Breath, Pressure & Purpose: A Pulmonary Critical Care Story
In this first Consults and Callings episode, Abby puts Hass in the hot seat to talk about the winding road that led him into pulmonary and critical care medicine. From not matching right away to finding mentors, navigating identity, and working through the chaos of COVID, this episode is honest, funny, and full of perspective for anyone trying to figure out where they belong in healthcare.
Show Notes
Key Takeaways
- A nontraditional path does not mean you do not belong in medicine.
- Mentorship can completely change the trajectory of a career.
- Pulmonary and critical care is a field built on commitment, complexity, and meaningful patient impact.
- COVID placed pulmonary and ICU teams at the center of a once-in-a-generation medical crisis.
- Humor, exercise, music, and time alone can all be powerful ways to decompress from the weight of healthcare work.
Timestamps
0:21 – Introduction to this special Consults and Callings episode with Hass
8:31 – Why he chose pulmonary and critical care instead of surgery
14:30 – Not matching, getting a life-changing call, and finding the right fellowship
18:52 – Identity, belonging, and how fast the years move in medicine
21:52 – Why pulmonary/critical care and what drew him to the ICU
24:19 – His personal and professional experience during COVID
31:26 – How he decompresses outside of work
38:12 – Instagram deep dive: “rogue fellow,” guidelines, and “crank that levo”
42:48 – Trivia game
53:20 – Closing and teaser for a future education episode
Cast & Guests
Abby
DNP, AGAC-NP
Dr. Hass
MD
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