Prospective Doctor (from MedSchoolCoach)

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Brett Riggins, a speaker, author, investor, and founder of Connect Home Buyers and Physician Wealth Systems. They discuss the benefits of having a great mindset in medicine, why physicians should learn about real estate investing, and how to surround yourself with the right people. 

• [00:00] Introducing Brett Riggins
• [03:32] Brett's Journey to Real Estate
• [05:59] Why You Need to Have a Basic Understanding of Real Estate
• [08:46] The Mindset You Need to Succeed as a Physician
• [11:35] Are You Taking Advantage of All the Opportunities in Your Life?
• [16:32] Change "I Cannot" to "How Can I"
• [18:37] To Succeed, Surround Yourself With The Right People
• [20:20] What Brett Would Change About Healthcare
• [24:30] Insurance and Why We Must Restructure the Healthcare System
• [26:58] Be Proactive, Not Reactive
• [28:09] Parting Thoughts

The Mindset You Need to Succeed as a Physician

You need a great mindset to succeed in all aspects of life, not just medicine. As a physician, especially early in your career, you'll face demanding situations, complex cases, and endless sleepless nights. Your resilience will be tested, but a strong mindset will keep you going. So, instead of burying yourself deep in books, make time to develop a flexible and open mindset. This will allow you to embrace change, be more resilient and stay at the forefront of your field.

According to Brett, having the right mindset can be the difference between surviving and thriving as a physician. With a great mindset, you can turn obstacles into opportunities and setbacks into stepping stones.

Take Advantage of Every Opportunity in Life

In life, you will get lots of good opportunities. You will take some, and you will miss some. The key is to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. The more opportunities you take, the better because sometimes, one opportunity can mean the difference between a mediocre life and an extraordinary one.

Brett believes the first and probably most important step in taking advantage of every opportunity is saying yes more often. Not all opportunities are great. But saying yes a lot more ensures you don't miss out on the good ones. The best things in your life will happen because you said yes to something. Otherwise, your situation will stay the same.

You can reach Brett Riggins through his LinkedIn account: Linkedin.com/Brettriggins. Check out his websites, Connect Home Buyers and Physician Wealth Systems, for more details about his work. 

Mentioned in This Episode:

How to Get Rich as Doctor by Brett Riggins

The Richest Man In Babylon by George S Clason 

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. 

You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

In this episode, which premiered on 10/31/2023, I talked with Erkeda DeRouen (MD) about her passion for merging the humanistic aspect of medicine with the new field of emerging technology. Erkeda shared her experience working in a healthtech startup company in the early days of telemedicine, going into full time business for herself as a healthcare consultant, and her non-profit leadership role in helping women & non-binary adults learn software development skills. Erkeda and I also talked at length about her thoughts on emerging technology's ability to improve healthcare for all and how she plans to revolutionize health care with community, collaboration, and cybernetics through The Pace Makerz organization. This is a conversation you won't want to miss!

KEEP IN TOUCH

🤝🏾 Connect With Erkeda DeRouen, MD: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erkedader...

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🔔 Subscribe to the "Talking Tech Podcast" for future content - @TheTalkingTechPodcast 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

🗣️️ Subscribe to The Prospective Doctor Podcast - https://www.prospectivedoctor.com/pro...

🗣️ Vist Erkeda DeRouen MD, LLC website - https://www.drerkeda.com/

🗣️️ Become a client of ELD Consultants - https://www.eldconsultants.com/

🗣️️ Get Involved with Girl Develop It - https://girldevelopit.com/About/About...

🗣️️ Watch Dr. Erkeda DeRouen: Did Disney Just Save Healthcare? TedX Talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/dr_erkeda_d...

🗣️️ Become part of The Pace Makerz Healthcare Revolution - https://www.thepacemakerz.com/

🗣️️ Get ready for the 2023 -2024 GloUp Tour [Starts In November 2023!] - https://theglouptour.com/ 

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Aubrey Grant, a trailblazing clinical sports cardiologist and co-founder of Equity Commons. They discuss the rising cases of cardiac arrest among athletes and how medics can tackle implicit bias in healthcare. 

