Lessons We Didn't Learn in Med School uses the power of story telling and conversation to be the HEALING that is so needed in medicine. Join us, Drs. Beth Vukin and Kara Wada, two physicians turned patients, navigating our own chronic illness journeys.
We talk about the hard things and also the joyful things as well as the ridiculous. Along with our guests, we hope that having real talk about what it is like to be a patient as well as what it is like to be a medical professional, sheds light on things that are often in the dark. We celebrate science, resilience of the human spirit and the power of community.
"Lessons We Didn't Learn in Med School" isn't just a podcast; it's a rallying cry for patients and health professionals alike to reclaim their voices and demand a healthcare system that listens and partners with patients. Together, we seek to end the stigma and loneliness of illness, foster compassion and connection and offer knowledge with practical advice for those living with and caring for people with chronic illness.
Episode 13. Lessons we did not learn about... menopause. Listen here as Dr. Susan Baumgaertel, MD, menopause expert, talks about what we actually need to know
Well, we might have learned something about menopause but really, all that Beth and Kara can recall at this point is that it is the time when women stop having periods and some people have hot flashes. Well, there is so much more! We are delighted to have a menopause expert (and repeat guest! See episode 10) on the show. Dr. Susan Baumgaertel, MD. Dr. Baumgaertel is an internal medicine physician with over 30 years of experience. Yes, we will talk about hormones and should p...
7 Mar 2025
Episode 12: Invisible: A Nurse-Turned-Patient's Resource to Living Well with Autoimmune Disease
Have you ever felt invisible? Have you ever gone to the doctor with complaints of not feeling well only to be dismissed by them? Do you or a loved one have a diagnosed or suspected autoimmune disease? On this episode, we welcome our guest Melissa Marquis, M.S., R.N., a nurse turned patient who shares her journey of perseverance and advocacy. It took over twelve years for Melissa Marquis to receive medical diagnoses for the multiple complex symptoms plaguing her. She credits her cl...
5 Mar 2025
Episode 11. What is Sjogren's disease? Hint, it is one of the most common and under-recognized autoimmune diseases.
Let's get to know our hosts a bit more. Dr. Kara Wada, MD is a board certified Allergy Immunologist. She also has Sjogren's disease. Did you know that Sjogren's affects about 1 in 100 people? Many of them are undiagnosed and suffer with chronic symptoms. 30-40% of the time, lab tests are normal. Listen here as Kara teaches us lessons as both a doctor and patient living with the disease.
27 Feb 2025
Episode 10. My MD advocate. Dr. Susan Baumgaertel, M.D. , internal medicine physician and rheumatoid arthritis patient gives us lessons for navigating autoimmune disease
In this episode, we are joined by Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD. Dr. Baumgaertel is an internal medicine physician with over 30 years of experience. She is also a patient and has had rheumatoid arthritis for over 24 years. In her clinical practice, she often recognized that patients needed assistance with navigating the increasingly challenging medical arena. She stepped away from direct patient care in 2021 and founded MyMDadvocate.com in early 2022. Dr. Baumgaertel now serves as a physicia...
21 Feb 2025
Episode 9. Beyond the diagnosis
There is a rift between patients and the traditional healthcare system that we call medicine in the U.S. We feel it on both sides. Why? Well, we don't know but we DO know that we need to start talking about it. Listen here as we start brainstorming what is happening with this relationship. Do you have thoughts on it? We would love to hear them. Comment on this post on our instagram @beyondthediagnosispodcast
20 Feb 2025
Episode 8. What does Scleroderma feel like?
I wanted to make a podcast episode for my friends, family, anyone with Scleroderma, anyone who knows someone with ANY autoimmune disease really. Rather than talk about what Scleroderma IS, I wanted to talk about what it FEELS LIKE to live in my body. To humanize the experience. I do that not for sympathy, but for understanding. This is MY experience and these are MY thoughts. They won't be the same for everyone-- or really anyone since they are mine. Still, I hope they resonat...
