The Human Doctor

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Often, it's only through proximity to different lived experiences and that issues become personal enough for us to change our thoughts and behaviors. This week, Ashley reflects on some key moments that opened her awareness to issues she hadn't previously contended with. 

The stories we often tell ourselves, about ourselves, later become self-fulfilling prophesies that can either help us reach our potential or keep us constricted. Sometimes we need to pump the breaks long enough to ask, what story am I telling and is it true? Sometimes we need others to help us do it. This week Kimberly shares a pivotal moment that invited her to reshape her narrative and learn to aim higher. 

How you treat people always matters; and in places or spaces where there are differences in power, it's even more important to recognize the type of impact we can have on others. Here, Ashley shares a story from training and lessons she learned from a negative interaction. 

At a time when concepts like diversity and inclusivity may seem dilute or even controversial in some cases, it's worth revisiting the WHY behind DEI. This episode, Kimberly highlights how proximity to a very different lived experience set her up to become a better doctor and better human.

The HD Pod is back! This week Ashley shares some important updates from our time away and a story that highlights the importance of taking the occasional leap of faith, especially in times that feel difficult or uncertain. 

In many situations, the line between right and wrong can be blurred or confusing, but sometimes it is very clear. On this final episode of the season, Kimberly gives a powerful reflection on accountability and owning what is right vs. what is wrong when it comes to certain behaviors. 

Everyone expresses grief or sorrow in different ways, and in an ideal world, we would all feel safe enough to do so however we choose. This week, Ashley shares stories on what this has looked like in her life. 

When is the last time you paused to really take in a meaningful moment - big or small? This week, Kimberly shares a reflection on this practice along with an invitation for us all to make time to appreciate the moments we may look back on one day and long for. 

Today, Ashley reflects on the most important gift she received in her medical training - it's one that continues to give, even to this day. 

Our words have power - and sometimes a positive word can be life-giving, especially in a world that often prioritizes negativity. This week, Kimberly shares a story about a patient who reminded her of this possibility. 

This week, Ashley reflects on some pivotal experiences from medical training and the lessons she learned. 

In today's episode, Kimberly describes an encounter with a patient that pushed her to think differently about what it means to "do no harm"

This week Ashley will share a story from her personal statement for residency applications, which is one that highlights her motivation for becoming an internist and a human doctor. Also, on our 100th (!) episode, we'd like to send a heartfelt thank you to all our listeners and supporters - we could not have made it to this milestone without you! 

This week, Kimberly is back on the mic to share some wise reflections on her experiences of being in the spotlight, and what we actually mean when we talk about "imposter syndrome".

In this episode, Ashley pays homage to one of her most cherished human connections. 

Many times, the primary barrier to us achieving our goals is our own thoughts. However, being practical does not have to mean overthinking or succumbing to the idea that certain goals just don't make sense for us. This week, Kimberly shares an inspiring example of a time she set out to achieve something seemingly out of reach.  

Is there someone in your life you can trust to be there in moments of triumph, but also in times of potential failure? This week Ashley shares memories of times when she had the courage to let someone in, and what she took away from those experiences. 

July is a major transition time for folks in the medical field. Just like in many other institutions or professions, in medicine, it's easy to look at new changes and lament that things "aren't like they used to be." However, we should pause to recognize, thankfully, that things can and often do change for the better. This week, Kimberly reflects on the early days of her training and a few changes that she's grateful for. 

On today's episode, Ashley reflects on a meaningful patient experience, as well as the privilege and challenges of human doctoring. 

This episode, Kimberly shares a very personal story of caring for a loved one in the hospital and how it has shifted her perspective as both a doctor and caregiver. 

This week we share another special episode recorded at the Society of General Internal Medicine annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, featuring a very special guest storyteller, Dr. Utibe Essien - an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine, an award-winning health equity researcher, and an all-around dope human doctor. 

Live from the Society of General Internal Medicine 2024 annual meeting in Boston, MA! Kimberly and Ashley share the stage to tell the story of their first meeting and a meaningful connection that would lead to the beginnings of The Human Doctor Podcast and so much more. 

