The Future Minority Doctor Podcast

The advent of tools like ChatGPT, Claude Opus, Gemini, and other LLMs make organizing your thoughts and phrasing your sentences far easier than just a year or two ago. However, there are some pitfalls to avoid. In this episode, doctors Zulma and Marina discuss how to use this tool wisely in order to sound your best, while avoding turning your personal statement into a personal computer statement that can get you in trouble later.

There are numerous cracks in the pipeline from aspiring high school graduate to medical student. Learn from Drs Marina and Zulma where they nearly lost their way, and how a growth mindset will help to keep your eyes on the prize if you fail a class, you see people bragging about MCATs or publications online, or an advisor tells you to go another way.

A thriving pediatrician, Dr. Shapiro trained in Mexico and then worked for the World Health Organization for several years before settling in the states where he has practiced on both coasts. Listen to how his philosophy that “health doesn't care about borders, it only cares that you are human” guided him to maximize human development throughout his career.

From a medical family in Puerto Rico, Dr. Padilla rocketed her way into medical school at the age of 20. There, her age combined with her sex and race to get a little extra dose of condescension from some of her colleagues. Listen to her story about how she dealt with these challenges, and what her day-to-day looks like after completing her residency in internal medicine, and then a fellowship in endocrinology.

Come listen as Jocelyne vulnerably shares her personal journey to upper-division medical school. From the culture shock of an almost-all-white college to being caught out in a deliberately difficult chemistry course to unhelpful advisors, she has faced too many (but all-too-common) challenges in her path, but found full-time work in therapeutics and care-giving to prove to herself that doctoring was truly her calling. Through hard study for the MCAT and premed reqs, she proved the doubters before and during med school wrong and is now on the cusp of graduating with her M.D. Let her resilience inspire you!

Code-switching is a way of life for minority doctors. Let Drs Zulma and Marina give you some tips on how to make sure your accountability, discretion, reliability, self-discpline and more come across clearly to the (mostly) non-minorities that will be interviewing, teaching, and supervising you in your medical school journey. This includes being prepared and punctual for meetings with your extremely busy mentors, limit your distractions, respond to emails within a few days, and looking the part in interviews.

Did you know that the Future Minority Doctor hosts also lead a successful (and free!) application coaching program? For more details on how to get personal attention on the last hurdle in your journey to medical school, listen to this episode and then apply.

What beliefs about money and debt did you learn from your parents? Since these days you can't walk to the student union without being offered a credit card, and student loans that can't fit on a standard calculator, even college freshmen need to think hard about what money strategies make sense in the long-term given their earning potential.

So, you didn't score as well as you hoped on the MCAT? Drs. Zulma and Marina provide perspective on what that means for your chances of reaching your medical dreams, and remind you that while the MCAT is important it is not the only thing that gets you into a medical school. They discuss where you should apply, how to make the rest of your application shine, and when you should take a gap year to study up and polish the resume.

The child of immigrants to the Bay Area, hear how Wumi took “not a linear path” through college, a degree in psychology, and several gap years, before being drawn to osteopathic medicine. Having just survived the intimidation of the MCAT and “drinking from the firehose” in first year, her insights into ways to maintain mental health under stress and constant challenging evaluations are fresh and what everyone needs to hear at some point on this journey.

Dr. Jacqueline Winkelmann has a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Marina about growing up in Puerto Rico, code-switching as a fair-skinned Latina in the rigorous environment of Washington University of St. Louis, and finding her passion as a pediatric hospitalist. “Dr. Jacq” is also the force behind Scrub Sisters (www.scrubsisters.org), a sisterhood of women in medicine supporting each other to find their voice through mentorship and community. Join us for an enlightening discussion of the realities of becoming and remaining a physician as a minority woman.

