The Future Minority Doctor Podcast: Recent Episodes
Marina Capella; Zulma Curet
Dr. Zulma and Dr. Marina want to inspire and empower a rising generation of under-represented high school and college students to become doctors. Learn what it's like to be a doctor, how to overcome challenges, how to apply to medical school, and be inspired by other minority doctors!
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 “Other 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 engaging activity descriptions for your medical school application? Whether applying for an MD or a DO school, you will be asked to present about 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 your activity descriptions, you can highlight experiences and insights that will make you stand out in a crowd. However, boring or technical activity descriptions may hurt your chances of success. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma share some tips and tricks for writing about your activities in the RIGHT way.
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 are 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 we see on primary applications to medical school, including:
- Rushing your application
- Applying late
- Not explaining clearly WHY you want to be a doctor
- Leaving big gaps in your story
- 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.
Are you applying to medical school this cycle and wondering what you can do to prepare for interview season? In this episode, Dr. Marina & Dr. Zulma discuss the different types of interviews you may encounter, what kind of questions you might be asked in each, and how to prepare for interview day.
In this episode, Dr. Zulma interviews psychiatrist Dr. Renee Garcia. Dr. Garcia has a bachelor’s degree from CSU Los Angeles, MD from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Keck USC. She also completed a fellowship in Psychosomatic Medicine at Stanford. She shares all about her upbringing, how she unexpectedly got pregnant during her senior year of high school, how she managed to get through college and into medical school even while raising her son, how she overcame discouragement about her chances to get into medical school, why she chose psychiatry, what it’s like to be a psychiatrist at a large hospital, and what psychosomatic medicine is all about.
One of the most common questions we hear from high school and college students considering a career in medicine is, “Is it possible to be a doctor and have a family?” We get it. We worried about this too when we were younger!
In this episode, we help break this common question down by discussing a few others, including: (1) What is it like being a parent and a doctor? (2) Are you able to do the normal parent activities that non-doctor parents do? (3) Who takes care of the kids? (4) When is the ideal time to have kids? (5) What are the biggest challenges of being a parent and a doctor?
With medical school application season upon us (hello May!), you may be wondering if you’re really ready to take the leap and apply. Application costs can really add up fast, so it’s wise to make sure you are reasonably prepared before you hit that “apply” button.
In this episode, Dr. Marina & Dr. Zulma take you through some questions you should ask yourself to make sure you are adequately prepared to apply, including: * Am I absolutely sure that I want to be a doctor, and can I clearly explain why? * Have I had enough clinical exposure to know what I’m getting into? * Have I shown that I’m a caring and compassionate person through service/volunteering? * Have I demonstrated that I have what it takes to succeed academically in medical school (e.g. via GPA and MCAT)? * Have I participated in any research activities? * Do I have strong letters of recommendation? * Do I have the personal attributes that it takes to be a great doctor (e.g. communication skills, humility, open-mindedness, maturity, resilience)?
In this episode, Dr. Marina interviews Morgan McManus, a college senior at Clemson University who applied to medical school during the 2021-22 application cycle and ended up getting 12 acceptances! She shares how she navigated the college premed experience, how she prepared for the MCAT (and got an amazing score!), a lot of tips and tricks for navigating the year-long medical school application cycle, and what she’s looking forward to in medical school. She has an amazing Instagram account (@melanin.in.med) where she shares her story and offers inspiration and advice for other premeds.
In this episode, Dr. Marina welcomes Dr. Latika Hinduja, a practicing podiatrist who helps people optimize the health of their feet and ankles. She shares about growing up in India, what motivated her to switch career trajectories form computer programming to podiatry, her experience transferring from a community college to university, how she managed self-doubt and found a support system, how becoming a podiatrist differs from (and is similar to) becoming a medical doctor, and what she does day-to-day in her current career. Her story is inspiring and insightful!
Is failure or rejection threatening to get in the way of you achieving your goal of becoming a doctor? If you’re tempted to give up because of bad test scores, a low GPA, a less-than-stellar MCAT score, or even a recent rejection from medical school, this episode is for you! We share some of our most challenging experiences with you to show you that failure is not the end — it is sometimes just a part of the process. We also share some tips on how to keep striving and not let failure get the better of you.
Are you a high school student considering your options for college? Are you wondering if it would be better to stay close to home or move far away to pursue your college education? Do you worry about what your family will think, or about the costs associated with living away from home? If so, this episode is for you! Dr. Zulma and Dr. Marina discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of staying home versus moving out for college. There’s no one right answer for everyone, but we’ll talk you through the many factors to consider while making your decision.
