Spoken Word at the 2019 EMRA 20 in 6 Lecture Competition

This is my presentation at EMRA’s 20-in-6 Residency Lecture Competition at the ACEP Conference in Denver, CO in October, 2019. It had been my New Year’s resolution to perform a spoken word piece, and when I was offered the opportunity to present, I decided to do something creative. Special thanks to EMRA, Dr. Scott Johnson,…

The Guide to Strategic Procrastination

I have an assignment due, but I really don’t feel like doing it. I still have time. That’s okay. I work better under pressure. Besides, I am more creative if I have a deadline. How am I going to get this done in one night? Why do I always wait until the last minute? If…

Nature is More Creative than You

In a 2013 publication of the journal Science, researchers reported the discovery of functioning gears in an insect known as a “planthopper.” These gears are located in the hindlegs of the insect and consist of interlocking teeth that help the planthopper synchronize its movements. The gears rotate to allow the legs to move in concert…

Design Thinking for Healthcare

In the past twenty years, the term “design thinking” has entered mainstream and business lexicon to describe a methodology for generating innovative solutions. The renowned design firm, IDEO, popularized and marketed the idea as a cross-disciplinary tool to help individuals and organizations identify challenges and develop novel solutions. It has been used in a variety…

Ira Glass on Storytelling

Listening to Ira Glass, the host of the popular podcast This American Life, two weekends ago at BAM offered important insight on what it means to be an artist, a storyteller, and a podcaster. In front of a packed house, Glass told stories about important lessons learned from his life in media, while simultaneously mixing…