Hear the details of Ruben's inspiring journey from a childhood on a rural Mexican farm to UC Berkeley, and MBA, and how FMD's free coaching program helped him over the finish line to being accepted at his top choice of medical school. For more details on the application coaching program, see www.futureminoritydoctor.com/acp

We are all-too-aware of how our own minds can conjure up worst-case scenarios, and make us anxious about problems that never materialize. Science is just now beginning to understand the power of imagining positive outcomes, picturing yourself handling problems with poise, and self-affirmations. Drs. Marina and Zulma summarize recent remarkable studies, talk about their own clinical successes with visualization, and walk you through a few visualizations that will help you let go of worry and tackle your pre-med requirements with confidence.

The average US college student accumulates 1-4 hours of sleep debt per night. This deficit leads to a weakened immune system, anxiety, irritability, impaired driving, and--perhaps most relevant for this podcast--poor memory consolidation. In this episode, Drs. Marina and Zulma discuss how widespread this problem is, how it has worsened with the advent of smartphones, and share scientifically-proven techniques for better sleep hygiene (including relaxing visualizations from Dr Marina).

Have you ever wondered if you can be a doctor if you have ADHD? In this episode, we talk about what ADHD is, how it manifests in kids and adults, and how it can manifest differently in different individuals. We also touch on some myths about ADHD and what you can do if you have (or think you have) it so that you can still achieve all of your educational and professional goals.

Are you applying to medical school? Consider writing your Impactful Experiences Essay! This essay used to be called the "Disadvantaged Statement," but generally invites applicants to share the unique challenges they've had to overcome. Although this is an optional step in your AMCAS application, it is your opportunity to share the special circumstances in your life that speak to who you are and have helped you build resilience throughout your life. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma highlight the immense value of the Impactful Experiences Essay to your application, challenge you to see the opportunity to stand out positively by submitting it, and give you inspiring examples of what this essay looks like and how you can write yours well!

Are you thinking of reapplying to medical school? You may have applied before, were not accepted, or are still waiting for schools' replies but are concerned that you may not make it and should consider reapplying. Allowing time for your emotions to flow is necessary; then, you can learn from the experience and move forward. Taking inventory of your rejected application will help you spot what you may have missed, where the trajectory of your application needed improvement, or maybe your school choices could have been better tailored for your scores, experiences, and number of activities. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma teach how to candidly review your application before reapplying and share awesome tips to help you improve your chances next time.

Have you ever wondered what going to medical school without a science degree would be like? There are lots of reasons why you would want to consider majoring in other fields, like engineering or history. You don't need a science major to become a doctor. Expanding your knowledge in different areas that interest you will make you a more well-rounded future doctor, and the humanities offer some great options. While you will still need to take the science and premed courses, the insights and perspectives that humanities courses bring are valuable and can make you stand out in a sea of talented applicants.

Dr. Alexa Angulo is an international medical graduate (IMG) from Mexico who graduated from UABC in Tijuana and has just started her residency in pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia. She shares her journey, from challenges in high school and medical school in Mexico to passing the additional requirements for IMGs before they become ECFMG-certified and can apply for a residency position in the US. Every journey is unique! Dr. Angulo will inspire other IMGs to pursue their career dreams and navigate their path to matching a residency position in the US.

Do you have a strategy for applying to medical schools? How can you select the best school based on your unique needs or preferences and decide which schools are right for you? Once accepted to one or more medical schools, how do you choose the best one to spend your next four years? In this episode, Dr. Zulma and Dr. Marina discuss various aspects of selecting how many schools to apply to, helping you develop your own plan and consider the most suitable options for you.

Are you a URM student ready to prepare your medical application for the next cycle? In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court banned race-conscious admissions policies. If you are committed to becoming a doctor, serving your community, and impacting the world, do not let this change hinder you! In this episode, Dr. Zulma and Dr. Marina touch on the context of this recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling ending race-conscious admissions policies in higher education and the history of disadvantaged applicants' admission process. They also share their experiences and hurdles as URM themselves when entering medical school. Finally, they empower URM students to navigate their application process in light of the ruling guide on how to write their essays as a result!

