peerspectrum Medicine, Podcast

Space Medicine, EVAs, ISS and The Right Stuff: NASA Astronaut and Physician, Dr. Michael Barratt

michael barratt- nasa- peerspectrum.com

Name: Michael Barratt, MD

Specialty: Internal Medicine & NASA Astronaut

Location: Johnson Space Center: Houston, TX

The opening you just heard was the actual footage of STS- 133, the final launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery, and the second to last launch of the US space shuttle program. One of the astronauts aboard that day was Dr. Michael Barratt: A career astronaut, a physician by training and today’s guest on the podcast.

I can’t even begin to tell you how excited we were to do this interview. NASA gets literally thousands of requests every year for astronaut interviews, speaking engagements and visits. They can only accept so many. Thanks to the growing popularity of our podcast, and to all of you who are listening, we’re now getting more opportunities like this to speak with some really unique and incredible people. Put yourself in our shoes for a minute. Michael Barratt someone who’s been to space twice, lived on the International Space Station for 200 hundred days, conducted two space walks (EVA’s), he’s one of the world’s experts in space and aviation medicine, and we got to sit down with him for over an hour and ask him anything we wanted. It was a rare and unforgettable privilege and we want to thank all of you out there for making it possible.

With that said, let’s get started…

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peerspectrum Medicine, Podcast

Emergency Medicine at 30,000 Feet: Dr. Paulo Alves, Global Medical Director for Medaire.

peerspectrum paulo alves- medaire

Name: Paulo M. Alves, M.D., MSc, FAsMA

Location: Phoenix, AZ.

Specialty: Cardiologist & Global Medical Director for Medaire/ International SOS

If you fly often, it’s only a matter of time before you hear those not so welcome words over the intercom: “Is there a doctor or medical professional aboard?”

So, do you hit your flight attendant button, or wait for someone else to do it first?

When you’re stuck at 30,000 feet, options are limited. You might even feel a little like our past guest, Dr. Gavin Francis, serving as the only doctor available in a remote Antarctic research base.

So what are your options? Who can you call for assistance? Is there medical equipment available? What are your legal risks and ethical responsibilities? How often does this stuff actually happen?

Today we’re going behind the scenes with Dr. Paulo Alves, global medical director for Medaire, a company contracted with most the world’s commercial airlines to provide real-time medical assistance from their emergency command center in Phoenix, Arizona. If that’s not exciting enough, they also specialize in emergency medical evacuations, crew training, and medical and security preparations for private jets, yachts and even cruise ships.

It’s a fascinating world many of us know very little about. With that said let’s get started…

Continue reading “Emergency Medicine at 30,000 Feet: Dr. Paulo Alves, Global Medical Director for Medaire.” →