Journey to Medicine

Dr. Sergio Torres served as a hospital medicine physician at Stanford and is currently a medicine faculty at UCSF. He discusses his experience training as a physician in Mexico and the United States in this fantastic episode. His interest in medicine began as an adolescent despite having no medical influences in his large family. He details an impactful mission trip in which he was motivated to gain insight and answers to questions that people had about their health. After high school, Dr. Torres entered medical school in Mexico and completed a year of research to examine cardiovascular aging. Along the way, he confronted many questions about the limitations of medicine. After, Dr. Torres prepared to apply for residency programs in the U.S. and later attended a program at Baylor. During this episode, Dr. Torres provides excellent insight into choosing a fulfilling profession, explaining his background in service and his desire to help those that are less fortunate. Finally, he offers advice to students to pursue a path that is in harmony with who they are and to stop and ask themselves the essential questions along their journey!

In this encouraging and inspiring episode, Dr. Gail Gazelle, a Harvard Medical School faculty and author of the book "Everyday Resilience," provides tangible advice on how to move from burnout to resilience. She describes her early interest in medicine and her childhood experiences that led her to pursue a career in hospice care. Dr. Gazelle held various clinical positions and eventually completed a medical ethics fellowship to start a palliative care program. After her son's birth, Dr. Gazelle began to feel tremendous guilt and burnout, which led her to pursue her training to become a physician coach and write a book to help others. Throughout this episode, Dr. Gazelle provides fantastic advice about numerous steps that students and physicians can take to develop resilience and thrive in their lives and careers!

Throughout her journey, Jessica Buesing, chief resident at Stanford, put one foot in front of the other at every step along the way. Throughout undergrad, she was very involved in music in both her studies and extracurriculars, graduating from Williams with a double major in clinical psychology and music. After college, she pursued several experiences working in behavioral therapy and ended up in a nursing program at Columbia. However, a particular physiology course sparked a fascination and convinced Dr. Buesing to switch gears and pursue medical school. In this fascinating episode, Dr. Buesing discusses being brave, bold, and overcoming fear to follow a true passion as well as work-life balance and finding support systems.

"In this powerful episode, Dr. Steven Reid, neurosurgeon and founder of the non-profit Doctor Lifeline, discusses his crucial work to prevent physician burnout and suicide. He lays out the reasons for an increased incidence among physicians and various steps we need to take to prevent it. His story begins during undergrad when he accidentally fell into medicine and later completed a seven-year BS/MD program. While choosing specialties, Dr. Reid pursued neurosurgery even after being warned against it. However, during his training, he experienced “the dark night of the soul” and contemplated quitting. From his experience, Dr. Reid provides advice to students on the importance of enduring the challenging aspects of medicine, having open conversations, seeking help, and finding joy along the journey!"

"In this exciting episode, Dr. Sophia Yen, an adolescent medicine physician and CEO/Co-Founder of Pandia Health, describes the traditional path she followed throughout undergrad and medical school. From her experience, she offers insightful advice about useful positions and extracurriculars that are helpful for medical school admissions. Additionally, Dr. Yen details her passion and hope for pediatrics as well as her entrepreneurial spirit!

In this insightful episode, Gabrielle Nord focuses on the passionate journey that led her to attend PA school at Stanford. She recalls the train ride that shifted her life goals and convinced her to ignore her doubts and pursue a career in medicine. Gabrielle also gives great advice about the process of applying to PA school and her extensive background in international service. Her journey to medicine is a true testament to her life motto that “it’s not about if, it’s about when.” Listen to this episode for an inspirational and encouraging story!!

In this fantastic episode, Emily Trimm takes us through her journey, which began with a move from England to the United States when she was eleven years old. At first, Emily had a dream to become a veterinarian but during high school, her focus shifted when she volunteered as an EMT. Throughout undergrad, Emily continued her experience as an EMT, immersed herself in research, and studied physics. When the time came to apply to medical school, she focused solely on MD/Ph.D. programs and credits two simple things for her extraordinary success: authenticity and consistency. Emily also elaborates on cultivating other passions and activities such as her love for ballroom dancing as well as finding joy in what you pursue!

In this important interview, Dr. Adela Wu reflects on her undergrad years at Brown enrolled in a combined program, taking both science and English courses. After medical school, Dr. Wu was aware of negative stereotypes as a female neurosurgeon yet she was able to overcome the doubts of others as well as self-doubts to pursue her true passion. She also speaks on striking a balance between interests as well as work and personal life. Early on in her undergrad years, she wanted to be a freelance writer but in the present she finds that she has the ability to do both writing and medicine, offering the advice that it is healthy to consider other career options. Dr. Wu advises young students to follow what motivates them because students should pursue multiple passions.

In this fascinating interview, Dr. Thomas Lew, a hospitalist at Stanford, gives great advice on pursuing passions. He reflects on his decision to become a physician, especially with the influence of his siblings, who are all also doctors. Additionally, Dr. Lew speaks on his strong volunteering background and his love of writing, both passions that intersected with medicine. Dr. Lew also discusses how the financial burden of pursuing medicine can be overcome and his ritual that helps him through the difficult part of his job as a physician, such as delivering bad news to a patient. Give this episode a listen for inspiration to follow your passions and confidence that you can do it too!

