Welcome to the thirteenth episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this fascinating discussion, we interview Ashley Houlihan, an M2 at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. A native of the New England community, Ashley shares her unique journey to Brown, from her time as a club ice hockey player at Syracuse to finding a true sense of belonging at an Ivy League institution.

Ashley dives into a range of topics, including how she's using her creative side as a medical artist, her unique community service work at a juvenile detention center, and her fascinating scholarly concentration project researching TikTok's influence on patient health. She also offers invaluable advice on finding clinical experience abroad, navigating the BS/MD dynamic at Brown, and how a focus on your own wellness is key to surviving and thriving in medical school.

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction and the Community at Brown

2:50 Transitioning to a Smaller City from NYC

4:30 From Big School Spirit to a Smaller Med School

6:22 How Ice Hockey Built Grit for Medical School

7:45 Weaving Art and Creativity into Medicine

9:50 Community Service at a Juvenile Detention Center

12:55 The Scholarly Concentration Program at Brown

14:58 Research on TikTok and its Impact on Patient Education

17:10 How an Experience Abroad Led to a Specialty Interest

19:00 Advocating for Yourself for Opportunities

20:25 Navigating the BS/MD Dynamic at Brown

23:18 The Reality of Medical School vs. Expectations

25:35 Becoming a Mentor for Future Medical Students

27:32 The Value of a Strong Pre-Health Advising System

29:05 Strategic Career Exploration and Finding a Specialty

31:14 Final Interview Tips

33:38 Finding Balance and Avoiding Burnout

36:00 The Best Food Spot in Providence, Rhode Island

39:40 Be Who You Are and Follow Your Passions