Medical training isn’t a solo fight. The students who survive - and thrive - are the ones who build the right support system before things start falling apart.

In Episode 6 of Rounds to Residency, Chase DiMarco and Dr. Brandon Deason use a boxing analogy to explain why “your corner” matters in medical training. From chief mentors and peer support to therapists, academic coaches, and alumni networks, they break down the different roles that help medical students endure high-stakes exams, rotations, and emotional burnout.

They also tackle what to do if you’re introverted, don’t have stable faculty mentors, or feel awkward asking for help, and explain how mentorship is a two-way street that requires clarity, accountability, and intention.

What You’ll Learn

• What “your corner” really means in medical training

• The different types of mentors every student needs

• How to find a chief mentor, even if your school lacks support

• Why mental-health support should start before clinical trauma

• How peer accountability improves performance

• Why vague “mentor me” requests don’t work

• How to ask for mentorship without feeling awkward

• How alumni networks and non-medical mentors fit into your support system

👤 Guest

Dr. Brandon Deason - Physician, Medical Educator & Founder of DDQX Learning

🔗 Resources & Links

• Rounds to Residency Hub: https://meded.university/podcasts/

• MedEd University: https://meded.university/

• YouTube Playlist: https://youtu.be/bcO8wOxHePk

• DDQX Learning: https://ddqxlearning.org/

00:00 – Welcome to Rounds to Residency Ep 6 │ Build Your Corner

00:48 – The boxing analogy: why your corner matters

02:12 – Who belongs in a boxer’s corner

03:03 – The chief mentor: your “head trainer”

04:17 – Learning from upperclassmen and recent grads

04:41 – The “cut man”: mental-health support in medical training

06:07 – Why you should get a therapist before rotations

06:52 – When friends and family don’t understand medical stress

07:29 – Peer study groups and accountability

08:48 – Avoiding toxic online study communities

09:51 – Academic coaches and structured study plans

10:45 – The role of family and non-medical mentors

11:50 – What if you can’t find a mentor at your school?

12:56 – Faculty vs. external mentors

14:23 – Introversion and mentorship challenges

15:51 – Clarifying your goals before asking for mentorship

17:20 – Why mentorship is a two-way street

18:08 – Four types of mentors: academic, clinical, professional, personal

19:32 – Why vague mentorship requests fail

21:13 – Accountability and following through

22:43 – Alumni networks as hidden resources

24:09 – Keeping mentorship low-stakes at the start

25:04 – Final advice: rip off the band-aid and ask

25:37 – Closing remarks │ Build your corner early

Subscribe to Rounds to Residency for weekly episodes on surviving medical school, rotations, and residency prep.

Tell us who’s in your corner and tag @MedEdUniversity on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Most students think medical school is just lectures and Step studying… until they face their first real patient interaction, awkward questions, and simulation labs. The journey from pre-med to clinician is shaped long before rotations begin.

In Episode 1 of Rounds to Residency, Chase DiMarco and Dr. Brandon Deason break down how early clinical exposure, or lack of it, shapes confidence, performance, and specialty decisions later in training.

From cultural “cliques” in school to simulation labs, shadowing pitfalls, pre-hospital work, and embarrassing first HPIs, they share candid stories from EMT life, Caribbean medical school challenges, and US clinical training.

You’ll learn what actually matters in your pre-clinical years, why long-term shadowing beats mission trips, how awkward patient conversations are unavoidable, and how ChatGPT can now simulate patient encounters to help you practice HPIs, exams, and sensitive questions.

What You’ll Learn

• Why early clinical exposure varies dramatically between schools

• The real value of pre-med shadowing (hint: longevity > hours)

