The Short Coat (Audio): An Inside Look at Getting Into and Getting Through Medical School

Dave hosts a weird cocktail party for his co-hosts, M1s Fallon Jung and Taryn O'Brian, MD/PhD student Jacqueline Nielson, and M3 Chirayu Shukla. The group dives into a variety of topics: surreal dreams, spring break plans, which celebrity they would replace one of their organs with, book recommendations, personal stories, and AI-generated songs about Menards and Chirayu's curtailed tennis career.

AI Song Lyrics

A Podcaster at Heart

I'm an administrative services coordinator

But my heart's on the mic,

a podcast connoisseurIn a cubicle,

with paperwork piled high

But all I wanna do is let my voice fly

I got responsibilities, emails to send

But my mind's on the episodes I haven't penned

I sneak in headphones, catchin' up on my faves

Dreamin' 'bout the day I'll be podcastin' my own ways (ooh-yeah)

[Chorus]I'm a podcaster at heart

Living for those podcastin' vibes, it's an art

While spreadsheets stack up,

I'm in my own zone

Dreamin' 'bout the day when podcastin' is my throne

The Jig of the Horse Loving Medic

Oh, I'm a medical student, learnin' day and night

But when I'm not studyin', I've got a different delight

I love horses, they bring me so much joy

And Menards, oh Menards, it's like a superstore of toys

[Chorus]I take long walks down every aisle at Menards (oh yeah)

From the lumber to the paint, it's never too hard (woo!)

With a bounce in my step, and a twinkle in my eye (uh-huh)

I'm a horse-loving medic, livin' life on a high (woo!)

No Regrets

[Verse]

We don't care 'bout the grades, don't need no A's

Livin' fast, we're in a disobedient phase

Don't care 'bout the cash or the future ahead

We're just here for the punk rock, not the life we're fed (ooh-yeah)

[Chorus]

No regrets, we don't give a damn

Breakin' all the rules, stickin' it to the man

No regrets, we live on the edge

Skipping class, punk rock is what we pledge

Medic or Tennis Star

In the dead of night,

I'm stuck in time,

Torn between two paths,

My heart's on the line,

A love for medicine.

The field is my callin'

but the court's my passion.

00:00 Welcome to the Cocktail Party!

00:46 Match Day Anticipation and Casual Banter

01:56 Introducing the Podcast Crew with a Toast

03:43 Spring Break Plans and Casual Conversations

07:57 Diving into Bizarre Dreams and Anatomy Talk

19:03 Anatomy Favorites and Dislikes

21:18 The Quirky Organ Swap Debate

21:27 Choosing Fictional Characters for Organ Transplants

24:24 The Ultimate Book Prescription

25:10 Exploring Personal Book Recommendations

25:50 The Power of Mental Resilience and Focus

29:10 A Deep Dive into Favorite Books

33:29 AI and Creativity: Crafting a Unique Jingle

34:28 Musical AI: From Punk Rock to Power Ballads

42:12 Wrapping Up with Gratitude and Encouragement

The Sheriff of Sodium investigates the state and future of medical training. If you’ve wondered how well the system that trains future doctors works, or about what factors really determine which medical students get into the most competitive residency programs, this episode is for you. M1 Fallon Jung, M2 Jeff Goddard, and M4 AJ Chowdhury get deep into these issues with a very special guest – Dr. Brian Carmody, known on his blog and YouTube channel as “The Sheriff of Sodium.” Dr. Carmody, a pediatric nephrologist by training, closely analyzes and shares data-driven perspectives on medical education, pulling on threads to understand whether the current medical training system is truly functional, fair, and efficient, examining factors like student debt burdens, physician shortages projections, and why people cheat on licensing exams. Like any good sheriff, Dr. Carmody is skeptical, especially about ideas like future physician shortages, and how schools report residency match outcomes.

More about our guest:

The Sheriff of Sodium: https://thesheriffofsodium.com/

SoS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sheriffofsodium1005

We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

We welcome your feedback, listener questions, and shower thoughts. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Can we answer a question for you? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? Leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”). Or email [email protected].

We do more things on…

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortcoat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theshortcoat

You deserve to be happy and healthy. If you’re struggling with racism, harassment, hate, your mental health, or some other crisis, visit http://theshortcoat.com/help, and send additions to the resources there to [email protected]. We love you. Music provided by Argofox. License: bit.ly/CCAttribution

DOCTOR VOX – Heatstroke: youtu.be/j1n1zlxzyRE

Catmosphere – Candy-Coloured Sky: youtu.be/AZjYZ8Kjgs8

Hexalyte – Wandering Hours: youtu.be/FOAo2zsYnvA

An alumni of CCOM and SCP returns to prove: you can do it! MD/PhD student Miranda Schene, M2 Jeff Goddard, and M1 Fallon Jung visit with alumni Teneme Konne, MD, now a second-year resident. They start by smacking their foreheads over AI-generated images in a recent medical journal, unpacking the rigorous demands of peer review and its pivotal role in scientific accuracy. The conversation then shifts to Dr. Konne’s journey in medicine, and the broad responsibilities of family medicine practitioners beyond clinical care. The resilience and growth he achieved during residency offer a comprehensive insight into the realities of becoming a doctor. Key moments include discussions on medical misinformation, the integral role of primary care physicians, and the personal and professional evolution experienced through residency. It wasn’t completely smooth, but he did it! And the crew discusses Medscape’s Physician Lifestyle & Happiness Report 2024.

