Stanford Emergency Medicine Podcast

A trauma center is more than a trauma bay — it's a coordinated system that begins at the scene of an injury and extends through emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and recovery. But that system is under new pressure: serious injuries among older adults are rising, and e-bikes and electric scooters are reshaping what shows up in the trauma bay. Peter D'Souza, MD, joins host Matthew Strehlow, MD, to explore how trauma care is adapting. Why geriatric trauma and e-bike and scooter injuries demand new approaches How prehospital care for bleeding and traumatic brain injuries has evolved Why blood products and AI support haven't caught up to the ambulance yet What it takes to earn and maintain trauma center verification How strong partnerships connect each stage of a patient's care Dr. Peter D'Souza is an associate professor of emergency medicine at Stanford and is board certified in emergency medicine and emergency medical services. He serves as Stanford Emergency Medicine's liaison and lead for the trauma care program and as medical director for several local fire departments. He is a former medical director of Stanford Life Flight and course director for the Stanford EMT training program, with a career focused on strengthening trauma systems, EMS, and prehospital care. Dr. Matthew Strehlow is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and serves as Vice Chair for Innovation and Clinical Improvement. His work focuses on improving patient care through system redesign, global health initiatives, and advancing emergency medicine education. Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

Crowding, boarding, repeat visits, difficult discharges; many challenges emergency physicians face begin long before a patient reaches the ED. Dr. Italo Brown, a nationally recognized leader in social emergency medicine and health equity, joins host Dr. Matthew Strehlow to explore what can be learned by looking upstream and listening to communities. Drawing on his community-based work, Brown discusses how trust, access, and local knowledge can lead to better solutions—and inform advocacy, health policy, and the growing use of AI in healthcare. Italo Brown, MD, MPH , is a nationally recognized leader in social emergency medicine and health equity and a clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at Stanford. His work spans community-based health initiatives, advocacy, and medical education, with a focus on improving health and access for underserved communities. Dr. Matthew Strehlow is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and serves as Vice Chair for Innovation and Clinical Improvement. His work focuses on improving patient care through system redesign, global health initiatives, and advancing emergency medicine education. Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

Most conversations about AI ask what the technology can do. Dr. Matthew Strehlow and Dr. Rana Kabeer ask a different question: how should physicians think? From shadowing computer scientists to looking beyond diagnostics, they explore why curiosity, not technical expertise, may become medicine's most valuable clinical skill. And they discuss practical ways clinicians can begin using AI today, why the greatest opportunities may lie in improving everyday workflows rather than replacing clinical judgment, and how medical education must evolve to prepare physicians for a future where AI is always available. At the heart of the conversation is a reminder that while technology will continue to transform medicine, the qualities that define exceptional physicians, namely curiosity, critical thinking, and meaningful human connection, remain irreplaceable. Learn more about our guest Dr. Rana Kabeer Learn more about our host Dr. Matthew Strehlow Learn more about the Stanford Department of Emergency Medicine Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

After a patient with a life-threatening heart attack waited hours in an emergency department before anyone recognized the crisis, Dr. Maya Yiadom began asking a different question: Are we measuring what matters most? In this conversation with Dr. Matthew Strehlow , she explores the gap between healthcare metrics and patient outcomes, and how data, analytics, and AI can help identify missed opportunities, improve clinical decision-making, and build a safer, more responsive healthcare system. Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

Dr. Andra Blomkalns, Chair of Stanford Department of Emergency Medicine, discusses how emergency physicians can turn everyday clinical frustrations into meaningful healthcare innovation through the biodesign process. Drawing on stories from the emergency department, she explores how needs-finding, iterative problem-solving, and multidisciplinary collaboration can transform bedside insights into real-world impact. The conversation also examines why emergency medicine—with its fast-paced, unscripted environment and constant exposure to system gaps—is uniquely positioned to drive the future of patient-centered care. In this episode: How to identify unmet clinical needs during everyday clinical practice Why failure is a necessary part of innovation and design How the biodesign process helps translate ideas into practical healthcare solutions Why emergency physicians are uniquely equipped to lead innovation in healthcare Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

