In the Heart of Care
Voices from the frontlines of resuscitation and healthcare
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How do high-performing healthcare teams prepare for the most critical moments in care?
In the Heart of Care—presented by RQI Partners—is a podcast for frontline healthcare professionals, nurse educators, and clinical leaders committed to resuscitation training, improving patient outcomes, and building a culture of continuous readiness.
Hosted by Dr. Ash Panchal, emergency physician, educator, and national expert in resuscitation science— each episode explores the systems, strategies, and mindset shifts that help healthcare teams perform under pressure. From high-stakes code events to everyday training challenges, guests share real stories and practical tools to strengthen clinical performance, communication, and team confidence.
This podcast goes beyond theory to spotlight what true preparedness looks like in real-world care environments, because in healthcare, readiness isn’t optional. It’s a shared responsibility and a path to better outcomes for every patient, every time.
Meet Our Host
Ashish “Ash” Panchal, MD, PhD
Ash Panchal, MD, PHD is a professor of Emergency Medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Dr. Panchal is board certified clinician in Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services who is passionate about improving patient outcomes in the unstable prehospital environment. He focuses his work on resuscitation, airway management and evidence-based guideline development.
On a national level, Dr. Panchal is the Chair of the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care (AHA/ECC) Committee and Research and Fellowship Director for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, the certifying body of all EMS in the United States.
at The Ohio State University
Wexner Medical Center
EPISODE 8 | How Nurses Can Change the Narrative on Opioid Addiction
The opioid epidemic has a complex history shaped by medical overreach, shifting political priorities, and evolving public attitudes toward addiction and recovery. In this episode of In the Heart of Care, voices like Michelle Whitaker, Nurse Manager at SPOT, a drop-in center for people with substance use disorder at Boston Health Care for the Homeless, and Dr. Derrick Glymph, educator and Assistant Director of the DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program at Duke University, guide listeners through the quiet policy debates and cultural tensions that influenced how harm reduction and treatment were understood—and often resisted. This episode examines the deeper intersections of stigma, care, and power at the height of a national crisis.
Derrick Glymph, PhD, DNAP, CRNA, CHSE, CNE, COL., USAR, FIAAN, FAANA, FAAN
Assistant Director of the DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program & Clinical Education Coordinator at Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON), Associate Clinical Professor
Discover How Dr. Glymph is Reimagining Health Equity Education at Duke University
Explore Dr. Glymph's Research on Mobilizing Nurses to Address the Opioid Misuse Epidemic
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Michelle Whitaker
Nurse Manager of SPOT, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
Read More on the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
Learn More about Michelle's Fellowship with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health
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Resuscitating a child is not the same as resuscitating an adult. Pediatric-CPR requires different techniques, considerations, and often, an even greater sense of urgency. Dr. Sylvia Owusu-Ansah shares how disparities in cardiac care influence how a child’s survival outcome. Blythe Pollack, a Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, brings her frontline experience to the conversation, discussing the life-saving role of ECMO and the fight to keep children alive long enough to breathe on their own. Designed with nurse educators and healthcare advocates in mind, this episode offers practical tools, real-world context, and inspiring strategies to help drive equity in pediatric care.
Sylvia Owusu-Ansah MD, MPH, FAAP
Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine
Learn More Dr. Owusu-Ansah's Role as Consultant for HBO's The Pitt
Explore Dr. Owusu-Ansah's Research on Disparities in Pediatric Asthma Care
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Blythe E Pollack
Clinical Faculty, PCCM NP
Read More on the Pediatric Critical Care Program at Michigan Medicine
Discover Blythe's 2023 Study on Hospital ECMO Capabilities
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When every second counts, preparation isn't optional, it's lifesaving, especially for newborns. In this episode of In the Heart of Care, we explore the critical "firsts" that define neonatal resuscitation. Mariah Snyder, a neonate nurse, shares her experience responding to a high-stakes neonatal code, illustrating how preparation, steady teamwork, and hands-on training can make all the difference in critical moments. Her story reflects the power of clinical readiness when seconds matter most. Chris Cooper, a neonatal nurse practitioner and educator, and Dr. Nathan Sundgren, a neonatologist specializing in advanced neonatal care and simulation-based training, break down the evolution of neonatal resuscitation guidelines.
Christine M. Cooper, ARNP, NNP, DNP, MBA
Discover Dr. Cooper's 2024 Study on NICU Telerounding
Learn More about the AAP's Neonatal Resuscitation Program
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Nathan C. Sundgren, M.D., Ph.D.