How can you write a reader-catching activity description for your medical school application? Whether applying for an MD or a DO school, you will be asked to present 15 activities showcasing your skills in action. Often, students focus so much on their personal statements that they underestimate the incredible value of their activities. In the activity description, applicants can display snippets of their whole trajectory leading up to being the skilled medical student schools seek. Overlooking them may mean leaving a great opportunity on the table and hurting your application! In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma demonstrate how applicants can choose and write robust activity description paragraphs, maximizing the potential of their application by showing how well-rounded and strong applicants they are!

Do you struggle with taking initiatives? Often, premed students struggle with shyness, fears, lack of motivation, and other barriers that prevent them from advocating, speaking up, or taking action. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma discuss and share their tips on how to benefit from taking initiative as a premed student, becoming more helpful, and finding the fine balance in participating without being shy or showing off. Learn how you can expand your opportunities and enjoy thriving as you get yourself out of your comfort zone.

Bianca Silva just graduated from osteopathic medical school at the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences and is beginning her residency in family medicine at Kaiser Permanente. She shares the story of her path into medicine, which involved growing up in an immigrant family, going to community college, transferring to a four-year university, working multiple jobs, taking post-bac courses to improve her GPA, finding a great mentor, and getting a master's degree in business administration. She highlights what she loved about studying osteopathic medicine and learning the art of hands-on healing techniques.

Did you know that you will need to ask for a few letters of recommendation when you apply to medical school? Most schools request two letters from science professors and one or more others from other people you have worked or done research with. And, even if you're years away from applying, it's not too early to start preparing. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma share their tips for how to prepare to get great letters of recommendation, no matter where you are on your premed path.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a medical doctor (MD) and doctor of osteopathy (DO)? You're not alone. In this episode, we help clarify the difference between these two degrees and explain how each of them can help you achieve your dream of becoming a doctor.

In this episode, Dr. Leith States shares his story of growing up in Compton, losing a friend to cancer, being tokenized as a Black/Latino/Indigenous student, joining the navy during medical school and working as a battalion surgeon and public health emergency officer, completing an MBA, and now working for the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) at a federal level. He opens up about the challenges of applying to medical school, overcoming self doubt, and often being the only male of color at federal health policy meetings.

Do you have to work to support yourself while you're in college or taking your premed requirements? That's OK — many students have to balance school and work responsibilities. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma discuss some factors you should consider when choosing your work experiences so that, come application time, you're in the best position possible to shine!

Did you know that there are many types of combined programs that enable you to get both your medical degree AND another degree simultaneously? These include BS+MD programs, MD+PhD programs, MD+MPH programs, MD+MBA programs, and many more! Listen in as we guide you through the basics of such programs and the pros and cons to consider for each.

Listen as double board-certified physician Dr. Au shares about growing up in Hawai'i as the daughter of a Native Hawaiian dad and Maori Danish mom, how her uncle with ALS motivated her to help people, majoring in mathematics at BYU-Hawai'i, confronting racial microaggressions, finding supportive networks during college and medical school, working as a pediatric hospitalist, and now helping young adults at a university health center. She also shares her best advice for current premeds.

When you're working tirelessly to get into medical school, physician burnout may be the last thing on your mind, but it's an important thing to understand before you commit fully to a career in medicine. (You may even be asked about physician burnout in your medical school interviews!) In this episode, we get really honest and personal about our own burnout through various stages of our medical careers — from the premed years to residency and even through various jobs we've had. Many factors that contribute to burnout are features of existing educational and healthcare systems, so they're not always in your control. Nonetheless, we share some tips for things you CAN do to help improve your own experience and maximize the chances of becoming a happy physician.

