DUHC

We’re kicking off the new school year with an eye-opening conversation (see what we did there?) This week, we had the pleasure of chatting with Erik Reiman, a first-year optometry student at the University of Waterloo and a recent graduate of Dalhousie’s Medical Sciences program. Erik broke down the optometry profession, explaining what optometrists actually do, where they can work, and common misconceptions about the field. Then, we jumped into the application process where we learned how to best prepare for the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) and interview. Finally, Erik shared insights into his coursework, clinical opportunities, and connections within his cohort.

If you’ve ever had your sights set on optometry or are just curious, this episode is for you! 

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We’re back! 🎙️ In our first episode of the year, meet the team behind the podcast, hear what we have planned for the society, and get a sneak peek at the guests and topics coming this year.

We also share some of our favourite spots around Halifax — from study spots and coffee shops to food, beaches, and places to escape campus life. 🌊☕🍴

Have an episode or guest suggestion? Check out the form in our Linktree, and don’t forget to sign up as a general member for episode updates!

For our final episode of the semester, we had the pleasure of speaking with Riya Ralli, a Master of Health Administration (MHA) student here at Dalhousie, to break down all aspects of the program. Riya shares her journey from studying Dentistry in her home country to moving to Halifax to pursue her master’s, driven by a passion to create meaningful change in healthcare systems.

We talk about what the MHA program actually entails and the career paths that can follow it. Riya also tells us about the different streams you can take within the master’s and the amazing mentorship opportunities available to students. Finally, we get into the hidden curriculum and talk about the skills you build beyond the classroom and coursework.

We highly recommend giving this episode a listen, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the MHA program. You might just discover a path you didn’t even know was an option!

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This week, we sat down with Faith Jamieson, a Bachelor of Dental Hygiene student at Dalhousie, to learn what life in dental hygiene is really like. Faith walks us through the role and responsibilities of dental hygienists, as well as the diverse settings in which they can practice.

We also dive into the application process, where Faith shares valuable advice on what prospective students should focus on when applying. She gives us an inside look at the structure of the program, including courses, exams, and how dental hygiene compares to a typical undergraduate experience. Plus, we explore student life, what a typical day looks like, the class culture, and how she balances academics with everything else.

Considering dental hygiene? Then you won’t want to miss this behind-the-scenes look at the program. We’re wishing everyone the best as finals approach! 

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In this episode, we’re joined by Josie Burke and Gracie Burns, first-year PharmD students at Dalhousie who transitioned into pharmacy after completing two years of undergrad! They share an inside look at the path to pharmacy: from deciding to apply, to what the admissions process involves, and how to navigate interviews successfully.

We also explore what being a pharmacist really looks like, including roles, scope of practice, and common misconceptions. Josie and Gracie break down the structure of the PharmD program, what courses and exams are like, and how pharmacy school compares to undergrad. Plus, they touch on student life, class culture, and how they balance everything outside of academics.

Whether you’re considering pharmacy, curious about healthcare careers, or looking for real student perspectives, this episode offers a helpful and honest look into the PharmD journey! 

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This week, we had the pleasure of chatting with Kate Lamont, a first-year law student at the University of Toronto and a Dal MedSci alumni! We breakdown how Kate realized that she wanted to pursue law, the adjustments she faced, and the biggest misconceptions surrounding law school. Kate runs us through her current course-load and shares her typical day-in-the-life full of readings and studying! We end off this episode with the admissions process (including the LSAT) and what matters most in your application. 

Prospective law students, this episode is for you! Tune in to hear what it’s really like and see if it’s the right fit for you.

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Full circle moment! For this episode, we chatted with two former DUHC hosts, Basmah and Mustansir, to catch-up and learn more about Medical School at University of British Columbia (UBC)! They walk us through how the UBC Medicine program is set-up, pre-clerkship vs. clerkship, a typical day, and how Med School compares to undergrad (especially in terms of studying). We learn about the main components of the UBC application, pre-requirements, and how Basmah and Mustansir tackled it all. Before we signed off, they spoke on how they deal with burnout, how matching into residency works, and some hidden curriculum/misconceptions about Med School!

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For this week’s episode, we sat down with Celia Briand, a second-year student in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at Dalhousie! Celia walks us through everything about the PA journey, from applying to understanding how PAs differ from physicians, all the way to a typical day in the program. We discuss how to stand out as an applicant, how to prepare for interviews, what rotations look like, and the work-life balance in the program. 

Make sure to tune in if you’re a prospective PA student, exploring healthcare careers, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at the PA journey!

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This week, we broke down everything you need to know about summer jobs: from resumés and cover letters to acing your interviews! Summer is an essential time, especially for those interested in professional programs, to gain work experience.

We start off by sharing how we’ve spent our past couple of summers working and how we actually landed those positions. We then dive into the nitty-gritty of finding and applying to jobs, including where to look, cold emailing, how to use your connections effectively, and why starting in volunteer roles can make applying easier when you’re lacking experience. We also talk about rejection, ghosting, and why not hearing back is part of the process. 

Then, we walk through how to efficiently tailor your resume and cover letter for different roles and how tools like AI can help you throughout the application and interview-prep process.

We want to emphasize that there’s no such thing as a wasted summer. Even jobs that aren’t directly related to your field of interest can build transferable skills, confidence, and connections that will open doors later on! If you’re a first-year wondering how you’re going to spend this summer, this episode is for you!

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It’s our first non-guest episode, and we’re so excited to walk you through our favourite study techniques for different classes, tips for staying motivated during finals, and our favourite spots to stay focused! Exams change a lot from first to second year, and your study methods should change with them. In this episode, we tackle flashcards (and highlight our favourite app Anki), brain maps, how to use AI properly when you study, and how to absorb information better during lectures. We emphasize how time-management is crucial during this time, and how to stay on top of deadlines so that you finish high-priority tasks efficiently! We end the episode with our favourite spots to study on- and off-campus and provide our final tips for any first-years (and beyond) entering exam season!

This is the perfect episode to listen to before the exams begin. We’re wishing everyone the best and remember: first year is the time to experiment and figure out what study methods work for you so don’t be too hard on yourself!

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