The FlightBridgeED Podcast

Over the next several episodes leading up to FAST26: Austin, we’re bringing you full sessions recorded live from past FAST conferences straight from the session recordings!

This episode features Bruce Hoffman, RN, paramedic, educator, and FlightBridgeED Senior Educator. Bruce is known for pushing beyond the “what” and getting into the why... challenging how we think, how we lead, and how we show up in critical care transpor...

In this episode of the FlightBridgeED OB Critical Care Transport series, Dr. Mike Lauria is joined by maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Liz Gartner to tackle one of the most commonly missed and dangerous metabolic emergencies in pregnancy: diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). While DKA is familiar to most clinicians, pregnancy dramatically alters its presentation—often masking it behind symptoms that look indistinguishable fr...

In this episode of FlightBridgeED, Dr. Mike Lauria is joined by maternal-fetal medicine specialists Dr. Alex Pfeiffer and Dr. Liz Gartner for a practical, transport-focused deep dive into trauma in pregnancy. With maternal morbidity and mortality rising in the U.S. and more obstetric patients requiring transfer from smaller facilities, the team breaks down what changes when you’re managing trauma with two patients sharing ...

Episode Description

In this powerful and highly practical episode, Eric Bauer is joined by Dr. Scott Weingart for a deep dive into mechanical ventilation strategy, critical thinking in metabolic acidosis, and the nuanced management of obstructive lung disease. You’ll hear honest, experience-driven insights that challenge outdated protocols and provide a real-world framework for decision-making in high-acuity transport and e...

In this episode of the FlightBridgeED Podcast, Dr. Mike Lauria welcomes back Dr. Nick George to dissect a topic that’s long overdue for critical discussion: airway management in critical care transport—and whether your background matters.

Does being a paramedic or a nurse predict first-pass success rate? Does prior training or clinical experience truly change how well you manage airways in high-stakes situations?

Drawing fro...

In this episode of the FlightBridgeED Podcast, Dr. Mike Lauria is joined by Dr. Nick George, a retrieval and EMS physician currently practicing full-time in Darwin, Australia. Together, they break down the often-overwhelming topic of aortic emergencies in a way that’s brilliantly simple, practical, and immediately applicable for all providers—whether you’re in the ICU, on the flight line, or working your way up in emergenc...

In this powerful and unfiltered episode, Eric Bauer sits down with Dr. Mark Piehl—pediatric ICU physician, trauma resuscitation expert, and inventor of the LifeFlow device—for a deep conversation that will reshape how you think about blood product administration in trauma care. From pediatric hemorrhagic shock to adult penetrating trauma, from urban EMS to rural ground teams, they unpack the most critical emerging concepts...

Get ready for a transformative episode of the FlightBridgeED Podcast, where host Eric Bauer teams up with EMS trailblazer Dr. Peter Antevy to dive into the life-saving world of pre-hospital hemorrhage control and blood product administration. Discover how whole blood is reshaping trauma care, doubling survival rates for patients bleeding out from trauma, OB emergencies, or medical crises. Dr. Antevy shares hard-won lessons...

In this episode of the FlightBridgeED Podcast, Dr. Michael Lauria sits down with Dr. Bryce Taylor—flight physician, trauma educator, and surgical critical care expert—for a deep dive into one of the most visually shocking and physiologically demanding scenarios in transport medicine: the patient with an open abdomen.

From trauma-based damage control laparotomies to the high-stakes management of abdominal compartment syndrom...

What if the biggest mistake you’re making with your COPD vent patients isn’t in what you’re doing—but in how fast you’re doing it?

In this episode, Eric Bauer takes us deep into the nuances of ventilating a COPD patient in acute respiratory failure. Through a complex case breakdown, Eric challenges conventional thinking around rate, tidal volume, and ventilator pressures, offering critical insights into the obstructive appr...

Join Eric Bauer and Dr. Mike Lauria as they dissect two challenging critical care transport cases centered on managing respiratory failure in obese and morbidly obese patients. Get ready for a deep dive into advanced physiological concepts, practical tips for troubleshooting ventilator settings, and real-world lessons you can apply to patient care right away. From recognizing unique challenges in the obese population to fi...

In this episode of the FlightBridgeED Podcast, Dr. Michael Lauria and guest Dr. Alex Pfeiffer, a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) fellow, delve into the critical and complex topic of Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder (PAS). With its rapidly evolving complications, this condition demands acute recognition, careful transport coordination, and multidisciplinary care. Together, they unpack the spectrum’s pathophysiology, risk fa...

Explore the fascinating world of 12-lead ECG interpretation with a special guest, Reid Gilbert-Vass, PA-C, creator of "ECG Lectures with Reid" on YouTube. Reid discusses his journey from Marine Corps logistics to EMS and ultimately becoming a PA specializing in cardiology. Learn his structured, anatomy-driven approach to ECG interpretation, designed to help clinicians at all levels—from beginners to seasoned critical care ...

In this episode of the FlightBridgeED Podcast, Dr. Michael Lauria dives deep into the art and science of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), exploring how to optimize CPAP and BiPAP for critically ill patients. Discover advanced techniques to fine-tune ventilator settings, evaluate effectiveness, and reduce mortality and morbidity in COPD, CHF, and other conditions. Learn how to align ventilatory support wi...

In this episode of the FlightBridgeED Podcast: MDCAST, we continue our OB Critical Care Series, focusing on airway management in critically ill obstetric patients. Hosted by Dr. Michael Lauria and featuring special guest Dr. Emily McQuaid-Hanson, Director of OB Anesthesia at the University of New Mexico, this episode delivers essential insights into managing one of the most intimidating and dynamic challenges in pre-hospit...

Join Dr. Mike Lauria and guest Dr. Bryce Taylor, an experienced flight physician, as they delve into the complexities of transporting patients with severe gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. From the nuances of variceal versus non-variceal bleeds to cutting-edge resuscitation strategies and critical airway management, this episode equips providers with the insights they need for optimal care. Discover evidence-based approaches...

In this episode of the FlightBridgeED MDCAST Podcast, Dr. Michael Lauria and Dr. Elizabeth Garchar delve into a vital topic for EMS and critical care: managing preterm labor in transport. They tackle the complexities of diagnosing preterm labor, the nuances of patient risk factors, and the pillars of effective preterm care. Discover how understanding these principles can make a profound difference for both mother and baby,...

Join us for another captivating episode of The FlightBridgeED MDCAST as Dr. Michael Lauria explores trauma medicine's most critical and evolving skill: the finger thoracostomy. Featuring special guest Dr. Bryce Taylor, a seasoned emergency physician, and flight medicine fellow currently doing a retrieval medicine fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Med Flight. This episode takes a deep dive into the nuances of trauma...

Welcome to another essential episode of the FlightBridgeED Podcast: MDCAST, where we dive deep into the complexities of critical care and continue our high-risk OB transport conversation. This episode focuses on the often overlooked yet rapidly increasing crisis of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Host Dr. Mike Lauria and maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Elizabeth Garchar discuss the full spectrum of hypertensive...