In this episode, Dr. Zulma speaks with Dr. Ricardo Salas about his journey into medicine — including being the child of farmworkers, overcoming his fears about paying for college, how his aunt’s struggle with ovarian cancer opened his eyes to the world of cancer medicine, and how he helps people of all backgrounds deal with blood diseases and cancer.
Do you ever feel like you have way too much to do but too little time to get it all done? If you’re trying to juggle classes, work, volunteer activities, and personal and family responsibilities, it’s probably a familiar feeling.
In this episode, Drs. Marina & Zulma offer four major tips to help you learn to better manage your time without feeling completely overwhelmed. These tips include:
Set realistic expectations Do the most important things first Learn to say “no” Allow flexibility for the unexpected
It’s been a rough two years for many people since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Adjusting to virtual learning, losing out on volunteer and work opportunities, and possibly facing illness or death may have taken a toll on your motivation. If your motivation to stick with the premed path is wavering, Dr. Zulma and Dr. Marina have some words of encouragement and a few strategies that might help. We know it’s tough, but don’t give up!
One of the most common questions we hear from students is, “How do you pay for college and medical school?” As you probably already know, getting an education isn’t free. The average medical student comes out of training with $200,000 in debt (which is enough to buy a house in some places!). If you’re letting worries about money hold you back from your dream of becoming a doctor, this episode is for you! We cover the basics about options to finance your education (free money vs. loans) and tips for how to be financially smart during high school, college, medical school, and residency so that you don’t have to worry too much about money in the future.
An important part of your application to medical school will involve writing a one-page essay explaining to the admissions committee WHY you want to become a doctor. Writing a mediocre personal statement can really hurt your chances of getting in, so it’s important to give yourself enough time (at least 3 months) to write and edit your essay. In this episode, we review some general principles and more specific do’s and dont’s of writing a great essay. If you’re planning to apply to medical school during the next cycle (which opens around May/June of each year), or if you’re an early premed student wanting to know more about how to best prepare to apply, this episode is for you!
Also, check out the resources tab of our website (www.futureminoritydoctor.com) for a summary of tips and some sample personal statements.
With so many options for MCAT test prep materials out there, how do you even know where to start? How do you decide how long you need to prepare? How many practice tests should you take? How do you combat the feeling of overwhelm that comes with starting your trek up the MCAT prep mountain? In this episode, Drs. Marina & Zulma give you some tips to help you navigate the MCAT test prep landscape so that you can best prepare to get the score you dream of!
Have you ever gotten totally useless advice about self-care? Does your idea of self-care involve drinking green smoothies, doing yoga, and getting expensive massages? If so, this episode is for you! We offer you three simple ideas to help you learn to take better care of yourself — including getting better sleep, practicing self-compassion, and occasionally making time for things that feed your spirit. They’re simple concepts but not always so simple to implement in real life, so we break them down and offer plenty of examples from our own lives. The best part, though? Anyone can try them and they don’t have to cost a dime!
Have you wanted a career that keeps you close to the games you love? Listen to CJ talk about discovering Sports Medicine late in his med school training, and the importance of good mentors in getting him to where he is now. Whether it's helping 70-year-olds get back to Zumba, or working with the Bruins football team and the LA Lakers, Dr Duffaut brings his own experience as college basketball player to his medical training. Hear him talk about balancing sports, work, and studies as an undergraduate--and the unique challenges of navigating all that as a first generation minority student.
Listen in as Dr. Allison Fernandez shares her story of becoming an anesthesiologist — a specialist who helps patients manage their pain and get through surgery safely. She shares how she happened to learn about the field of anesthesiology because her mom was a housekeeper for a nurse anesthetist who invited her to shadow her at work. She also shares how she was able to adjust to the somewhat intimidating environment of the operating room, the tools she uses on a daily basis to help keep patients stable during surgery, and why she thinks there are not enough underrepresented minorities in her field (and why there should be more!).
Second-year medical student Camila shares all about how she studied to take the MCAT and scored a 509 on her first try, which helped land her in an excellent medical school (UC Berkeley-San Francisco)! She also shares how even though her mom was a doctor, she was not immune from academic struggles and isolation during her premed college years — including having trouble finding a chemistry lab partner, battling test anxiety, and getting some Cs in her science classes. She is passionate about helping to address issues of structural racism within healthcare.
