Critical Chats

Episode 8-Life of a Trauma Surgeon with Dr. Iannamorelli

As a level 1 trauma center we are lucky enough to have some of the best trauma surgeons taking care of our population here in Worcester. Today we chat with Dr. Michael Iannamorelli - he works on the front lines of emergency and trauma care, treating patients on what is often the worst day of their lives. His work goes far beyond the operating room—it requires calm under pressure, teamwork across disciplines, and a deep commitment to patient care when the stakes couldn’t be higher.In this episode, we talk about what it’s really like to be a trauma surgeon, what Dr. Iannamorelli does outside of work, and we have a special segment on something that is becoming increasingly common - rib plating.

Episode 7-ECMO with Dr. Jared Mickelson

We are very excited to introduce Dr. Jared Mickelson, a critical care pulmonologist whose work lives at the intersection of innovation, advocacy, and lifesaving medicine. As an active member of the hospital’s ECMO committee, he is advocating for advanced cardiopulmonary support here at UMass — pushing beyond the status quo to expand what’s possible for patients with severe respiratory failure. This episode has everything from clinical pearls to behind the scenes insight into what it takes to run ECMO.

Episode 6 - Lessons from a Lifetime in Critical Care

In the final episode of 2025, Katie and Sheila sit down with a very special guest, Carolann Monopoli - a recently retired critical care nurse practitioner. She reflects on a career spent at the bedside during the most intense and meaningful moments of patient care.From early days as a bedside nurse in critical care to the challenges of advanced practice, Carol shares honest stories about life in the ICU, the emotional highs and lows of caring for the sickest patients, and how the role of the nurse practitioner has evolved over the years. We talk about burnout, resilience, mentorship, and the moments that made it all worth it—along with what retirement really feels like after decades in healthcare.Whether you’re a bedside nurse, NP, PA, student, or someone curious about life behind the scenes in critical care, this conversation offers wisdom, perspective, and a few laughs along the way.

Episode 5- From the Ice to the ICU with Dr. Lindsey Bazzone, MD, PhD

Dr. Bazzone - from the rink to the ICU! In episode 5 we explore Dr. Bazzone as a D1 hockey player and powerhouse in the ICU and in the lab. Her career both pursuing clinical medicine and research is impressive and we delve into how hockey has shaped her practice as a MICU intensivist. We explore everything from bias and equity as a female in hockey to how she tackles, sometimes literally, the ever growing issue of burnout.Catch us on spotify, apple podcasts, amazon music, castbox, and anywhere you enjoy listening to podcasts!

Episode 4-AACN & Leadership with Dawn Carpenter

In the fourth episode of Critical Chats we are joined by guest host, Johnny Isenberger, DNP, ACNP-BC, CCRN who speaks with Dawn Carpenter, DNP, ACNP-BC, CCRN, FAANP about what the AACN has to offer and how to pursue leadership at your institution. Dawn is a nurse practitioner at Guthrie Clinic in Sayre, Pennsylvania, and an associate professor at the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing. As the author of several books and publications, Dawn has established herself as a distinguished advocate for nurses and advanced practice providers in critical care and is here to share her wealth of knowledge with us!