Dr. Jonathan McGavock
UM professor creates novel podcast as resource for emerging scholars
A Rady researcher and faculty member, working closely with local radio station UMFM, launched a podcast designed as a resource for medical trainees and residents to help guide them on their journey to becoming a clinician scientist.
The Emerging Scholar Podcast features host and producer Dr. Jonathan McGavock, a professor of pediatrics and child health at the Max Rady College of Medicine, speaking with a variety of experts in the health sciences research field. The Podcast is produced and supported by UMFM with the help of co-producer Jared McKetiak.
McGavock, also a researcher with the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, says each episode is a conversation that will take students through the scientific process of generating ideas, testing a clinical hypothesis and sharing the results.
“The amount of information available to residents getting started in research is enormous and could be super intimidating. We are providing a starting point and map to simplify the process,” said McGavock.
The first two episodes focus on ‘how to develop a research question’ with episode one featuring a dialogue with pioneering pediatric researcher and professor Dr. Peter Rosenbaum of McMaster University. Other early episodes give insights into topics like choosing a mentor, an introduction to various types of clinical research designs and incorporating race and anti-racism into a research project.
McGavock said this podcast will also provide residents with a set of tools and resources they can easily access when they are working on their own (here). Since each episode is only 30 minutes, it allows those with limited time an opportunity to listen while on their commute or during other daily activities.
“Every episode has a guest scientist in a different domain and should help fast-track the learner’s project. They will benefit from this interplay of discussion and Q & A with an expert, and then they can go right to the resource that they need, so they can do this independently.”
While the podcast is geared towards residents, McGavock said graduate students and scientists at every level could also benefit from it.
“Any graduate student launching into a project that involves humans could enjoy and learn from these interviews. There’s a big pool of students wanting to get into clinical research and I think they can use this as an entry level resource and learn what is expected at the highest level.”
McGavock has three seasons of the podcast mapped out, as that is the typical length for a residency research project, but said he has no plans to stop making new episodes once the three seasons are complete.
“This podcast has been a dream of mine for years and without the incredible support and production from UMFM station manager Jared McKetiak it would not be possible,” said McGavock. The first of 14 episodes was released in early 2025 and will drop weekly until mid April. Episodes can be found on all streaming platforms along with the companion website and UMFM website.