Within Normal Limits: Navigating Medical Risks

In this episode, we talk with Copic Patient Safety and Risk Manager Kayla Boyd about patient safety huddles and how these brief, structured meetings can help care teams identify risks before they lead to adverse events. The conversation covers what effective huddles look like, including how to keep them focused, timely, multidisciplinary, and action oriented. Kayla also discusses the evidence behind huddles, common barriers to implementation, and why leadership support, rotating facilitation, and follow-through are key to making them meaningful. Plus, you’ll hear practical examples of what teams can discuss during a huddle from high-risk patients and staffing concerns to equipment issues, near misses, and opportunities to celebrate “great catches.”

Is a patient’s concern being overlooked, or is it simply a case of diagnostic uncertainty? In this episode of Within Normal Limits, Dr. Eric Zacharias is joined by Dr. Susan Sgambati, Senior Risk Manager at Copic, to explore the growing concern of medical gaslighting and its impact on patient safety, trust, and outcomes. The conversation examines how clinicians can unintentionally dismiss or minimize a patient's symptoms through cognitive biases, diagnostic shortcuts, communication missteps, and systemic pressures. Dr. Sgambati explains why medical gaslighting is often not intentional, identifies patient populations most vulnerable to experiencing it, and shares practical strategies for recognizing and addressing these behaviors in clinical practice.

In this episode, we talk with ophthalmologist Dr. Jennifer Grin about a practical, high-yield approach to evaluating eye complaints, documenting findings, and knowing when to urgently refer. The conversation covers a breakdown of an “easy eye exam” any clinician can do from starting with visual acuity as the eye’s vital sign to realistic expectations for the fundus exam. Dr. Grin reviews warning signs such as sudden vision loss, abnormal pupils, flashes/floaters with a curtain (retinal detachment), and concerning trauma. She also highlights common pitfalls like mislabeling serious diseases like conjunctivitis, missing open globe injuries, and prescribing topical steroids or anesthetics without a clear diagnosis.

This episode features Brian Dwinnell, Associate Dean of Student Life at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who shares his insights on medical school admissions, student support, and curriculum changes. The discussion touches on the competitive application process, the school’s holistic review philosophy, and how the new systems-based curriculum known as “Trek” is designed to better prepare and support students. The episode also covers trends in residency matching and dispels common myths about medical school, ending with an optimistic outlook on the next generation of physicians.

In this episode, we welcome Catrina Bubier, MD, an OB/GYN physician and member of Copic’s Board of Directors. Dr. Bubier details her experience with a serious hand injury that temporarily sidelined her from surgical practice. She shares how the injury and subsequent surgeries impacted her ability to work, her relationships with practice partners, and her finances. Dr. Bubier discusses the importance of disability insurance, the emotional challenges of facing a potential end to her career, and the value of planning ahead for unexpected life events. The episode also touches on her advocacy work with ACOG and offers practical advice for physicians on preparing for disability, understanding employment contracts, and building financial resilience.