13 Feb 2025
Episode 7. What is autoimmune disease?
Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease? What does that mean? How is it treated? We often think about Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus as autoimmune diseases. Yet, there are many other very common diseases that are in fact, autoimmune diseases. Celiac disease, Type 1 diabetes and Hashimoto's disease which is the number one cause of hypothyroid disease. What do they all have in common? A misbehaving immune system. Join us as we w...
12 Feb 2025
Episode 6. A love letter to the We Can Do Hard Things Podcast
Where did the idea for Lessons We Didn't Learn in Medical School come from? We are dedicated We Can Do Hard Things listeners here. This podcast means so much to us. By listening to them, something inside us was sparked. Listen here as Beth sends a "love podcast" (rather than love letter) to Glennon, Abby and Amanda and the We Can Do Hard Things pod and the podsquad. You all mean so much to us. We love you. Happy Valentines day.
7 Feb 2025
Episode 5: Kara's story: A Sjogren's spoonie
Join us here as we talk about Kara's story of being diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome. The struggle to get a diagnosis is real- even for doctors. She speaks about being the "interesting patient", believing yourself and advocating for your healthcare. Turning pain into purpose has been her mission for both herself, for her patients and now for you.
7 Feb 2025
Episode 4: You are not broken. You are burned out. We are here for you.
Join us for this episode with my dear colleague and medical school friend Dr. Jessie Turnbull M.D., M.A. She is a Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Physician and also trained in Clinical Bioethics. She is the founder of Burning Bright MD, life coaching for women physicians. Female physicians are the elite caregivers. As people who give, give, give are the most at risk for burnout. Hear how Jessie went from a burned out physician herself to becoming a person who coaches burned out physicians. G...
13 Dec 2024
Episode 3. Why don't we prioritize ourselves? We know what we would need. We care for everyone else, so we know how. Why don't we put ourselves first?
Physician heal thyself. We will extend that to ALL caregivers. Caregivers include parents, children caring for aging parents and anyone who cares for others in a professional or personal capacity. We are trained to care for others. We KNOW it is important. Why are we so bad at caring for ourselves? There is something about medical training and societal conditioning that makes putting others first virtuous, but what happens when we neglect ourselves? Join us for this episode with m...
15 Nov 2024
Episode 2. Beth's story: A Scleroderma Warrior
Listen as Beth gives us a bit of her story. Beth was diagnosed with Lupus at 20 years old, Polyarteritis nodosa at 24 years old and most recently with Systemic sclerosis/ Scleroderma at 44 years old. She is a wife and mother of two. After nearly 20 years in medicine, the diagnosis of Scleroderma in 2023 gave her the permission to jump off the treadmill of medicine and take time away from clinical care to focus on her own health and well-being. Her doctor bio: Dr. Beth Vukin, M.D...
15 Nov 2024
Episode 1. Welcome to Lessons We Didn't Learn in Medical School
Welcome! In our first episode, we introduce ourselves and talk about why we made this podcast. Dr. Beth Vukin, M.D. is a board certified pediatrician who is also subspecialty boarded in Pediatric hospital medicine. She also has been diagnosed with multiple autoimmune disorders. The one she deals with most is Scleroderma or Systemic Sclerosis. Dr. Kara Wada , M.D. is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics as well as subspecialty boarded in Allergy and Immunology. ...
15 Nov 2024
Teaser!
A new podcast is coming your way in January of 2025! Hosts: Dr. Beth Vukin, MD and Dr. Kara Wada, MD Mission Statement: "Lessons We Didn't Learn in Medical School" is a collective of female-identifying physicians living with chronic illness who are out to change the landscape of healthcare. Join us, Dr. Beth Vukin and Dr. Kara Wada, two physicians navigating our own autoimmune journeys, as we connect with fellow patients and colleagues to bridge the gaps in medical education. ...
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