In the final episode of this season, Ashley shares a story about a profound experience in residency that shaped her perspective on patients and their families, and how we care for both. 

Who are the friends that you can call on no matter what the circumstance? Who are the those that you can trust to love and care for you, even when you feel you don't deserve it? In our busy adult lives, we often miss opportunities to form deep connections beyond the bounds of traditional family and romantic partnerships. However, on this episode Kimberly takes the time to celebrate one of these connections and what it means to her. 

This week Ashley is back on the mic sharing a story from early adulthood when an unexpected message resonated in unexpected ways. 

Each of us at some point in our lives will have the experience of not being chosen for something or not getting the thing we desperately wanted. This week, Kimberly shares her reflections on this experience and some important lessons along the way. 

When it comes to difficult news, what we say and how we say it matters a lot, especially in medicine. Today, Ashley recalls a moment in training where this concept became very clear. 

Even the most humanistic doctors can sometimes make the wrong assumptions about the patients in their care. In this episode, Kimberly reflects on a time when she missed the mark and how that changed her practice. 

Many of us have heard the disheartening statistic that Black women experience the highest rates of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, 3x that of white women, and regardless of socioeconomic status. This week Ashley offers a humanistic lens to this fact by sharing the story of her own mother's experience bringing her into this world. 

On this episode, Kimberly reflects on a really difficult but necessary choice that she made when she was younger. It's a choice that she still makes routinely today. 

In this episode, Ashley shares the story of a decisive moment where she did something she never could have imagined herself doing before. 

Today, Kimberly shares about a recent reunion with a person who made a significant difference in her life and career.

This week, Ashley reflects on a moment where so much changed in the blink of an eye.

Happy New Year fam! This week, Kimberly shares with us a thoughtful reflection about an interaction she had with a trainee.

This episode, Ashley shares a recent experience in clinic that helped reshape her views on gifts and giving. We want to also wish all of our listeners a wonderful and safe holiday season. We'll be back in the New Year!

This episode Kimberly shares another compelling story along with some unforgettable advice she received while on the wards at Grady Hospital **************************** BLR Benefit 2023: The Narrative Arc

We're back and excited to kick-off another season of storytelling on the Human Doctor Pod. This week, Ashley is on the mic to tell you about an experience in medical training that needed a time-out for serious reflection. 

We've made it to our final episode of the season. This week we're leaving you with another powerful story from Kimberly about a meaningful exchange she had with a young patient at Grady. As we move into this period of rest/restoration, we continue to extend our deepest gratitude to all our listeners - please know that both Kimberly and Ashley are %100 Team YOU. 

On this episode, Ashley recounts an experience where she had to have a difficult conversation with someone she loves. It's a reminder that even the most cherished relationships can oft times be complicated. 

Kimberly is back on the mic this episode with an insightful reflection on the importance of acknowledgement and its impact, especially towards learners. 

This week Ashley shares a narrative from her first year on faculty where a difficult patient interaction helped her realize a sense of agency in terms of how the experience unfolded.  ------------- Topics Discussed: "Diastolito" at Yeppa & Co, Buckhead, Atlanta The Nap Ministry - Rest as Reparations  The Nocturnists episode with Eric Topol, MD, author of Deep Medicine Clinical Problem Solvers Juneteenth episode w/ Kimberly and her dad, Mr. William Draper

**Note: this episode contains some explicit language** Each of us, at one point or another, have faced the choice of whether to stand up for someone or something, even when it comes at a personal cost. We hope that in those moments we'll always choose to do what's right, but because we're humans, we oftentimes fall short. This week, Kimberly shares a powerful reflection about a time when she faced this choice.  ------------- Topics Discussed: "What you say impacts what you see" - Dr. Manning Bonsai Garden - Lake Merritt (Oakland, CA)  Actively Black Athletic Wear  Film - Beautiful Boy Stand - Donnie McClurkin  I'll Stand By You - The Pretenders