Laurel Hiatt is currently in their third year of a combined MD/PhD program at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Listen as Laurel shares their story of growing up in the South and navigating premed life as a first-generation non-binary college student. They share some of the challenges they faced interacting with healthcare providers, and how these experiences plus a love of science motivated them to pursue a career as a physician-scientist interested in adolescent health and computational genomics. They share some tips on how we can all make healthcare more inclusive for other non-binary individuals.
If you’ve ever wondered if you can succeed at becoming a doctor after having a different career or kids, Dr. Rose Diaz is here to show you it’s possible! In this episode, Dr. Diaz shares about her upbringing in a traditional Mexican-American family, how Little House on the Prairie and her pediatrician sparked her early interest in medicine, her ten-year career teaching kindergarten, how losing weight and running marathons also inspired her to pursue her real dream, how she managed to go back to the premed grind while raising three kids, how working as an EMT introduced her to the world of emergency medicine, her passion for research in health equity, what residency was like, and much more!
In this episode, Dr. Zulma chats with Aminta about her journey into medicine and how she managed to score a 514 on the MCAT! Aminta shares about how she struggled in high school, started out at a community college, and eventually transferred to UC Berkeley where she majored in psychology and discovered her passions for health justice and public health. She discusses how studying for 6 months, taking 11 full-length practice tests, and treating MCAT prep like preparing for a marathon were key to her success.
In this interview, Dr. Marina chats with Melissa Gonzalez, an amazing medical student who completed her first year of medical school in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. She shares about how her family’s experiences of poor access to healthcare access and shadowing in a free clinic inspired her to become a doctor, the culture shock and academic rigor she encountered in college, how she learned to ask for help, what she did to increase her chances of admission to medical school despite a lower GPA, how she came to finally start believing in herself, and what inspired her to start sharing about her journey on social media (@browngirl_whitecoat). Don’t miss this inspiring story!
Join Dr. Marina as she talks with medical student Erika Bernardino about her secrets for MCAT success. Erika shares how hospice work motivated her to become a doctor and the tips and tricks she she used to improve her MCAT score from a 508 to 511 — including what test prep materials she used, how much time she gave herself to prepare, how she made time to study while taking college courses, how she set study goals rather than time goals, the importance of “practice, practice, practice” in preparing for the test, how she avoided the temptation to keep rescheduling, and how taking a lot of practice test helped her to develop the stamina and confidence to do well.
In this episode, Dr. Zulma talks with third year medical student Sergio Villegas. He opens up about his life and career goals — including how being hospitalized due to complications from Crohn’s Disease at age 17 inspired him to become a doctor, the perseverance required to get into medical school (and why applying more than once is OK!), how he has navigated college and medical school with the ups and downs of a chronic illness, how he learned to recognize that asking for help didn’t mean he was weak, and what he does to maintain balance in his busy medical student life. If you wonder whether a chronic illness or disability has to keep you from achieving your dream to become a doctor, this episode is for you!
Check out the “body scan” meditation Dr. Lubliner refers to in this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS2yDmWk0vs
Hear Dr. Laster’s inspiring story of her journey into medicine. She shares about growing up on the south side of Chicago, competing in beauty pageants, her love of singing (and a demo!), grappling with self-doubt in medical school, what she loves — and doesn’t — about her job as a kidney specialist for kids, and how she’s come to realize that even the best doctors aren’t necessarily smarter than her or anybody else (they just know how to work hard).
Listen in as first-year medical student Gurjit Kaur shares how she prepared to rock the MCAT! She talks to us about how growing up in an immigrant family in central California inspired her to go to medical school, how she rushed to prepare for the MCAT the first time around but didn’t get the score she wanted, and how she upped her game the second time around to ensure a competitive score that helped her get that acceptance letter to medical school! Whether you’re looking to ace the MCAT the first time around OR improve your score while taking it again, Gurjit’s story is sure to inspire you!
In this episode, we give an overview of what the MCAT is, what subject matter is tested, how long the test is, when it is offered and how to register, why it’s so important to prepare for it properly, and some general tips on how to prepare. We also discuss what we think the most challenging part of the MCAT is. If you’re in college and looking at taking the MCAT in the next 1-2 years, this episode is a must!
Dr. Abinsay & Dr. Valdez are two married Filipino doctors practicing medicine in Hawaii. In this episode, they share their stories of their upbringing, how they decided to become doctors, the challenges they faced in college and medical school, what they love about their careers, what it’s like to be a doctor couple with children, and many nuggets of wisdom that they like to share with students they mentor.
