# #10 - Survive and Breathe: A Physician's Journey through Medicine and Cancer

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/connected-by-health-7781874/10-survive-and-breathe-a-physician-s-journey-through-medicine-and-cancer
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/connected-by-health-7781874/10-survive-and-breathe-a-physician-s-journey-through-medicine-and-cancer.md
Podcast: [Connected By Health](https://stenobird.com/podcast/connected-by-health-7781874)
Published: 2026-04-27T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://3843d0a6-ee19-4b65-a291-8ee3431a2980.libsyn.com/10-survive-and-breathe-a-physicians-journey-through-medicine-and-cancer
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/3843d0a6-ee19-4b65-a291-8ee3431a2980/riverside_brian__krishna___feb_15_2026_001_krishnas_studio_1.mp3?dest-id=5269150
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/connected-by-health-7781874/episodes/10-survive-and-breathe-a-physician-s-journey-through-medicine-and-cancer
Duration seconds: 2323

## Resource

Host Krishna introduces Dr. Brian Whitson, an experienced pulmonologist with board certification across multiple fields (pulmonary, sleep medicine, palliative care, internal medicine, formerly critical care). Dr. Whitson has practiced predominantly in rural Oklahoma (Enid) for about 31 years and blends clinical care, education, and community service. Dr. Whitson recounts formative experiences: working as an orderly/aid in an osteopathic hospital in Tulsa after high school, early exposure to physical therapy from sports injuries, and mentorship/friend groups in high school that encouraged medical careers. He completed undergraduate studies at OSU, medical school at OU, internal medicine training at Baylor, and pulmonary/critical care training at LSU Shreveport. Dr Whitson explains the practical reasons for pursuing multiple boards: in rural practice one often must fill many clinical gaps; palliative care training improved symptom management (beyond pain control) for nausea, constipation, anxiety and dyspnea; sleep medicine credentialing became necessary to properly interpret studies and prescribe therapies; critical care experience reflected past practice needs (he intentionally let critical care board lapse to avoid ICU calls). Dr Whitson emphasizes that combined training enhanced his ability to treat complex patients holistically. He also discusses the demands and rewards of practicing in Enid: often alone covering broad needs, coordinating with regional hospitals and sleep labs (e.g., Norman Regional), and participating in community organizations such as a local nonprofit hospice (Hospice Circle of Love). He describes efforts to mentor and develop local healthcare workforce (e.g., sponsoring phlebotomy training for high-school grads, encouraging early clinical roles…

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