• How EMT/paramedic work translates into clinical confidence

• The trust game: why showing early competence leads to more procedures

• How sim labs impact skill growth — and what to do if you don’t have one

• How to practice awkward patient conversations before rotations

• Why non-traditional students often match better

• How to use AI tools to rehearse HPIs, sensitive questions & exam flow

👤 Guest

Dr. Brandon Deason — Physician, Medical Educator & Founder of DDQX Learning

🔗 Resources & Links

• Rounds to Residency Hub: https://meded.university/podcasts/

• MedEd University: https://meded.university/

• YouTube Playlist: https://youtu.be/xRyupem6BMI

• DDQX Learning: https://ddqxlearning.org/

00:00 – Welcome to Rounds to Residency Ep 1 │ First Clinical Jab

00:35 – Pre-med expectations vs reality

02:10 – Cultural vs specialty “cliques” in medical school

04:20 – EMT & paramedic training and early clinical exposure

06:05 – Confidence, mistakes, and weird patient encounters

08:50 – What early pre-clinical exposure actually develops

11:00 – Shadowing: why duration beats mission trips

13:15 – Understanding specialty fit through observation

15:25 – How simulation labs differ across schools

17:40 – Practicing awkward patient questions

20:10 – Building trust on rotations to earn procedures

23:00 – Using AI to simulate patient interactions

25:20 – How to practice HPIs if your school has no clinical access

28:40 – Pre-med narratives: what admissions committees actually want

31:10 – The rise of non-traditional applicants

33:00 – Key takeaways for pre-meds & early medical students

36:00 – Closing remarks │ Connect with DDQX Learning & MedEd University

Subscribe to Rounds to Residency for weekly episodes that improve your clinical confidence and residency readiness.

Tell us your biggest pre-clinical challenge and tag @MedEdUniversity on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Most candidates recap their CV. The memorable ones tell short, vivid stories. In this round, we show you how to turn any residency interview question into a crisp, confident STAR answer that programs actually remember.

Are you tired of rambling through “Tell me about yourself” and “weakness” questions? In this episode, Chase DiMarco and Dr. Brandon Deason break down how to use the STAR method (Situation–Task–Action–Result) to answer behavioral questions with clarity and impact. You’ll build a reusable story bank, learn how to land the Result that matters, and keep your answers in the 60–120 second sweet spot—without sounding rehearsed.

What You’ll Learn

- How to build a small Story Bank you can reuse across multiple questions

- How to use the STAR frame (Situation–Task–Action–Result) & find the Result that actually matters

- How to handle follow-ups, “Why this program?”, and “weakness” without rambling

- How to tighten long answers into clean 60–120 second stories

- Zoom presence tips so your answers are clear, connected, and confident

Guest & Host

Guest: Dr. Brandon Deason - Medical educator & interview coach

Host: Chase DiMarco - Med Ed University

Resources

- Story Bank Template (download) → meded.university (Episodes hub)

- Rounds to Residency hub → https://meded.university/podcasts/

00:00 Intro — Why stories beat recaps

03:10 The STAR frame in 90 seconds

07:15 Build your Story Bank (5 prompts)

12:20 “Tell me about yourself” → STAR

17:40 Weakness/Failure without self-sabotage

23:05 Handling follow-ups & probing

27:10 Zoom presence & landing the Result

31:00 Final checklist & practice plan

Subscribe for weekly Residency insights. Comment with the interview question that stresses you out the most and which STAR story you’ll practice next. Hit the bell so you never miss a round.

Most applicants grind through thousands of flashcards; the memorable scores come from switching at the right time, from memorizing minutiae to practice-based learning that moves your percent-correct up.

Are you crying into your Anki decks? In this round, Chase DiMarco and Dr. Brandon Deason unpack how spaced-repetition can be useful, but why overusing it leads to diminishing ROI, burnout, and stalled scores. You’ll learn when to shift from cards to QBanks and case-based practice, and how to reframe progress so your effort actually moves the needle.

What you’ll learn

- Spot the diminishing-returns moment with flashcards (and what to do next).

- A simple ROI lens for study time that prevents burnout.

- The three pillars of performance: knowledge, skills, attitudes—and why cards only cover one.

- Personalizing a plan: avoid “one-student success story” traps; build to your strengths & energy.

- When to blend cards with question banks for contextual learning.

Guest

Dr. Brandon Deason — Medical admissions educator & personal-statement coach. (Co-host with Chase DiMarco.)

Resources

• Residency Prep Hub (podcast home)

• QBank ideas: UWorld, NBME practice forms (as discussed)

00:00 Intro — Why you’re crying into your Anki decks

00:55 What is Anki and how does spaced repetition work?

