Med Student Mentor

Residency interview season is here, and you’re probably getting nervous about an interview you’ve secured. How do you make yourself stand out from other applicants and put your best face forward? We interviewed Dr. Caroline Milne, the residency program director for internal medicine at the University of Utah to ask for advice.

Film presentations and art projects are usually not what you would expect to find at a medical school. But Dr. Gretchen Case from the University of Utah School of Medicine says this is a new and creative way of teaching the fundamentals of medicine that all medical students need to become a brilliant physician. Dr. Case talks about how she incorporates video and art in her class projects to better enhance her students’ medical education, and gives advice for other institutes that are looking to do the same.

Med Student Mentor, Andrew Meschter, talks to Ryan Craig MD-PhD about the program, what it’s like, his experiences, and the advantages of the dual degree. He also gets some tips for someone considering becoming a research scientist.

Many people take language classes at some point in their life, but there’s a big difference between passing required language tests and being proficient in a language in a working environment. Dr. David Gontrum is a physician who speaks Spanish every day in his clinic. In this podcast, he talks about the best way to learn Spanish and other foreign languages. He shares his experience with how, even after many years of speaking a language, some words can still get lost in translation—and that’s okay.

As populations of immigrants in the United States grow, it’s important to not only understand differences in cultural practices, but also be willing to accept them as a physician. Dr. David Gontrum has spent many years working with Hispanic patients. He shares some lessons he’s learned over the years and the most important thing doctors should keep in mind when working with patients of different cultural backgrounds.

Health care policy affects the way future physicians practice medicine, so as a med student you might be interested in getting involved. But where do you start? In this podcast, first year medical student John Sanchez interviews Nika Nour, a former House staffer. She provides some tips for where to start in your political endeavors, how to convey your messages to members of Congress and continuing to stay involved in issues you care about.

If you’re considering specializing in infectious disease, Dr. Andy Pavia has advice for you. He is chief of the pediatric infectious disease unit at the University of Utah and he’ll tell you how to get started in med school and what extra curricular activities can set you on the right path to a career in this fascinating field. Second year medical student Maria Borrero talks with Dr. Pavia about how broad the field actually is and where to start.

Many dental students and prospective dental students worry about the high debt associated with dental school and obtaining a portable license. Carol Gomez Summerhays is the president-elect of the American Dental Association. She discusses licensing and tuition but also talks about how technology and the Affordable Care Act are changing what dental students learn and how dentists practice.

Match day is over and you now know where you’ll be spending the next few years for the final stretch of your medical training. But how can you prepare now to make your residency the best experience possible? Ross Blagg is a plastic surgery resident at the University of Utah and he shares five things he wishes he knew before starting his residency. Listen to this podcast for advice on dealing with not getting a match you wanted, tips for staying optimistic, what to do right now to make the most of the time you have before beginning your residency and more.

Infectious disease doctors get to see all kinds of illnesses, from measles to Ebola. Second-year med student Maria Borrero interviews Dr. Andy Pavia, chief of the pediatric infectious disease division at University of Utah School of Medicine. He discusses his career beginnings—when information about AIDS was just emerging—and all the important and frequent discoveries made in the field since. If you are considering a career in infectious disease, take a listen to this podcast for resources, information and advice for navigating your way into the field.

What do chief residents do and what are their roles on the medical team? If you’re considering whether or not becoming a chief resident is the right fit, the Residency Program Director for Internal Medicine at the University of Utah has some advice for you. Med Student Mentor Natasha Kwendakwema talks to Dr. Caroline Milne about the responsibilities, benefits, and also gets some tips on how medical students can prepare themselves to become a chief resident.

Stressed out and need some motivation? Dr. Leana Wen, attending physician at George Washington University, talks about how to manage stress in such a stressful time of your life. She also discusses the importance of involvement outside of medical school and reverting back to your core motivation as a way of maintaining balance and avoiding burnout.

