Building Bridges Podcast

DMSBridge

Building Bridges is a podcast created by the Butler University Doctor of Medical Science Bridge Program to support and inspire physician associates and the healthcare community as they elevate themselves and the profession. Through thoughtful conversations and diverse perspectives, we connect clinicians, educators, and leaders across disciplines to explore what's next in healthcare, leadership, education, and innovation. We aim to build bridges between education and action, clinical practice and policy, and individual purpose and collective impact. With inclusion, equity, and lifelong learning. At our core, we aim to spark dialogue that encourages bold thinking, collaboration, and progress. In an ever-changing healthcare landscape, our mission is to ignite curiosity, foster connection, and empower new generation of leaders to imagine what's possible. 

Episodes

  1. MAR 13

    Butter, Epidemiology, and Great Teaching: Rod Jackson Part 2

    Rod Jackson on Heart-Healthy Living, Teaching Epidemiology, and the GATE Frame Adrian interviews Dr. Rod Jackson on the Building Bridges Podcast (Butler University Dr. Medical Science Bridge Program), focusing on cardiovascular prevention and his teaching approach. Jackson argues coronary heart disease is driven primarily by dietary saturated fat, largely from meat and dairy, and urges reducing saturated fat first, then avoiding smoking, eating largely unprocessed foods low in salt and refined sugar, and exercising (which he ranks lower than diet). He recommends regular cardiovascular risk assessment, especially for older adults, and notes safe, cheap blood-pressure and lipid-lowering drugs can substantially reduce risk and that lifestyle changes help even after disease develops. Jackson explains his engaging teaching style centers on connecting with students through relatable stories (like his evidence-based lunch) and using pictures to teach epidemiology via the “GATE frame,” which he calls the epidemiological paradigm, plus a “cross” to incorporate evidence, values, politics/cost, and individual circumstances in decisions. 00:00 Welcome Back and Recap 00:58 Heart Health Basics 01:30 Butter Cop and Saturated Fat 03:59 Prevention and Risk Meds 05:10 Never Too Late to Change 06:38 Teaching Style Secrets 11:00 Gate Frame Storytelling 13:46 Krebs Cycle Inspiration 15:03 Gate Frame Challenge 17:12 Decision Cross Explained 18:51 Final Thanks and Signoff Links: The GATE Framework for Epidemiologic studies: gateframe.pdf

    20 min

  2. MAR 13

    Research That Changes the World: Rod Jackson Part 1

    From Hypertension to Cardiovascular Risk: Rod Jackson’s Big-Data Impact in New Zealand Adrian, a Butler University Medical Science Bridge Program faculty member, interviews Dr. Rod Jackson, an epidemiologist at the University of Auckland, on the Building Bridges podcast. Jackson describes growing up in rural New Zealand, choosing medicine, and shifting from clinical practice to public health after working with cardiovascular epidemiologist Robert Beaglehole, focusing on prevention such as smoking reduction. He explains how conflicting hypertension definitions led him in the late 1980s to advocate replacing single risk-factor thresholds with multivariable cardiovascular risk assessment, influencing New Zealand guidelines in the 1990s and later integrated cardiovascular risk guidelines. To replace Framingham-based estimates, he helped build a primary-care clinical decision support system that created a linked national cohort exceeding 500,000 people, producing New Zealand “PREDICT” risk equations published in The Lancet (2018) and diabetes-specific equations (2021), incorporating ethnicity and social deprivation to address inequities. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:51 Oxford Mentorship Story 02:06 Rod Jackson Bio Highlights 04:25 Early Life and Schooling 06:03 Choosing Medicine and Prevention 08:12 Switch to Epidemiology 10:11 Hypertension Definition Mess 13:41 Risk Based Guidelines Breakthrough 17:12 Building NZ Predict Cohort 21:50 Equity and Social Determinants 23:46 Part One Wrap Up Cardiovascular disease risk prediction equations published in The Lancet – University of Auckland

    24 min

  3. FEB 13

    Say Yes: Dr. Chileatha Wynn on Embracing Opportunities

    This episode will introduce you to Dr. Chileatha Wynn, who demonstrates the power of saying "yes" whenever possible and the benefits it has had on her life as a PA, a leader, and the value of advocacy.

    23 min

  4. JAN 13

    A Champion's Journey: Dr. Andre Dos Santos on Resilience and Education

    In this episode of Building Bridges, a podcast by the Butler University Doctor of Medical Science Bridge Program, co-hosts Dr. Adrian Banning and Dr. Cody Sasek welcome their guest, Dr. Andre Dos Santos. Dr. Dos Santos shares his remarkable story of immigrating from Brazil, his diverse career as an MMA fighter and Hollywood stunt performer, and his journey to becoming a PA educator at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. The conversation highlights his dedication to addressing social justice through education, his extensive commitment to his students, and the impactful difference his work is making in underserved communities.  00:00 Introduction to Building Bridges Podcast  00:52 Meet Dr. Andre Dos Santos  01:59 Dr. Dos Santos' Journey and Inspirations  03:33 Challenges and Motivations  09:54 From MMA Fighter to PA Educator  15:01 Supporting Students in PA Education  20:09 The Importance of Individualized Attention  21:28 Journey to Becoming a Clinical Coordinator  23:48 Challenges and Rewards of the Role  27:48 Advice for Aspiring Educators  31:47 Impact of Mentorship and Education  35:08 Final Reflections and Gratitude

    39 min

  5. JAN 6

    Episode 1: Meet the Bridge Podcast Team

    In our first full episode, you'll have the opportunity to meet the Building Bridges podcast team. Adrian Banning, DHSc, PA-CBreann Garbas, DHSc, PA-CCody Sasek, PhD, PA-CWe'll take a casual and lighthearted look at the journeys that led each of the cohosts to Butler and to the seat in front of the microphone.

    16 min

  6. SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Welcome to Building Bridges: An Introduction

    Welcome to the Building Bridges Podcast. In this episode, Cody Sasek, program director of Butler University's Doctor of Medical Science Bridge Program introduces listeners to the podcast and what to expect -- from interesting conversations to learning from thought leaders, the podcast is intended to inform, entertain, and engage the audience in thinking about what's next...and what's possible.

    1 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Building Bridges is a podcast created by the Butler University Doctor of Medical Science Bridge Program to support and inspire physician associates and the healthcare community as they elevate themselves and the profession. Through thoughtful conversations and diverse perspectives, we connect clinicians, educators, and leaders across disciplines to explore what's next in healthcare, leadership, education, and innovation. We aim to build bridges between education and action, clinical practice and policy, and individual purpose and collective impact. With inclusion, equity, and lifelong learning. At our core, we aim to spark dialogue that encourages bold thinking, collaboration, and progress. In an ever-changing healthcare landscape, our mission is to ignite curiosity, foster connection, and empower new generation of leaders to imagine what's possible. 

Information

  • Creator
    DMSBridge
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Building Bridges Podcast
  • Show Website
    Building Bridges Podcast