What happens to a donor heart after it leaves the body, and what does it feel like to be the person responsible for getting it to its recipient?

In this episode of Device Girls, Sarah and Haley sit down with Alan O’Donnell, a pediatric heart procurement and congenital heart reconstruction PA, for a look inside a side of organ donation most people will never see.

Alan walks through the heart procurement and transplant process, the race against the clock once a heart is removed, and the responsibility of personally staying with a donor heart until it is implanted and beating again. He also shares the unforgettable case of a donor heart that appeared perfectly healthy, until it beat just a few times after transplant and suddenly stopped.

It’s a conversation about the medicine, pressure, heartbreak, and incredible gift behind pediatric heart transplantation, and the reality that one family’s worst day can become another family’s second chance.

Subscribe to Device Girls for more conversations from inside medicine that go beyond what you see in the hospital.

Don’t forget to subscribe! We drop new episodes every Thursday @3:00pm CST with inspiring stories, expert advice, and real talk designed to elevate women in medicine.

***Views Expressed Are Our Own***

Connect with us:

Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit

#WomenInMedicine #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls

In Part 2 of our conversation with Lindley and Ashley, we’re going even deeper into the realities of organ donation — including the questions most people don’t think to ask until they’re suddenly faced with an impossible decision.

This episode isn’t about convincing you to become an organ donor or telling you not to be one. It’s about understanding the process, knowing your options, and having the conversations with your family before you ever need them.

We talk about the difference between brain death and DCD donation, what being a registered donor can mean for your family’s role in the decision-making process, and why Lindley ultimately chose to unregister herself while still believing strongly in the gift of organ donation.

We also pull back the curtain on what families may experience when life support is withdrawn, what happens in the OR, honor walks, the emotional weight carried by healthcare professionals, and the importance of treating donors and their families with dignity through every step of the process.

Some of these conversations are uncomfortable. That’s exactly why we believe they’re worth having.

Our biggest takeaway? Know what you want. Ask questions. Understand the laws and procedures where you live. And most importantly, talk to the people you love now — because far too many families are forced to make these decisions without ever having had the conversation.

This episode is intended for education and conversation and reflects the experiences and perspectives shared by our guests. Organ donation laws and procedures can vary by state and circumstance.

Don’t forget to subscribe! We drop new episodes every Thursday @3:00pm CST with inspiring stories, expert advice, and real talk designed to elevate women in medicine.

***Views Expressed Are Our Own***

Connect with us:

Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit

#WomenInMedicine #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls

In this episode of The Device Girls, Sarah and Haley sit down with lead organ transplant coordinator Lindley Amsel and honorary Device Girl Ashley Duncan for an unfiltered conversation about the world of organ donation and transplantation.

Lindley has worked on both sides of the process, from organ procurement to coordinating transplants, and she takes us behind the scenes of a system most people will hopefully never have to encounter firsthand.

They break down how organs are matched and allocated, what makes an organ viable, why donor management looks different from the care of a patient expected to recover, and what actually happens between donation and transplantation.

Then they get into the questions people are often afraid to ask: What does being a registered donor actually mean? How much say does your family have? Why does timing matter so much? Who pays for the process? Why can a donated organ still result in enormous transplant costs? And how do you know whether a transplant center is truly advocating for its patients?

Lindley also shares the side of transplant medicine most people never see—the middle-of-the-night calls, patients waiting years for an organ, pediatric donation, compassion fatigue, recipients who turn down offers, directed donation, and some of the wildest donor stories she has encountered throughout her career.

This episode isn’t about convincing you to become—or not become—an organ donor. It’s about education, asking better questions, advocating for yourself and your family, and having difficult conversations before you’re forced to make decisions during one of the hardest moments of your life.

Before you register, make sure you understand what you’re agreeing to—and make sure the people you love know what you want.

Don’t forget to subscribe! We drop new episodes every Thursday @3:00pm CST with inspiring stories, expert advice, and real talk designed to elevate women in medicine.

***Views Expressed Are Our Own***

Connect with us:

Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit

#WomenInMedicine #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls

What happens when you stop playing it safe and decide to bet on yourself?

In this episode of The Device Girls, Sarah and Haley sit down with Dan Payson, CEO and co-founder of All-Stars Surgical Assist, to talk about his journey from the clinical side of healthcare to med device sales, running a neurosurgery practice, and ultimately stepping into entrepreneurship.