Emergency departments are becoming a frontline for addiction treatment. In this episode of the Stanford Emergency Medicine podcast, treatment pioneer Dr. Gail D’Onofrio of Yale University talks with guest host Dr. Manish Shah about how ED-initiated buprenorphine is transforming care, challenging stigma, and redefining the role of emergency medicine in addressing substance use disorders. Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

In this episode, we examine emerging trends in pediatric emergency medicine, including improving pediatric readiness and integrating care across systems. Drs. Deborah Hsu and Manish Shah highlight how innovation, data, and clinical mindsets are shaping practice while addressing ongoing challenges in caring for children. Topics include: * Where most children actually receive emergency care—and why that matters * The realities of practicing pediatric EM outside ideal resource settings * Where tools like AI and telemedicine are starting to change pediatric care * Balancing efficiency, testing, and clinical judgment on shift Guests: Dr. Deborah Hsu is Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at Stanford and Division Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. She is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric emergency care, medical education, and fellowship training, with prior leadership roles at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Manish Shah is a professor of pediatric emergency medicine at Stanford whose work focuses on integrating pediatric evidence into EMS systems through research, education, and advocacy. He is a leader in pediatric prehospital care, serving in national research networks and leading major clinical trials and initiatives to improve pediatric readiness in EMS systems. Host: Dr. Matthew Strehlow is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and serves as Vice Chair for Innovation and Clinical Improvement. His work focuses on improving patient care through system redesign, global health initiatives, and advancing emergency medicine education. Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

What would it actually take to make emergency care more affordable, more accessible, and less tied to the walls of the ED? In this episode, Dr. Ryan Ribeira and host Dr. Matthew Strehlow discuss where emerging technologies like AI, remote monitoring, and new care models are already reshaping acute care—drawing on insights from the Stanford Emergency Medicine Innovation Symposium (StEMI X)—and where clinicians need to engage now to shape what comes next. Why Listen A candid look at how innovation can intervene before patients ever decide to seek emergency care—and why that matters for EDs today. Why technology alone won’t fix healthcare, and how clinician input determines whether new tools help or hinder care at the bedside. What emergency physicians should realistically expect from AI in the near future—beyond the hype and headlines. Insights from a clinician working at the intersection of emergency care, academia, and industry on how real change actually happens. Ryan Ribeira, MD, MPH , is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Director of the Stanford Adult Emergency Department, where he helps lead clinical operations and advance acute care delivery. His work spans emergency medicine innovation, medical education, and health systems improvement, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and scalable solutions. He completed his emergency medicine residency and a fellowship in healthcare innovation at Stanford, and earned a Master of Public Health in health policy and management from Harvard University. Matthew Strehlow, MD (host) is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and serves as Vice Chair for Innovation and Clinical Improvement. His work focuses on improving patient care through system redesign, global health initiatives, and advancing emergency medicine education. Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

What does it take to build a research career in emergency medicine amid rapid innovation and persistent funding challenges? In this episode, Dr. Chris Bennett shares his journey as a clinician–scientist and offers insight into navigating the EM research pipeline, interdisciplinary collaboration, and translating discovery into patient impact. Key topics Navigating the emergency medicine research pipeline as a trainee or early-career faculty Funding challenges, grant timelines, and evolving federal guidance Finding meaningful research questions and working across disciplines Turning research and innovation into real-world improvements in care ABOUT OUR GUEST AND HOST Dr. Chris Bennett is a board-certified emergency physician and NIH-funded researcher at Stanford University who bridges clinical practice with health innovation as faculty in the Department of Emergency Medicine, with affiliations across the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, the Center for AI in Medicine & Imaging, and the Center for Digital Health. His work focuses on data-informed precision medicine to improve patient outcomes and inform policy, and is informed by training at Duke, Harvard, and Stanford as well as national leadership roles with the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. Learn more about The Bennett Lab. Dr. Matthew Strehlow is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and serves as Vice Chair for Innovation and Clinical Improvement. His work focuses on improving patient care through system redesign, global health initiatives, and advancing emergency medicine education. Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

