Linda Costanzo—On How She Found Physiology, Building A Conceptual Bag of Tricks, & Learning Under Medical School Pressures [#44]

I first read Dr. Costanzo’s textbook during my 3rd year of University when I was still deciding whether or not to enter medicine. Her textbook me fall in love with physiology. In today’s conversation, I chat with her about how she got into physiology, her process for cultivating her lessons and explanations, and what medical students miss out on when they get lost in the hustle of med school requirements instead of enjoying the material they learn.

Show Notes:

[0:15] Introduction

[1:15] How did Dr. Costanzo get into physiology?

[9:15] The art of teaching physiology in med school [recognizing novel constraints, knowing your non-negotiables, and telling a good story]

[14:15] How Dr. Costanzo wrestles with the tension between adapting to the times and holding on to her own unique style as an instructor

[21:45] The value of riddles in medical education

[25:15] What might be lost when teaching physiology without exploring the empirical justification

[30:15] Comparing and contrasting real-life learning to med school learning

[36:15] The importance of returning to what you have previously learned to deepen your knowledge

[40:15] A “Gap-seeking” mindset for basic science education and clinical reasoning

[42:15] Why “preload” and “afterload” befuddle students in medical school

[46:15] The importance of grabbing from your “physiology bag of tricks”

[56:15] Any advice for people who want to teach or learn more physiology better?

[1:03:15] The tension between the joy of learning medicine and the practical realities of learning medicine