Dan shares why leaving a successful, comfortable career became one of the best decisions he ever made—and what he learned about risk, networking, problem-solving, and building a business along the way.

They also dive into a career path many healthcare professionals don't even realize is available: independent surgical first assisting. Dan explains how providers can leverage their experience and licenses to create more flexibility, build their own book of business, and potentially develop an additional—or even primary—source of income.

Dan also breaks down the less glamorous side of going independent: insurance reimbursement, billing, credentialing, navigating different state regulations, and the infrastructure required to actually get paid. All-Stars Surgical Assist was built to handle much of that back-end work so providers can focus on what they do best in the OR. Their current model supports independent surgical first assists with billing, appeals, credentialing support, and predictable payment structures.

This conversation is about more than surgical assisting. It's about recognizing the value of your skill set, building relationships, solving problems, taking calculated risks, and realizing that the traditional career path may not be your only option.

If you've ever considered entrepreneurship, freelancing, stepping outside of a traditional W-2 role, or simply wondered what else you could do with the experience you already have—this episode is for you.

**Connect with Dan & All-Stars Surgical Assist:**

📧 Dan@allstarssurgical.com

🌐 https://allstarssurgical.com

#TheDeviceGirls #MedDevice #MedicalDeviceSales #HealthcareCareers #SurgicalFirstAssist #HealthcareEntrepreneur #MedicalSales #Entrepreneurship #OperatingRoom #HealthcareProfessionals

***Views Expressed Are Our Own***

Connect with us:

Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit

#WomenInMedicine #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls

What did heart surgery look like before modern technology, advanced monitoring, and standardized protocols?

Lee Aldridge spent more than 43 years in perfusion and witnessed the field evolve from the early days of heart-lung machines to the technology used today. In this episode, he joins the Device Girls to share the stories behind that evolution, including equipment adjusted with wrenches, ice used to stop the heart, 61-hour shifts, early ECMO and LVAD technology, and the trial and error that helped shape modern cardiac surgery.

Lee also shares the deeply personal side of his career, including raising a son with congenital heart disease, caring for more than 1,000 pediatric patients, and why he continues teaching the next generation even after retirement.

From the terrifying realities of early cardiac surgery to the innovations that now save lives every day, this conversation is a look at just how far medicine has come and the people who helped get us here.

🎧 Subscribe to Device Girls for more conversations about medical devices, healthcare, and the people behind them.

Follow the Device Girls:

Sarah Kruse: @sarahekruse

Haley Gibson: @haleygibssonfit

In this episode, the Device Girls sit down with Maddy to talk about what happened when she followed God’s call to Africa and stepped into maternity wards where many of the resources we take for granted simply weren’t there.

Maddy shares the reality of serving mothers and babies in low-resource communities, from her very first delivery ending in stillbirth to being handed a baby who wasn’t breathing and realizing no one else was coming to take over. She opens up about the heartbreak she witnessed, the strength of the women she served, and the moments that forced her to rely on God in an entirely new way.

They also talk about the stark differences between healthcare in America and Africa, what gratitude looks like when you have very little, sharing Jesus across cultures, and the moments when Maddy saw prayer and faith meet seemingly impossible circumstances.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that following God doesn’t always mean knowing what comes next. Sometimes it means simply saying yes, showing up, and trusting that He has a purpose for placing you exactly where you are.

Don’t forget to subscribe! We drop new episodes every Thursday @3:00pm CST with inspiring stories, expert advice, and real talk designed to elevate women in medicine.

***Views Expressed Are Our Own***

Connect with us:

Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit

#WomenInMedicine #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls

Millions of women have been told that leaking when they laugh, pain after childbirth, or pelvic discomfort is "just part of life."

What if it isn't?

In this episode of The Device Girls, we sit down with Shaley Goad, owner of Pelvic Shift Physical Therapy, to talk about one of the most overlooked areas of healthcare. From postpartum recovery and pregnancy pain to pelvic floor dysfunction, bladder leaks, chronic constipation, painful intercourse, and even men's pelvic health, Shelli explains why so many people suffer in silence—and why they don't have to.

