Beyond Nominal

Welcome back to Beyond Nominal and to another episode in our RAM Spotlight mini-series! We will be highlighting residents in aerospace medicine across multiple programs to get to know them better. In this episode, we spotlight Dr. Vasilis Mavratsas, a recent graduate of UTMB's Aerospace Medicine residency. Listen to learn more about Dr. Mavratsas’ journey to aerospace medicine, how engineering and aerospace medicine interact, risk assessment, and more!

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bd83ka6h

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/ymvnuk7v

Further Reading:

• NASA Human Systems Integration Handbook: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20210010952/downloads/HSI%20Handbook%20v2.0%20092121_FINAL%20COPY.pdf
• NASA Risk Management Handbook: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/nasa-risk-mgmt-handbook.pdf
• NASA Integrated Medical Model: https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-integrated-medical-model-imm-overview/

Social: AMSRO (@asma.amsro) | Aerospace Medical Association (@aero_med_1929)

Music: Night Rider by Jiglr - https://soundcloud.com/jiglrmusic

Artwork: Maia Reyes

Welcome back to our October episode! This month, get to know Dr. Jean Sibonga, PhD, the lead of the Bone Discipline at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, while we talk more about bone health in spaceflight. We take a deep dive into how bone health, bone quality, and bone microarchitecture in spaceflight differ from the changes associated with normal terrestrial aging. Dr. Sibonga discusses how astronauts’ bone health is currently monitored both before and after spaceflight, as well as the potential for more comprehensive in-flight monitoring to help guide individualized clinical interventions. We also explore the countermeasures used to prevent bone loss and what the current research tells us about the effectiveness of pharmaceutical supplementation for prophylaxis. Finally, we look ahead to long-duration missions and the challenges they pose for maintaining bone health. Be sure to check out Dr. Sibonga’s new publication below on hip fractures in long-duration spaceflight!

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bd83ka6h

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/ymvnuk7v

Further Reading:

• https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(26)18607-8/pdf
• https://www.nasa.gov/reference/jsc-human-research-laboratories/#hds-sidebar-nav-4
• https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/hhp/bone-and-mineral-evaluation-and-analysis/

Social: AMSRO (@asma.amsro) | Aerospace Medical Association (@aero_med_1929)

Music: Night Rider by Jiglr - https://soundcloud.com/jiglrmusic

Artwork: Maia Reyes

On this episode of Beyond Nominal, we sit down with Dr. Ann Tsung, a flight surgeon, for an inside look at her unique journey to NASA. Dr. Tsung takes us through her career path from emergency medicine residency and critical care fellowship to aerospace medicine fellowship and ultimately, her role at NASA where she supports medical operations, the Human Landing System (HLS) program, and clinical SANS initiatives. In addition to her professional journey, we dive into performance optimization, finding your “zone of genius,” and strategies for accessing a flow state. Lastly, Dr. Tsung shares her approach to identifying personal non-negotiables, maintaining work-life balance, and building a career and life that are meaningful.

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bd83ka6h

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/ymvnuk7v

Check out the resources discussed in this episode below:

• Productivity MD Podcast

• Apple: https://tinyurl.com/4497e4k5
• Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4sfw7cwx

• The Gap and the Gain: https://gapandgainbook.com/
• The Book of Joy: https://tinyurl.com/yc5hkf9e
• UTMB’s Principles of Aviation and Space Medicine (we both got the name wrong in the initial recording!): https://tinyurl.com/4t555nwt
• Wheel of Life: https://wheeloflife.io/
• Passive Income MD: https://passiveincomemd.com/

Social: https://www.instagram.com/asma.amsro/

Music: Night Rider by Jiglr - https://soundcloud.com/jiglrmusic

Artwork: Maia Reyes

Welcome back to another episode! This month, get to know Dr. Tyson Brunstetter, the SANS clinical lead at NASA Johnson Space Center, while we talk more about spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS). Listen to find out more about the signs that constitute SANS, its symptoms (or lack thereof!) and its diagnostic criteria, how it was discovered, hypotheses of its pathogenesis, where we are today in our understanding of its risk, and where we are currently exploring.

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bd83ka6h

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/ymvnuk7v

Resources:

• Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA):https://asma.org/
• Aerospace Medicine Student and Resident Organization (AMSRO):https://www.amsro.org/
• SANS Risk: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/hhp/risk-of-spaceflight-associated-neuro-ocular-syndrome/
• Mader et al. 2011: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161642011005641

Social:https://www.instagram.com/asma.amsro/

Credits:

• Music - Night Rider by Jiglr:https://soundcloud.com/jiglrmusic/night-rider
• Artwork - Maia Reyes

Welcome to our RAM Spotlight mini-series! We will be highlighting residents in aerospace medicine across multiple programs to get to know them better. In this episode, we spotlight Dr. Andrew Lam, a recent graduate of UTMB's Aerospace Medicine residency (and a second-year RAM at the time of recording). Listen to learn more about Dr. Lam's journey to aerospace medicine, his advice on what interested students or residents can do to get more involved, the flight-surgeon/patient relationship, and more!

Resources:

• Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA): https://asma.org/
• Aerospace Medicine Student and Resident Organization (AMSRO): https://www.amsro.org/
• UTMB Aerospace Medicine Residency: https://www.utmb.edu/spph/aerospace-medicine/residency-program/residency

Social: https://www.instagram.com/asma.amsro/

Credits:

• Music - Night Rider by Jiglr: https://soundcloud.com/jiglrmusic/night-rider
• Artwork - Maia Reyes

What is Aerospace Medicine? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kris Belland, a past president of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), naval aviator, flight surgeon, and leader in aerospace medicine, to explore one of medicine's most unique and multidisciplinary specialties. He provides an inside look at aerospace medicine that combines clinical care, research, policy, and operational medicine. We discuss the need for diverse professionals to contribute to the field, from physicians and nurses to engineers and astronauts, and explore the growing opportunities. Listen to learn more about aerospace medicine, who it serves, the different pathways to practice in the field, connections to other specialties, and more!

To learn more, check out the resources below:

• Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA):https://asma.org/
• Aerospace Medicine Student & Resident Organization (AMSRO): https://www.amsro.org/
• Civil Aviation Medical Association (CAMA):https://civilavmed.org/
• American Osteopathic College of Preventive Medicine (AOCOPM):https://www.aocopm.org/

Music: Night Rider by Jiglr - https://soundcloud.com/jiglrmusic, Artemis audio library - https://www.nasa.gov/artemisaudio/

Social: https://www.instagram.com/asma.amsro/

Artwork: Maia Reyes