Dear DO:: Recent Episodes
Dear DO:
Hello! My name is Michaele Garrison and I am the host of Dear DO podcast. I am a current 4th year osteopathic medical student applying to neurology residency. My journey to medical school was chaotic to say the least, as it lacked structure as well as mentorship. When I looked online at other people’s experiences, I felt inadequate and lost. In a world of instagram-worthy medical content, it’s easy to feel subpar. Through my podcast, I hope those pursuing medicine will feel more seen and have the mentorship I wish I had.
This episode, Dr. Herrell and I dive into a question from a listener who asked us about having a family during medical school. Can you have a family while pursuing medicine? Is it worth it? Does instagram romanticize being a parent and physician? What about PA school or NP school? And what is Grapico..?
All this and more :) and as always, submit your own question at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfibaaN3R2PydLaHM0Ooh7lvPDtr2b8NfdV-QsUFnFCK6s6Rw/viewform?usp=pp_url
Your question might get answered on the podcast!
Burnout!!! In this week's episode, Dr. Herrell, MD and I discuss the intricacies of burnout, abuse, and the glamorization of it all. Primarily centering our focus on the "You signed up for this" narrative mixed with attention seeking on the internet, and how it makes us all just feel lousy. The heart of this discussion can be traced back to the origin of residency and it's invention by William Osler, a pretty bad dude, which we'll explain. We also talk about the role of burnout in the rise of Med Spas and how that relates to the 1970s novel, The House of God.
*Trigger warning for suicide*
Original recording and production by Michaele Garrison, DO.
Original music by Kalon.
Hello lovely humans! Very excited about this week's episode, I tackle your questions from social media regarding ERAS applications for residency. This episode brought back so many memories for me, but the biggest take away is about FIT! If you have a scenario you'd like my two cents on, or just need to vent and hear me muse with you about it, check out the google form below!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfibaaN3R2PydLaHM0Ooh7lvPDtr2b8NfdV-QsUFnFCK6s6Rw/viewform?usp=pp_url
Original music by Kalon. Recording, editing, and production by Michaele Garrison, DO.
This week I want to give the highlights of the residency interview trail, from open houses to letters of intent and everything inbetween! Not sure what to expect during a meet and greet? What questions to ask? I got you. This short and sweet episode is your TLDR summary, essential for all 4th year medical students.
A few of the highlights:
MEET AND GREET: This is where you can ask questions like “what do you and your co-residents do for fun in the area?” “What was intern year like” “How frequently do you and your cointerns hang out” “What was the last time someone brought an issue to leadership and what was the outcome?” “How often do residents go over the work hour limit?” “Favorite things about your program?” “why did you choose this program?” “What do you feel this program could work on?”
IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED ON THE PODCAST:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfibaaN3R2PydLaHM0Ooh7lvPDtr2b8NfdV-QsUFnFCK6s6Rw/viewform?usp=pp_url
Original music by Kalon.
Production and recording by Michaele Garrison, DO.
This week we answered a question submitted by a listener, how exciting! If you didn't know this before, answering all of your questions in this kind of format is quite literally why I started this podcast. This week, I was accompanied by Dr. Herrell, MD to answer a letter about imposter syndrome, self-esteem, and anxiety within the realm of shadowing and clinical rotations as the writer enters medical school.
Dr. Herrell and I discuss proper shadowing/rotation etiquette, such as being prompt, on time and having the right decorum. We challenge the writer and those listening to shift your perspective when it comes to dealing with preceptors who don't seem overtly enthusiastic about your presence. Then we tackle the beast that is imposter syndrome and see it through the scope of awareness rather than insecurity. We discuss how imposter syndrome is just the reality that keeps us humble and hungry to learn and grow! Dr. Herrell shares some of his knowledge regarding the Dunning Kreuger effect, and how incompetence and false confidence leads to a one-way ticket to Mount Stupid. And of course, a discussion about anxiety would not be complete without the good ole Yerkes-Dodson curve.
Whatever stage of the journey you're currently in, you will want to give this episode a listen.
If you would like your questions answered, as Jane had hers answered, please submit your questions to @Dear.DO.pod on instagram.
For more information and to submit completely anonymously, please visit DearDOpod.com.
Original music by Kalon. Recording and production by Michaele Garrison, DO.
In this second half of the conversation with Dr. Ashley Hamati, we go more in depth about her schedule as a PGY-1 OBGYN resident. She gives us the breakdown of her day in the life, what rotations she loved the most, her most proud moments in OBGYN and more! If OB isn't your thing, don't worry about it. Ashley and I talk about how to stay fit and healthy during residency, making time for the things we love, and most of all, having a work-life-balance! She tells us the best investment you can make as a resident physician, and how to survive a 24 hour call shift.