We discuss:

• The biggest myths about pelvic floor therapy

• Why leaking urine is not a normal part of aging or motherhood

• How pregnancy, childbirth, stress, posture, and even your jaw can affect your pelvic floor

• Pelvic floor therapy for both women and men

• What actually happens during a pelvic floor evaluation

• How these conditions impact relationships, confidence, and everyday life

• Why getting help sooner can dramatically improve your quality of life

Whether you're preparing for pregnancy, recovering postpartum, experiencing symptoms yourself, or simply want to better understand your body, this conversation could change the way you think about pelvic health.

If this episode helped you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear that it's not normal—and they don't have to live with it.

📍 Learn more about Pelvic Shift Physical Therapy:

https://www.thepelvicshift.com

325-667-1607

#TheDeviceGirls #PelvicFloorTherapy #Women'sHealth #PostpartumRecovery #Pregnancy #PhysicalTherapy #PelvicHealth #Motherhood #Healthcare #AbileneTexas

What happens when the healthcare system fails one of its own?

After spending 7 years as an ER nurse, Aly Hayon found herself on the other side of the hospital bed. What followed was a series of events that changed the way she views medicine, patient advocacy, and personal health forever.

In this episode, Aly shares:

• What happened after she began experiencing unexplained seizures

• Why she ultimately walked away from emergency nursing

• Her perspective on burnout, patient advocacy, and the current healthcare system

• The lifestyle changes she says transformed her health

• Why she believes prevention deserves a bigger role in healthcare

Whether you agree with every perspective shared or not, this conversation challenges us to ask important questions about patient care, provider burnout, and what it means to truly pursue health.

We'd love to hear your thoughts:

⬇️ What do you think is the biggest challenge facing healthcare today?

🎧 Watch the full conversation now.

#TheDeviceGirls #Healthcare #Nursing #ERNurse #PatientAdvocacy #HealthPodcast #FunctionalMedicine #HealthcareWorkers #MedicalPodcast #Wellness #Prevention #HealthcareReform

***Views Expressed Are Our Own***

Connect with us:

Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit

In this episode of The DEVICE Girls, we sit down with Camryn Silverton, a Physician Assistant working in one of the nation's busiest emergency departments, to uncover what life inside the ER is *really* like.

From believing her medical career was over after fainting during her first clinical experience to now treating patients in a Level I Trauma Center, Camryn shares the journey that reshaped her confidence, her purpose, and her definition of success.

Together, we discuss:

* Camryn's path to becoming an Emergency Medicine PA

* The moment she thought she'd never work in medicine again

* What actually happens behind the scenes in a busy emergency room

* Why ER wait times are longer than most people realize

* The healthcare system challenges providers face every day

* Insurance, overcrowding, and the hidden factors impacting patient care

* The emotional weight healthcare providers carry after every shift

* Why communication and compassion matter just as much as clinical skill

This conversation offers an honest look at emergency medicine from someone living it every day. Whether you're a healthcare professional, considering a career in medicine, or simply want to better understand what happens after walking through the ER doors, this episode provides valuable insight into the realities of patient care.

If this episode impacted you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation.

#TheDEVICEGirls #EmergencyMedicine #PhysicianAssistant #Healthcare #ER #EmergencyRoom #HealthcareWorkers #PatientAdvocacy #Medicine #MedicalPodcast

***Views Expressed Are Our Own***

Connect with us:

Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit

⚾ From the New York Yankees to the Operating Room.

In this episode of The Device Girls, Sarah and Haley sit down with Ty Hensley, former professional baseball player, spine specialist, and owner of First Round Medical. After spending 10 years in professional baseball and enduring multiple surgeries himself, Ty found a new purpose in medical devices—eventually moving to Dallas without a playbook, without connections, and building a distributorship from the ground up.

Ty shares the realities of transitioning out of professional sports, the identity challenges many athletes face after retirement, and the lessons baseball taught him about failure, resilience, leadership, and business. We also dive into the world of spine distribution, building relationships in medical sales, earning trust in the operating room, and what it takes to grow a successful business in one of the most competitive specialties in healthcare.