Is it hard for you to muster up the courage to ask a question in class, ask your teacher or professor for help, or admit you don’t understand something? Asking for help can be hard for anyone, but many minorities face additional challenges — including being brought up not to question authority, stereotype threat, a strong tendency toward self-reliance, or mental health struggles. In this episode, we explore why it can be hard to ask for help and how you can get better at doing it anyway. Remember, nobody becomes a doctor without help! The earlier you learn how to ask for help, the better off you’ll be.
Do you struggle with your self-confidence? Listen in as we explore: what self-confidence is, why we sometimes lack it, what the “confidence gap” is, how you can develop greater self-confidence, and the dangers of over-confidence for doctors.
Alejandro Aviña-Cadena is a medical student completing his fourth year of a combined MD-MPH program at UC Irvine. Listen as he talks to us about the journey he took to medical school -- including growing up in a heavily Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles, being a C student in high school, confirming his passion for medicine in community college, transferring to a four-year university, learning to ask for help, finding mentors through research, and completing a post-baccalaureate program where he really learned to ace those science classes. He also discusses what attracted him to UC Irvine's PRIME-LC program, what he loves about public health, what it means to be "average" in medical school, and his plans to become an emergency medicine doctor.
Do you want to learn how to improve your memory so you can do better in your classes? Then, this episode is for you! We cover the stages of learning (encoding, consolidation, and recall), tips for how you can study in ways that will make information "stick" better, and how you can take care of your health in order to keep your brain in top shape. If you struggle with memorizing lots of information for tests, don't miss one!
Making the decision to become a doctor is hard by itself, but it can be even more difficult when faced with conflicting family, cultural, social, economic, religious, and gender expectations. In this episode, we dive into some of these topics, sharing a lot of the personal and family challenges we faced — like Zulma getting the cold shoulder from her dad when she decided to go away to college, and Marina grappling with religious ideas about gender roles when deciding whether to go to medical school.
Here’s a breakdown of the issues we tackle:
1:00 What if you worry that it takes too long and it’s too expensive to become a doctor?
14:20 What if you worry that people like you just don’t become doctors? Plus, the challenges of identity when moving up in the world.
31:40 The stresses of education and upward social mobility (including guilt!)
41:40 Dealing with cultural and religious gender expectations. Plus, countering common gender myths like “You can’t be a doctor and a good mom,” and how traditional gender expectations hurt both men and women.
Listen to Dr. Roseanna Guzman-Curtis share what she loves about being a trauma surgeon and how she got where she is today. She talks to us about being inspired by her AVID teachers in high school, thinking she wanted to be an obstetrician but accidentally falling in love with the field of surgery, the “controlled chaos” of being a trauma surgeon and helping people at all hours of the day and night, and her advice for aspiring doctors. Don’t miss this one!
Nobody who becomes a doctor does it all alone. We all need mentors — people to give us advice, constructive feedback, and encouragement along the way. In this episode, we discuss how to go about finding a mentor, or multiple mentors, to help you along your path to becoming a doctor (or whatever else you choose to become). We offer advice on how to identify possible mentors, how to overcome the fear of approaching a potential mentor, and what to do if you encounter someone who discourages rather than encourages you.
Have you or a loved one ever struggled with feelings of sadness, depression, worry, anxiety, or panic? Or, do you simply want to better understand these unique (but common) challenges? Join us and guest psychiatrist Dr. Renee Garcia for an in-depth discussion of depression & anxiety.
(Trigger Warning: Discussions of suicide) (Disclaimer: This episode is intended for general advice only. If you have questions about your particular situation, diagnosis, or treatment, please consult your healthcare or mental health provider.)
This episode is longer than most, so here’s a topic timeline: 5:20 What is depression? 14:15: What causes depression? 17:20 What is anxiety (including panic attacks)? 28:00 How do you know if you should seek professional help? 30:18 Who can you go to for professional help? 33:01 What are some options for treatment of depression and/or anxiety? 40:48 How can you find a good therapist or psychiatrist? 45:20 What if you have reservations about considering medications for treatment? 51:43 If you do start medication, how long can you expect to take it? 56:10 What common misconceptions are there about depression or anxiety? 1:02:39 How do religious/spiritual beliefs play into seeking treatment for depression or anxiety? 1:05:25 Thoughts on suicide & suicide prevention. 1:10:35 How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected people’s mental health?
