Stanford Emergency Medicine Podcast

Episode 8: Why Emergency Medicine Physicians Make Great Innovators

Dr. Andra Blomkalns, Chair of Stanford Department of Emergency Medicine, discusses how emergency physicians can turn everyday clinical frustrations into meaningful healthcare innovation through the biodesign process. Drawing on stories from the emergency department, she explores how needs-finding, iterative problem-solving, and multidisciplinary collaboration can transform bedside insights into real-world impact. The conversation also examines why emergency medicine—with its fast-paced, unscripted environment and constant exposure to system gaps—is uniquely positioned to drive the future of patient-centered care. In this episode: * How to identify unmet clinical needs during everyday clinical practice * Why failure is a necessary part of innovation and design * How the biodesign process helps translate ideas into practical healthcare solutions * Why emergency physicians are uniquely equipped to lead innovation in healthcare Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu [https://emed.stanford.edu] Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

Rethinking Addiction Care in Emergency Medicine

Emergency departments are becoming a frontline for addiction treatment. In this episode of the Stanford Emergency Medicine podcast, treatment pioneer Dr. Gail D’Onofrio of Yale University talks with guest host Dr. Manish Shah about how ED-initiated buprenorphine is transforming care, challenging stigma, and redefining the role of emergency medicine in addressing substance use disorders. Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu [https://emed.stanford.edu] Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

Pediatric Emergency Medicine: Trends, Challenges, and Innovation

In this episode, we examine emerging trends in pediatric emergency medicine, including improving pediatric readiness and integrating care across systems. Drs. Deborah Hsu and Manish Shah highlight how innovation, data, and clinical mindsets are shaping practice while addressing ongoing challenges in caring for children. Topics include: * Where most children actually receive emergency care—and why that matters * The realities of practicing pediatric EM outside ideal resource settings * Where tools like AI and telemedicine are starting to change pediatric care * Balancing efficiency, testing, and clinical judgment on shift Guests: Dr. Deborah Hsu [https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/deborah-hsu] is Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at Stanford and Division Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. She is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric emergency care, medical education, and fellowship training, with prior leadership roles at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Manish Shah [https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/manish-shah] is a professor of pediatric emergency medicine at Stanford whose work focuses on integrating pediatric evidence into EMS systems through research, education, and advocacy. He is a leader in pediatric prehospital care, serving in national research networks and leading major clinical trials and initiatives to improve pediatric readiness in EMS systems. Host: Dr. Matthew Strehlow [https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/matthew-strehlow] is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and serves as Vice Chair for Innovation and Clinical Improvement. His work focuses on improving patient care through system redesign, global health initiatives, and advancing emergency medicine education. Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu [https://emed.stanford.edu] Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

Emergency Medicine Without Walls: What Comes Next

What would it actually take to make emergency care more affordable, more accessible, and less tied to the walls of the ED? In this episode, Dr. Ryan Ribeira and host Dr. Matthew Strehlow discuss where emerging technologies like AI, remote monitoring, and new care models are already reshaping acute care—drawing on insights from the Stanford Emergency Medicine Innovation Symposium (StEMI X)—and where clinicians need to engage now to shape what comes next.  Why Listen * A candid look at how innovation can intervene before patients ever decide to seek emergency care—and why that matters for EDs today. * Why technology alone won’t fix healthcare, and how clinician input determines whether new tools help or hinder care at the bedside. * What emergency physicians should realistically expect from AI in the near future—beyond the hype and headlines. * Insights from a clinician working at the intersection of emergency care, academia, and industry on how real change actually happens. Ryan Ribeira, MD, MPH [https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/ryan-ribeira], is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Director of the Stanford Adult Emergency Department, where he helps lead clinical operations and advance acute care delivery. His work spans emergency medicine innovation, medical education, and health systems improvement, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and scalable solutions. He completed his emergency medicine residency and a fellowship in healthcare innovation at Stanford, and earned a Master of Public Health in health policy and management from Harvard University. Matthew Strehlow, MD (host) [https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/matthew-strehlow] is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and serves as Vice Chair for Innovation and Clinical Improvement. His work focuses on improving patient care through system redesign, global health initiatives, and advancing emergency medicine education. Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu [https://emed.stanford.edu] Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED

Becoming an EM Physician-Researcher: What You Should Know

What does it take to build a research career in emergency medicine amid rapid innovation and persistent funding challenges? In this episode, Dr. Chris Bennett shares his journey as a clinician–scientist and offers insight into navigating the EM research pipeline, interdisciplinary collaboration, and translating discovery into patient impact. Key topics * Navigating the emergency medicine research pipeline as a trainee or early-career faculty * Funding challenges, grant timelines, and evolving federal guidance * Finding meaningful research questions and working across disciplines * Turning research and innovation into real-world improvements in care   ABOUT OUR GUEST AND HOST Dr. Chris Bennett [https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/233953]is a board-certified emergency physician and NIH-funded researcher at Stanford University who bridges clinical practice with health innovation as faculty in the Department of Emergency Medicine, with affiliations across the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, the Center for AI in Medicine & Imaging, and the Center for Digital Health. His work focuses on data-informed precision medicine to improve patient outcomes and inform policy, and is informed by training at Duke, Harvard, and Stanford as well as national leadership roles with the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. Learn more about The Bennett Lab. [https://med.stanford.edu/bennettlab.html]   Dr. Matthew Strehlow [https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/matthew-strehlow] is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and serves as Vice Chair for Innovation and Clinical Improvement. His work focuses on improving patient care through system redesign, global health initiatives, and advancing emergency medicine education.   Learn more about our programs → emed.stanford.edu [https://emed.stanford.edu] Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook: @StanfordEMED