In this episode, we discuss:

⚾ Life after professional baseball

🏥 Transitioning from athlete to entrepreneur

🦴 Building a spine distributorship from scratch

📈 Growing a business with no playbook

🤝 The power of relationships in medical sales

💡 Lessons learned in the operating room

🎯 Leadership, coaching, and building a team

📚 Advice for new medical device representatives

❤️ Why patient care always comes first

Connect with Ty Hensley:

📍 First Round Medical

Connect with The Device Girls:

📸 Sarah Kruse: @sarahekruse

📸 Haley Gibson: @haleygibssonfit

📸 The Device Girls: @thedevicegirls

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Device Girls is a podcast dedicated to humanizing healthcare by sharing the stories of the people working behind the scenes in medicine. From medical device sales and healthcare leadership to patient care and personal growth, we bring you conversations that educate, inspire, and connect.

#TheDeviceGirls #MedicalDeviceSales #SpineSales #MedicalSales #HealthcareCareers #MedicalDeviceRep #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #SpineSurgery #PatientCare

In this powerful episode of The DEVICE Girls, we sit down with Cindy Jenkins—a mother turned advocate after the tragic loss of her daughter, Taylor.

What began as a devastating car accident quickly became something far more complicated. Cindy shares the heartbreaking story of Taylor’s final days, the questions that followed, and the discoveries that led her down a path of investigation, advocacy, and legislative action.

Together, we discuss:

• Taylor’s life, legacy, and the future she was building

• The events surrounding her hospitalization and care

• Florida’s controversial "Free Kill" law

• Why thousands of families say they have been denied accountability

• The role of healthcare policy, legislation, and medical malpractice laws

• How one mother's grief became a movement for change

This conversation tackles difficult topics including patient advocacy, healthcare accountability, medical negligence, and the legislative battles shaping the future of healthcare in America.

No matter where you stand on the issues discussed, Cindy’s story is one that challenges us to ask difficult questions about accountability, transparency, and the value of every life.

⚠️ Viewer discretion advised: This episode contains discussions of traumatic injury, death, and medical malpractice.

Follow Cindy's work:

Healthcare Accountability Initiative

If this episode impacted you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear this story.

#TheDEVICEGirls #HealthcareAccountability #MedicalMalpractice #PatientAdvocacy #FloridaFreeKill #HealthcareReform #MedicalEthics #HealthcarePolicy #Podcast #PatientSafety

***Views Expressed Are Our Own***

Connect with us:

Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit

Joining us is **Kim Peters, Nurse Practitioner and founder of Horizon Med Spa**, who breaks down the science behind hormone optimization, peptide therapy, gut health, cortisol, and why "normal" lab results don't always mean you're functioning at your best.

We discuss:

- What GLP-1 medications actually do (and the biggest misconceptions about them)

- The difference between **normal vs. optimal** hormone levels

- How peptides work and why they're becoming increasingly popular

- Gut health, inflammation, and metabolic health

- Cortisol, stress, and why your body may be working against you

- Weight loss, muscle preservation, and long-term wellness

- Where the future of medicine may be headed

Whether you're curious about Ozempic, peptide therapy, hormone replacement, or simply want to better understand your health, this conversation offers an in-depth look at the science and the debate surrounding these rapidly growing treatments.

**Subscribe to The DEVICE Girls for new episodes every Thursday featuring conversations with leaders across healthcare, medical technology, and wellness.**

Follow us:

Instagram: @sarahekruse | @haleygibsonfit

*The views expressed in this episode are those of the guests and hosts and are intended for educational purposes. This podcast is not a substitute for personalized medical advice from your healthcare provider.*

#GLP1 #Peptides #Hormones #WeightLoss #Wellness #Healthcare #MedicalPodcast #TheDeviceGirls

They stop the heart. She keeps you alive.

In this episode of The Device Girls, we sit down with cardiac perfusionist Vivian Moreno to talk about one of the most intense jobs in medicine.

Vivian shares what it’s really like being responsible for keeping patients alive during open heart surgery — from running the heart-lung machine to managing ECMO patients fighting for their lives.

From hearing “time of death” after doing everything possible… to helping patients survive long enough to receive a heart transplant… this conversation gives a raw inside look into the emotional weight, pressure, and humanity behind one of medicine’s most overlooked professions.

But this conversation goes deeper than medicine.

Vivian also opens up about the mental toll of high-stakes healthcare, learning to stay grounded outside the hospital, and how this career completely changed her perspective on life.

Raw. Honest. Eye-opening.

