257: Gaining Real World Medical Experience with Ben Garfin

Last Updated: December 3, 2025

In this episode of the PFC Podcast, Dennis and Ben Garfin discuss the critical importance of clinical experience for combat medics. They explore the challenges and benefits of clinical rotations, the need for real-world experience, and the design of effective training programs. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of mentorship, the legal and ethical considerations of international rotations, and the overall goal of improving the current system for medics to ensure they are well-prepared for real-life medical situations.

Takeaways:

Experience is the only teacher you can’t gain unless you go do it. The stakes of the environment in real scenarios are much higher than in training. Clinical rotations should focus on real patient encounters to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Building relationships with hospitals is crucial for effective clinical rotations. Medics need to be exposed to high-acuity situations regularly to maintain their skills. Legal and ethical considerations must be addressed when sending medics abroad for training. Mentorship is essential for medics to learn how to think independently in clinical settings. The current system for medic training needs to be more robust and focused on real experiences. Frequent clinical exposure is necessary to prepare medics for unexpected situations. It’s important for medics to learn how to make clinical decisions under pressure.