We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

We welcome your feedback, listener questions, and shower thoughts. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Can we answer a question for you? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? Leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”). Or email [email protected].

We do more things on…

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortcoat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theshortcoat

You deserve to be happy and healthy. If you’re struggling with racism, harassment, hate, your mental health, or some other crisis, visit http://theshortcoat.com/help, and send additions to the resources there to [email protected]. We love you. Music provided by Argofox. License: bit.ly/CCAttribution

DOCTOR VOX – Heatstroke: youtu.be/j1n1zlxzyRE

Catmosphere – Candy-Coloured Sky: youtu.be/AZjYZ8Kjgs8

Hexalyte – Wandering Hours: youtu.be/FOAo2zsYnvA

Understanding others begins with asking questions. M3 Jacob Hansen, and M1s Taryn O’Brien, Alex Nigg, and Fallon Jung consider recent studies highlighting the ineffectiveness of traditional implicit bias training and the disparities in medical care for children of color. Jacob successfully finished Step 1 and the co-hosts tap him for some of his insights from clinical rotations, particularly learning he won’t be pursuing a career in surgery.

Dave tries to understand an important aspect of med student culture using his Gen X brain: memes, including their potential as educational tools.

We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

We welcome your feedback, listener questions, and shower thoughts. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Can we answer a question for you? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? Leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”). Or email [email protected].

We do more things on…

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortcoat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theshortcoat

You deserve to be happy and healthy. If you’re struggling with racism, harassment, hate, your mental health, or some other crisis, visit http://theshortcoat.com/help, and send additions to the resources there to [email protected]. We love you. Music provided by Argofox. License: bit.ly/CCAttribution

DOCTOR VOX – Heatstroke: youtu.be/j1n1zlxzyRE

Catmosphere – Candy-Coloured Sky: youtu.be/AZjYZ8Kjgs8

Hexalyte – Wandering Hours: youtu.be/FOAo2zsYnvA

In the world of medicine, finding time for love is both an art and a science. Happy Valentines Day! MD/PhD student Faith Prochaska, and M1s Taryn O’Brien and Fallon Jung share how they navigate relationships amidst their hectic schedules. With quizmaster Jeff Emrich from student financial services, they play The Just Married Game and discuss their personal plans, the balance between work and personal life, and their insights into relationships in med school through a series of questions answered by their partners–can they guess what their partners think of them? The group also touches on the impact of medical school on their personal lives, highlighting the importance of communication and support in maintaining strong relationships.

We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

We welcome your feedback, listener questions, and shower thoughts. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Can we answer a question for you? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? Leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”). Or email [email protected].

We do more things on…

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortcoat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theshortcoat

You deserve to be happy and healthy. If you’re struggling with racism, harassment, hate, your mental health, or some other crisis, visit http://theshortcoat.com/help, and send additions to the resources there to [email protected]. We love you. Music provided by Argofox. License: bit.ly/CCAttribution

DOCTOR VOX – Heatstroke: youtu.be/j1n1zlxzyRE

Catmosphere – Candy-Coloured Sky: youtu.be/AZjYZ8Kjgs8

Hexalyte – Wandering Hours: youtu.be/FOAo2zsYnvA

“I honestly have had the most relaxing time I’ve had in forever, and for anybody who’s like, that’s ridiculous, just wait.” The most charitable definition of a hot take is a position taken in order to generate conversation. The more usual definition is a position taken to create controversy (and clicks). Dave asked his co-hosts to come with some hot takes, and it’s up to you to decide which definition they’re using, but PA1 Conner Lieser and M1s Radha Velamuri, Amanda Litka, and Sri Nandakumar offer their hot takes on how hard med school is, the admissions process, shadowing, advice from more advanced students, and more.

We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

We welcome your feedback, listener questions, and shower thoughts. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Can we answer a question for you? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? Leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”). Or email [email protected].

We do more things on…

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortcoat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theshortcoat

You deserve to be happy and healthy. If you’re struggling with racism, harassment, hate, your mental health, or some other crisis, visit http://theshortcoat.com/help, and send additions to the resources there to [email protected]. We love you. Music provided by Argofox. License: bit.ly/CCAttribution

DOCTOR VOX – Heatstroke: youtu.be/j1n1zlxzyRE

Catmosphere – Candy-Coloured Sky: youtu.be/AZjYZ8Kjgs8

Hexalyte – Wandering Hours: youtu.be/FOAo2zsYnvA

“A nice re-imagining of how healthcare could be delivered.” It’s another sleeper specialty episode! This time we’re visiting with Andrea Weber, MD, MME. Herself a graduate of the Carver College of Medicine, she is now assistant director of Addiction Medicine and associate program director of the Internal Medicine and Psychiatry residency program. M4s AJ Chowdury and Nabeel Baig, M1 Fallon Jung, and PA1s Noah Vasquez and Julie Vuong quiz her about why she chose med-psych, the combined training she received, the different paths med-psych trainees can take, and much, much more. This is an info-packed episode!