• [00:45] Introducing Dr. Aubrey Grant
• [03:50] The Journey to Medicine
• [05:28] Sudden Cardiac Arrest Among Athletes
• [07:35] Why We All Need to Learn Basic CPR
• [08:52] Bias Training at Equity Commons
• [13:54] Be Open to Trying New Things 
• [16:50] The Benefits of Having a Personal Board of Directors
• [20:55] What Dr. Grant Would Change About Healthcare
• [22:49] Advice For Medical Students on Addressing Implicit Bias
• [26:44] Parting Thoughts

Implicit Bias in Healthcare

The medical profession aims to provide equal treatment for all patients. Unfortunately, disparities will always exist. We all come from different cultural backgrounds, and we all carry biases. Implicit biases are the ones people are unaware of. You may think you're treating everyone equally, but your implicit bias may cause unconscious negative actions towards a particular group of people.

According to Dr. Grant, everybody is susceptible to these biases. Among physicians, implicit biases may contribute to healthcare disparities and produce different medical outcomes for people along the lines of gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background. 

The Rising Cases of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Among Athletes

The ever-rising cases of cardiac arrest among athletes are alarming. Athletes are often at the epitome of health and fitness, so you'd expect them to have no heart problems. But the truth is, even the most finely-tuned athletes are not immune to sudden cardiac arrest. 

The big question is, why is this happening? Dr. Grant is convinced there's no single answer, as various factors are in play. The good news is that there is still hope. And it all starts with everybody learning basic CPR, particularly in Black and Brown communities. CPR is not just a life-saving skill for medical professionals. It's that one superpower that everybody must possess. Learning it can mean the difference between life and death. 

You can reach Dr. Aubrey Grant through her Instagram account: @aubjgrantmd and LinkedIn Aubrey J. Grant M.D. Check out his website for more details about his work and implicit bias. 

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. 

You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Gary Epler, an internationally-known Harvard Medical School professor and the CEO of Epler Health. They talk about Dr. Epler’s discovery of Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia, and lessons medical students can take away from his journey.

• [01:00] Introducing Dr. Gary Epler
• [04:31] Go to Medical School for the Right Reasons
• [10:16] Discovering Epler’s Pneumonia
• [15:58] Innovation in Medicine
• [22:38] Think from the Heart

Dr. Gary Epler’s Medical Journey

The decision to go into medicine is going to be different for each person. Dr. Epler was inspired to become a physician so he can improve patients’ lives. His journey had a rough start, with his application rejected by several medical schools. But with enough perseverance, he was able to enter Tulane University’s School of Medicine. The life of a medical student is full of challenges, but Dr. Epler faced those head on because he was eager to learn. 

During his pulmonary critical care training, Dr. Epler took up an interest in bronchitis obliterans. He examined dozens of cases and found abnormalities in the x-rays. After convincing his professor for months, they discovered bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia and published their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Be Your True Self in Medicine

Going into medicine for external reasons is not wrong, but internal motivation will better inspire you to provide the best care possible. Dedicated physicians prioritize patients’ well-being, even if it means experiencing inconvenience. When we think about ourselves less, the more authentic we can be in our interactions with other people. We become free to innovate and explore creative solutions that will help medicine progress even further. 

You can reach Dr. Gary Epler through his email at [email protected]. Check out his website for more details about his work and podcast. 

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. 

You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Ruth Arumala, a board certified OB-GYN and cosmetic surgeon. They talk about advocating for women’s health and tips to get through the first few years of med school. 

• [00:45] Introducing Dr. Ruth Arumala
• [01:46] How to Advocate for Women’s Health
• [07:04] Pretty in Pink Podcast
• [11:59] Tips for Adjusting to Med School
• [22:01] What Dr. Arumala Would Change About Healthcare

Advocating for Women’s Healthcare

Physicians can better advocate for women’s health by seeing patients in their entirety, not just as body parts. In any specialty, doctors need to look out for the whole person. Majority of the time, women receive excellent healthcare only when they are pregnant. Young girls feel confused about the changes in their body while older women feel discarded after menopause. Women typically take on a caregiving role. So when they are healthy and supported, the rest of the population will be too. 

