Blue Collar I.C.'s - The Real World of Interventional Cardiology

Intracoronary Imaging: Reality or Religion?

The Blue Collar ICs crew takes on one of the hottest debates in cardiology: should every PCI be guided by intracoronary imaging? From IVUS and OCT to AI-assisted decision making, the team discusses where imaging helps, where it doesn't, and whether operator experience still matters most. This episode opens with reflections from NCVH in New Orleans, where the team discusses the conference's impact, live case demonstrations, and the relationships that continue to shape interventional cardiology. Guest Dr. Aaron Gopal joins the conversation, sharing how training under Dr. Craig Walker and working alongside Dr. Brian Brown influenced his approach to patient care. The discussion then shifts into a deep dive on intracoronary imaging, specifically IVUS and OCT. The panel examines how different generations of operators were trained, how imaging has evolved over time, and whether routine use truly leads to better outcomes. The debate highlights the tension between evidence-based medicine, operator experience, and industry influence. The conversation expands into AI-assisted imaging, coronary physiology, pressure-wire assessment, and the future of PCI. The group explores whether modern technology is improving clinical decision-making or creating dependence that could weaken future physician training. As always, the discussion remains candid, practical, and grounded in real-world experience. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Medical Education - Then and Now

In this episode of Blue Collar ICs, the conversation shifts from the cath lab to the journey that creates physicians in the first place. From handwritten medical school applications and 36-hour call shifts to Zoom interviews, gap years, and pass/fail boards, the crew compares what medical education looked like decades ago versus today. Joined by future physician Eva, family medicine resident Dr. Ann Marie Brown, and veteran cardiologists Dr. Bill Dixon and Dr. Brian Brown, the discussion explores how training, expectations, and physician culture have evolved across generations. The episode dives into: * The reality of residency work hours * Whether today’s training is better or softer * How difficult it’s become to get into medical school * The rise of gap years and application pressure * Burnout, sacrifice, and continuity of care * Why medicine is still ultimately about passion and purpose * It’s a candid, funny, and surprisingly personal conversation about the making of a doctor—and whether the system is preparing the next generation the right way. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Is Impella Dead? The Truth After the Latest Trials

In this episode of Blue Collar ICs, the crew tackles one of the biggest questions in interventional cardiology right now: Is Impella dead? Following the latest trial data presented at ACC, including DTU and BSIS-3, the discussion dives deep into what the results actually mean—and what they don’t. Featuring insights from Dr. Amir Kaki and longtime industry expert Jim Schubert, the conversation explores the gap between clinical trials and real-world practice. From bleeding complications and patient selection to high-risk PCI strategy and cardiogenic shock, this episode breaks down where Impella fits today—and where it’s headed next. The takeaway? The data may be mixed, but the story is far from over. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Inside Med Device Startups: Funding, FDA, and Near-Death Moments

In this episode of Blue Collar ICs, the conversation goes beyond the cath lab and into the world of medical device innovation, startups, and what it really takes to bring an idea to life. Interventional radiologist Dr. Jeffrey Hull and startup veteran Rob Williamson join the show to break down the full journey—from identifying real clinical problems to navigating patents, funding, FDA approval, and reimbursement. The discussion dives into the realities most people never see: raising capital, surviving “near-death” moments, building the right team, and why most ideas never make it to market. Along the way, the group shares insider stories from companies like Shockwave Medical and explores what separates successful innovations from expensive failures. If you’ve ever had an idea in the cath lab—or wondered how breakthrough devices actually happen—this episode is a must-listen. #Cardiology #MedDevice #HealthcareInnovation #CathLab #BlueCollarICs ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

A Day in the Lab: Decisions You Can’t Learn From a Textbook

In this episode of Blue Collar ICs, the crew is joined by Louise Caron, taking listeners inside a real day in the cath lab. The kind of day that doesn’t follow a script. What starts as a joking line during the conversation quickly turns into the theme of the episode: the unpredictable decisions interventional cardiologists face every day. From borderline lesions and complex anatomy to the judgment calls that can’t be taught in a textbook, the discussion dives into how experience, instinct, and teamwork shape what actually happens at the table. Bill Dixon, Brian Brown, Todd Flohr and Louise Caron share candid stories, clinical insights, and the kind of cath-lab conversations that normally happen after the case is over. It’s an honest look at the real-world decision-making that defines interventional cardiology—a true day in the lab. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.