Checking the Pulse: A Premed Podcast

In celebration of the Ross University commencement, Dr Ryan Azarkhail was nominated by his peers to represent the graduating class as this year's student speaker. Dr. Azarkhail quickly became a champion and advocate for the student body while in med school. Along with becoming the SGA President in 2019, he served multiple leadership roles, including Clinical SGA Honor Council Senator, and SGA Class Representative. He continued volunteering his time outside the classroom as a member of the Welcome Committee and the International Medical Foundations Orientation for newly enrolled students, as well as serving as a Student Ambassador.In this episode, he joins me for a conversation about his journey.

In this episode, we are celebrating our MATCH 2023 results! The process to receive your medical degree from RUSM is the same as medical schools in the United States—it includes the successful completion of the medical school curriculum, then clinical rotations, and the passage of all three parts of the USMLE. This year Ross University School of Medicine's first-time residency attainment rate for 2022-2023 graduates is 97%*; so far 592 graduates attained residencies in this cycle in 25 medical disciplines. My guest today is one of them: Dr. Elizabeth Armenis.*First-time residency attainment rate is the percent of students attaining a 2023-24 residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2022-23 who were active applicants in the 2023 NRMP match or who attained a residency position outside the NRMP match.

In this episode, we focus on international students, highlighting scholarships, academic pre-requisites, and student support available. At Ross University School of Medicine, we welcome international students and encourage you to apply to our MD program for any of our three classes: January, May, or September. My guest today is Rachel Durcan, Senior Associate Director of International Partnerships.

As a Ross Med student, you will spend one third of your time in Barbados. Most students live in a student community known as The Villages of Coverley. Alternatively, our students can choose to live off-campus as well. My guest today is Leah Gibson, the Housing and Property Manager. She talks about the different options of housing, what's included, what to bring and how to get around. For the complete list and prices, please see our website.

There are many specialized fields that doctors can pursue after their Internal Medicine residency. In this episode, Dr. Roberto Swazo talks about his path to Pulmonary and Critical Care. This specialized field focuses on patients suffering from injuries and diseases of the respiratory system, which includes the lungs, trachea, diaphragm, and other related structures. At the time of our conversation, Dr Swazo was a Second Year Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellow, at Indiana University. He has since completed the fellowship and is now a Cardiac Intensivist and Pulmonary Hypertension Specialist, at Orlando Health.

Did you ever consider going on an international medical mission? If so, you definitely want to hear about this new partnership we have! Ross University School of Medicine recently signed a partnership with Vida that gives a financial grant to all eligible applicants who successfully complete the Medical Education Readiness Program (aka MERP). Contact our Admissions Dept directly for more information on this grant. In the meantime, let's learn more about Vida. My guest today is Ana Salas, their Student Engagement Director.

Continuing to share the experience of current students, in this episode, we meet Alex Kirby who is finishing her 4th semester in Barbados. Alex shares why she chose Ross, how her study techniques have changed and some things she wished she knew ahead of time.

In this episode, we meet Vanessa Aragones, a current student who just finished 5th semester and is getting ready to take Step 1. Vanessa talks about her transition to the island and how she developed her support to succeed in med school.

Attending medical school requires a major financial commitment. Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) is committed to providing medical school applicants and active medical students with information to help fund your education through financial aid, including medical school loans and scholarships. My guest today is Josh Verwijst, from our Student Finance Dept, and he will be discussing options in financial aid, cost of living and scholarships.

Medical Education Readiness Program (MERP) offers a 15-week preparatory course that provides customized academic assessment and study plans; a supportive, diverse community of expert instructors and peers; and the building blocks needed to instill confidence essential to a successful medical school experience and practice. This is a follow-up to Episode 2 with the most recent updates to the MERP pre requisites.

In this episode, we meet Tahara Jordan, co-founder of the Black Female Doctors student association, dedicated to collaborating, networking and creating power in numbers throughout the Ross Community. Their motto is “Lifting as We Climb”, supporting each other through service, fun and academics. Tahara also shares her experience during MERP and being an AIM Scholar.

In this episode, we will talk about our sister school American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. AUC's mission is to train tomorrow's physicians, whose service to their communities and their patients is enhanced by international learning experiences, a diverse learning community, and an emphasis on social accountability and engagement.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode is about Impostor Syndrome. Although not officially recognized, Impostor Syndrome can be prevalent in those who are different than their peers, particularly in underrepresented demographics. In this episode I'm joined by Dr. Karie Gaska and current student Kinza Javed.

Results show yet another strong year for RUSM with a 95% first-time residency attainment rate so far. Our graduates will enter residency programs in 23 specialties throughout 43 U.S. states and territories. Notable specialties include Dermatology, Orthopedic Surgery, Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Interventional Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Neurology. In this episode, we meet Dr. Hussain who matched in Neurology.

After RUSM students receive their MD degree, they embark in their path to residency. Each year, hundreds of our graduates receive the news that they have reached their goal and matched at leading hospitals across the United States and Canada. The majority of our graduates secure residencies through the National Resident Matching Program. With more than 15,000 alumni, we're inspired every day by the difference they are making in the world. In this episode, we chat with 3 recent grads who matched and hear about their unique paths to residency.

The Black Male Doctors student organization is an academic, cultural and social support center for students of all origins, with a special focus on black male students and students of African-American descent. My guest today is the club President Tyeler Checkley.