Have you ever felt like you're not as smart, capable, or worthy as others around you? Have you ever felt like you're just pretending to belong as a premed? Or, have you ever done something really well and told yourself, “I just got lucky”? If so, you have likely experienced impostor syndrome — which is difficulty believing that you deserve the success that comes to you through effort. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma discuss their own experiences with impostor syndrome and share some tips about how to overcome the negative thinking patterns that feed it.

Listen in as Dr. Zulma interviews pediatric cardiologist Dr. Silva Sepulveda, a doctor specializing in children's heart conditions. He shares about immigrating to the U.S., getting in trouble as a teen, working his way through college with a variety of jobs (including violinist in a Mariachi band!), overcoming challenges with the MCAT, and making his way from community college to medical school. He also talks about why he loves his job and the challenges and joys of balancing a medical career with six kids, including kids with special medical needs. Don't miss his inspiring story!

Listen in as Dr. Zulma interviews Thalia Fabian, a 4th year osteopathic medical student who just matched to residency in psychiatry. Hear her story of being born in Peru, growing up in California's central valley, the challenges she faced as a first-generation college student, and why she chose the field of psychiatry. Her best advice to current premeds is, “Don't be afraid!”

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a surgeon that helps treat cancer? In this episode, Dr. Juliet Siena Lumati, MD, MPH, shares her story of becoming the first-ever Black female surgical oncology fellow at Johns Hopkins She shares what her day-to-day life is like, her passion for research, and her interest in treating cancers of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas. She also talks about her passion for international health and stories of helping cancer patients in Nigeria. Learn about the unique challenges of pursuing a career in surgery and hear her advice about how to increase your confidence that you belong!

If you're planning to apply to medical school soon and want to save yourself the devastation of rejection (and the cost of having to reapply), then this episode is for you! We review the 10 most common mistakes that we see on primary applications to medical school, including: - Rushing your application - Applying late - Not explaining your "why" clearly - Leaving big gaps in your history - Not making use of the disadvantaged statement - Listing too few activities - Not having enough clinical experience - Telling instead of showing - Exuding arrogance or overconfidence - Not asking for help

Have you ever wondered what the differences are between a physician (MD or DO), physician assistant (PA), and nurse practitioner (NP)? All of these individuals work together on healthcare teams to deliver medical care, but each one has unique education, training requirements, and roles within medicine. In this episode, we explain what the differences and commonalities are between them and what to consider when trying to decide on the right path for you. (Spoiler: Becoming a physician may take longer—think 15,000 clinical hours vs. 1000—but we think it's worth it!)

Have you considered applying to an international medical school, such as one in the Caribbean or Mexico? In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of international programs so that you can make the best decision possible for your medical education and future medical career. (And stay tuned for future episodes highlighting stories from doctors who went the international route!)

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a doctor who specializes in women's health and pregnancy? In this episode, Dr. Zulma interviews Dr. Michelle Contreras, a specialist in obstetrics & gynecology (“ob/gyn”). Dr. Contreras shares about her upbringing in rural California, what inspired her to become an doctor, what medical school and residency was like, what it's like to take care of women through pregnancy and other health issues, what a typical workday looks like for her now, and what she wishes she knew when she was a premed.

Have you heard of post-baccalaureate (also referred to as “post-bac”) programs? Have you considered whether a post-bac program is right for you? In this episode, we guide you through the various types of post-bac programs that exist, reasons why you might consider one, how to apply, and the potential pros and cons. Dr. Zulma also shares her experience of doing a specific type of post-bac program called a conditional acceptance program just before medical school, and how she feels it helped her prepare for success in medical school.

Do you feel pressure to go directly from college to medical school? Are you forcing yourself to fit all of your premedical requirements, volunteering, research, and clinical experience into four years — and feeling burned out in the process? If so, it might be a good idea to step back and consider taking a gap year. There are many great reasons to do so, from helping to improve your GPA or MCAT score to helping accumulate more life experiences to simply taking a break from the stress of school. In this episode, we talk you through the many reasons to consider a gap year and help you consider some of the benefits of doing so. After all, in the grand scheme of things, one year (or a few) will just be a small fraction of your journey to becoming a doctor!