🎧 Episode highlights:

• What a cardiac perfusionist actually does

• What happens when surgeons stop the heart

• ECMO, bypass, and life support explained simply

• The emotional reality of withdrawing care

• The hardest moments Vivian has experienced in medicine

• What it’s like carrying the pressure of human life

• Women in perfusion and healthcare

• How medicine changed her perspective on life forever

• Staying grounded outside of the hospital

👩‍⚕️ Guest:

Vivian Moreno

Cardiac Perfusionist

🎤 Hosts:

Sarah Kruse — @sarahekruse

Haley Gibson — @haleyygibsonfit

📲 Follow The Device Girls:

Instagram: @thedevicegirls

TikTok: @thedevicegirls

👍 If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone in healthcare.

💬 Question:

What’s a profession people don’t fully understand until they hear the human side of it?

#CardiacPerfusion #ECMO #OpenHeartSurgery #WomenInHealthcare #MedicalPodcast #HealthcareStories #Perfusionist #TheDeviceGirls

***Views Expressed Are Our Own***

🔥 What REALLY happens behind hospital doors?

After Ashley Duncan’s first episode sparked massive reactions online, she’s back… and this time, nothing is off limits.

From the wildest things healthcare workers have actually seen in the OR (yes… including the stories that sound too insane to be real) to the emotional weight of patient care, broken healthcare systems, insurance frustrations, organ donation debates, and the realities providers carry home after work — this conversation goes deep.

Some parts are hilarious.

Some parts are heartbreaking.

Some parts might make you question everything you thought you knew about healthcare.

But one thing is certain: this is the side of medicine most people never hear about.

🎙️ In this episode, we talk about:

• The stories Ashley held back the first time 👀

• The emotional toll healthcare workers carry

• What patients never see behind hospital doors

• Insurance, hospital systems, and hard conversations

• Organ donation, childbirth costs & controversial healthcare topics

• The moments that stick with providers forever

• Why healthcare workers often go home carrying more than people realize

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:45 Reading the internet’s reaction to Ashley’s last episode

11:30 The stories Ashley held back 😳

28:30 The heartbreaking side of healthcare

35:00 The business of healthcare no one talks about

45:45 Insurance, hospitals & controversial opinions

1:03:00 What’s broken in healthcare — and what needs to change

1:18:00 Final thoughts

👩‍⚕️ Hosts:

Sarah Kruse

Haley Gibson

🎧 Follow The Device Girls for real, raw, and unfiltered conversations from the people inside healthcare.

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU:

What part of healthcare do you think people misunderstand the most?

Views Expressed Are Our Own

Connect with us:

Instagram: @sarahkruse @haleygibsonfit

#Healthcare #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls #WomenInHealthcare #HospitalStories #HealthcareWorkers

🔥 What are the cases that trauma surgeons never forget?

In this episode of The Device Girls, we sit down with Dr. Antebi, an orthopedic trauma surgeon, and his wife Mindy, an ICU nurse, for an honest conversation about the realities of trauma medicine, rebuilding bodies after devastating injuries, and the emotional weight healthcare workers carry.

From life-changing accidents and amputations to the patients that stay with you long after the surgery ends, Dr. Antebi shares what it’s really like being the surgeon hospitals call when cases are at their worst.

But this conversation goes deeper than medicine.

We also talk about the emotional toll of healthcare, marriage in medicine, staying healthy in high-stress careers, and what it means to care for people, even in the hardest situations.

This episode is raw, funny, inspiring, and full of moments that will completely change the way you think about trauma surgeons.

🎙️ Episode Highlights:

• The trauma cases surgeons never forget

• What happens when injuries are too severe to repair

• The emotional side of orthopedic trauma nobody talks about

• The patient story that challenged everything

• The truth about health, aging, and protecting your body

• Nurse + surgeon marriage and making it work in healthcare

• Why resistance training matters more than you think

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:12 How Dr. Antebi became an orthopedic trauma surgeon

08:43 What trauma surgery actually looks like

17:55 Being on the other side as a patient

30:20 The reality of pain, health & aging

41:18 The patient story that changed everything

52:30 Marriage, medicine & balance

57:30 What he hopes to be remembered for

💬 Question for you:

What part of this conversation stuck with you most?

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who’d love it.

🎧 The Device Girls Podcast

Hosted by Sarah & Haley

Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit

Views expressed are our own.

#TheDeviceGirls #TraumaSurgeon #OrthopedicSurgery #HealthcarePodcast #NurseLife #MedicalPodcast #TraumaMedicine #SurgeonLife #HealthcareWorkers

🔥 What really happens inside the operating room?

