In this conversation, Kali Dayton, a nurse practitioner specializing in critical care, discusses her journey in transforming ICU practices to prioritize patient autonomy and human connection. She shares insights on the detrimental effects of sedation in ICUs, the importance of personalized care, and the need for a healthcare revolution that emphasizes quality of life. Through personal stories and experiences, she highlights the profound impact of treating patients as individuals rather than mere diagnoses, advocating for a more humane approach to critical care.

Biography: Kali Dayton, DNP, AGACNP, is a critical care nurse practitioner, host of the Walking Home From The ICU and Walking You Through The ICU podcasts, and critical care outcomes consultant. She is dedicated to creating Awake and Walking ICUs by ensuring ICU sedation and mobility practices are aligned with current research. She works with ICU teams internationally to transform patient outcomes through early mobility and management of delirium in the ICU.

Learn more about Kali Dayton:

Website: https://daytonicuconsulting.com/about/

Instagram @daytonicuconsulting

Humanity Rx is created, written and produced by: Jenny Opalinski, Tovah Feehan and Jonathan Waller.

Audio and Music Engineering by Drew Allsbrook and The People's Music Studio

In this episode of Humanity RX, we speak with Mark Halverson, a Navy veteran and traumatic brain injury survivor. Mark shares his personal journey of recovery, the challenges he faced, and the importance of community support for individuals with brain injuries. He emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary care and the role of advocacy in helping others navigate their own recovery journeys. Mark's story highlights the invisible nature of brain injuries and the ongoing need for support and understanding from both healthcare providers and the community.

Biography: Mark is a traumatic brain injury survivor, advocate, and community builder dedicated to empowering others on their recovery journey. He connects survivors, families, and professionals with vital support and resources, bridging lived experience with clinical insight. As founder of a global support group, peer mentor, fundraiser, and adaptive golf ambassador, Mark champions resilience, education, and innovation in brain injury rehabilitation. His authentic advocacy uplifts communities and inspires hope across the brain injury landscape.

For more information about Mark and his advocacy work:

The Seminole Spirit Brain Injury Support Group

https://braininjurypeervisitor.org/support-groups/support-groups-georgia/seminole-spirit-meetings/

Linkedin @Mark Halvorsen

Humanity Rx is created, written and produced by: Jenny Opalinski, Tovah Feehan and Jonathan Waller.

Audio and Music Engineering by Drew Allsbrook and The People's Music Studio

In this episode, Dr. Jessica Fowler shares her journey into medicine, her experiences in pediatric critical care, and the emotional challenges faced by healthcare professionals. She emphasizes the importance of support systems, diversity in medicine, and the impact of representation on patient care. Dr. Fowler also discusses her personal experiences with discrimination and offers insights on how to navigate these challenges while maintaining a compassionate approach to patient care.

Biography:

Dr. Jessica Fowler is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology & Critical Care and Pediatrics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and an attending physician in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Fowler completed undergraduate education at The University of Virginia where she studied Political & Social Thought. She completed her medical education at Duke University School of Medicine where she earned her MD, and during that time also received her MPH from the Gillings School of Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill with a focus in Public Health Leadership. She moved to Philadelphia to do her pediatrics training at CHOP which has included her pediatric residency, a chief resident year, and pediatric critical care fellowship. Following her fellowship, Dr. Fowler joined the faculty of the Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Fowler’s work focuses on issues of diversity and inclusion, with a particular interest in diversifying the physician workforce.

She is the Faculty Co-Lead for the Penn Medicine-CHOP Alliance of Minority Physicians, the Director of the Penn Visiting Clerkship Program, and the Associate DIO of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for CHOP Graduate Medical Education. Additionally, Dr. Fowler serves as the Associate Medical Director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at CHOP and does research in pediatric post-cardiac arrest care. She is a native of St. Louis, MO where her pediatrician first inspired her to pursue medicine.

Humanity Rx is created, written and produced by: Jenny Opalinski, Tovah Feehan and Jonathan Waller.

Audio and Music Engineering by Drew Allsbrook and The People's Music Studio