This COVID Life

I was exposed to COVID-19. Twice.

In this episode, we meet Lakshmi Sridharan, an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist at Emory University in Atlanta. Lakshmi moved to Atlanta less than a year ago and was adjusting to life in a new city and her role within the academic healthcare institution when COVID-19 hit. She reflects on how she's had to adapt her practice of medicine given the spread of the novel coronavirus, including PPE training (and what happens when there isn't enough to go around). She recounts the experience of doing close physical exams with patients who'd tested negative for COVID-19, but ended up developing symptoms from the virus. 

"I woke up with a little bit of a cough."

After two exposures while examining COVID-19 patients, Lakshmi found herself sitting in an office with an infectious disease specialist.  After describing the process for COVID-19 testing, she discusses the emotional effect of her work on her parents. For more, visit the podcast website. 

When COVID-19 is a family affair.

The coronavirus pandemic is having a major effect on family dynamics. The episode kicks off with Dr. Lakshmi Sridharan relating the experience of treating a patient whose whole family was diagnosed with COVID-19. She also discusses her adjustment to doing virtual consultations. Later in the episode, things get even more personal and the co-hosts share how social distancing is affecting their own family lives. 

We're losing money.

In this episode, the co-hosts discuss the changing economic landscape resulting from efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus. Lakshmi opens with the story of a patient who has to make difficult choices due to economic challenges. Jaclyn shares how the pandemic is affecting the broader podcast industry and specifically her business.

Appointing a designated survivor

This episode explores leadership during the coronavirus pandemic. Lakshmi describes her health system's preparedness approach, which includes the appointment of "designated survivors."  Leadership at the local, national, and global level are discussed, and Lakshmi and Jacci trade ideas on the role of media in fueling or fighting the spread of COVID-19. The discussion meanders to a happy topic for females everywhere: Chris Cuomo.