There are so many professionals out there supporting people’s health in the healthcare industry! Ms. Jennifer Feeney is a Nurse Practitioner working in women’s health at the UC Davis Health Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She joins us today to tell us all about her experience of working in different types of healthcare, how she came to specialize in women’s health, and what her role entails on a daily basis. Jennifer tells us what it’s really like to work in a hospital and how she promotes wellbeing and prevention for all of her patients. We talk about her training, some of the options available to nurses, and other roles in healthcare and she shares what she loves most about getting to support women in their pursuit of healthy living, and even the pregnancy process. Tune in today to learn all about life as a nurse practitioner and find out if it just might be what you want to be when you grow up!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The difference between a nurse practitioner, a doctor, and a nurse.
• Ms. Feeney’s day-to-day responsibilities in women’s healthcare at UC Davis.
• Her journey to working in this area of nursing.
• Working in Alaska, private practice, and UC Davis.
• Different options available during nurse practitioner training.
• What nurses in the NICU focus on.
• Ms. Feeney’s original interest in working in pediatrics.
• Majoring in biology at the University of Denver before applying to a nursing program.
• Tests and exams she had to take to qualify.
• Her day-to-day experience of doing nurse training.
• What it’s really like to work in a hospital!
• Some of the most common problems that Ms. Feeney’s patients are facing.
• Why OB care is Ms. Feeney’s favorite part of her job.
• How a baby’s due date is determined and what a sonographer does.
• The process of screening for cervical cancer and breast cancer
• Advice for anyone interested in working in healthcare.
• Why shadowing is a great way to know what you want to do.
• What a physician assistant usually does.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ms. Jennifer Feeney

UC Davis Health Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

The University of Denver

‘What's a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?’

One of the many incredible things women can do is bring humans into the world and today, we get to hear all the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of obstetrics and gynecology! Welcome to another episode of What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? In this episode, we are joined by OB-GYN Dr. Jocylen Glassberg to tell us all about what her career entails, how she balances work and family, and finding her way in a STEM field as a woman. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Dr. Glassberg’s upbringing, college experience, medical school and residency journey, and becoming an OB-GYN. She explains the differences between obstetrics, gynecology, and OB-GYN before delving into her day-to-day schedule, the kinds of patients she treats, the surgeries she performs, and more! We even hear all about prenatal care, the birth process, postnatal care, and pregnancy complications. Finally, Dr. Glassberg tells us why having more female leaders and mentors in STEM fields will encourage women to follow their passions. To hear all this and more, press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing today’s guest, Dr. Jocylen Glassberg. 
• The difference between a gynecologist, obstetrician, and OB-GYN. 
• Why Dr. Glassberg wanted to specialize in both gynecology and obstetrics. 
• What her schedule looks like and the kinds of surgeries she does. 
• What being a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and a clerkship director entails. 
• The kinds of diagnostic and treatment tools Dr. Glassberg uses. 
• She tells us about her task to try to make clinicians happier and less burnt out. 
• Dr. Glassberg tells us about her experience of teaching residents. 
• Her favorite childhood hobbies and the unconventional way she chose OB-GYN.  
• Our guest shares her medical school and residency experience. 
• How she ended up at UC Davis Medical Group and the work/life balance she gets there.
• The kinds of issues women go to Dr. Glassberg for. 
• Her favorite part about her job and how it feels to bring babies into the world. 
• Dr. Glassberg talks us through the process of giving birth and her job in the process.
• The prenatal and postnatal care they provide for mothers. 
• Some pregnancy complications and how OB-GYNs deal with them. 
• What Dr. Glassberg thinks people should do to get more women in STEM fields. 
• Advice for any listeners wanting to become OB-GYNs or going into medicine in general. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Jocylen Glassberg

While STEM fields have come a long way in terms of increasing diversity over the past few decades, there is still much to be achieved in terms of equity. Joining us today is Dr. Melissa Bauman, a neuroscientist at the UC Davis MIND Institute,  professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UC Davis, and director of Women in Medicine and Health Sciences (WIMHS) at the same institution. Dr. Bauman is a passionate advocate for advancing women’s careers in science and medicine, and in today’s conversation, we learn how she is helping introduce more girls and young women to STEM fields. Tuning in you’ll learn about her own journey into neuroscience, the unique challenges that women in STEM face, and why she would never have gotten where she is today without the encouragement of key mentors and teachers throughout her schooling. Dr. Bauman shares what it’s like balancing her roles as a professor, scientist, and researcher, what a typical workday looks like for her, and the things she enjoys most about her work. She also shares her advice to young people interested in pursuing a similar career path and why she is deeply committed to giving back and helping others discover the joys of pursuing a career in STEM. To learn more about Dr. Bauman’s fascinating career, and her advice to aspiring scientists, be sure to tune in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A warm welcome to today's guest, Dr. Melissa Bauman!
• How Dr. Bauman balances her roles as professor, scientist, and researcher.
• Insight into her passion for promoting diversity in STEM fields.
• Details about her role as director of Women in Medicine and Health Sciences (WIMHS).
• Why she is so appreciative that her parents and teachers encouraged her interest in science.
• The event that sparked her fascination with neuroscience during her college years.
• What she focused on for her Ph.D. program and how she transitioned into her current role.
• A breakdown of the grant application and funding process.
• Why being a good writer is a key part of her work.
• How she manages the budget for her projects.
• The similarities between running a research lab and managing a small business.
• An overview of her research focus and how she delegates tasks to her team.
• What a typical day in Dr. Bauman’s work life looks like.
• The topics she teaches in her WIMHS class and how her course has evolved.
• A rundown of the challenges faced by women in STEM.
• Helping female students find a way forward that is a little bit easier.
• Insight into her study initiatives; selecting them, the amount of time they typically take to complete, and how they build on one another.
• Dr. Bauman’s advice to anyone interested in pursuing a similar career path.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Melissa Bauman on LinkedIn

