Episode 35

Doctor, Doctor with Stephanie Ferrell, MD | Episode 35

Published on: 9th July, 2024

"I was driven by a desire to understand not just the medications, but the entirety of patient health and the complexities involved." - Dr. Stephanie Farrell

On this episode of The Last Zebra Podcast! 🎙️🦓: Ugo sits down with Dr. Stephanie Ferrell, a Pulmonary and Critical Care fellow at Tulane University, to discuss her incredible journey from pharmacist to physician. Dr. Ferrell shares her unique career path, starting from her early years in South Carolina, her experiences as a pharmacist, and the pivotal moments that led her to pursue a career in medicine. She dives deep into the challenges she faced as a non-traditional medical student, the integration of her pharmacy background into her medical practice, and her specialization in Pulmonary and Critical Care. Throughout the episode, Dr. Ferrell provides valuable insights into the healthcare field, reflecting on the impact of COVID-19, the importance of empathy in patient care, and her future aspirations in lung transplant. She also touches on her personal life, including her love for running, fostering animals, and spending time with family.

This episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice for anyone interested in healthcare, career transitions, or personal growth. Don’t miss this engaging conversation with Dr. Stephanie Ferrell!

🔍 In This Episode:

- Introduction and Background: Dr. Stephanie Ferrell shares her journey from South Carolina to becoming a Pulmonary and Critical Care fellow at Tulane.

- Early Career and Pharmacy: Insights into Stephanie’s early career as a pharmacist, including her experiences and challenges.

- Transition to Medicine: The pivotal moments and motivations that led her to pursue a career in medicine, overcoming initial rejections and personal hurdles.

- Pharmacy and Medicine Integration: How her background in pharmacy has influenced her approach to medicine, particularly in internal medicine and pharmacology.

- Challenges in Medical School: Stephanie discusses the difficulties of being a non-traditional medical student and how she overcame them.

- Specializing in Pulmonary and Critical Care: The reasons behind her choice to specialize in Pulmonary and Critical Care, and her future aspirations in lung transplant.

- COVID-19 Impact: Reflections on the impact of COVID-19 on her personal and professional life, including the loss of her mother and the challenges faced during the pandemic.

- Personal Life and Hobbies: A glimpse into Stephanie’s life outside of medicine, including her love for running, fostering animals, and spending time with family.


Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful episodes from The Last Zebra Podcast. New episodes are available every Tuesday morning on all major podcast platforms and YouTube. Your engagement helps us bring more inspiring and educational content to our audience. Check out other episodes for more enlightening discussions with professionals who are making a difference in their communities and beyond. Let us know your thoughts about this episode and more in the comments below!


Watch episodes here:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKv8hBtOLaEyAJkOA3xfoXTnxNXOpNT_G&si=VhBRrYpt3LzkVTDc


We are also available everywhere you listen to your podcasts:


Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-zebra/id1715958112


Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13QjxW49xOkSqkP9zQKyRS?si=_94N98AiTYGFD02EgHXZtA


Special Thanks to Producer and Videographer Matt Koesy! Appreciate you my guy!


Connect with us:

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for The Last Zebra

About the Podcast

The Last Zebra
Nuanced conversations about different walks of life and those who live them
“The Last Zebra” draws its essence from the timeless medical adage:

“When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras.”

Coined by Dr. Theodore Woodward in the 1940s, this maxim reminds us to prioritize common diagnoses over rare and improbable ones.

In a medical world often defined by seeking the most likely causes, “The Last Zebra” podcast takes a different approach. Here we are looking for the common in all of us.

The common focuses on the unique, diverse, and individual experiences of medical professionals. We hope to showcase the stories of these individuals, highlighting how they infuse their backgrounds, beliefs, and characteristics into their medical practice. By doing so, they add an artistic and personal touch that goes beyond the clinical norms and transforms their work into a deeply profound and meaningful endeavor.

Through these stories, “The Last Zebra” aims to reveal the extraordinary side of medicine— "heavy on the ordinary".

The stories that deviate from dogma and delve into the exceptional. It seeks to capture the essence of these medical professionals’ journeys, shedding light on their challenges, triumphs, and the remarkable ways they shape the landscape of healthcare.

In each episode, we delve into the non-clinical nuances that define the day-to-day lives of medical professionals from diverse backgrounds and specialties. This podcast will start and go beyond the clinical, shedding light on the intricate artistry, mosaicism, and diversity in medicine.

We explore how every guest crafts their unique personality and characteristics into the very fabric of their practice.

These stories not only celebrate individuality but also embody the soul of healthcare.

In a world where uniformity is prioritized, “The Last Zebra” podcast honors the rare and unique elements that medical professionals bring to their work. Together, we’ll discover how these exceptional individuals are shaping the future of healthcare, one personalized interaction at a time.

So, come along as we embrace the zebras — the extraordinary stories that make medicine a true art.
Support This Show

About your host

Profile picture for Ugo Ezema

Ugo Ezema