235: Lessons Learned from a Guerrilla Surgeon with Jason
In this episode of the PFC podcast, Dennis interviews Jason, a seasoned surgeon with extensive military experience. They discuss the challenges and adaptations required for surgical practices in austere environments, the importance of mindset in trauma care, and …
230: Guerrilla Medicine: One Surgeon’s Experience with a Modern Resistance Movement
Since the vast majority of you guys couldn’t go to SOMSA ’25, I’m bringing SOMSA ’25 to you. Paul and I got our steps in this year and recorded a ton of presentations. These presentations with slides will …
190: Surgery In Burma
In this podcast episode, Dennis interviews Tom Avery, a surgeon who worked in Myanmar with the Free Burma Rangers. Tom shares his experience providing critical care in a war-torn area and the challenges he faced. He discusses the importance of stabilizing patients and bridging the gap between the frontline and higher echelons of care. Tom emphasizes the need for flexibility and creativity in an austere environment and the importance of communication and cooperation with local forces. He also highlights the lessons learned, including the need for in-field sterilization, the value of a mobile ultrasound device, and the importance of a standardized kit.
188/189: Jungle Medicine Parts 1 and 2 with Andy
I combined both parts of this episode into one post for ease of navigation. In these episodes, Dennis Talks to Andy about all aspects of jungle warfare.
181: Burma Update with Victor
In this conversation, Dennis interviews Victor about his experiences in Burma and his work with Free Burma Rangers. Victor discusses the changing dynamics of the conflict in Burma and the progress made by ethnic forces. He also talks about his role as a medic and the challenges of teaching combat medicine to indigenous groups. Victor emphasizes the importance of focusing on the basics and tailoring training to the specific needs of the students. He shares his experiences with teaching pressure points, tourniquets, casualty drags, and blood collection. Victor also reflects on the challenges of triage and decision-making in a mass casualty situation. During the conversation, Victor shares several lessons learned from his trip to Burma. He discusses the importance of going back to the basics and relying on ground reconnaissance when operating without ISR capabilities. He also highlights the need for movement and noise discipline to avoid detection by the enemy’s reconnaissance planes and jets. Victor emphasizes the significance of good topside cover and concealment to protect against airstrikes and mortar attacks. He also talks about the challenges of providing prolonged field care and the importance of being mentally sharp and prepared for the continuous cycle of problems that arise during operations. Victor mentions the disbursement of medical equipment and the need for contingency plans in case of CCP destruction. Overall, the conversation provides valuable insights into the realities and complexities of operating in a hostile environment with limited resources.
Podcast 147: Ephraim Mattos on the Ground Truth in Burma
Dennis talks with Ephraim Mattos, Founder of Stronghold Rescue and Relief, about his work in Burma. He spent the last six months there, amidst security crises and medical emergencies. Burma’s ethnic minorities are resisting subjugation, and the mountainous borders provide relative safe areas. Still, things are pretty dire. On top of internal conflicts, there’s interference from the Russians and Chinese. On the medical front…