Building community through experiences

Tradition is a big part of medical school–med students willingly tie themselves to comedy shows, charity 5Ks, and yearly ceremonies when they’re already drowning in anatomy and mechanisms of health and disease. This episode pulls back the curtain on the weird, wonderful, and occasionally dark traditions that make medical school way more than just textbooks and exams. M2s Riley Dean and Megan Perry, M3 Fallon Jung, and M1 Isa Perez-Sandi, along with special guest Nit Anantharaman from Pitt Med reveal the traditions that bind students and their schools. Med school comedy shows like CCOM’s Frolics and Pitt’s Scope and Scalpel sketch nights to medical student philanthropy events that involve bench-pressing competitions and 5Ks.

Then there are the ceremonies that honor body donors, match day medical school chaos complete with secret envelopes and mystery themes, and how medical student community building happens through shared misery and ridiculous inside jokes.

This is real talk about how these medical education rituals create the bonds that get you through the hard experiences, why medical humanities writing contests and art shows matter more than you’d think, and honest insights into med student life. Plus, the hosts take a pop quiz about worldwide med school traditions (French cave blindfolding, anyone?) that’ll make you appreciate your own school’s quirks.

Whether you’re navigating pre-med student life or already deep in the weeds of medical training, you’ll walk away understanding why these seemingly random traditions aren’t just fun—they’re survival mechanisms that transform classmates into lifelong colleagues.

Episode credits:

Producer: Isa Perez-Sandi

Co-hosts: Isa Perez-Sandi, Megan Perry, Riley Dean, Fallon Jung

Guest: Nit Anantharaman

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa, the Carver College of Medicine, or the State of Iowa. All discussions are intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. Nothing said on this podcast should be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always seek qualified professional guidance for personal decisions.

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