An interview lets you accentuate your own personal brand. Medical student and nationally ranked cyclist Tim Mulvihill has been in the hot seat numerous times and shares what fellow Med-school applicants will encounter during the interview process. This high achiever with a unique perspective shares some positive advice about interviewing.

What are the important things to consider when a new doctor signs a contract? Lawyer Jim Haisley highlights the important points. From reading, understanding, agreeing, signing and even backing out, he takes you through everything you need to know before you sign a contract.

The Medical College Admissions Test is undergoing a huge revision that will appear in 2015. Becky Rice and Jen Page from MCAT discuss how the new version will affect scoring and admissions. They also give you some insider details on the update MCAT to help you study.

Quality, in-depth research experience may get you into medical school, but lack of research experience may not rule you out. For those interested in research, Dr. David Wofsy from the University of California, San Francisco, recommends starting early and making a meaningful contribution. He gives some tips on getting started, scheduling time, and what is expected of an undergrad at a research lab.

For pre-med students applying to UCSF medical school, diversity is key. A deliberately broad-based enrollment contributes to an expansive view of medicine. Dr. David Wofsy describes UCSF’s role as a state-sponsored university to provide doctors that serve the needs of the community in research, policy and caring for the underserved. With more Nobel Prizes in medicine than any other school, UCSF stands out as a prestigious institution.

Riding a bicycle requires balance, especially if you’re in medical school. Competitive bicycle racer Tim Mulvihill talks about finding time to pursue your passions, even during med school. Given a choice between science, a medical career, volunteering or just going for a spin, Tim answers, “all of the above,” and gives some tips for how you can also find the time to do it all.

What you say and how you say it might get you into Harvard Medical School. Dr. Robert J. Mayer, Faculty Associate Dean of Admissions at Harvard Medical School explains the interview process. He suggests some interview dos and don’ts and explains what potential applicants can expect to encounter when interviewing for med school.

Want a better chance of getting accepted to med school? Ann Diggins, director of student and educational affairs, University of Nevada Medical School, advises giving yourself plenty of time to complete the med school application process. From tips for arranging your class schedule to accumulating volunteer credit to fine-tuning your final submission, Diggins explains how starting early can bolster your chances of success.

Why the University of Nevada School of Medicine believes “Students from the West are the Best.” Ann Diggins, director of student and educational affairs at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, describes her school’s unique approach to recruiting. She provides an insightful heads-up on what U of Nevada looks for in a med school applicant.

How can “telling your story” get you into Harvard Medical School? Dr. Robert Mayer, faculty associate dean of admissions at Harvard Medical School reveals what the admissions staff looks for in a candidate. He shares some insider tips on preparing a great essay and discusses the dos and don’ts of writing a successful essay.

Former Miss Utah and medical student Kara Arnold interviews fourth-year medical student Bob Chestnut about the steps to becoming the doctor you’ve always wanted to be. She asks which qualities are most important in a residency candidate and how med students can develop those qualities. They talk about what doctors and med school professors think is even more important than clinical knowledge and how to make the most of your time in medical school.

As Miss Utah, Kara Arnold used her position to encourage women and girls to explore careers in STEM fields. Now a University of Utah medical student, Arnold discusses how she discovered her passion for medicine, what women can bring to the sciences and why it’s important for them to get involved in science.

Medical students must make the best impression on their attending physicians that they can, but doing so without being overbearing and in a short amount of time can be difficult. First-year med student Kara Arnold gets some tips from fourth-year Bob Chestnut about things you can do and shouldn’t do to create a good impression to get the recommendation you want.

Being Miss Utah 2012 is hectic, but this year Kara Arnold learned the only thing that can really prepare you for the craziness of the first year of med school ‑ is the first year of med school. The former Miss America contestant talks about what she wished she knew on the first day and what excites her (and has her a bit freaked out) about the second year. If you’re considering med school yourself, she also has some advice for you.