Starting internship can feel exciting and overwhelming all at once. In this episode, we speak with Dr Samyak Shah about the transition from medical student to doctor, covering time management, ward jobs, night shifts, confidence, mistakes, work-life balance, and what consultants actually value in an intern. Packed with practical advice and honest reflections, this episode is designed to help medical students feel more prepared for Day One.

Credits: Isha Shah, Maha Thiagarajan, Yuvani Pal, Kanupriya Aditya, Harrinish Sathiyakumar, Tachapong Saeung, Gopesh Kannan, Shivi Maheshwari, Arkash Jayasinghe

Dr Steph Rixon breaks down how to take a better patient history: from pre-clin to real-life internship.

Key topics include:

• Practical OSCE/APEX preparation strategies
• Structuring a patient history as a doctor (not a med student!)
• Asking focused questions based on presenting complaints
• Building rapport quickly with patients
• Taking sensitive histories
• Presenting histories to consultants
• Common mistakes medical students make
• Adapting histories across ED, medical and surgical settings
• How history-taking changes after graduating medical school
• The difference between a “scripted” and genuinely good history-taking style

In this episode of the M&M Podcast, we’re joined by Dr Grace Walpole, a palliative care specialist at Eastern Health and senior lecturer at Monash and Deakin University.

We chat about her journey through medical school and specialist training, what drew her to palliative care, and how communication became such a central part of her work. Dr Walpole also shares what palliative care actually involves day-to-day, breaking down common misconceptions and explaining the role it plays far beyond end-of-life care.

We explore how doctors navigate difficult conversations around prognosis, hope, and decision-making, as well as the challenges and rewards of working closely with patients and families during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

Whether you’re a medical student, healthcare worker, or simply curious about the human side of medicine, this episode offers an honest and thoughtful insight into one of medicine’s most misunderstood specialties.

** For the first time, Dr. Ben Amberg shares details about a brand new learning resource he’s currently developing, giving listeners an exclusive early look before its official release. **

In this episode of M&M, we’re joined by Dr Ben Amberg — an O&G registrar at Monash Women’s, Monash alum, and the mind behind some of the most widely used med school notes.

We talk about his journey through med school, BMedSci/PhD and research, how he approached studying and scoring well, and his transition into O&G training

Dr. Shavi Fernando – how to be more than just a doctor.

We sit down with Dr. Shavi Fernando (Consultant O&G) for an honest and insightful conversation about what it really means to be a doctor today.

We explore how to stay motivated through the long years of medicine, how medical education has evolved from textbooks to hands-on learning, and how society’s expectations shape the doctor–patient relationship.

It’s a thoughtful, relatable episode packed with practical advice on becoming not just a good doctor, but a well-rounded one.

We are so excited to introduce you all to M&M 2026! ✨

Come meet the committee, learn what we’re all about, and get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how our episodes are brought to life. From concept to final cut, we’ll be sharing a sneak peek into the process that makes it all happen 🎬

Plus, we’ll be giving you a preview of what’s to come this year… trust us, you don’t want to miss it 💫

In this episode, we, two Monash medical students from different year levels, sit down to reflect on our journeys from high school to medical school. We talk about what it was like navigating VCE, how we approached studying, and the big picture of applying for medicine — from managing expectations to keeping our motivation alive.

Whether you’re a student just starting to think about your future, in the middle of exam season, or already planning your med school applications, this episode gives a real and honest look into what the path to medicine actually feels like, and how everyone’s journey can look a little different.

Credits:

Isha Shah, Maha Thiagarajan, David Sov, Harrinish Sathyakumar, Kanupriya Aditya, Tachapong Saeung, Saskia Lantanea, Yuvani Pal, Pooja Singh, Gopesh Kannan, Jiadong Li, Arkash Jayasinghe, Shivi Maheshwari

Want to become a plastic surgeon? 🩺✨ We break down the path from med school to the OR - the specific projects you can do right from the student level :)

Credits:

Isha Shah, Maha Thiagarajan, David Sov, Harrinish Sathyakumar, Kanupriya Aditya, Tachapong Saeung, Saskia Lantanea, Yuvani Pal, Pooja Singh, Gopesh Kannan, Jiadong Li, Arkash Jayasinghe, Shivi Maheshwari

Do you need to do a full BMedSci Honours year—or can you get meaningful research experience during other years?

Seiyon, last year’s BMedSci rep and organiser of MRSS and weekly journal clubs, shares his journey from structured coursework to independent research. We dive into his cardiology-related project, the “aha” moments, unexpected challenges, and what makes a research community thrive.

Thinking about doing Honours—or just curious if research is necessary? Seiyon covers it all: how to find the right project and supervisor, managing stress, staying motivated, and whether the Honours path is for you.

Credits:

Isha Shah, Maha Thiagarajan, David Sov, Harrinish Sathyakumar, Kanupriya Aditya, Tachapong Saeung, Saskia Lantanea, Yuvani Pal, Pooja Singh, Gopesh Kannan, Jiadong Li, Arkash Jayasinghe, Shivi Maheshwari

In this episode, we sit down with a fourth-year medical student to talk about neurodivergence in medical school—both in the learning environment and in patient care. We explore the challenges and strengths of students with neurodivergence, how medical education can become more inclusive, and what future doctors need to know when treating neurodivergent patients.

Credits:

Isha Shah, Maha Thiagarajan, David Sov, Harrinish Sathyakumar, Kanupriya Aditya, Tachapong Saeung, Saskia Lantanea, Yuvani Pal, Pooja Singh, Gopesh Kannan, Jiadong Li, Arkash Jayasinghe, Shivi Maheshwari