Welcome to the Crash Cart Campfire

A collection of stories and musings about medicine, the outdoors, family and faith.

Welcome to the campfire! I’m so glad you’re here.

Campfires are where we gather to rest and relax, to warm our hands and our hearts.  They are places we tell our stories and connect with each other.  Crash Cart Campfire, I hope, is no different.

Since graduating medical school in 2008, I have had the privilege of practicing medicine in two wonderful and wildly different fields.  I practiced emergency medicine for years before recently turning to a training program in hospice and palliative medicine.

My goals of care have shifted wildly as I have switched from being a first responder to a last responder. In the ER, a crash cart is our most important tool, full of the resuscitation supplies we need as we work to keep our patients alive. 

In palliative medicine, we often push the crash cart aside. We work with a different set of tools as our patients’ goals shift from prolonging life at all costs to improving its quality in the face of serious illness. Each approach has incredible value, and it’s a privilege to have gained the perspective that comes from walking alongside my patients in every stage of care.

In both fields I have been blown away by the amazing humans I have met.  Whether patients or colleagues, they have surprised and challenged me, inspired me to see the world in a new way.  They have reminded me that there is a lot more going on than just what we can see, a lot more than just the facts of a case.

Medicine can be hard, and we all need outlets to help us cope with burnout, loss, and feelings of failure. Throughout my career as a physician, I have eagerly sought outdoor adventures to keep me balanced. The wilderness always helps, but I’ve discovered there’s more to wellness than just wandering in the woods.

In the past year or so I have tried writing some stories and reflections to capture that sense of wonder I often experience in medicine.  I have also tried writing about the solace and healing I have found in friends and family, in my faith, and in the great outdoors.  These are the sorts of stories and musings I hope to share on this free Substack feed. Drop me a line and let me know what you think.

It’s a wild world out there! Come in from the cold, pull up a chair, and join us at the Crash Cart Campfire.