Dr. Gillian MacMullin, FRCSC knew early on that being a community Obstetrics & Gynecology specialist (Cape Breton, NS) was for her. Join Emily Wu as she picks Dr. MacMullin's brain not only on what an OBGYN does... but about the realities, challenges, and joys of being personnally and professionally known in your community. Spoiler Alert - practising in a community is mostly joyful and truly fulfilling. A day in the life of this specialty is never ever the same. A huge bonus is the ability to tailor so many aspects of this practice to what works for you - and what really interests you. Oh - and apparently babies are rarely born during office hours, so be prepared for some overnight shifts! 

Does your confidence translate into courage? Do you have a sense of honesty, tolerance, and patience with a commitment to integrity? Join  Andrew Pauls as he asks Dr. Susan Brien, FRCSC to share her path to becoming a Neurosurgeon. Of course you'll learn about Neurosurgery and what a day in the life looks like. But just as importantly, Dr. Brien delves into the human aspects of being a surgeon and the undeniable importance and privilege of collaborating with families and being with patients throughout their journey. She shares professional and personal advice for med students as they navigate a life in medicine. 

Emily Wu discovers the ins and outs of this 'under the radar' specialty called Vascular Surgery. Do you see yourself working in a life and limb saving specialty? Dr. Randolph Guzman, FRCSC and Dr. Rikesh Parekh (PGY5) dive into the technical and surgical aspects of their career. They share incredible moments of life-saving procedures, and the sheer pride they have at the end of their work day. If you can deal with vessels and blood (!), this highly technical specialty might just be for you. Throughout this conversation our guests use words such as fun, collaborative, satisfying, elegant, rewarding... oh, and fun!

Do you see yourself practicing in a specialty that involves cutting edge technology (think along the lines of robotics), with surgical and medical opportunities? Does a diverse patient population (infants, the elderly, opera singers, farmers etc..) appeal to you? Does the anatomy of the head and neck spike your interest? Host Andrew Pauls sits down with Dr. Françoise Chagnon, FRCSC and Dr. Ciarán Lane, PGY-5, to understand their passion and unwavering commitment to this broad specialty called Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery. Not only do our guests share their experience and expertise, but they also impart some words of encouragement to medical students as they navigate their health care journey. 

Anyone. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere. Can you live up to this motto? If yes - then Emergency Medicine just might be the right fit for you. Join Andrew Pauls as he chats with Dr. Kaif Pardhan, FRCPC and Dr. Andrew Chang, PGY2. Our guests provide first hand advice on what makes a good Emergency Medicine candidate with a few 'insider' tips on what the selection committee looks for! It's a privilege to help patients navigate the emergency room during what might be one of the worse days of their lives. Tune in as this episode offers not only valuable insights into emergency medicine, but shares some important life advice for medical students.

Apart from the obvious clinical expertise - an Anesthesiologist needs to be empathetic, calm, a multi-tasker (physically & mentally), and quick on their feet! Join Andrew Pauls, Dr. Richard Alexander, FRCPC, and Dr. Raphael Rivière (PGY 3) as they dive into the joys and challenges of this rewarding specialty. Do you see yourself working with an incredibly broad population? Do you crave diversity and unpredictability in your day? Does the idea of putting people out of pain appeal to you? Not only do our guests share their professional expertise - they impart some words of wisdom for your health care journey. In a nutshell - working in medicine is a privilege. Take the wins and enjoy the journey!

Dr. Jana Taylor, FRCPC and Dr. Joyce Zaftis (PGY-4) demystify this diverse specialty called Diagnostic Radiology. For one thing - these specialists do see patients! Join Christina Toma as she learns about the joys and challenges of this ever-changing, demanding, and extremely satisfying specialty. It's not unusual to tackle trauma, oncology, inflammatory disease, and congenital disease all in one day. To get into this program you don't necessarily need to be a 'techie' or a physics wizard! You'll learn all this. But you do need to be a visual learner, a problem solver, detail-oriented, and of course a good communicator! Who knows - this episode might point you in a whole new career direction!  

If a doctor isn't happy in their career choice - they simply can't serve their patients properly. Join Dr. Christopher O'Brien, FRCPC as he shares his love of Nuclear Medicine. Even after 27 years of practice, he still looks forward to each and every day. Dr. O'Brien and host Andrew Pauls delve into professional and personal aspects of life in medicine - and in particular about the need to keep an open mind about how medicine is practiced. This episode definitely talks about isotopes - but there is so much more to Nuclear Medicine! You never know - this specialty mind be that hidden gem you never knew about!

Hear about the role of art & science in General Surgery in both rural and academic settings! Who would have thought that compassion and humility are amongst the most important qualities of a General Surgeon. Being able to partner with patients as they navigate their health journey is simply a privilege. Join Andrew Pauls as sits down to an enlightening discussion with Dr. Yemi Laosebikan, FRCSC and Dr. Joshua Hefler (PGY-3). We learn how the Hippocratic Oath has steered a life of dedication and gratitude.  Our guests talk about about the professional and clinical side of this specialty. They share the  very human aspects of being a General Surgeon. Every day is different but so gratifying with plenty of joy.

Our guests describe Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation as a magical specialty. What could be better than getting up every day with the intention of optimizing the quality of your patients' lives? Join host Haley Eckel as she unpacks the mysteries of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation with two passionate doctors from Alberta: Dr. Jaime Yu, FRCPC and Dr. Yasmin Chishti (PGY4…now PGY-5!). It's no secret that fate has steered our guests toward this fulfilling specialty. A career in medicine can be tough - but Physiatry offers immense joy too. A bonus: it really is possible to have a healthy work/life balance. Who knows - Physiatry just might be your path!