02:31 Flashcards vs concept maps — the limits of memorization

03:40 The ROI of repetition — when study effort stops paying off

06:49 Capturing core concepts instead of chasing details

08:50 Building concept maps from physiology to path to pharm

09:35 Understanding compensation vs pathology

11:51 The three pillars of learning — knowledge, skills & attitudes

13:14 The real cause of burnout in medical study

14:38 Why “single-student success plans” don’t work for everyone

15:45 The opposite of spaced repetition — when over-review backfires

18:01 The hidden curriculum — glamorizing struggle in med school

20:31 “Work smart, not hard” — building sustainable study habits

23:13 Atomic habits & reward loops for healthy study routines

26:08 Neuroscience of burnout — why your brain needs rest

27:45 The Pomodoro effect & digital detox breaks

28:27 Recognizing burnout signs — cynicism and fatigue

31:23 Real-world coping & processing trauma in clinical training

33:14 Therapy and mental health for medical students

35:42 Closing — tears aren’t a sign to quit, they’re a sign to pivot

Most applicants chase prestige; the smart ones match numbers, mission, and geography—then play to their odds.

What makes a smart med-school list? In this round, Chase DiMarco and Dr. Brandon Deason break down how to choose your “prize fight” schools—programs where you’re not just surviving, but set up to thrive. You’ll hear how to benchmark your MCAT/GPA, spot in-state bias patterns (including the WAMI example), and avoid wasting applications on reach-only lists.

They also dig into mission statements, cost of living, and support networks, so you’re not building a dream list that burns you out. Finally, Dr. Deason previews his AI-assisted odds-ratio tool that compares your stats, story, and location preferences across schools to highlight your best-fit options.

What You’ll Learn

- How to benchmark your MCAT/GPA before you build any school list.

- Why in-state bias (WAMI, UC systems, etc.) can silently tank your odds.

- How to align your personal story with school mission statements.

- Why cost of living + support network should shape your list, not just prestige.

- How to balance strong-fit, competitive, and limited-reach schools using odds-ratio style tools.

Guest

Dr. Brandon Deason - Medical admissions consultant (with host Chase DiMarco).

Resources

- AAMC MSAR — baseline stats & school profiles.

- Rounds to Residency Hub (season playlist).

- Episode odds-ratio walkthrough & school-list tool (as discussed in the episode).

Most candidates rehash their resume; the memorable ones tell short, vivid stories that show who they’ll become as physicians.

What actually keeps a residency interviewer engaged? In this round, Chase DiMarco and Dr. Brendan Deason break down the “rope-a-dope” metaphor for interviews (stop draining the room, then land something impactful), why resume recaps fail, and how to frame “future-you” answers with crisp, story-first tactics. You’ll also hear practical tips on professionalism and Zoom presence that change how you come across on screen.

What You’ll Learn

- How the “rope-a-dope” metaphor applies to interview pacing and impact.

- Why listing numbers/achievements puts PDs to sleep—and what to do instead.

- The future-self framing: answering forward to show ambition without bragging.

- Mini-narratives that balance information + emotion to avoid cognitive overload.

- Professional presence on Zoom: camera/framing, background, name line, and confidence cues.

Guest & Host

Guest: Dr. Brendan Deason — Medical educator & interview coach

Host: Chase DiMarco, MS, MBA — Med Ed University

Resources

Rounds to Residency Hub → https://meded.university/podcasts/

00:00 – Why interviews are where you truly “connect,” not rehash numbers

02:00 – “Rope-a-dope” metaphor—stop draining the room, then land impact

05:30 – Ditch resume recap; tell stories that show growth and fit

09:30 – The future-self answer: aspirational without arrogance

14:30 – Avoid cognitive overload; keep answers narrative and tight

20:30 – Professional presence on Zoom (framing, background, name line)

27:30 – Mock-interview practice & adapting to interviewer personality types

We take a real personal statement from “ouch” to “admit-worthy”—and show the exact edits and scores that moved the needle.