In this remarkable interview, Dr. Michael Zhang gives simple, effective advice regarding the decision to go into medicine and one important step that everyone should take before applying to medical school. He discusses his time in med school and neurosurgery residency and what surprised him the most about becoming a resident. Listen to this inspirational podcast!

Dr. Nicholas Scoulios wanted to be a physicist but a shadowing experience made him realize the tremendous impact a physician can make in their patients' lives. He describes medical school as tough but he had unknowingly prepared well for it. In this conversation, Dr. Scoulios offers invaluable advice on how to approach applying to medical school and what is the key to be successful in the journey to being a physician!

John is a student at the Stanford Medicine Master of Science in PA Studies (MSPA) program. He talks about how all his experiences led him to think about the profession of PA and what made his application strong for the Stanford Medicine MSPA program. John offers great information and advice for all the students who are thinking of a career as a PA.

Mario Moreno's family came to the US as illegal immigrants. Poor grades in college shattered his hopes of getting into med school. After undergrad, he worked as a night time interpreter in a hospital and studied for his MCAT between patients. He was feeling doubtful and afraid. Listen to this extraordinary story of determination and recovery to achieve the height of success in medicine!!

In this candid and informative interview, Dr. Collins discusses what motivates and excites him about going to work daily as a hospital medicine physician. He did not think he would pursue medicine while growing up. In undergraduate, his path took him towards premed track. He took some time after undergrad to gain experience in providing service and education abroad before finally applying to medical school. He offers excellent advice on how to manage the stressors of medical training and practice!

A captivating and inspiring journey to medicine!! Angel Billingsworth knew he wanted to be a doctor from an early age but did not know how to become one. Once in college, he learnt about it and worked hard to get ready to apply to medical school. But a serious accident put a stop to all his plans. Once recovered, he was inspired by his experiences as a patient to finish a public health degree and even went to law school. Despite all the obstacles he had faced, his fierce desire to help people motivated him to navigate the rigorous medical school application process. Let's hear from AJ!!

Nada knew that she wanted to be a doctor from a very young age. She worked hard during high school, undergrad and masters. But the application process to medical schools left her feeling frustrated and "wore her spirit down". Nada talks about what pulled her through that period and has excellent uplifting advice for all the students going through the process.

Danielle was always interested in the sciences. In college, she thought of applying to medical school. But her journey took her through masters in public health and some years in research before she decided to go back to her true passion that was patient care. With the growing popularity of the physician assistant profession, she applied to the physician assistant masters program. Lets here about her journey from Danielle Marck!

This episode is for all international medical graduates! The ups and downs, the anxieties and the victories! Listen to this highly informative and an excellent step by step description of her journey from medical school in India to residency in the US, followed by a fellowship at Stanford. Let's hear from Dr. Pratyusha Narra, MD!!

Josh grew up helping his father, a physician in providing outreach health services and was sure he wanted to go to med school. However, when he got accepted into a prestigious combined BS/MD program after high school, he declined it. Josh wanted to gain more experience and be sure if medicine was his passion. He went to Kenya to serve. Did his experience abroad help him? Listen to this captivating journey to medicine from Josh Wong!

Dr. Jonathon Parker grew up in a small town. His journey took him through a seven-year MD/Ph.D. program and then he applied for another seven-year residency in neurosurgery. He talks about his secret to sustaining the long, difficult journey and actually having fun while going through it. Listen to some excellent advice about the application process and life in medicine from Jonathon!

Tiffany Lee thought that her med school application was "average". She took some time off after college and came up with a strategy. Tiffany took a bold decision that surprisingly worked and she got admitted to the med school of her choice. Let's hear about this captivating journey to medicine!

Swati Yanamadala did not think she wanted to be a physician in high school. Then an experience in undergrad led her to pursue not only Med school but also obtain her MBA degree at the same time. Why did she feel that a combined program will help? Let's hear about her journey from Swati!

Kelly Guy is an internal medicine resident at Stanford. Growing up in a family of doctors, she was warned about the rigors of the medical profession. Trying to distance herself from medicine, she majored in international relations in college. But her experiences kept pushing her closer to medicine. Against everyone's advice, she took the plunge. She discusses the struggle that she faced while making the decision!

Zachary always knew he wanted to be a physician. But his experience in undergrad made him rethink his decision. He took some time after undergrad to explore the various options. Let's hear about his journey from Zachary!

Dan Greenberg was a student athlete throughout high school and college. He thought his GPA was not "stellar". After undergrad he became a high school teacher. Let's hear about his journey to med school from Dan!

Growing up, Dr. Jessie Kittle never thought she would become a physician. She worked as dolphin trainer, ambulance driver and even started a restaurant. Then, when she applied to medical schools, she was denied by all. Listen to her fascinating journey to med school!