Notes from the ER: why chaos, service, and community shape better care and better leaders | Dr. J...

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 (https://www.instagram.com/joshmcconke...)


LinkedIn: Josh McConkey, MD (  / josh-mcconkey-md  )


Websites: joshmcconkeyforamerica.com (https://www.joshmcconkeyforamerica.com/) and joshmcconkey.com (https://www.joshmcconkey.com/)


Book: Be The Weight Behind the Spear  (https://a.co/d/d7svhNS)


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Check out our pre-health resources. Great for pre-med, pre-PA, pre-nursing, pre-therapy students or anyone else with an upcoming interview!
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