Journey to Medicine

Dr. Sergio Torres served as a hospital medicine physician at Stanford and is currently a medicine faculty at UCSF. He discusses his experience training as a physician in Mexico and the United States in this fantastic episode. His interest in medicine began as an adolescent despite having no medical influences in his large family. He details an impactful mission trip in which he was motivated to gain insight and answers to questions that people had about their health. After high school, Dr. Torres entered medical school in Mexico and completed a year of research to examine cardiovascular aging. Along the way, he confronted many questions about the limitations of medicine. After, Dr. Torres prepared to apply for residency programs in the U.S. and later attended a program at Baylor. During this episode, Dr. Torres provides excellent insight into choosing a fulfilling profession, explaining his background in service and his desire to help those that are less fortunate. Finally, he offers advice to students to pursue a path that is in harmony with who they are and to stop and ask themselves the essential questions along their journey!

In this encouraging and inspiring episode, Dr. Gail Gazelle, a Harvard Medical School faculty and author of the book "Everyday Resilience," provides tangible advice on how to move from burnout to resilience. She describes her early interest in medicine and her childhood experiences that led her to pursue a career in hospice care. Dr. Gazelle held various clinical positions and eventually completed a medical ethics fellowship to start a palliative care program. After her son's birth, Dr. Gazelle began to feel tremendous guilt and burnout, which led her to pursue her training to become a physician coach and write a book to help others. Throughout this episode, Dr. Gazelle provides fantastic advice about numerous steps that students and physicians can take to develop resilience and thrive in their lives and careers!

Throughout her journey, Jessica Buesing, chief resident at Stanford, put one foot in front of the other at every step along the way. Throughout undergrad, she was very involved in music in both her studies and extracurriculars, graduating from Williams with a double major in clinical psychology and music. After college, she pursued several experiences working in behavioral therapy and ended up in a nursing program at Columbia. However, a particular physiology course sparked a fascination and convinced Dr. Buesing to switch gears and pursue medical school. In this fascinating episode, Dr. Buesing discusses being brave, bold, and overcoming fear to follow a true passion as well as work-life balance and finding support systems.

"In this powerful episode, Dr. Steven Reid, neurosurgeon and founder of the non-profit Doctor Lifeline, discusses his crucial work to prevent physician burnout and suicide. He lays out the reasons for an increased incidence among physicians and various steps we need to take to prevent it. His story begins during undergrad when he accidentally fell into medicine and later completed a seven-year BS/MD program. While choosing specialties, Dr. Reid pursued neurosurgery even after being warned against it. However, during his training, he experienced “the dark night of the soul” and contemplated quitting. From his experience, Dr. Reid provides advice to students on the importance of enduring the challenging aspects of medicine, having open conversations, seeking help, and finding joy along the journey!"

"In this exciting episode, Dr. Sophia Yen, an adolescent medicine physician and CEO/Co-Founder of Pandia Health, describes the traditional path she followed throughout undergrad and medical school. From her experience, she offers insightful advice about useful positions and extracurriculars that are helpful for medical school admissions. Additionally, Dr. Yen details her passion and hope for pediatrics as well as her entrepreneurial spirit!"

In this insightful episode, Gabrielle Nord focuses on the passionate journey that led her to attend PA school at Stanford. She recalls the train ride that shifted her life goals and convinced her to ignore her doubts and pursue a career in medicine. Gabrielle also gives great advice about the process of applying to PA school and her extensive background in international service. Her journey to medicine is a true testament to her life motto that “it’s not about if, it’s about when.” Listen to this episode for an inspirational and encouraging story!!

In this fantastic episode, Emily Trimm takes us through her journey, which began with a move from England to the United States when she was eleven years old. At first, Emily had a dream to become a veterinarian but during high school, her focus shifted when she volunteered as an EMT. Throughout undergrad, Emily continued her experience as an EMT, immersed herself in research, and studied physics. When the time came to apply to medical school, she focused solely on MD/Ph.D. programs and credits two simple things for her extraordinary success: authenticity and consistency. Emily also elaborates on cultivating other passions and activities such as her love for ballroom dancing as well as finding joy in what you pursue!

In this important interview, Dr. Adela Wu reflects on her undergrad years at Brown enrolled in a combined program, taking both science and English courses. After medical school, Dr. Wu was aware of negative stereotypes as a female neurosurgeon yet she was able to overcome the doubts of others as well as self-doubts to pursue her true passion. She also speaks on striking a balance between interests as well as work and personal life. Early on in her undergrad years, she wanted to be a freelance writer but in the present she finds that she has the ability to do both writing and medicine, offering the advice that it is healthy to consider other career options. Dr. Wu advises young students to follow what motivates them because students should pursue multiple passions.

In this fascinating interview, Dr. Thomas Lew, a hospitalist at Stanford, gives great advice on pursuing passions. He reflects on his decision to become a physician, especially with the influence of his siblings, who are all also doctors. Additionally, Dr. Lew speaks on his strong volunteering background and his love of writing, both passions that intersected with medicine. Dr. Lew also discusses how the financial burden of pursuing medicine can be overcome and his ritual that helps him through the difficult part of his job as a physician, such as delivering bad news to a patient. Give this episode a listen for inspiration to follow your passions and confidence that you can do it too!

In this remarkable interview, Dr. Michael Zhang gives simple, effective advice regarding the decision to go into medicine and one important step that everyone should take before applying to medical school. He discusses his time in med school and neurosurgery residency and what surprised him the most about becoming a resident. Listen to this inspirational podcast!