Ross University students have the opportunity to participate in more than 40 clubs and organizations. No matter what your interest is, likely there is a group of like-minded students. In this episode, we will talk about the Surgery Interest Group.The SIG strives to strengthen the basic skills required to prepare our students for their surgical rounds and necessary procedural techniques for the field of surgery. My guests today are Matthew Pace and Stephen Stocker.

The Muslim Student Association (MSA) seeks to support the Muslim students and other students of faith attending Ross University. They also aim to provide safe and comfortable spaces of prayer and meditation, while bringing awareness to the faith of Islam. My guests today are current students and officers of the MSA.

This week we continue to celebrate our graduates' success in Residency!! During the Residency MATCH process, applicants can apply as individuals or as a couple. Applying as a couple allows them to connect their rank order lists so they can match in the same geographic location. In this episode, Dr Yasmine Bargoti Gosey and Dr Bobby Gosey, share their experience matching as a couple.

The path to receiving your medical degree at Ross is exactly the same as those of US medical schools. Upon completion of the USMLEs, Ross students receive their MD degree and embark on a new path—residency!As of today, over 15000 graduates have reached their goal and matched at leading hospitals across the United States and Canada. The majority of our graduates secure residencies through the National Resident Matching Program. In this episode, Future Doctors Alyson Morgan and Kayla Blanchard talk about how Residency MATCH works and their personal experience.

Hematopathology or hemopathology is the study of diseases and disorders in blood cells, that affect their production, and any organs and tissues. This is a subspecialty of pathology that focuses on cancerous and non-cancerous conditions. In this episode Fellow Physician and RUSM alumnus Olumide Odeyemi shares his journey through his medical education.

The Canadian Student Association at RUSM creates a home-away from home, supporting the Canadian students, and connecting them through events, shared values and experiences. Prime Minister and Secretary of the organization, Future Drs Radhika Bassi and Gurjot Ravi share their experiences as current students.

Plastic surgery is a highly competitive surgical specialty. It can be a reconstruction or an alteration of the body, for the purpose of rebuilding or improving a function, or cosmetic for improving physical appearance. Dr. Sola Fasusi, class of 2010, shares his experiences preparing for the MCAT, studying for med school and his residency training.

Sports medicine is a specialty that focuses on physical fitness, treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise. In this episode, we chat with Dr. Irvin Sulapas about his experience as a Sports Medicine Doc.

The personal interview is an important part of the application process at RUSM, where we get to learn a bit more about the applicants. Every year, we conduct approximately 2200 interviews. Regional Director for the East Region, Jeff Weisberger, shares some advice on how to crush your med school interview.

Preparing for medical school in the Caribbean is an exciting moment in the accepted students' lives. It can also be a bit nerve-racking. Dr. Kimberly Brown, emergency physician, public health professional, blogger and best-selling author shares some tips on how to prepare ahead of time.

Wellness and self-care are essential for your success in medical school. At Ross University, we have a team of professionals dedicated to our students' health and support. In this episode, Dr. Shannon Evans joins me for a conversation about RUSM's Wellness and Counseling Center.

Burnout in medicine is not a new concept. It can start in medical school and directly impact the students physical and mental health, as well as their academics. In this episode, we hear about some of the initiatives Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) offers to help students avoid burnout.

Medical school can be a stressful time for the students. In this episode, Dr Maureen Hall talks about how the Academy for Teaching and Learning supports the students through stress and anxiety.

We often get asked about student engagement and campus life while living in Barbados. In this episode, we hear more about our Office of Student Affairs from the time students arrive at the airport, through events, clubs and community connections.

Academic support is a major focus at Ross University School of Medicine. In this episode, we talk about the Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL) and all the activities they offer, such as pre-matriculation courses, workshops, one-on-one coaching, mind/body/medicine, peer tutoring and the cognitive skills program.

In this episode, we focus on Student Support Services - a team dedicated to student success. They oversee academic advising, mentoring, wellness and counseling, student finance, student organizations and many other aspects of campus life.

Do you ever wonder what you would do in case of an emergency? In this episode, two current RUSM students talk about how the ABCs they learned early on in their medical training saved a life during what was just an ordinary day at the gym.

RUSM continues to strive for a just and inclusive environment for students and staff, free from racism, discrimination, prejudice, injustice, disparities and inequities. In this episode, you will hear about our Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce, our institutional commitment, its impact on the curriculum, and steps to ensure the initiative stays strong.

The Lone Star state! But you are not alone with us! 355 alumni already practicing in TX. In this episode, our Associate Director of Admissions and an alumna in TX share their insights.

MD or DO? In this episode, one of our grads discusses the differences and similarities between a Medical Doctor and a Doctor of Osteopathy, and why she chose her path.

The Access and Inclusion in Medicine (AIM) Scholars Program focuses on increasing the number of students from diverse backgrounds, to be successful medical graduates. In this episode, we talk about our partnership with HBCUs and HSIs.

This episode is entirely dedicated to our Canadian applicants! Meet the Director of Admissions in Canada, Tom Harkness, who covers the differences in the application process, interviews, campus life for Canadian students, clinical rotations and the differences in applying for the US and Canadian residency programs.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! In this episode, two current students and officers of the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) share their experiences during the MD program.

In this episode, one of our Assistant Director of Admissions describes the application process from submitting your application, to getting the final decision and the support throughout the transition. We talk about pre-requisites, GPA, MCAT and term starts.

The Medical Education Readiness Program (MERP) is a 15-week medical school preparatory program focused on preparing premed students for success in medical school.

Welcome to Ross University School of Medicine! This episode is an introduction to our MD program, covering who we are, our timeline, location, curriculum, rotations and outcomes, like board pass rates and residency matches.