Read Dr. Sundgren's 2021 Study on Neonatal Simulation
Explore Dr. Sundgren's Simulation YouTube Channel
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When emergencies strike in the most remote corners of the country, healthcare teams rely on quick thinking, mobile training, and airborne response to bridge the critical gap. Chris Martin, director of simulation-based training at Washington State University, highlights how mobile simulation training is making a huge impact on rural healthcare and shares actionable strategies for healthcare workers. Marcy Dawson, a flight nurse in North Dakota, reflects on her career responding to rural emergencies, highlighting how preparedness and resourcefulness can mean the difference between life and death. From improving bystander CPR response to navigating geographic isolation, this episode of In the Heart of Care offers practical tools to help teams deliver effective care. No matter how remote the environment.
Chris Martin
Director of simulation-based training
Learn More on WSU's Virtual Clinical Center
Explore the 2020 Study of Urban-Rural Differences in Cardiovascular Mortalityat Washington State University |
Marcy Dawson RN
Paramedic, Outreach resource
View Marcy's 2025 Retirement Feature
Watch the Full Feature of CPRspecialist Sanford AirMed Availability in the Dakotas |
Women are less likely than men to receive lifesaving care during a cardiac arrest, a disparity that can mean the difference between life and death. Understanding why this gap exists is the first step toward changing it—and ensuring everyone gets the help they need, when they need it most. In this episode of In the Heart of Care, Heather Baker shares the story of her sudden cardiac arrest: an ordinary workday that turned into a fight for her life. We also hear from Dr. Audrey Blewer, a resuscitation scientist and associate professor at Duke University, whose research sheds light on why women are less likely to receive CPR and what can be done to close that gap.
Dr. Audrey Blewer
Resuscitation Scientist and
Discover Audrey's 2024Associate Professor at Duke University Gender Disparities Study Learn More on Duke Family Medicine and Community Health |
Dr. Heather Baker
Principal, Dorothy Simon Elementary School
Explore Heather's 2025 Go Red/ Adjunct Professor, Aurora University for Women Survivor Profile Learn More on Heather's Advocacy Work |
Climbing the corporate ladder can be challenging in any healthcare career, but especially in a hospital setting. It takes deep experience, humility, and perseverance to lead high-performing teams, where the stakes are highest. Today we explore, how nurses in particular, can take advantage of continuous learning to take their careers to the next level. Certified global nurse consultant, Amanda Slagle, shares practical advice for nurses ready to grow into leadership. Chief Nursing Officer Trinity Health Muskegon, Linda Dunmore, reflects on her journey from bedside nurse to chief nursing officer.
 Amanda Slagle, MD, FACP
Certified Global Nurse Consultant |
 Linda Dunmore, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CHPQ
Chief Nursing Officer |
Burnout in healthcare is no longer an individual issue. It’s a systemic challenge affecting the well-being, engagement, and sustainability of our workforce. Today, we explore how healthcare organizations can lead the way in shifting from burnout to balance through structured, evidence-based support.
Dr. Kristen Jacob, director of BeWellMED at Corewell Health, shares innovative approaches to fostering emotional resilience, promoting work-life integration, and embedding self-care into the fabric of clinical culture.
Rapid response nurse and podcast host Sarah Lorenzini brings a frontline perspective, sharing her lived experience of burnout and recovery—and how talking about burnout and checking in with colleagues made all the difference. Join us as we examine how healthcare leaders and workers can drive a culture of well-being through policy, practice, and intention.
 Kristin Jacob, MD, FACP
Medical Director of Physician and APP Well-Being, Corewell Health |
 Sarah Lorenzini MSN, RN
Rapid Response Nurse and Host of the Rapid Response RN Podcast |
What if you could get high grade hospital-level care in the comfort of your home? In this premiere episode of In the Heart of Care, we explore how healthcare innovators are disrupting the status quo of hospital care.
Dr. David Levine, the clinical director of research and development for Mass General Brigham Healthcare at Home, is leading efforts to prove that hospital-level care can be delivered safely and effectively inside a patient’s home.
Juan Hernandez, senior nursing director at the University of Utah Health, shares how home hospital programs are reshaping recovery, building on lessons from COVID to deliver better outcomes, and keep patients where they heal best—at home.
David Levine, MD, MPH, MA
Clinical Director of Research and Development,
Discover Dr. Levine’s 2018 Pilot Study
Mass General Brigham Healthcare at HomeMass General Brigham Healthcare at Home 
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Juan Hernandez, MSN, RN
Sr. Nursing Director, Post-Acute Care & GIP Hospice,
Discover Juan’s 2024 Program Report
University of Utah Heal at Home
University of Utah Health
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