CFMS Podcasts

Canadian Federation of Medical Students
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Bimonthly

LDTB= Life as a Doctor to be CC= CFMS Connection Podcast RIM= Research in Medicine Welcome to the Canadian Federation of Medical Students Podcast Series. We connect, support and represent our membership as they learn to serve patients and society. Our CFMS Podcast series is a collection of three separate series - Research in Medicine, Life as a Doctor To Be and the CFMS Connection podcast series.

  1. May 19

    RiM #19: Improving Cancer Surgery Through Data and Outcomes Research

    Most medical breakthroughs aren’t just about technology, they’re about understanding what factors truly drive change. Dr. Marko Simunovic, a surgical oncologist and health systems researcher, shares how he leverages big datasets, collaborative practices, and a willingness to question tradition to improve patient outcomes and transform surgical care. Imagine a world where surgeons routinely consult in groups, where the way wedeliver care is standardized, transparent, and constantly improved through real collaboration. Dr. Simunovic reveals the groundbreaking potential of team-based surgery, collective decision-making, and a shift toward process-driven qualityimprovement. He discusses how surgical culture, combined with systemic barriers like funding and institutional inertia, shapes the pace of adopting new evidence, and how the future may lie in breaking down these barriers with shared knowledge and innovative tech like AI. You’ll discover: how large administrative datasets can identify upstream factors contributing to adverse outcomes; why rapid adoption of proven practices depends on compelling evidence; and how surgeons working together more openly can prevent unnecessary harm and improve efficiency. Plus, insights into how mentorship, societal values, and organizational culture influence the pace of change in medicine. Getting urgentcare right isn’t just a matter of new devices or drugs, it's aboutunderstanding complex systems, collaboration, and challenging the status quo. Dr. Marko Simunovic, a leader in health services research at McMaster University, combines his background in surgery with a passion for systemic change. His pioneering work aims to unlock the full potential of collaborative, data-informed clinical practice.   Tune in to learn how embracing more team-based, process-oriented approaches can revolutionize the future of surgery, and why asking the right questions might be the most powerful tool in healthcare innovation.

    58 min

  2. May 3

    WHO Health Cares #8: Neurology, Neuromodulation, and Thinking Like a Clinician with Dr. Alfonso Fasano

    In this episode, Ahad Daudi interviews Dr. Alfonso Fasano, neurologist and movement disorders specialist at the University of Toronto and Toronto Western Hospital. From a defining moment witnessing deep brain stimulation in action, Dr. Fasano reflects on what drew him to neurology and what that journey can teach medical students navigating their own career decisions. They discuss the rapidly evolving field of neuromodulation, its role in treating Parkinson’s disease and other conditions, and how new technologies are changing the way we understand and treat the brain. Dr. Fasano also shares practical advice on maintaining brain health, highlights the qualities that define strong clinicians, and discusses the shifting role of patient-physician collaboration in modern medicine. ---- Produced by Ahad Daudi, Jacqueline Hong, Sarah Almasaad, and Kuljeet Chohan. Music provided by ⁠https://freebeats.io⁠ (produced by White Hot).

    30 min

  3. Feb 26

    WHO Health Cares #7: Exploring the Emergency Department with Dr. Akil

    Interested in Emergency Medicine? In this episode, Jacqueline Hong and Kuljeet Chohan interview Dr. Bilal Akil, an Emergency Physician, Trauma Team Leader, Medical Director, and Assistant Professor at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. Dr. Akil is also a co-founder of a CFMS partner, MCCQBank. Dr. Akil shares a day in his life, reflects on the current state of emergency medicine, and discusses his perspective on the future of AI in the emergency department. He also offers practical advice for medical students on making the most of their ED rotations, what defines a great emergency physician, and how to effectively prepare for the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination, a required step for all Canadian physicians. ---- Produced by Ahad Daudi, Jacqueline Hong, Sarah Almasaad, and Kuljeet Chohan. Music provided by https://freebeats.io (produced by White Hot).