In this episode of The Device Girls, we sit down with surgical first assistants Amy Burton and Alyssa Ellis to talk about the role most people have never heard of… but surgeons rely on every single day.

From life-saving surgeries to heartbreaking patient moments, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it’s actually like behind the doors of the O.R. They share the emotional weight of healthcare, the chaos, the pressure, the teamwork, and why being a surgical assist is far more than “just helping.”

This episode is raw, honest, emotional, and incredibly eye-opening.

🎙️ In this episode:

• What surgical first assists actually do

• The hidden roles inside the O.R.

• The emotional toll of surgery and patient loss

• The cases they’ll never forget

• Why the healthcare system overlooks surgical assists

• The toxic culture that can exist in healthcare

• Teamwork, advocacy, and speaking up in the O.R.

• Advice for students wanting to enter the medical field

• What makes a GREAT rep in the operating room

• Why they’re fighting to improve the profession

Whether you work in healthcare or have never stepped foot in an operating room, this conversation will completely change how you view the people behind the mask.

👩‍⚕️ Guests:

Amy Burton

Alyssa Ellis

***Views Expressed Are Our Own***

Connect with us:

Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit

💬 What part of this conversation surprised you the most?

#TheDeviceGirls #HealthcarePodcast #SurgicalAssistant #OperatingRoom #MedicalPodcast #WomenInHealthcare #SurgicalTech #FirstAssist #ORLife #HealthcareWorkers

🔥 What no one tells you about being a firefighter…

Behind the lights, sirens, and adrenaline is a reality most people never see.

In this episode of The Device Girls, we sit down with a firefighter to talk about the real cost of the job — mentally, emotionally, and physically. From high-pressure calls to the quiet moments that stick with you long after the shift ends, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to do this work.

This isn’t just about the job.

It’s about identity, resilience, and carrying weight most people will never understand.

🎙️ Episode Highlights:

The hidden emotional toll of being a firefighter

What happens after the adrenaline wears off

Balancing normal life with an abnormal job

The moments that stay with you forever

Why this career changes you — for better or worse

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:30 What people think firefighting is vs reality

05:12 The calls you don’t forget

18:47 Life outside the station

32:10 The mental load no one talks about

48:55 Why they still choose this job

1:05:20 Final thoughts

👩‍⚕️ About The Device Girls:

Real conversations with real people in high-impact careers.

We talk about the things most people don’t say out loud.

🎤 Hosts:

Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit

📲 Follow The Device Girls:

Instagram: @thedevicegirls

TikTok: @thedevicegirls

⚠️ Disclaimer:

The views expressed in this episode are our own and do not reflect those of any employer or organization.

💬 Join the conversation:

What surprised you most about this episode?

#Firefighter #FirstResponder #Podcast #TheDeviceGirls #RealStories #MentalHealth #BehindTheScenes

What happens when two doctors try to balance trauma, marriage… and real life?

This episode goes way deeper than medicine.

In this episode of The Device Girls, we sit down with Dr. Brian Kendall (ER physician) and Dr. Renee Bankhead (trauma surgeon) to talk about what life really looks like inside a dual-physician household.

From navigating intense careers to going through divorce… and finding their way back to each other — this conversation is raw, honest, and surprisingly relatable.

They open up about what patients don’t understand, what Covid was really like behind hospital doors, and the emotional weight that comes with a life spent saving others.

In this episode, we dive into:

• What it’s actually like being married to another physician

• Their divorce… and how they found their way back

• ER vs trauma surgery (and who really has it harder 👀)

• What doctors wish patients understood

• The emotional toll of medicine — especially during Covid

• How they balance family, careers, and entrepreneurship

“If you died today, you’d be replaced in the hospital tomorrow… but your family can never replace you.”

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:45 Meet Dr. Kendall & Dr. Bankhead

02:30 Their journey into medicine

04:50 Why ER vs trauma surgery

07:50 Balancing a dual-physician household

09:50 Divorce… and getting remarried

12:50 What patients don’t understand about doctors

15:50 Burnout, loss, and emotional weight of medicine

20:10 What Covid was really like for physicians

27:10 Their businesses outside of medicine

31:30 ER vs Trauma: who has it harder?

