In this episode of Compassion & Courage, Kathleen Watt shares her inspiring journey from opera singer to cancer survivor and her insights on resilience, narrative medicine, and the power of storytelling in healing.

Resources for you:

More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/

Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/

Connect with Kathleen on Twitter / X: @kewatt

Learn more about Kathleen: www.Kathleenwatt.com

Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/

Subscribe to our podcast through Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast

Subscribe to our podcast through YouTube: https://bit.ly/Youtube-MarcusEngelPodcast

About Kathleen Watt :

Kathleen Watt sang principal roles with Boston Lyric Opera, Utah Opera Company, Springfield Regional Opera, and others, and in the Extra Chorus of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, before her singing career was summarily ended by osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) in her face. Since retiring from performing, Kathleen has written features, profiles, and essays on performing arts and contemporary culture. As a writer and cancer survivor, she has also collaborated with doctors, artists and musicians on a range of projects adjacent to Narrative Medicine.

Additional Information From Kathleen:

http://www.curesarcoma.org/

http://www.sarcomaalliance.org/

https://craniofacialny.com/craniofacial-clinic

https://www.savingfaces.co.uk/

https://faceequalityinternational.org

Date: 8/24/2026

Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare

Episode number and title: Episode 185 – A Journey of Resilience with Kathleen Watt

keywords

resilience, narrative medicine, cancer survival, storytelling, medical trauma, healing, opera, patient experience

In this episode of Compassion & Courage, trauma surgeon Tim Pohlman shares his experiences from the hospital walls, the emotional toll of trauma care, and the importance of compassionate presence in medicine. Discover the realities of emergency resuscitation, ethical dilemmas, and how to maintain resilience in high-stakes environments.

Resources for you:

• More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/
• Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/
• Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/
• Subscribe to our podcast through Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast
• Subscribe to our podcast through YouTube: https://bit.ly/Youtube-MarcusEngelPodcast

About Timothy Pohlman, M.D., F.A.C.S.:
Timothy Pohlman, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a board-certified surgeon who specializes in Trauma Surgery. He is also board-certified in Surgical Critical Care, and board-certified in Neurocritical Care. Dr. Pohlman is former Professor of Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSOM). During that time, Dr. Pohlman was a staff surgeon at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, IN., Medical Director of Trauma Intensive Care, Director of Trauma Outreach, and Assistant Medical Director for LifeLine Critical Care Transport for Trauma. Dr. Pohlman graduated from Knox College in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He received a doctorate in medicine from Rush Medical College in Chicago, IL, being elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society his senior year. Dr. Pohlman then completed internship and residency in general surgery at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, serving as Chief Resident his fifth year. Dr. Pohlman obtained advanced training as a Fellow in trauma and burn surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. During his training, he was supported by a National Institutes of Health Research Service Award. After fellowship training, Dr. Pohlman remained in Seattle, joining the faculty of the University of Washington as assistant professor of surgery. He was subsequently promoted to full professor, with tenure in 2000. While at the University of Washington he was awarded research grants from the National Institute of Health to study human responses to injury. In 2005 he was recruited to IUSOM in Indianapolis, IN to serve as director of Surgical Critical Care. Dr. Pohlman has received numerous awards during his career, including Outstanding Teacher of the Year from the University of Washington, School of Medicine. Dr. Pohlman is a member of over 20 professional organizations, including the Society of University Surgeons, The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, The Neurocritical Care Society, Surgical Infection Society, where he serves on the Informatics Committee, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, and the Chest Wall Injury Society, where he serves on the Publication Committee. He has authored or coauthored over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, eMedicine articles, and scholarly book reviews. In 2004, he was Visiting Professor in the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Mie University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. In Indiana, Dr. Pohlman has served on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Rural Health Association. Currently he serves on the Board of Directors of the Brain Injury Association of Indiana and is a member of the Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Board. He is also a member of the Medical Executive Committee of the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana, and a member of the Physician Advisory Committee of the Indiana Donor Network. Dr. Pohlman is a former co-chair of the Transfusion Committee for IU Health, which oversees an annual budget of $16.5 million. Dr. Pohlman also served for a number of years as track surgeon for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He also has been a NASCAR-certified on-track physician (designated in track radio transmissions as the “99”).

Date: 7/27/2026
Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare
Episode number and title: Episode 184 – The Hidden World of Emergency Rooms with Tim Pohlman

keywords
trauma surgery, emergency medicine, resilience, medical ethics, compassionate care, hospital stories

In this episode of Compassion & Courage, Madison Wood-Gonzalez shares her inspiring work with Morning Light, a nonprofit providing compassionate end-of-life care and housing for hospice patients. Marcus and Madison explore the meaning of hospice, the importance of caring for caregivers, and how community support can transform lives at their most vulnerable.

Resources for you:

• More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/
• Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/
• Learn more about Morning Light: https://morninglightinc.org
• Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/
• Subscribe to our podcast through Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast
• Subscribe to our podcast through YouTube: https://bit.ly/Youtube-MarcusEngelPodcast

About Madison Wood-Gonzalez, CNE, CND, CNC:

Madison has been with Morning Light since 2017. She has a passion for using her communication, organization, and event knowledge to make a difference in the lives of others in the community. Since Madison joined Morning Light, the organization has nearly quadrupled its fundraising efforts, started a State Certified CNA school, and won education and storytelling awards. Madison has also brought holidays, celebrations, and quality of life activities to the organization and the Abbie Hunt Bryce Home. “For me, it’s about the celebration of life up until the end,” she says.

Madison has been responsible for coordinating the highest grossing fundraising events in Morning Light history, and the organization continues to break fundraising records year over year with her involvement. She is primarily responsible for staff leadership, organizational oversite, community partnerships, business development initiatives, media and press collaborations, promotional materials, and communications.

Madison works hard to cultivate community awareness and collaboration. Because of her work, the organization has been featured in the Indianapolis Star, received a wide variety of coverage on local radio and television stations, and has received both local and national awards. She now teaches her nonprofit communication and leadership methods nationally to help other organizations advance their missions as well.

Date: 6/29/2026

Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare

Episode number and title: Episode 183 – The Power of Compassion in End-of-Life Support with Madison Wood-Gonzalez, CNE, CND, CNC

keywords

hospice, end-of-life care, nonprofit, compassionate communication, caregiver support, community impact