Whether you're into OBGYN or not, you do not want to skip over this episode!
Little red book link: https://a.co/d/azMSCCE
Music festivals in the US: https://www.musicfestivalwizard.com/festival-guide/us-festivals/
Original music by Kalon. Recording and production by Michaele Garrison, DO.
For more information, please visit DearDOpod.com
In this week's episode I had the absolute privelege of speaking with Dr. Ashley Hamati, PGY-2 OBGYN resident at Doctor's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She is one heck of a human being! We chatted about what happens when you need time away from medical school, aka medical leave. We give suggestions and advice for how to pick a specialty, especially when you seem to love everything! And of course, this episode would not be complete without mentioning her Tour de Suit Case, where she traveled across the country during her fourth year doing auditions and away rotations. These away rotations may or may not have fueled a quarter-life crisis when Ashely did an EM rotation in San Francisco... stay tuned to find out more! And don't miss PART TWO where we give our best medical school advice, a day in the life as a PGY-1 OBGYN resident, and so so much more :)
Original music by Kalon.
Recording and production by Michaele Garrison, DO.
Dr. Max Jump is a PGY-1 Internal Medicine resident, aspiring to become an outpatient physician with focus in preventative care. He walks me through how to stay organized and minimize anxiety while having time-consuming and unpredictable extracurricular activities. He was student body president, as well as a volunteer firefighter in Cumberland Gap, TN during medical school. All of this while finding time to enjoy life during medical school, get engaged and married, travel, and exercise.
His journey to medical school was not without barriers. He opens up about how he overcame a subpar MCAT score, and explains his perspective on gap years and master's programs from his personal experience. We talk about residency auditions and interviews, and how to ask for what you want!
Dr. Jump's Final Rec: The Drive Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/63AWQmsSnFNFHUqnRAOFtD?si=79246e794d524485
For more information, visit DearDOpod.com.
Original music by Kalon. Recording and production by Michaele Garrison, DO.
In this week's episode, Dr. Ladson and I talk about her phrase coined in her TEDx Talk at MSU, "If you can see her, you can be her". We also talk about what "STEMinism" means and why it matters. Even as medical school populations are now majority female, there is still work to be done. Listen to find out more!
Final Recs: Hidden Figures - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wfrDhgUMGI
Dr. Ladson's TEDx Talk link: https://www.ted.com/talks/brittany_ladson_steminism_if_you_can_see_her_you_can_be_her?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
Are you about to start medical school? Or maybe trying to decide if you should do a gap year? This week, I answer your questions from social media about transitioning to medical school from undergrad! Questions include "how to balance time?", "is anki really necessary?", or just "how do you prepare?". All this and more, from my perspective as I'm now on the other side of medical school. Listen for my number one piece of advice and top tips for you as you enter medical school!
For more information, visit DearDOpod.com or visit @Dear.DO.pod on Instagram.
Original music by Kalon.
This week, I sat down with Dr. Delaney Bieber, DO and we talked about mentorship in undergrad vs in medical school as students without family ties to medicine. We muse over how AWFUL premed advisors can be, even if they have good intentions. We discuss how stressful it can be during third year with the pressure to pick a specialty, so we give some advice on how to ask for guidance, some ways to get extra experience without a formal rotation, and more. Then we dive into Delaney’s journey during her 4th year with only 3 interviews, but spoiler alert she still managed to match her #1! We speculate about the supplemental ERAS application and program signaling towards the end, which is full of important information for any third or fourth year medical student!
Dr. Bieber's final rec: OBGYNstudent.com, which is helpful for anyone in an OBGYN clinical rotation
For more information, please visit DearDOpod.com and check out @Dear.DO.pod on instagram.
Original music by Kalon. Recording and production by Michaele Garrison, DO.
This week we tackle your questions about the home loan process as a physician! Some questions we answered include "when do you qualify for a physician home loan?", "what kinds of properties qualify?", and "how much do you need in the bank to buy?". We also discuss some myths of home buying, which I myself fell for prior to going through the process.
Disclaimer: We are not financial advisors or real estate professionals. This information is derived from a slew of sources, but predominantly based on personal experience.
Support Dr. Herman on IG and TikTok at @whitecoatartistry. To visit Dr. Herman's Etsy shop, visit https://www.etsy.com/shop/WhiteCoatArtistry?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1404721203
For more information, please visit DearDOpod.com.
