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47 - Notes from the ER: why chaos, service, and community shape better care and better leaders | Dr. Josh McConkey, MD
Manage episode 514697959 series 3619191
What does it take to run toward chaos and know you will like the result? We sit down with Dr. Josh McConkey, an emergency physician, Air Force Reserve commander, and combat veteran, for a candid tour of the ER and the deeper forces that sustain a life in medicine. From managing codes to navigating the “bread and butter” of primary care concerns that flood emergency departments, Dr. McConkey explains how humility, teamwork, and a calm mind matter most.
We dig into his “Weight Behind the Spear” philosophy. It's an ethos born from years with special operations teams and grounded in a simple truth: great performers are built by great communities. Teachers, coaches, mentors, neighbors are the people who shape the leaders we count on when it matters most. Josh shares how volunteering, coaching youth sports, and serving face-to-face are not résumé fluff but the fastest route to real resilience, communication skills, and interview-ready stories that stand out beyond grades. He offers practical advice for pre-health students and clinicians on building confidence under pressure, seeking discomfort on purpose, and finding purpose that lasts.
To connect with Dr. Josh McConkey, find him at any of the following:
Instagram: @JoshMcConkeyMD
LinkedIn: Josh McConkey, MD
Websites: joshmcconkeyforamerica.com and joshmcconkey.com
Book: Be The Weight Behind the Spear
Virtual shadowing is an important tool to use when planning your medical career. At Shadow Me Next! we want to provide you with the resources you need to find your role in healthcare and secure your place in medicine.
Check out our pre-health resources. Great for pre-med, pre-PA, pre-nursing, pre-therapy students or anyone else with an upcoming interview!
Mock Interviews: shadowmenext.com/mock-interviews
Personal Statement Review: shadowmenext.com/personal-statement
Free Downloads: shadowmenext.com/free-downloads
Want to be a guest on Shadow Me Next!? Send Ashley Love a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/175073392605879105bc831fc
Chapters
1. Welcome & Mission of the Show (00:00:00)
2. Meet Dr. Josh McConkie (00:00:48)
3. Titles, Hierarchy, and Humility (00:02:46)
4. A Day in Emergency Medicine (00:04:06)
5. Handling Pressure and Real Wins (00:07:36)
6. Who Thrives in the ER—and Who Doesn’t (00:10:32)
7. Lottery, Purpose, and Service (00:13:18)
8. Weight Behind the Spear: The Ethos (00:15:20)
9. Mental Health in Healthcare (00:18:08)
10. Face-to-Face Community Over Screens (00:21:20)
11. Make Time: Standing Out in Admissions (00:23:20)
12. Quality Question (00:24:46)
13. Get Uncomfortable: Building Real Resilience (00:26:12)
14. From Medicine to Public Service (00:29:20)
48 episodes
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