    29 min

  4. Feb 12

    RiM #18: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Transplants

    Devina Ramesh from the CFMS Research in Medicine podcast interviews Dr. Mamatha Bhat, a hepatologist and clinician-scientist at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre, and as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto.  Dr. Bhat is the recipient of numerous awards, such as the 2022 Early Career Researcher prize, the 2020 Polanyi Prize and the 2021 American Society of Transplantation Basic Science Career Development Award. Dr. Bhat is the head of the multi-disciplinary Bhat Liver Lab, with the goal of improving outcomes and clinical practice for patients following LT using ML tools.

    58 min

  5. 2025-09-08

    RiM #17: Med Ed, Mentorship, and CanMEDs with Dr. Jonathan Sherbino

    In this episode, Kevin Won of the CFMS Research in Medicine podcast speaks with Dr. Jonathan Sherbino, emergency physician and Professor of Medicine at McMaster University. Dr. Sherbino discusses his passion for medical education research and his involvement in the MERIT program at McMaster as well as developing the 2015 CanMEDs framework. He also speaks on different types of education research that medical students may not be familiar with and other ways we can get involved, especially if we may not enjoy the traditional “methods” of research.

    36 min
  6. Who (Health) Cares #6, Dr. Hema Gangam, Pediatric Neurologist in Windsor

    2025-08-04

    Who (Health) Cares #6, Dr. Hema Gangam, Pediatric Neurologist in Windsor

    Welcome back! For this episode of the Who (Health) Cares CFMS Podcast Series, host Erin chats with Dr. Hema Gangam – the sole pediatric neurologist practicing in Windsor, Ontario. As its name suggests, pediatric neurology is a unique field where physicians diagnose and treat infants, children, and adolescents with a range of neurological conditions, including meningitis, encephalitis, hypoxic-ischemic injury, trauma, stroke, epilepsy and diseases impacting peripheral nerves and muscles. Also involved in medical education, Dr. Gangam is one of the clerkship leads in the Schulich School of Medicine. Join us as Dr. Gangam shares the marvels of pediatric neurology, insights into American and Canadian healthcare, as well as the importance of staying curious.

    17 min
  7. RiM #16: Saving Lives, Facing Death, and Balancing Everything in Between with Dr. Blair Bigham

    2025-03-31

    RiM #16: Saving Lives, Facing Death, and Balancing Everything in Between with Dr. Blair Bigham

    In today's episode, Zier Zhou of the CFMS Research in Medicine podcast interviews Dr. Blair Bigham, an award-winning journalist, scientist and physician. Dr. Bigham trained in emergency and critical care medicine at McMaster and Stanford Universities, and is currently an assistant professor in Clinical Public Health at the University of Toronto. Dr. Bigham reflects on his early experiences in lifeguarding and paramedicine, which eventually led him to choose emergency medicine without hesitation. He offers some honest, practical advice to medical students on juggling various extracurricular projects. He further shares critical insights into his writing process as a health journalist, as well as his professional and personal experiences with life and death. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BlairBigham and check out his national bestseller, Death Interrupted: How Modern Medicine Is Complicating the Way We Die.

    39 min
  8. RIM #15: Collaborative Care: A Pharmacist’s Insights on Research and Medicine with Peter Zhang

    2024-12-06

    RIM #15: Collaborative Care: A Pharmacist’s Insights on Research and Medicine with Peter Zhang

    In today’s episode, Megan Lowe from the CFMS Research in Medicine podcast interviews Peter Zhang, a hospital pharmacist at Southlake Regional Health Centre, tech professional at an AI startup, and PhD student at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. Peter completed a combined PharmD/MBA at the University of Toronto and is a guest lecturer on topics such as vaccine hesitancy, clinical microbiology, and management. As a former Reach Alliance researcher at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, Peter studied polio elimination in India. An avid researcher and writer, his work has been featured in journals like BMJ Global Health and national outlets like the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and National Post.

    42 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

LDTB= Life as a Doctor to be CC= CFMS Connection Podcast RIM= Research in Medicine Welcome to the Canadian Federation of Medical Students Podcast Series. We connect, support and represent our membership as they learn to serve patients and society. Our CFMS Podcast series is a collection of three separate series - Research in Medicine, Life as a Doctor To Be and the CFMS Connection podcast series.

Information

  • Creator
    Canadian Federation of Medical Students
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Canadian Federation of Medical Students
  • Show Website
    CFMS Podcasts