Original music by Kalon. Recording and production by Michaele Garrison, D.O.
Have you heard of the physician's loan? Do you know how it compares to a conventional loan? Do you know the difference between a FRM and an ARM? What can you do now, as a medical student, to set yourself up to buy a home after Match Day? We answer all this and more in this episode!
Dr. Meredith Herman, D.O. is an incoming PGY-1 pathology resident, newly married, and a new homeowner! She is an absolute icon, and shares her personal journey through the home-buying process using a conventional loan. We talk about mortgages, equity, real-estate agents, open houses and more! Be sure to listen to this episode if you're thinking about buying, or just looking to see what all the hubbub is about!
Stay tuned for next week's episode as we answer YOUR questions from instagram about the physician home loan, you do not want to miss it.
Visit deardopod.com for more information. Original music by Kalon, recording and production by Michaele Garrison, D.O.
In this week's episode, Dr. Gunnar Orcutt and I talk about medical school, residency applications, auditions and couples match. We muse about Anki, how it helped both of us, and why some students may not has as much success with it. Gunnar was a major inspiration for me throughout medical school, and I hope you can appreciate him as much as I do.
Gunnar's instagram: gunnar_orcutt44
This week Dr. Herrell brings his top tips for tackling clinical rotations and intern year. We go through the "What, Why, and What If" scenarios you should be asking yourself during your day-to-day, how to look up information yourself, as well as why being skeptical of everything and everyone in medicine will make you a better physician!
If you found these tips useful and would like more clinical reasoning knowledge from Dr. Herrell, check out his book, Clinical Reasoning: How Doctors Should Think, available on Amazon. https://a.co/d/gb7wFsl
Be sure to check out Dr. Herrell's podcast with Dr. Antonia Roberts, Thinking About OBGYN, if you are looking for fresh and evidence-based perspective on everything obstetrics and gynecology. https://open.spotify.com/show/0rrVZMh03pcwdBdJHuBStX?si=6690fa1210f3419c
This week I have the absolute privilege of speaking with Dr. Blake Buletko, MD in this portion of the podcast titled "The Human Behind the White Coat". We talk about things from the residency application and interview season success, to how mindfulness in residency can shift your perspective to make you a better physician. We go through his personal journey to neurology and medicine and bust the myth that "neurologists don't actually treat patients." And of course, we had to muse over the magic of clinical neurology and the future of the field.
Whether you are going into Neurology or not, this conversation is both subjectively relatable and provides insight to residency application season from the perspective of a program director. One of my favorite things he says is "you are not your application"; exemplifying the holistic application review residency committees are leaning more towards year after year.
Be sure to check out Dr. Buletko's podcast with Nupur Goel, Neurophilia, available wherever you get your podcasts!
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaele-garrison/support
On this week's episode of Dear DO: The Human Behind the White Coat, I chat with (soon to be) Dr. Michael Harber, DO and incoming PGY-1 psychiatry resident. We talk about psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, functional neurologic disorder, as well as how to make your ERAS psychiatry application stand out, and audition rotation tips. We also dive into imposter syndrome, getting pets in medical school, and what it felt like to be a student during COVID-19. This week's "Final Recs" include "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk, as well as a slew of psychiatry-themed movies that we muse about. For more information, please visit DearDOpod.com. Original music by Kalon; recording and production by Michaele Garrison. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaele-garrison/support
Don't be fooled, this episode isn't just for my neurology peeps. This episode goes over a little about the entire ERAS application, the supplemental app, as well as objective information about the specialty of neurology, fellowship options, and why I love it oh, so much. Original music by Kalon. Recording and production by Michaele Garrison. Please visit DearDOpod.com for more information.
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On this week's episode of Dear DO podcast, I sat down to chat with Nicholas Breier, incoming PGY-1 ENT resident, about his application process, his "World Tour” of audition rotations, how to shine on aways, and we even cover if ENTs actually use the Weber Rhine test. All of this and more on this week's episode. Even if you are not applying for ENT residency, as any medical student or premed, you will want to give this episode a listen. Original music by Kalon. All recording and production by Michaele Garrison. Please visit DearDOpod.com for more information and to submit your questions anonymously!