Do you struggle with chronic procrastination? Are you the one cramming the night before an exam, pulling an all-nighter, and turning your assignment in just in time? Or, do you procrastinate so much that you end up missing deadlines and dropping classes? If this describes you, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma are here to share their experiences and wisdom with you — so you can start transforming your habits and prove to yourself that you CAN do hard things and succeed!

We all have an inner voice that speaks to us all day, every day. If that voice tends to be negative or critical, it can impede your chances of success. Fortunately, you can gradually train that inner voice to be more hopeful and optimistic. It takes practice, but it's possible! In this episode, we discuss two main strategies to help train that inner voice in a way that will help you reach your dream of becoming a doctor. We've done it, and so can you!

Are you in the middle of taking organic chemistry and struggling? Have you heard horror stories from other students who have taken it and are dreading your turn? Organic chemistry (also known as “orgo” or “ochem”) is notoriously challenging, but it doesn't have to your nemesis, and your final grade in this class does NOT determine whether you're cut out to be a doctor. It's really just one of those hurdles you have to jump through to show that you have the commitment and perseverance to succeed in medical school. In this episode, Dr. Marina talks with two current chemistry teaching assistants (TAs) who share their experiences with taking organic chemistry and how they managed to master the material well enough to succeed…and become TAs! They also help to show you that you shouldn't be afraid of asking for help — in fact, they love it when students come into office hours with questions!

In this episode, Dr. Marina chats with Jessica E., a recent UCLA graduate, about how she managed to score a 516 on the MCAT on her first try. She shares all about how long she dedicated to studying, what test prep materials she used, how she focused her study time, how many practice exams she took, and how she overcame the psychological hurdles of studying for such a big test. If you're planning to take (or re-take) the MCAT soon, listen and get inspired by her success. If she can do it, so can you!

Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma act out some mini medical interview (MMI) scenarios, with not-so-good and good example responses. MMIs are like “speed dating” interviews, and you only have a few minutes to leave a good impression, so preparation and practice are key. We explain a few ways to ensure that your responses show maturity, compassion, problem-solving, and good communication skills. If you're approaching medical school interviews, this episode is for you!

In this episode, we answer some key questions about getting research experience as a premed student, including: - How important is it to get research experience before applying to medical school? - What types of research are there? - Is there a specific type of research I have to do? We also share some tips on how to seek out and find great research opportunities, including: - Talking to professors - Doing targeted web searches - Looking at federal work-study opportunities - Applying for summer research programs - Overcoming the fear of asking!

Are you just starting your first year of college? In this episode, we share tips we wish we'd known when we were just starting out — like how many classes to take to avoid feeling overwhelmed, how to choose the right balance of classes to take, and how to balance classes with work, extracurriculars, and sleep. Learning to find the right balance for you will pay off when it comes time to apply to medical school.

In this episode, Dr. Marina talks with Gabe C. about how he recently prepared for the MCAT and scored an incredible 514. We also talk about his upbringing in the South, what motivated him to become a doctor, his career detour as an engineer, what he did during his 5 months of preparing for the MCAT (hint: lots of practice questions and full-length practice tests), and what applying to medical school is like. If you're planning to take — or retake — the MCAT anytime soon, this is for you!

Did you know that quality volunteer activities are a key component of your application to medical school? In this episode, we offer a few pointers for choosing volunteer activities that will help you reap the benefits of altruism AND show admissions committees you're a caring and compassionate person. Our five main suggestions are: - Choose things that you actually enjoy doing. - Choose at least one activity that shows a medium-to-long-term commitment. - Try to have at least one CLINICAL volunteer experience. - Choose some activities that align with your purpose. - Find a good balance between volunteering & academics.