and what NACHP is with guest introductions from the whole NACHP team. This episode is one way to get familiar with our staff and begin to understand the motivation behind the creation of Medicine Talkers.