More about Med-Psych:

https://assocmedpsych.org/

We welcome your feedback, listener questions, and shower thoughts.

Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Can we answer a question for you? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? Leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”). Or email [email protected].

We do more things on…

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortcoat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theshortcoat

You deserve to be happy and healthy. If you’re struggling with racism, harassment, hate, your mental health, or some other crisis, visit http://theshortcoat.com/help, and send additions to the resources there to [email protected]. We love you. Music provided by Argofox. License: bit.ly/CCAttribution

DOCTOR VOX – Heatstroke: youtu.be/j1n1zlxzyRE

Catmosphere – Candy-Coloured Sky: youtu.be/AZjYZ8Kjgs8

Hexalyte – Wandering Hours: youtu.be/FOAo2zsYnvA

Preventing disease and injury in life, the skies, and at work. It’s another sleeper specialty episode! This time we’re talking about a really low-key one: Preventive Medicine. M2 Jeff Goddard asked Dr. Silvia Caswell of Loma Linda University to join us to talk about her work in one aspect of prev med: lifestyle medicine. There are others under the prev-med umbrella, too, including occupational medicine and aerospace medicine. PA1 Conner Lieser is also on hand to talk about the training she completed, the work she does with patients, the differences between the work that primary care providers do and her work, and the day-to-day life of working in her specialty. You’re not going to want to miss this one.

We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

No matter where you fall on any spectrum, we want your thoughts on our show. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? We’ll be sure your ideas are heard by all–leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”).

We do more things on…

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortcoat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theshortcoat

You deserve to be happy and healthy. If you’re struggling with racism, harassment, hate, your mental health, or some other crisis, visit http://theshortcoat.com/help, and send additions to the resources there to [email protected]. We love you. Music provided by Argofox. License: bit.ly/CCAttribution

DOCTOR VOX – Heatstroke: youtu.be/j1n1zlxzyRE

Catmosphere – Candy-Coloured Sky: youtu.be/AZjYZ8Kjgs8

Hexalyte – Wandering Hours: youtu.be/FOAo2zsYnvA

A relatively uncommon specialty can help move kids with childhood diseases to adult care. In another in our series on “sleeper specialties,” we visit with Internal Medicine-Pediatrics (med-peds) doc Brittany Bettendorf. M1 Alex Nigg and M2 Madeline Ungs learn about this lesser known specialty that combines the detective work of internal medicine with a focus on kids with childhood diseases, including managing their transition to adult care. There aren’t many residencies for med-peds, which alone makes it a sleeper! And Dr. Bettendorf talks about her work in medical humanities at CCOM as a Medicine and Society course director, Humanities Distinction Track co-director, editor of our literary journal, and more.

More about our guest:

Website: https://medicine.uiowa.edu/internalmedicine/profile/brittany-bettendorf

We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

No matter where you fall on any spectrum, we want your thoughts on our show. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? We’ll be sure your ideas are heard by all–leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”).

We do more things on…

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortcoat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theshortcoat

You deserve to be happy and healthy. If you’re struggling with racism, harassment, hate, your mental health, or some other crisis, visit http://theshortcoat.com/help, and send additions to the resources there to [email protected]. We love you. Music provided by Argofox. License: bit.ly/CCAttribution

DOCTOR VOX – Heatstroke: youtu.be/j1n1zlxzyRE

Catmosphere – Candy-Coloured Sky: youtu.be/AZjYZ8Kjgs8

Hexalyte – Wandering Hours: youtu.be/FOAo2zsYnvA

They may not help us pass our exams…but they definitely have upsides

A common question new medical students have is whether they should get a pet. Will they feel neglected when I have to be at the hospital or the library? Will they be too expensive for a poor med student? Will they be too much work? The answer to those questions can be answered by realizing that PLENTY of us do own pets, and we all do just fine. Also, Dave cornered some frightened-looking M1s during orientation for some people-on-the-street interviews. Riley, Mao, Madi and Matt discuss their answers.

We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS! No matter where you fall on any spectrum, we want your thoughts on our show. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? We’ll be sure your ideas are heard by all–leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”).

We do more things on…

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortcoat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheShortCoat

You deserve to be happy and healthy. If you’re struggling with racism, harassment, hate, your mental health, or some other crisis, visit http://theshortcoat.com/help, and send additions to the resources there to [email protected]. We love you.

Music provided by Argofox. License: bit.ly/CCAttribution

DOCTOR VOX – Heatstroke: youtu.be/j1n1zlxzyRE

Catmosphere – Candy-Coloured Sky: youtu.be/AZjYZ8Kjgs8 ;

Hexalyte – Wandering Hours: youtu.be/FOAo2zsYnvA;