Dr. Melissa Bauman, Ph.D. at UC Davis

Mr. Brian Maroney is a distinguished civil engineer currently serving as the Toll Bridge Seismic Retrofit Chief Bridge Engineer at Caltrans. Formerly the chief engineer of the new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, Mr. Maroney is renowned for his contributions to earthquake engineering and his pivotal role in enhancing community safety. With numerous accolades, including the Greta Ericson Distinguished Service Award, he has been instrumental in the design and creation of famous structures globally, including the Bay Bridge. The Bay Bridge that connects San Francisco and Oakland is the superhero of bridges in the region, dealing with over a third of the traffic on all state-owned bridges put together! Mr. Maroney joins us today to go in-depth about all things civil engineering, including how to earn the right to be called a Professional Engineer, why all civil engineers have to be environmentalists, how suspension bridges are built, his take on the classes you need to focus on if you want to pursue a career in bridge engineering, what sets earthquake engineering apart, and more. After this insightful episode, you’re likely to see the Golden State's iconic Bay Bridge in a new light (and maybe even decide to pursue a career in civil engineering too!)

Key Points From This Episode:

• An easy-to-understand definition of civil engineering.
• Insight into Mr. Maroney’s educational journey to become an engineer.
• The work engineers do under licensed supervising engineers. 
• How to earn the right to call yourself a Professional Engineer (PE). 
• Highlighting the differences between plans and specifications. 
• What it’s like in the office versus being in the field as an engineer. 
• Why all civil engineers have to be environmentalists too!
• Mr. Maroney’s thoughts on the scary aspects of working on a bridge.
• How suspension bridges like The Golden Gate Bridge work and are built.
• Exploring the concept of bridge engineering as a “team sport.”
• Bridge design and why it is sometimes a touchy or controversial issue. 
• The lengthy public and environmental processes that are often part of civil projects. 
• Aspects of making any well-designed bridge work. 
• Getting art into the design of community bridges. 
• Tearing down structures, objects, and homes to build bridges.
• Bridge engineers as public servants. 
• Mastering the art of report writing and other written aspects of engineering.
• Critical conditions of a bridge’s life: the importance of sequencing and staging. 
• Navigating earthquakes in California and what sets earthquake engineering apart.
• The best parts of Mr. Maroney’s career and his advice for listeners thinking of pursuing a similar career path. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Brian Maroney on LinkedIn

‘Brian Maroney: 3 cheers for those who get it done’

Caltrans

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

University of California Davis

California High-Speed Rail

NEPA, National Environmental Policy Act

Lincoln Logs

American Society for Civil Engineers Club

American Society for Mechanical Engineers

We’re back with Dr. Ban Truong, the all-in-one emergency trauma specialist, and we pick up our conversation with Dr. Ban explaining the chain reactions that occur in our bodies, as well as the importance of always asking “why”.  We discover why emergency medicine training is more intensive than your standard medical school practices before taking a journey through two of our guest’s most eyewatering cases. Finally, Dr. Ban gives us the definition of being “boarded”, an explanation of the work of a physician nutrition specialist, and he shares some important advice that every young and aspiring medical professional needs to hear. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Medicinal chain reactions and the importance of asking “why”. 
• How Dr. Ban’s emergency medicine training differed from standard medical school teachings. 
• A journey through two of his most interesting and bizarre cases. 
• What it means to be boarded, and what a physician nutrition specialist does. 
• Dr. Ban’s advice for those who are looking to follow a similar career path. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Ban Truong on LinkedIn 