35:20 Advice for couples in medicine

38:20 Outro

Follow The Device Girls:

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedevicegirls

🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thedevicegirls

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDEVICEGirls

Hosts:

Sarah – https://www.instagram.com/sarahekruse

Haley – https://www.instagram.com/haleyygibssonfit

Guests:

Dr. Brian Kendall – Emergency Medicine Physician

Dr. Renee Bankhead – Trauma Surgeon | ICU Doctor | Entrepreneur

🎙️ Podcast: Coffee Walk MD

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear this.

We’d love to know — what part of this conversation surprised you the most?

#TheDeviceGirls #WomenInMedicine #ERDoctor #TraumaSurgeon #HealthcareLife #PodcastClips #MedicalLife

In this episode of The Device Girls, we sit down with Ashley Duncan — a medical sales veteran with nearly 15 years of experience across medical device, pharma, and aesthetics.

Ashley shares how she accidentally fell into medical sales after college, what it’s really like inside the operating room, and the wild stories that only people in healthcare ever see. From shark bite reconstructions and scalping injuries to the emotional realities of patient care, Ashley opens up about the moments that have shaped her career.

But this conversation goes deeper than surgery stories.

Ashley also talks about the ethical challenges in healthcare, the realities of insurance-driven decisions, and the mental toll medical professionals carry behind the scenes. She shares a heartbreaking case from early in her career that still impacts her today — and why she believes mental health support should be mandatory in the industry.

Then the conversation shifts to something many women in healthcare struggle with: balancing career ambition with motherhood. Ashley gets brutally honest about mom guilt, identity shifts after having a child, and why the idea that women can “have it all” may not be the full truth.

Raw. Honest. Unfiltered.

🎧 Episode highlights:

• How Ashley accidentally fell into medical device sales

• The real difference between pharma vs. medical device

• The craziest things Ashley has seen in the operating room

• Shark bites, scalp injuries, and unbelievable surgical cases

• The emotional toll healthcare professionals carry

• Ethical dilemmas in medicine and insurance-driven care

• Why mental health support should exist for medical reps

• The reality of motherhood in a high-performance career

• Mom guilt, ambition, and redefining success as a working mom

👩‍⚕️ Guest:

Ashley Duncan

Medical Sales Professional (Device, Pharma & Aesthetics)

🎤 Hosts:

Sarah Kruse — @sarahekruse

Haley Gibson — @haleyygibssonfit

📲 Follow The Device Girls:

Instagram: @thedevicegirls

TikTok: @thedevicegirls

👍 If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend in healthcare or medical sales.

💬 Question:

What has been the hardest part of balancing career and personal life in healthcare?

#MedicalSales #WomenInHealthcare #MedicalDeviceSales #HealthcareStories #WorkingMomLife #MedicalPodcast #TheDeviceGirls

In this episode of The Device Girls, we sit down with ICU nurse Mindie — founder of Call the Nurse — who has spent over 16 years in critical care witnessing life, death, addiction, trauma, and the stories that never make it into the chart.

So why do so many nurses burn out… and how did she refuse to?

From sitting on a patient’s bed hours before she coded… to navigating divorce, blended family life, and raising a daughter with autism while working in the ICU — Mindy shares what it takes to stay human in a system that can easily harden you.

This conversation pulls back the curtain on burnout, humility, doctor–nurse dynamics, and the emotional weight healthcare professionals quietly carry.

Raw. Personal. Necessary.

🎧 Episode highlights:

• Why so many nurses burn out

• “You can’t argue with humility”

• The patient who changed everything

• What doctors don’t always see

• Marrying an orthopedic surgeon as an ICU nurse

• Staying soft in critical care

• The emotional cost of healthcare

• The stories that don’t make it in the chart

👩‍⚕️ Guest:

Mindie Antebi

ICU Nurse & Host of Call the Nurse

@callthenursepodcast

🎤 Hosts:

Sarah Kruse — @sarahekruse

Haley Gibson — @haleyygibssonfit

📲 Follow The Device Girls:

Instagram: @thedevicegirls

TikTok: @thedevicegirls

👍 If this episode resonated with you, share it with a nurse who needs the reminder that staying soft is still strength.

💬 Question: What’s helped you avoid burnout in your own career?

#NurseBurnout #ICUNurse #HealthcareStories #WomenInMedicine #MedicalPodcast #TheDeviceGirls