Dr. John  Schumann, the founder and author of the popular blog GlassHospital.com, which aims to “demystify” medicine and provide transparency on the workings of medical practice and the complexities of hospital care. Dr. Schumann is a general internist and medical educator — previously at the University of Chicago and now at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine, where he functions as the Associate Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Poor Will’s Almanack for the Fourth Week of Early Spring.

Daffodil blossoms are the outriders of the fourth week of Early Spring, a sign that Virginia bluebells have come up from winter ground and that raspberry bushes are developing fresh leaves. As you drive the freeways or the backroads, you may see wild onions are getting lanky, a sign that the foliage of Middle Spring's wildflowers is growing back in the woods and fields: Jacob's ladder, ragwort, leafcup, spring beauties, wood mint, ground ivy, catchweed, moneywort, waterleaf, hemlock, and parsnip.

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Neurosurgeon Dr. David Levy about the role that prayer can play in the healing relationship between physician and patient. 

The Supreme Court won't order closure of shipping locks on Chicago-area waterways to prevent Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes.

The high court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from Michigan and other Great Lakes states, who have been trying for immediate shutdown of the locks and a quicker timetable for other steps to halt the carp's northward march from the Mississippi River toward Lake Michigan.

The high court already has rejected the request from Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin twice.

The states have a pending lawsuit that calls for permanently severing a man-made link between the Mississippi and Great Lakes drainage basins. They wanted a court order to close the locks while their suit works through the courts.

Poor Will’s Almanack for the third week of Early Spring.

This week opens the season of early bulbs even in the coldest years. The very earliest bulbs, of course, the snowdrops the snow crocus and the aconites, have already bloomed in the sunniest microclimates. Now it is time for the larger, brighter standard crocus and the small spring iris, the iris reticulata to flower.

Assist America CEO Brian Mulligan joins us to talk about the unique emergency medical services that his company helps procure for medical students and leisure-seekers alike when they are traveling far from home.  Planning a vacation or medical mission abroad?  Check out this interesting conversation to hear about how you can do so with a little more confidence and a few fewer worries!