UC Davis 

Dr. Greg Rosellini on LinkedIn 

Think Dirty

From a young age, today’s guest, Dr. Ban Truong, was pushed by his parents to become a doctor, and his hard work ethic brought their dream to fruition – earlier than anyone expected! Dr. Ban’s professional trajectory is unique, as apart from finishing school early and getting his bachelor’s degree at a young age; he also acquired his PhD before attending medical school. In our conversation, our guest walks us through his professional journey and how he became a jack-of-all-trades. Then, we discover how his hands-on experience as a researcher made medical school a little easier before diving into his childhood and getting a sense of his incredible work ethic. We also learn about the role of amino acids in the body, what Dr. Ban did after completing his residency, how moonlighting helped shape the doctor he is today, and how he fell in love with the emergency. But that’s not all! Be sure to come back for part 2 of our conversation with the sensational Dr. Ban Truong! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing the ER specialist, Dr. Ban Truong as he explains his professional background. 
• How Dr. Ban became a jack-of-all-trades, and details on his days as a researcher. 
• How his early hands-on experience in research helped him conquer medical school. 
• A brief lesson on amino acids. 
• Exploring Dr. Ban’s childhood and his remarkable work ethic. 
• His trajectory after residency (having already attained his PhD before medical school). 
• How moonlighting helped with his transition from residency to actually working in a hospital.
• The moment he decided to be a doctor, and how he honed in on the emergency room. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Ban Truong on LinkedIn 

UC Davis 

Dr. Dorothy Gietzen on LinkedIn 

Dr. Greg Rosellini on LinkedIn 

Dr. Edward Hughes on WebMD

Welcome back to What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up for the second part of our conversation with Dr. David Liang, and he continues our discussion by explaining what you’ll typically find on a resident’s schedule. We talk about the factors that lead people away from applying to medical school, the attributes of a good doctor, the transition between medical school and working at a hospital, and the (many) tests that you’ll need to take to become a cardiologist. After explaining why California is a haven for doctors, our guest walks us through his standard work day and the procedures he performs, the differences between cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons, the most bizarre case he’s ever encountered, and how Google is reshaping the landscape of modern medicine. Dr. Liang is a people’s person, and forming relationships is his favorite part of his job. He describes Marfan Syndrome in great detail and explains why this condition is one of his main concerns. With the advancement of technology and medical innovations, now is the perfect time to get into medicine, and Dr. Liang graciously leaves us with encouraging words of advice for any young, aspiring medical professionals.  

Key Points From This Episode:

• Dr. David Liang explains what a resident’s schedule looks like. 
• How the high workload and intensive hours turn people away from studying medicine. 
• Why the medical school admissions process is a bigger problem than we may realize. 
• The traits of a good doctor. 
• How one quickly gets over the gruesome aspect of medicine after enough exposure. 
• Dr. Liang breaks down the transition from medical school to working at a hospital. 
• A brief interlude on using animal hearts for experiments and teaching. 
• The tests you need to take to become a doctor and specifically, a cardiologist. 
• Why our guest chose to practice medicine in California. 
• A typical work day in the life of Dr. Liang, and the procedures he most commonly performs.  
• The differences between the tools of a cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgeon. 
• Why cardiologists should always be aware of the rest of the body as well. 
• Dr. Liang’s most interesting and bizarre case that involved nicotine gum as the treatment.  
• The power of Google in modern medicine. 
• What our guest loves most about his job, and how he goes about finding new patients. 
• The ins and outs of Marfan syndrome, and why Dr. Liang is focused on the condition. 
• Why now is a great time to get into medicine, and Dr. Liang’s advice to aspiring medical professionals. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. David Liang on LinkedIn

Dr. David Liang Stanford Profile

Stanford Health Care

Hoag Medical Group | Dr. David Liang 

The Marfan Foundation

ACME Meat Company 

Jonathan Larson

Vincent Covello 

John Ritter 

Magic Johnson 

James Carter

If you’ve read this episode’s title and you’re wondering if we have an actual doctor on the show, the answer is a resounding, yes! We are thrilled to welcome Dr. David Liang from Stanford Health Care, who is here to talk to us about what it takes to succeed as a medical professional. We begin by examining Dr. Liang’s other exploits before he began studying medicine, the role that engineering played in kickstarting his medical career, and the type of students and subject matter that he covers in his lectures. After giving us a behind-the-scenes peek into the medical school process, Dr. Liang explains the differences between a residency and an internship, the career trajectory for graduating doctors (inducing details of his own journey from high school to running a private practice), and why he would encourage everyone to pursue a career in an industry that they’re naturally skilled in. We also dive deeper into pursuing research as a vocation, how medical grants are issued in America, and so much more. But wait! We are not done yet, so be sure to tune into part 2 of our riveting conversation with the remarkable Dr. David Liang for more helpful insights into the medical profession. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing Stanford’s Dr. David Liang, as he describes who he is and what he does.  
• A bit more on Dr. Liang’s teaching and research exploits. 
• How his medical venture began with a combination of medicine and engineering. 
• His usual student demographic, and the content he covers in his lectures. 
• Insight into the medical school process. 
• Dr. Liang explains residency and internship, and the differences between the two. 
• How doctors can go about looking for work once their studies are complete. 
• Dr. Liang’s journey from high school to medical school to eventually his own private practice.
• Why people should strive to look for work in fields that they’re naturally talented in.
• How to pursue research as a career in medicine.
• When research turns into experimentation and beyond.
• How grants for medicine are issued in the USA.  

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. David Liang on LinkedIn

Dr. David Liang Stanford Profile

Stanford Health Care

Hoag Medical Group | Dr. David Liang 

MIT 

B.F. Skinner