Tips for Starting Your Medical Journey

In everything you do, always remember why you started. Write down your why and remind yourself of it on a daily basis. Your reasons for going into medicine cannot be superficial, they have to be meaningful to help get you through this long journey. It should motivate you to push on despite the challenges. 

Stay focused on what you have to do. Envision your end goal and then do things that will help you achieve that. It’s important to keep your mind sharp by continuously learning. There will be a lot of distractions along the way. To succeed, you need to be able to resist those. Taking breaks is important, but don’t sacrifice your dream for a few fleeting moments of fun. 

You can reach Dr. Ruth Arumala through her Instagram accounts: @i.am.dr.arumala and @noblexdrarumala. Check out her website for more details about her work and podcast. 

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. 

You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Megan Osborn, the Associate Dean for Students at UC Irvine School of Medicine. They talk about how students can excel in medical school and in their clinical years. 

• [00:55] Introducing Dr. Megan Osborn
• [01:45] The Advantages of Taking a Gap Year
• [04:21] Qualities of a Successful Applicant
• [07:28] Thriving in Medical School
• [13:11] Transitioning to the Clinical Years
• [18:10] What Dr. Osbon Would Change About Medical Education

Should You Take a Gap Year?

It's hard to make up for a low GPA, so students should focus on academics while in school. Taking a gap year or two is beneficial so you can build your resume with clinical experiences and other activities. Applying to medical school during a gap year allows you to focus on the process while strengthening your resume. Gap years provide the perfect opportunity for you to explore and figure out what you truly want. 

How to Thrive in Medical School

Humility is a quality that can certainly help medical students thrive. Accepted applicants are all brilliant, which makes the learning environment feel competitive. Getting a below average score does not mean that you are a failure. 

Medical school is about lifelong learning, not high grades. As such, students may need to develop better study habits that can help them absorb and retain information better. Getting a tutor or asking for help can allow you to study more efficiently, while allowing you to make time for wellness or hobbies outside of medicine. 

Preparing for Clinical Rotations

During the first and second years of medical school, the curriculum has been designed to prepare students for the Step 1 and Step 2 exams. However, the clinical years are different. Students will need to be responsible for their own learning as they complete their rotations. To help you prepare for Shelf Exams, make an outline or list of topics to cover during each rotation. Didactics and review questions are good additional sources of learning, but they should not be your main resource. 

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. 

You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Wojtek Dolkowski, the co-founder and CEO of MEDtube. They talk about MEDtube as a learning resource and the best way for students to use the platform. 

[01:06] What is MEDtube?

[07:16] Learning on MEDtube

[12:04] How to access MEDtube

About MEDtube

MEDtube is a social e-learning platform for physicians and healthcare professionals. The images, videos, courses, and documents are uploaded by physicians, clinicians, and other field experts. Anonymous posts are not permitted, to guarantee the credibility of the resources. Each piece of content is carefully curated to make sure it is scientifically sound. 

MEDtube for Medical Students and Learners

Educators have already started using the platform in their lectures and have recommended it to their students. The clinical cases on MEDtube can be used for homework, additional learning, or even as discussion points. Students can also use the MEDtube platform to help them anticipate how clinical rotations will go. 

Join MEDtube for Free

Go to medtube.net and sign up for a free account. Once you become a physician or a medical professional, you can provide your NPI number to upgrade your account and have access to additional features.

Check out the MEDtube website to browse their library of 25,000+ clinical cases.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. 

You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Andrea O’Brien, the Director of Residential Admissions at A.T. Still University. They talk about communicating your why in medical school applications and the mistakes to avoid.

• [00:57] Introducing Andrea O’Brien
• [02:27] Ways to Stand Out as a Med School Applicant 
• [08:21] Med School Application Mistakes
• [17:25] A.T. Still University’s Waitlist System
• [19:09] When to Submit Your Medical School Application
• [22:51] What Andrea O’Brien Would Change About Healthcare

Know Your Why for Pursuing Medicine

Medicine is a difficult profession, so schools would like to see your authenticity and passion come through your application. Accumulating experience over the long term can really set you apart from other applicants. Medical schools want to see that you’ve been preparing for it not just in the last few months. Community service and cultural competency are also things you want to highlight in your resume. “Know Your Why” by Simon Sinek is a book that can help you communicate your motive for pursuing medicine. 

