WMed Specialty Spotlight

Dr. Biren Shah
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Monthly

The Specialty Spotlight Podcast explores the many specialties of medical practice, interviewing physicians about the realities of their specialty, the arc of their career paths, and their advice for medical students who narrowing down their choice of specialty and making long-term plans for a medical career. Hosted by Dr. Biren Shah, MD, the assistant dean for Career Development and professor in the Department of Radiology at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine.

Episodes

  1. 01/08/2025

    Highlight: Choosing Orthopedic Surgery

    In this clip from the WMed Specialty Spotlight, Karen Bovid, MD, discusses the factors that led her to decide that orthopedic surgery was the right specialty for her.

    3 min

  2. 01/03/2025

    Episode 13: Emergency Medicine with Kathryn Redinger, MD

    Dr. Kathryn Redinger, MD is an Associate Professor and currently serves as the Assistant Dean for Clinical Applications at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She holds dual appointments in the Department of Medical Education and the Department of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Redinger is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and is a fellow in the American College of Emergency Physicians. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Notre Dame and her medical degree at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She completed her residency training at Western Michigan University (formerly Michigan State University - KCMS) and served as Chief Resident and completed a specialty track in Healthcare Administration. Since completing her residency, she has been practicing emergency medicine for Ascension Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, MI.   Emergency Medicine Resident Associationhttps://www.asahq.org/member-center/lifecycle/medical-students (EMRA)  EMRA and CORD Student Advising Guide, 2023  Book recommendation:  Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss & Tahl Raz

    1h 13m

  3. 12/04/2024

    Highlight: The Flexibility of Family Medicine

    Episode Notes In this clip from the WMed Specialty Spotlight, Kristi VanDerKolk, MD, discusses how the practice of family medicine can vary widely depending on the individual doctor and community needs. Kristi VanDerKolk, MD is a family physician and program director for the Family Medicine-Kalamazoo residency program at WMed. She earned her medical degree at Wayne State University and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Michigan. Her clinical interests include both inpatient and outpatient family medicine as well as care of gender diverse individuals.

    2 min

  4. 12/04/2024

    Episode 12: Anesthesiology with Tristan M. Wilson, MD

    Tristan Wilson, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist with Kalamazoo Anesthesiology in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is also the Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine since 2017. He is a graduate of Alma College in Alma, Michigan. He earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in anesthesiology and critical care with Saint Louis University. Show Notes Email an anesthesiologist and ask to shadow them American Society of Anesthesiologists Future Anesthesiology Resident (@FutureAnesRes on X (formerly Twitter)

    58 min

  5. 11/20/2024

    Highlight: Applying into Family Medicine

    In this clip from the WMed Specialty Spotlight, Kristi VanDerKolk, MD, discusses the general requirements and recommendations for applying into the Family Medicine specialty. Kristi VanDerKolk, MD is a family physician and program director for the Family Medicine-Kalamazoo residency program at WMed. She earned her medical degree at Wayne State University and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Michigan. Her clinical interests include both inpatient and outpatient family medicine as well as care of gender diverse individuals.

    3 min

  6. 11/06/2024

    Highlight: The Best and Worst Parts of Family Medicine

    In this clip from the WMed Specialty Spotlight, Kristi VanDerKolk, MD, discusses some of the best parts and biggest struggles that come with being a specialist in Family Medicine. Kristi VanDerKolk, MD is a family physician and program director for the Family Medicine-Kalamazoo residency program at WMed. She earned her medical degree at Wayne State University and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Michigan. Her clinical interests include both inpatient and outpatient family medicine as well as care of gender diverse individuals.

    2 min

  7. 11/03/2024

    Episode 11: Obstetrics and Gynecology with Kevin A. Ault, MD

    Episode 11: Obstetrics and Gynecology with Kevin A. Ault, MDKevin A. Ault, MD, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. He is a professor in the Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed). He served as department chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at WMed from 2022-2024. He is a graduate of Butler University and Indiana University School of Medicine, both in Indianapolis, Indiana. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and a Fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America. His clinical and research interests include women's health and infectious diseases. Show Notes American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (membership is free for medical students) Try to go to a regional or national OB/GYN meeting Book recommendations: And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic by Randy Shilts Coach Wooden and Me: Our Friendship On and Off the Court by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

    1 hr

  8. 10/28/2024

    Highlight: There's No "Normal Day" in Family Medicine

    In this clip from the WMed Specialty Spotlight, Kristi VanDerKolk, MD, discusses the variety of patients that Family Medicine specialists see every day, and how she avoids feeling stretched too thin. Kristi VanDerKolk, MD is a family physician and program director for the Family Medicine-Kalamazoo residency program at WMed. She earned her medical degree at Wayne State University and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Michigan. Her clinical interests include both inpatient and outpatient family medicine as well as care of gender diverse individuals.

    4 min

  9. 10/22/2024

    Highlight: Med-Peds Job Responsibilities

    Episode Notes In this clip from the WMed Specialty Spotlight, Theo Gomes, DO, discusses the flexibility of opportunities for Med-Peds physicians, both in day-to-day practice and long-term career paths. Dr. Theo Gomes is the Program Director for the Medicine-Pediatrics residency program and an assistant professor in the departments of Medicine and Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at WMed. He is a trained Internal Medicine-Pediatrics physician.

    3 min

  10. 10/13/2024

    Highlight: Med-Peds Combined Residency

    In this clip from episode 1 of the WMed Specialty Spotlight, Theo Gomes, DO discusses the combined residency for the Med-Peds specialty and how the rigorous cross-training grants additional insights for care across the age spectrum. Dr. Theo Gomes is the Program Director for the Medicine-Pediatrics residency program and an assistant professor in the departments of Medicine and Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at WMed. He is a trained Internal Medicine-Pediatrics physician.

    3 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

The Specialty Spotlight Podcast explores the many specialties of medical practice, interviewing physicians about the realities of their specialty, the arc of their career paths, and their advice for medical students who narrowing down their choice of specialty and making long-term plans for a medical career. Hosted by Dr. Biren Shah, MD, the assistant dean for Career Development and professor in the Department of Radiology at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Biren Shah
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026
  • Show Website
    WMed Specialty Spotlight