211: Blue Collar, Cold Steel

Episode 211 featuring Dr. Michael Collins: Available on iTunes

The free podcast of this episode is available on our iTunes page!

In Episode 211, we were joined by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Collins, author of and Hot Lights, Cold Steel and Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs.

This episode was also Part II of our three-week “Experience of Residency” series that we aired in October, 2009. In Part I (Episode 210), we spoke with Dr. Sandeep Jauhar, author of Intern: A Doctor’s Initiation. The series concludes with Episode 212, featuring renowned author Samuel Shem (The House of God).

In our interview with Dr. Collins in Part II, we discussed his intriguing path to medicine — which included working as a construction worker and cab driver before deciding to go to medical school. Upon graduating and entering residency, Dr. Collins found himself thrown under the hot lights… on the cold steel of the operating room. And of course his intern year is the subject of Hot Lights, Cold Steel.

The humor and emotion of the book definitely came through in our great conversation with Dr. Collins, and we encourage you to listen if you get the chance! We even enjoyed one of the more light-hearted moments on Radio Rounds this season, as Dr. Collins discussed with us his favorite beers.

That’s right — we occasionally talk about things other than medicine on Radio Rounds…