Dr. Brandon Deason puts Chase DiMarco’s personal statement through three scored drafts—and shows exactly what changed and why. You’ll hear a cold read of Draft 1, see the category-by-category score breakdown (intro, coherence, conclusion, emotional engagement, professional development, admissions resonance), then a stronger Draft 2 and the final “show, don’t tell” version with a memorable “mic-drop” close. Take away a repeatable framework for your own statement: start with a scene, build narrative logic, personalize with authentic moments, and end with impact.

What you’ll learn

- How to open with a scene instead of a summary

- The 7 scoring categories (and what each really measures)

- Where most drafts lose emotional engagement and how to fix it

- “Show, don’t tell” examples that admissions actually remember

- How to finish with a clear, high-impact closer

Guest

Dr. Brandon Deason — Med admissions consultant (DDQx Learning)

• Rounds to Residency Hub: https://meded.university/podcasts/

• MedEd University: https://meded.university/

00:00 – Cold open & welcome

00:21 – “We finally hit record” + recap setup

01:44 – Draft 1: cold read (the initial statement)

04:01 – Scorecard for Draft 1: category breakdown & feedback

05:45 – What to change: intro hook, story, purpose, resonance

06:11 – Why we iterate: 3 drafts, 3 score reports

06:52 – Draft 2: read-through (Tuesday night in the ED)

10:41 – Scores for Draft 2: big gains, where it still fell short

13:37 – Setup for final pass (punch up emotion & close)

14:18 – Final Draft: read-through (systems failures → purpose)

18:39 – The “mic-drop” ending line & why it works

20:09 – Primacy, recency & the amygdala: making it memorable

22:17 – Authenticity vs. B.S. in statements

24:30 – What committees actually want to feel

27:35 – Show, don’t tell: put me in the scene

35:09 – Paint the future impact (without over-committing)

39:22 – Confidence vs. moldability: hitting the right tone

41:40 – Offer: scorecard & volunteer critique

43:15 – Outro

Subscribe to Rounds to Residency for new episodes each week.

Share your biggest personal-statement challenge with us and tag @MedEdUniversity on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Most candidates rehash their resume; the memorable ones tell a clear, human story that shows who they’ll become as physicians.

In Round 2 on personal statements, Chase DiMarco and Dr. Brandon Deason explain why story-driven beats accolade-driven, how to frame the future-you, and what to avoid so you don’t “stand out” in the wrong way.

They also explore ethical use of AI in writing and Dr. Deason’s Personal Statement Score Report framework, so your intro, narrative flow, and close all land with emotional impact.

What You’ll Learn

• How to write about your future self, not just past achievements.

• The difference between story-driven and accolade-driven statements.

• Mistakes that make your essay feel inauthentic or overshared.

• How to use AI ethically to refine—not replace—your writing.

• The structure of a high-scoring personal statement: hook → arc → close.

Guest

Dr. Brandon Deason - Medical Admissions Consultant, former Kaplan Admissions Program Director

Resources & Links

• Rounds to Residency Hub: https://meded.university/podcasts/

• MedEd University: https://meded.university/

• YouTube Playlist: https://youtu.be/Fp_MPdrvkiE

• Personal Statement Score Report Template: (Insert link if public)

• FindARotation: https://findarotation.com/

00:00 – Welcome to Rounds to Residency Ep 2 │ Make Accolades Count

00:35 – Why personal statements can make or break your application

02:10 – Brandon Deason’s background & experience with Kaplan

04:20 – Crafting your “Future You” instead of bragging about your present self

06:55 – What makes a personal statement stand out (the right way)

09:00 – Story-driven vs accolade-driven applications

11:25 – Common mistakes students make in personal statements

14:05 – How to avoid oversharing or negative stories

16:10 – Ethics and AI in personal statement writing

19:40 – How AI can help you audit your writing without losing authenticity

22:15 – Training personal AI models for writing improvement

25:30 – The importance of narrative flow and emotional connection

28:10 – How to write a powerful conclusion and show your future vision

31:15 – What admissions committees are really looking for

34:05 – Final tips for crafting authentic personal statements

36:10 – Closing remarks │ Connect with Dr. Brandon Deason & MedEd University

Subscribe to Rounds to Residency for new episodes each week.

Share your biggest personal-statement challenge with us and tag @MedEdUniversity on LinkedIn or Instagram.