Avoid These Mistakes in Your Med School Application

Choose schools where you’re going to feel most comfortable and supported. Align your own goals to the school’s mission. If you have encountered a challenging situation which affected your application, be sure to address it. The admissions committee notices any unusual changes and would appreciate an explanation. 

Another mistake to avoid is rushing to submit your application. Take all the time you need to build a strong resume. Rejected or waitlisted students would do well to follow any feedback and advice given to improve their application. 

Best Time to Apply for Medical School

As a general rule, it is always better to submit your application sooner rather than later. Applications that are severely lacking may be rejected immediately. It’s wise to let the school know if you’re retaking the MCAT so they can wait for your new score. Submitting your application at the very end of the cycle would be disadvantageous because by then, most slots would already be filled. Late August or early September are ideal times to apply for medical school.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. 

You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dimple Patel, the Associate Dean of Admissions at the University of Minnesota Medical School. They talk about the deliberation process for accepting applicants into medical school.

• [01:04] Introducing Dimple Patel
• [01:46] How Medical Schools Deliberate
• [07:18] Showcase Your Core Competencies [09:41] Tips for Waitlisted Applicants
• [13:17] What Dimple Patel Would Change About Healthcare

Transparency in Medical Schools’ Admissions Process

When applicants are rejected, they often feel like they’re not qualified to become medical students. In reality, there are a lot of factors that affect admissions. For example, the University of Minnesota Medical School allocates 80% of its slots for Minnesota residents, and the remaining 20% for non-residents. As a result, non-resident applicants face much stiffer competition.  Each school will have its own criteria and mission that will influence their deliberation process. Applicants would be able to increase their chances of acceptance if they can demonstrate how their personal values align with the institution’s own goals.    

Attributes of Good Medical School Applicants

Different medical schools will differ in the core competencies they’re looking for. But generally, critical thinking, socio-cultural humility, and an orientation towards service are great attributes. In your application, prove that you possess those qualities by citing your experiences. It’s also helpful to share any changes and learning outcomes that you’ve gained. This will provide the admissions team with further insight into who you are. 

Tips for Waitlisted and Rejected Applicants

If you have not been granted an interview, review your application again. Maybe you can improve how you present your learning outcomes or other core competencies. Include stories of how you overcame challenges in life or when your values were tested. If you have been denied after an interview, it may just be a matter of brushing up on your communication skills.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. 

You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Deanna Hughes, the Director of Admissions at A.T. Still University. They talk about building a competitive medical school application and the faux pas to avoid.

• [01:01] Introducing Deanna Hughes
• [02:51] How Competitive are Medical School Applications?
• [06:02] Strengthen Your Med School Application
• [12:27] What NOT to Do in Your Application
• [15:23] What Deanna Hughes Would Change About Healthcare

Limited Admissions into Medical School

At A.T. Still University, the most number of applicants they've received is from 8,000 students. However, they only have 150 available slots. The admissions process is very competitive, so most students would do well to start preparing as early as high school or college. Non-traditional applicants are also encouraged to apply, as medical schools also value diversity.

How to Build a Strong Portfolio

Each medical school has its own unique mission statement. Before anything else, students should choose schools that align with their own values and mission. Pre-meds can start to build a competitive resume by shadowing both MD and DO physicians. Getting letters of recommendation from both doctors is advantageous. Being a member or leader in pre-med organizations is also great for your portfolio. In addition to clinical work, community service makes for a well-rounded application. All these experiences and extracurricular activities are important, but don’t forget to keep an eye on your grades. 

Mistakes to Avoid in Your Application

Students might think that mentioning faculty members or staff can give them a leg up in admissions, but it actually has the opposite effect. Name dropping is generally frowned upon. Another practice that might hurt your application is gushing about a school’s location instead of the school itself and its values. What you want to highlight is how aligned you are with your chosen school’s values and mission statement, making you the perfect fit in their environment.  

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. 

You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor