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. 

  1. Jun 5

    Bonus Epeisode: The Friends You Make-Kennedy Lewis and Natalia Rangel BFF4E

    Sometimes you meet someone, and you just know you're going to be friends. Mix in PA school and that friendship becomes something even more lasting. Host Adrian Banning interviews Butler University DMS Bridge Program alumnae Kennedy Lewis and Natalia Rangel about their close friendship formed during their Case Western PA school interview (anniversary = Nov. 11), daily support through a 15-month didactic year and clinical rotations, and navigating stressful life events like Kennedy’s car being stolen. They describe complementary study habits, shared resilience as first-generation professionals, and why they pursued the DMS Bridge Program after an info session, finding research more approachable and useful to practice. Natalia works in neurosurgery in Arizona, focusing on patient education and lifestyle factors; Kennedy practices adult primary care in the DC/DMV area, emphasizing listening, postpartum care, depression screening, and doula conversations. Both discuss financial security goals, mentorship, and adjusting after graduation.

    1h 5m

  2. Jun 5

    Breaking Barriers in PA Education: The Inspiring Road of Natalia Rangel

    Breaking Barriers in PA Education: The Inspiring Road of Natalia Rangel Hosts Cody Sasek and Adrian Banning (Butler University’s Doctor of Medical Science Bridge Program) interview Natalia Rangel, a first-generation PA originally from Cúcuta, Colombia, who moved to Florida, attended PA school at Case Western Reserve University, received her DMS degree from the Butler University Bridge Program and now lives and works as a neurosurgery PA-C in Arizona. Natalia describes applying to PA school late with little guidance, advises applicants to use mentorship organizations (including PAs for Latino Health, The PAC, NSBPA) and fee assistance, and emphasizes casting a wide net while avoiding costly admissions “coaching.” She shares her study approach in PA school, her decision to hire a lawyer to review her first job contract, and how a delayed start date led to a temporary flu-trial research job while beginning the Butler DMS Bridge Program. Natalia discusses her leadership work with PAs for Latino Health, scholarship awareness, precepting and mentoring students, and plans to support Arizona’s emerging PA program. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 01:38 Natalia Origin Story 04:19 Finding Case Western 04:55 Applying Without Guidance 06:53 Mentorship Over Paywalls 11:34 PA School Study Routines 13:52 Why Pursue a Doctorate 14:55 Contracts and Career Timing 17:35 PAs for Latino Health 20:23 Research Mindset and Planning 22:20 Building PA Community in Arizona 26:53 Mentors and Saying No 28:48 Closing Thanks and Wrap Up

    31 min

  3. May 22

    More than Medicine: Leadership and Advocacy in Women's Health with Dr. Melissa Rodriguez

    What does it truly mean to build bridges in healthcare—and who is willing to step forward and do the work when those bridges don’t yet exist? In this episode of Building Bridges, Bre Garbas sits down with Dr. Melissa Rodriguez, an OB/GYN physician associate, educator, and national leader in women’s health, for a conversation that moves far beyond the clinical space. Together, they explore what it looks like to practice at the top of one’s license, advocate for meaningful change, and redefine what is possible for physician associates in one of the most dynamic and underserved areas of medicine. From the very beginning, Melissa’s passion is evident—not just for women’s health, but for the profession itself. As a clinician working in one of the busiest OB/GYN emergency departments in the country, delivering care in high-acuity, fast-paced environments, she embodies the intersection of expertise, adaptability, and resilience. But her story doesn’t stop at the bedside. She is also shaping the next generation of clinicians as an educator and influencing the national conversation through her leadership and advocacy work.  This episode is not simply about what Melissa does—it’s about why it matters, and what it reveals about the future of healthcare.

    29 min

  4. May 11

    PA Education and Leadership: Dr. Pam Vayda

    In this episode of Building Bridges from Butler University’s Doctor of Medical Science Bridge Program, hosts Adrian Banning and Cody Sasek speak with PA educator Pam Vayda, interim program director at Mississippi State University. Pam shares her path from prior work in education (including teaching secondary school and college labs) to joining MSU’s inaugural PA cohort (graduating 2023), practicing in urgent care, earning her doctorate through Butler, and quickly transitioning into PA faculty roles. She discusses seeing PA programs from both student and faculty perspectives, the complexity of running a program, and the major work involved in achieving 10-year accreditation. Pam highlights how doctoral training and mentorship support curriculum alignment, evidence-based medicine, and faculty development, and she describes outreach efforts to introduce Mississippi students to the PA profession.

    32 min

  5. Apr 24

    PAs in Leadership: Dr. Brooke Schweitzer

    From the OR to the C-Suite: Dr. Brooke Schweitzer on Advanced Practice Leadership in Healthcare On this episode of the Building Bridges podcast, host Cody Sasek interviews Dr. Brooke Schweitzer, a plastic and reconstructive surgery physician assistant and Executive Director of Advanced Practice Providers at University of Chicago Medicine. She was appointed to this inaugural role amid rapid APP growth from about 200 pre-COVID to over 600 current. Schweitzer describes overseeing PAs, NPs, CNSs, CRNAs, and nurse midwives across multiple sites, and shares how she discovered the PA profession after shadowing in surgery.  She recounts unexpectedly stepping into interim hospital leadership at a critical access hospital, prompting her to pursue a doctorate and business residency to bridge clinical and administrative “languages.” She emphasizes saying yes to opportunities, listening, transparency, servant leadership, stakeholder alignment in matrixed organizations, and measuring value through key metrics like length of stay and readmissions as healthcare shifts toward value-based care, while advocating for stronger APP representation and leadership pathways.

    37 min

  6. Apr 10

    A Servant's Heart: Dr. Olatunde Oshikoya on Leading with Passion

    What happens when you stop waiting for the “right path” and start building your own? In this episode of Building Bridges, Dr. Olatunde Oshikoya, PA-C, shares how an uncertain start as a new graduate evolved into a purpose-driven career spanning urgent care, mobile medicine, and telehealth in addiction and behavioral health. From launching a mobile clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic to embracing remote care as the future of medicine, his journey highlights the power of adaptability, innovation, and saying yes to opportunity—even when the outcome isn’t clear.  This conversation explores how telehealth is reshaping access to care, allowing providers to meet patients where they are—literally and figuratively—while maintaining the core principles of medicine. Dr. Oshikoya also shares his passion for mentorship and community impact, emphasizing the importance of looking inward, leveraging your network, and stepping up to meet needs in your own community.  Whether you’re a clinician, student, or educator, this episode is a reminder that meaningful careers aren’t linear—they’re built through openness, discomfort, and a willingness to act.

    30 min

  7. Mar 27

    Life in the (Online) Fast Lane- Dr. Megan Cannon

    Building Bridges Podcast

    31 min

  8. 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
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5
out of 5
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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
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Building Bridges Podcast
  • Show Website
    Building Bridges Podcast