What does it really take to innovate in emergency medicine? In this second episode of our Innovation in EM series, Dr. Matthew Strehlow talks with Dr. Dev Dash and Dr. Andy Chu about how to make innovation, AI, and technology truly work in the complex, high-stakes world of acute care. They discuss what separates great ideas from successful implementation, the keys to effective collaboration between clinicians and technologists, and how empathy and communication remain essential to the innovation process. From identifying real clinical pain points to building partnerships that last, this episode offers practical insight into how emergency physicians can drive meaningful, human-centered change in healthcare. How to make innovation work in real-world clinical settings Common pitfalls in healthcare innovation (and how to avoid them) Bridging the gap between clinicians and tech innovators Training the next generation in an AI-enabled environment The human skills that matter most in the future of medicine About Our Guests and Host Dr. Dev Dash is an emergency physician and assistant professor who loves finding new ways to use technology to improve patient care. He’s a former vice president of the American Medical Informatics Association Clinical Fellows. His projects range from AI tools that predict heart function from real-time systems at the bedside, and helping develop tools that bring patient information closer to frontline workers. Dr. Andrew Chu is an emergency physician and assistant professor who is passionate about bringing innovation and startup ideas into everyday medicine. He has co-led multidisciplinary teams in building award-winning healthcare technologies that are now used in more than 170 countries. He is also an independent filmmaker. Dr. Matthew Strehlow is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and serves as Vice Chair for Innovation and Clinical Improvement. His work focuses on improving patient care through system redesign, global health initiatives, and advancing emergency medicine education. Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

Emergency Medicine physicians are being asked to juggle more complexity than ever, and the tools designed to help often add new layers of burden. AI offers real hope — but also real risk. Before we embrace it fully, we need an honest discussion about where the dangers may lie. Host Dr. Matthew Strehlow sits down with Dr. Christian Rose, emergency physician, assistant professor, and clinical informaticist at Stanford, to explore what artificial intelligence truly means for emergency medicine today — and how it may shape the future of acute care. In this episode, listeners will learn: What’s changing as AI evolves in healthcare How AI is being used in the emergency department today Why clinicians are skeptical and how to evaluate new tools How bias, ethics, and trust shape safe adoption This conversation provides a balanced, clear-eyed look at AI—highlighting both its promise and its limitations—and offers practical insights for all those interested in the future of emergency care. About Our Guest and Host: Dr. Christian Rose is a dual-boarded emergency physician and clinical informaticist at Stanford whose work focuses on the intersection of medicine, machine learning, decision support, and user-centered design. He is dedicated to developing human-centered informatics solutions that improve patient outcomes while preserving the human experience in healthcare. Dr. Matthew Strehlow is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and serves as Vice Chair for Innovation and Clinical Improvement. His work focuses on improving patient care through system redesign, global health initiatives, and advancing emergency medicine education. Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

Emergency medicine is one of the most high-pressure fields in healthcare, making physician wellness both critical and challenging. In this episode, host Dr. Matthew Strehlow talks with Dr. Al’ai Alvarez about the realities of physician well-being today — and practical strategies every clinician can use to thrive. What You’ll Learn: Recognize how moral injury shows up in emergency medicine Understand why psychological safety matters for physician teams Apply practical ways to recharge — rest, gratitude, self-compassion, and genuine vacations Gain insights from Dr. Alvarez’s research and leadership in wellness and resilience About Our Guest and Host: Dr. Al’ai Alvarez is a nationally recognized leader and educator in physician well-being, workforce inclusion, and belonging. He serves as a Clinical Associate Professor in Stanford Emergency Medicine (EM) and holds several key leadership roles that reflect his commitment to fostering well-being and compassionate care. Dr. Alvarez is the Director of Well-Being for Stanford EM, Co-lead of the Human Potential Team, and Fellowship Director of the Stanford EM Physician Wellness Fellowship. He also directs the PRN Peer Support Program at the Stanford Medicine WellMD/WellPhD Center and chairs the School of Medicine's Physician Wellness Forum. In addition, he serves as the Director of Quality Education of the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). Dr. Matthew Strehlow is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and serves as Vice Chair for Innovation and Clinical Improvement. His work focuses on improving patient care through system redesign, global health initiatives, and advancing emergency medicine education. Resources & Links: Dr. Al’ai Alvarez — Stanford Profile Dr. Matthew Strehlow — Stanford Profile Stanford WellMD Center Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED