The Med School Years

Welcome to the seventeenth episode of The Med School Years Podcast! We sit down with Nicole Hinz, an M3 at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, to discuss the raw reality of clerkships and the transition from preclinical studies. Nicole shares her journey from aspiring neurosurgeon to discovering a passion for Pediatrics, detailing the emotional shock of M3 (where she almost passed out in the OR!) and the difficulty of coping with patient mortality while maintaining energy. She offers powerful advice on abandoning perfectionism, building empathy through experiences like the Gateways program, and why finding a support system, like a therapist or counselor, is crucial for survival and preventing burnout in this high-stakes field.

Welcome to the sixteenth episode of The Med School Years Podcast! We interview Cindy Liu, an M2 at the prestigious NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where the median MCAT is 523 and tuition is free. Cindy offers an unfiltered look at what it's like to thrive in this hyper-competitive, yet surprisingly collaborative, environment. She discusses the pressure that comes with free tuition, how her engineering background shaped her approach to problem-solving, and her strategy for landing a competitive specialty like Radiation Oncology. This episode is a must-watch for current medical students struggling with perfectionism, study strategies, and finding their identity beyond grades. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction and the NYU Grossman "Wow Factor" 2:10 Diversity and Composition of the Class 3:30 Pressure from Free Tuition and High Expectations 5:50 The Emotional Moment of Receiving the Acceptance 7:45 Choosing NYU: Location, Hospitals, and School Fit 10:10 Myth-Buster: Elite Undergrad Not Required 12:20 Engineering Thought Process Applied to Medicine 14:50 The Reality of MMI and Interview Preparation 17:55 How Interview Skills Translate to Patient Care 19:20 Leadership and Taking Over Student Organizations (Oncology Club) 22:00 Navigating the Research Pressure and Pass/Fail 25:15 Exploring Radiation Oncology and Specialty Niche 29:05 Flipping the Boards: Taking Step 2 Before Step 1 31:10 Living and Thriving as a New Yorker (City Life and Diversity) 34:15 Final Wisdom: The Shock of Not Always Being Right

Welcome to the fifteenth episode of The Med School Years Podcast! We sit down with Alex, an M2 at FAU Schmidt School of Medicine, to discuss his unique journey from a business major at Clemson to a medical student.

Alex shares the emotional reality of receiving the long-awaited waitlist call from his top-choice school and debunks the myth that it's "too late" to switch careers in college. He dives into his hands-on gap year experience in vascular surgery, his strategy for catching up on research, and the secrets to networking that lead to valuable projects. This episode is a must-watch for any non-traditional applicant or student who feels they are behind the curve.

Timestamps:

0:21 Introduction and The Emotional Waitlist Call

3:30 The Reality of Med School vs. High Expectations

5:00 The College Switch: Business Major to Biochemistry

8:27 The Defining "I'm Out" Moment That Led to Medicine

11:25 Navigating Resistance and Being a "Lone Ranger"

13:30 Clinical Experience: MA/Scribe in Vascular Surgery

15:30 Misconception: Research Volume vs. Patient Care Experience

17:31 Networking Secrets: Finding Research Opportunities in Med School

20:15 The Value of Mentorship and Paying It Forward

23:45 Understanding "South Florida" Geography (A Quick Guide)

25:20 Gratitude: The Feeling of Wearing Scrubs

26:50 The Biggest Challenge: Mastering the Volume of Information

30:30 Maintaining Wellness in a "Destination Medical School"

33:30 Small Class Dynamics and Diversity at FAU

35:50 Specialty Exploration: Vascular Surgery to Orthopedic Surgery

38:40 Final Advice: Why You Should Never Worry About Others

Welcome to the fourteenth episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this powerful discussion, we welcome back Sam, an M2 at the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. As our first-ever repeat guest, Sam offers a candid look at his journey since being on the Premed Years podcast, and the profound changes and lessons he's experienced.

Sam shares his unique path as a non-traditional applicant, revealing how his difficult personal history has shaped him into a grounded and grateful medical student. He dives into the realities of pursuing a career in neurosurgery, offering invaluable insights on the balance between research quality and quantity, and the immense importance of a strong support system.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone who feels like their journey is non-traditional or who is struggling to find gratitude and balance amidst the pressures of medical school!

Welcome to the thirteenth episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this fascinating discussion, we interview Ashley Houlihan, an M2 at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. A native of the New England community, Ashley shares her unique journey to Brown, from her time as a club ice hockey player at Syracuse to finding a true sense of belonging at an Ivy League institution.

Ashley dives into a range of topics, including how she's using her creative side as a medical artist, her unique community service work at a juvenile detention center, and her fascinating scholarly concentration project researching TikTok's influence on patient health. She also offers invaluable advice on finding clinical experience abroad, navigating the BS/MD dynamic at Brown, and how a focus on your own wellness is key to surviving and thriving in medical school.

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction and the Community at Brown

2:50 Transitioning to a Smaller City from NYC

4:30 From Big School Spirit to a Smaller Med School

6:22 How Ice Hockey Built Grit for Medical School

7:45 Weaving Art and Creativity into Medicine

9:50 Community Service at a Juvenile Detention Center

12:55 The Scholarly Concentration Program at Brown

14:58 Research on TikTok and its Impact on Patient Education

17:10 How an Experience Abroad Led to a Specialty Interest

19:00 Advocating for Yourself for Opportunities

20:25 Navigating the BS/MD Dynamic at Brown

23:18 The Reality of Medical School vs. Expectations

25:35 Becoming a Mentor for Future Medical Students

27:32 The Value of a Strong Pre-Health Advising System

29:05 Strategic Career Exploration and Finding a Specialty

31:14 Final Interview Tips

33:38 Finding Balance and Avoiding Burnout

36:00 The Best Food Spot in Providence, Rhode Island

39:40 Be Who You Are and Follow Your Passions

Welcome to the twelfth episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this captivating discussion, we interview Anna Stone, an M2 at Emory University School of Medicine. Anna's journey is a powerful testament to the value of a humanities background and the strength found in non-traditional experiences.

Anna shares why Emory's focus on community and patient stories made it her perfect culture fit, and she reveals the profound impact of her unique gap year experience at a gender confirmation center. She also delves into her advocacy work with the Emory Medical Pride Alliance and explains how her passion for policy and research is shaping her future. This episode is packed with unique perspectives on finding your voice, the importance of empathy, and navigating a successful path beyond just grades.

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction and Why Emory Was the Perfect Fit

4:18 The Impact of a Gap Year on Her Path to Medicine

8:51 Bringing Diversity and LGBTQ+ Experience to Med School

12:28 Student Advocacy and Health Policy Clubs

15:14 Bridging Gaps in Healthcare Through Psychiatric Research

20:27 The Importance of Listening to Your Body and Setting Boundaries

23:08 The Unique Structure of Emory's Curriculum

29:22 How Personal Experiences Shaped Her Interest in Psychiatry

33:03 How to Develop Empathy Through Reading

37:20 Preparing for Residency in a Pass-Fail Curriculum

In this episode of the Med School Years Podcast, we sit down with Devere Knight, an M2 at the Jacobs School of Medicine at the University of Buffalo. Devere shares his unique journey as a non-traditional applicant, transitioning from a career in biotech to pursuing his dream of becoming a physician.

We discuss what it's like to be part of his school's brand new curriculum, the importance of extracurriculars like his role in the curriculum and AI committees, and his fascinating research project using photogrammetry. Devere also opens up about his personal life, including how he balances the rigors of medical school with his passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This episode is packed with valuable insights for any pre-med or current medical student.

Welcome to the tenth episode of The Med School Years podcast! We sit down with Dr. Chris Gasparis, a newly minted MD entering PGY-1 in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Northwell Health System in New York. Dr. Gasparis matched into one of the most competitive specialties, and he's here to share the blueprint for how he made it happen.

From discovering his passion for cardiothoracic surgery to strategically making himself stand out throughout medical school, Dr. Gasparis breaks down the entire journey. He offers invaluable insights on translating a biomedical engineering background into medicine, securing competitive research opportunities, and the pivotal moments of preparing for residency and living through Match Day. This episode is packed with unique perspectives on overcoming challenges and securing your dream residency!

Harshini, a rising second-year medical student at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, joins The Med School Years to reflect on her M1 year and the path that brought her to medicine. After earning a BS in Biology and a BA in Psychology at Stony Brook University, Harshini completed an MBA during her gap year—a decision that strengthened her leadership skills and gave her a deeper understanding of healthcare systems.

In this episode, she shares how her experiences in advocacy, research, and student leadership have shaped her medical journey so far. Harshini talks about the support systems at Cooper, the importance of career exploration and mentorship, and what it really felt like to care for patients as a first-year student. She also opens up about managing imposter syndrome, pushing outside her comfort zone, and the importance of staying grounded through community and wellness.

If you’re preparing for your residency application and need help with your personal statement, visit https://medicalschoolhq.net/residency... and use the code YouTube for a discount.

Join us on Wednesday, 7/31 at 5 PM ET for a free workshop designed for med students getting ready to apply to residency. We’ll cover how to write a strong personal statement and build a cohesive ERAS application. Replays will be sent to everyone registered. Sign up here: http://medicalschoolhq.net/event/746067

Full Episode Blog Post

Welcome to the eighth episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this fascinating discussion, Deana Golini and Carlos Tapia interview Kasthuri Nair, an M4 student at Emory University School of Medicine. Kasthuri shares her truly unique journey, from her undergraduate days at Brown University, through a medical writing internship at MD Anderson, and a Master's at Johns Hopkins, to becoming a medical writer with a research team before starting medical school.

Kasthuri delves into how each step prepared her for medicine, why she chose the MD path over MD-PhD, and common misconceptions about research (no, you don't have to "cure cancer" as a premed!). She also opens up about finding her passion in vascular surgery, her unforgettable first patient encounter, the profound impact of her palliative care rotation, and the vital role of a strong support system throughout it all. This episode is packed with unique insights for anyone navigating the complex world of medical education!

Full Episode Blog Post