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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.