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This week I cover how I stayed organized in my residency search, what I looked for in a program, questions to ask, etc. I also cover what Residency Open Houses are, as well as why I wish I attended more of them. As always please feel free to ask me your questions, I'll make sure to answer them on the podcast! For more information, visit deardopod.com. Original music by Kalon. Recording and production by Michaele Garrison.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaele-garrison/support
Today we talk about Kiersten's journey as a DO candidate applying for ophthalmology through the San Francisco Match. She walks us through how she stood out on her residency applications, how she found her passion for retinas, and her journey through SIX audition rotations. Whether you're applying ophtho or not, you do not want to miss this! Original music by Kalon, recording and production by Michaele Garrison.
For more information, please visit DearDOpod.com
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This week I go over how I prepared for audition rotations, how much they cost, what questions to ask while rotating, preference on timing interviews, and so much more. If you have audition rotations coming up, definitely give this episode a listen! Original music by Kalon, recording and production by Michaele Garrison. Visit Deardopod.com for more information.
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This week I chat about the Match Day, the biggest day of our lives as medical students! I also dive into what happens when someone unfortunately does not match, how the SOAP process works, the scramble, the shortage of residency positions in America and so much more. Can not wait to hear your feedback on this episode and GOOD LUCK to everyone on Match Day!
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This week I sit down and chat with incoming MS-1, Misha Dilmaghani. Misha has a B.S. in Neuroscience from FAU and will be attending Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Joplin, MO in the Fall. We talk about medical school interviews, gap years, preparing for medical school, premed misconceptions, and SO MUCH more. If you are a premedical student, you won't want to miss this!
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In this week's episode we sit down and chat with Dr. Colin Hanock, DO PGY-1 surgery resident at Wright State University/Wright Patterson Air Force Base. We talk about the military match, couples match, surgery residency, going to medical school at an osteopathic program, and SO much more. You can contact Dr. Hanock at colin.hanock@wright.edu. Check out my website, deardopod.com for more information on the podcast, guides, and submit your questions about all things premed, medical school, and beyond! Original music by Kalon. Recording and production by Michaele Garrison.
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In this week's episode we dive into what it means to be a DO, how we stack up to our MD counterparts in the Match process, why DO's love primary care, and so much more. Whether you are a premed, a medical student, or a current resident physician this episode will (hopefully) teach you something. Original music by Kalon. Recording and production by Michaele Garrison. Visit DearDOpod.com for more information.
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Hello again! In this week's premed tip we give a glimpse into what DO's are, what some of the osteopathic tenets are and how being a DO might change how you practice medicine (hint, it doesn't). Enjoy! Original music by Kalon. Recording and production by Michaele Garrison. For more information, visit DearDOpod.com.
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This week we are getting all the information on personal statements for residency applications! We dive into what they are, why they matter, the do's and don'ts, examples, as well as my favorite personal statement formula for success. Feel free to submit all your questions in my DMs on Instagram/TikTok, or my official website, DearDOpod.com. Original music by Kalon, production and recording by Michaele Garrison.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaele-garrison/support
In this week's pre-med tip of the week, I share my thoughts on the premed notions of specialty choice, what I learned as I went through medical school, and how I went about picking the right specialty for me. Original music by Kalon, recording and production by Michaele Garrison.
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In today's episode, we muse about TikTok comments regarding DO vs MD and settle how DO schools stack up to MD schools. We also answer: Are traditional grades better than pass/fail systems? Are all undergraduate GPAs created equally? What should someone look for in a medical school? Is medical school "ranking" even real?
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Dear DO is a podcast for honest advice on your journey to becoming a physician. We'll be with you each step of the way! Original music by Kalon, recording and production by Michaele Garrison.
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In this week's episode, I dive into how to effectively study for Step 2/Level 2, including how I increased my Level 2 score by over 130 points! We'll be talking about Step 2/Level 2 study schedules, the best approach to practice question sets, practice exams, what resources to use, ALL of the things. Original music by Kalon, recording and production by Michaele Garrison.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaele-garrison/support
This week I'm giving you a glimpse into planning your final year of medical school! I go over how to research residency programs, what auditions are, how to schedule them, the MSPE, letters of interest, and so much more. This episode is perfect for current third year medical students. Stay tuned for more!
In this episode, I take you through deep dive into the medical school application requirements! I go through everything you need to know as a pre-med and what I would have done differently. From prerequisites to the personal statement, you don't want to miss this informational and honest chat all pre-medical students should listen to!
Debut episode of the podcast Dear DO, the podcast about all things medical school which aims to serve as a beacon of hope and resources for hopeful pre-meds and medical students alike. This episode gives a sneak peek into future topics of discussion, along with helpful insight into some important aspects of the medical school admission process. Music by Kalon. Producing and recording by Michaele Garrison.