Doctors encounter death early and often during medical training placing them at high risk for burnout. The isolation of the pandemic has only exacerbated this condition. Thanks to the support of the UCSF Community Wellbeing Grant, Dying To Talk®: UCSF Heart Sounds is a new podcast dedicated to promoting wellbeing and community through conversations about the universally experienced moment in medical training: the first patient death as a doctor.
UCSF Heart Sounds is a production of Dying To Talk and is sponsored by the UCSF Health and Wellbeing grant. Each episode creates a space for doctors to reflect on the universal moment in medical training: the first patient death.
Latest Episodes
Episode 5
While a crystal ball is not part of his medical toolkit, neurologist Dr. Michael Trainer still finds ways to make sure the future aligns with his patients’ values. Join Dr. Trainer and host, Dr. Dawn Gross, as they reflect on their patients’ individual needs, and more importantly, how they have walked with them as they navigate complex healthcare systems.
Complete the Episode 5 Survey to enter a raffle for a $50 gift card to Rize Up or Wholesome Bakery!
Dr. Michael Trainer and Percy after recording UCSF Heart Sounds for Dying To Talk on April 26, 2023. Photo by Dawn Gross
Dr. Melinda Schneider with Percy after recording UCSF Heart Sounds for Dying To Talk on May 5, 2023. Photo by Joanna Lin
Episode 4
Given death does not come with do-overs, pediatric neurologist, Dr. Melinda Schneider, wonders what questions can we ask before a person dies to make sure their wishes are known? And what conversations are even possible when no one speaks the same language?
Join Dr. Schneider in conversation with host, Dr. Dawn Gross, as she reflects on her experiences navigating the predictable yet unmarked terrains of grief.
UCSF Heart Sounds is a production of Dying To Talk and is sponsored by the UCSF Health and Wellbeing Grant. Each episode creates a space for doctors to reflect on the rarely discussed though universally experienced moment in medical training: the first patient death.
Complete the Episode 4 Survey to enter a raffle for a $50 gift card to Rize Up or Wholesome Bakery!
Dr. Lauren Phinney with Percy after recording UCSF Heart Sounds for Dying To Talk on March 31, 2023. Photo by Dawn Gross
Episode 3
Learning to recognize when death is approaching all too often feels like a "deer in the headlights" moment. Once realized, the urgency to bring loved ones close becomes paramount. So what happens when being together becomes impossible because of a pandemic?
In this episode, Dr. Lauren Phinney and host Dr. Dawn Gross recall the difficult experiences of caring for people approaching the end of their life in the hospital while loved ones were banned from being at the bedside. Listen now to hear how the cadence of hospitals influences medical training and how mentors reset the rhythm to create space for others.
Complete the Episode 3 Survey to enter a raffle for a $50 gift card to Rize Up or Wholesome Bakery!
Dr. Sergio Torres with Percy after recording UCSF Heart Sounds for Dying To Talk March 15, 2023. Photo by Dawn Gross
Episode 2
Every second counts, especially when you are a physician standing in the way of death, so what should you do? Dr. Sergio Torres, a UCSF hospitalist caring for many patients and their loved ones, says that sometimes the minutes are better spent not just doing something, but being there.
Join Dr. Torres and host Dr. Dawn Gross in this episode of Dying to Talk: UCSF Heart Sound as they discuss the mentors and experiences that have helped develop practices in their end-of-life care to better support families seeing their loved ones go as they wish.
Complete the Episode 2 Survey to enter a raffle for a $50 gift card to Rize Up or Wholesome Bakery!
Episode 1
Dr. Laura Deering with Percy after recording UCSF Heart Sounds for Dying To Talk on March 30, 2o23. Photo by Dawn Gross.
Grief is an injury. While it might not be as apparent as a broken arm, grief requires the same care, attention, and treatment. As a pediatric neurologist caring for the minds of both kids and adults, Dr. Laura Deering is no stranger to the waves of grief - foreboding tides that are often unspoken after leaving the patient room.
In this episode of Dying to Talk: UCSF Heart Sounds, Dr. Deering and host Dr. Dawn Gross discuss the nuances of supporting families losing their loved ones, creating space for others navigating grief, and sparking conversations around grief with other doctors.
Complete the Episode 1 Survey to enter a raffle for a $50 gift card to Rize Up or Wholesome Bakery!
Huggle: a listening community…
that feels like a group hug.
Join the Dying to Talk® Slack, where you can continue the conversation with others in a huggle.
Interested in more nourishment?
Complete anonymous feedback surveys for each episode, linked here and on Slack, to enter a random drawing for gift cards to Rize Up Bakery and Wholesome Bakery in SF. Complete all episode surveys to enter the final drawing!
Dying to Talk, KALW Radio Series
Episodes
Actor, producer Justin Baldoni. Photo courtesy of the artist.
“You Don't Have To Be Dying To Learn How To Live”
Originally aired Sunday, October 2, 2016. To listen, click here.
When death approaches, an extraordinary thing happens: we become fully present to life. In the new CW documentary series, My Last Days, actor and filmmaker, Justin Baldoni, captures this inexplicable irony in every story. Join this intimate conversation with Justin and discover how being close to death can inspire us to be fully alive.
Author and speaker Sarah Ladipo Manyika. Photo courtesy of the artist.
"Death and Multiculturism"
Originally aired Sunday, October 23, 2016. To listen, click here.
When we talk about how we want to die, what we are really talking about is what matters most in life. This universal conversation takes on countless nuances when approached from different cultural perspectives. Discover how author and professor, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, weaves her own multicultural upbringing into her writing and how this influences how she thinks about living and dying in America.
My son, Josh Gross in the studio discussing what matters most to him. Photo by Carlos Graña.
"What do you wish?"
Originally aired April 14, 2016. To listen, click here.
“If I had a magic wand, what would you wish for?” April 16th is Advanced Care Planning Day - an opportunity to have a conversation with loved ones about what matters most in life, and how we want to face death. Listeners share their successes, challenges and fears in having Advanced Care Planning conversations and learn about tools that make these often daunting conversations more approachable.
Cloud Cult with Dr. Dawn and her son, Josh.
"Cloud Cult Live in Concert & Conversation"
Originally aired on WNYC November 1, 2018 and re-broadcast November 14, 2021.
This intimate concert with the indie-rock band, Cloud Cult, was held in WNYC’s The Greene Space. Part of the Reimagine festival in New York City, the evening was an opportunity to explore life, death and how grief brings meaning to our lives. This soulful conversation with band leader, Craig Minowa, expanded to include reflections from each band member as well as endearing questions from the audience.
In the studio with Awtar Kaur Khalsa.
"Caregivers"
Originally aired March 10, 2016. To listen, click here. Feeling lost, overwhelmed, and invisible -- these are just some of the challenging emotions nearly all caregivers encounter. Join a conversation with guest, Awtar Kaur Khalsa, a mother, daughter and granddaughter intimately familiar with the struggles of caring for a dying loved one and discover how, even as we face great loss, something magical becomes possible.
"Until Death, It Is All Life"
(The episode that started it all)
Dr. Jeffrey Mandell. Photo courtesy of my guest.
Originally aired on January 14, 2016. To listen, click here.
On the first episode: “Until Death It Is All Life.” Knowing that we are mortal is different than knowing that we will die. Explore the opportunities that arise for ourselves and those we love when we face death head on with a healthcare advocate at our side. Dr. Dawn Gross and her guest, Dr. Jeffrey Mandell, share, listen and learn from program participants about what matters most in life as we face death head-on with a healthcare advocate at our side.