The Human Doctor

Root Cause Analysis

On the final episode of this season, Kimberly shares a powerful reflection on how a singular experience can have an unforeseen impact even decades later. Thanks again to everyone who's been listening and following us along this journey. We'll be back after a summer recharge.

Live from SGIM 2025!

Huge shout out to the Society of General Internal Medicine for inviting us to record live from the 2025 annual conference! "From Ideas to Action" - Ashley and Kimberly share a little about the evolution of The Human Doctor podcast and each tell a story highlighting what it means to be a human doctor in times such as these.

Singing is Swinging and Writing is Fighting

In this episode, Ashley reflects on an experience where she found the courage to speak up and gained an important lesson in dealing with disagreements.

Anger will pass. Kindness lasts.

Kimberly is back on the mic this week to reflect on a brief moment in the past that could have changed her life in a major way.

Always Be Learning

Lessons come to us in all sorts of ways, especially in the places we least expect. Today, Ashley shares a story about being open to new things, especially when we think we have nothing to learn. 

A change gon' come

Change is inevitable. It can be hard at times, but change can also be an opportunity embrace a new way of being and seeing ourselves in the world. This episode, Kimberly shares a story about a significant change she went through in the past and what she learned from that experience.

Topics Discussed:

• Formerly Incarcerated People's Performance Project
• Adolescence on Netflix 
• Masters of the American College of Physicians - 2024/2025
• Look out for Dr. McMullen and Dr. Manning at the SGIM National Meeting - May 2025

 

Gut Feelings

Have you ever had an instance where you made up your mind to do something, but your body said "no"? This episode, Ashley shares an experience that highlights how our bodies sometimes alert us to deeper truths that we'd rather avoid thinking about. 

Topics Discussed:

• Colorectal Cancer Screening - Guidance from the CDC
• Transgender Day of Visibility - 3/31
• Black Liturgies - by Cole Arthur Riley 
• Quote from The Kite Runner - by Khaled Hosseini
• Look out for Dr. McMullen and Dr. Manning at the SGIM National Meeting - May 2025

Innocent until proven...innocent

While reflecting on two pivotal experiences as a mom and as an educator, Kimberly gives a masterclass in the value of pausing to ask questions before assuming the worst. 

 

Topics Discussed:

• March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month 
• "Racial Disparities and early-onset colorectal cancer: A call to action" - by Andrew Chan, MD, MPH
• Their Eyes Were Watching God - by Zora Neale Hurston, audiobook narrated by Ruby Dee
• The Color Purple - by Alice Walker
• Look out for Dr. McMullen and Dr. Manning at the SGIM National Meeting - May 2025

What is we gon' do?

When things feel uncertain and you have no idea what to do, every once in a while, the answer you need is right there in front of you. This week, Ashley reflects on a beautiful connection that was made during a time of doubt. 

"And it was still hot"

When we find ourselves in certain situations that seem like way more than we bargained for, sometimes we do have to ask the question, "if not me, then who?" Recently, Kimberly was thrust into one of these circumstances and in this episode, she shares her experience of how things unfolded.