Listen to Siale Vaitohi, a second-year medical student at the University of Utah School of Medicine, share her experiences of discovering and navigating her path toward becoming a doctor. She discusses her mixed-race family, growing up as a racial minority in a small town, what inspired her to pursue a medical career, some academic and cultural challenges she faced as a premedical student at a religious university, being a student athlete, how a service mission helped her find purpose, how she chanced upon an excellent mentor, the rigorous process of applying to medical school, and rediscovering her identity in medical school. Prepare to be inspired!
Do you want to get better at taking tests? In this episode we review some of the keys to improving test-taking skills, including: deciphering key concepts, combating test anxiety, finishing tests on time, and some specific tips and tricks to help you on multiple-choice exams. As usual, we share some of our own experiences and wisdom to help you get better at acing your tests!
Have you ever felt frustrated that your test scores don’t adequately reflect your knowledge and abilities? Have you ever looked around an exam room and felt nervous because nobody else looks like you? If so, you probably experienced something called “stereotype threat”. This term was developed by psychology researchers who were trying to understand why black and Latinx students get lower grades on average in college compared to their white classmates, and why women tend to do worse in subjects like math and engineering than males. They found that students can face a lot of internal pressure to disprove negative stereotypes about their group (such as the stereotype that women are bad at math), and this internal pressure can affect how their brains function during a test, leading to lower test scores. In this episode, we review many examples of stereotype threat at work, discuss our own experiences facing it, and explore some strategies that can help you combat it. We highly recommend reading the book, Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us And What We Can Do by Claude M. Steele to learn more about this fascinating topic.
Be inspired by George Hightower, MD, PhD as he shares the story of what inspired him to become a doctor and research scientist, how he became interested in dermatology (the study of skin and skin disorders), what being a dermatologist and researcher is like, and some of the challenges he overcame to get to where he is today.
Developing good study habits is essential for getting the kinds of grades and test scores that will get you into medical school. Listen to us share some of the wisdom we’ve learned about time management, passive vs. active learning, procrastination, cramming, distractions, finding meaning in learning, and asking for help. This is a great overview to give you ideas for ways to improve your personal study habits during your next quarter/semester.
What is growth mindset and what does it have to do with becoming a doctor? Listen as we dive into this concept from psychology and learn how it can transform the way you view yourself and others. We share lots of examples from our lives and the lives of others to illustrate how it can make a difference on your path to greater success.
Get inspired through Dr. Ray Berdugo’s story of becoming a doctor. He is a family medicine doctor in San Diego, California with a passion for preventing and treating disease through nutrition and exercise. He shares about being born to teen parents, finding inspiration to pursue medicine through body building books, attending a top-notch private university, the challenges of college and medical school, the personal health struggles that made him a believer in the power of food as medicine, and how he achieves balance in his life as a family doctor.
In this episode, we explore the big picture of what it takes to become a doctor in the U.S. We discuss the difference between allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) doctors, what it means to be a primary care doctor vs. a specialist, how to make the most of college while fulfilling premedical requirements, the competitiveness of applying to medical school, how long it takes to become a doctor, how much it all costs, how much you can expect to make as a doctor, and non-traditional paths to becoming a doctor. We share some of our own experiences to help you make sense of it all. If you are in college and on the road to to applying to medical school, this episode is for you!
Are you in high school and considering becoming a doctor? Learn what you need to do while in high school in order to improve your chances of success -- including what classes are required to apply to college, why good grades are important, how to incorporate extracurricular activities, what the FAFSA is, and how to understand the types of colleges and universities you can apply to. We share some of our experiences to help you make sense of it all.
As the diversity of the U.S. population increases over time, we need more doctors that understand and reflect the diversity of their patients. Studies have shown that doctors who share a racial/ethnic background with their patients establish more trust, communicate better, and help their patients have better health outcomes. We speak with guest Dr. Paola Mina-Osorio who recently published a book called “¡Un Doctor Por Favor! Why We Need More Hispanic Physicians in the U.S., And Why You Should Be One Of Them”. Listen as she talks with us about her career as a physician-scientist, what inspired her to write this book, and why diversity in medicine matters.
Dr. Marina shares the story of her journey to becoming a doctor. She discusses the challenges of taking competitive science classes in college, struggling with depression, having to take an extra year to complete medical school, experiencing burnout as a doctor, and more.
Dr. Zulma shares the story of her journey to becoming a doctor. She discusses the challenges of being a first-generation college student, having an alcoholic father, being discriminated against by teachers, facing uncertainty about whether she could get into medical school, completing a post-baccalaureate program, struggling with a family member’s suicide, and much more.
Introducing the Future Minority Doctor Podcast! We invite you to get to know us -- Marina and Zulma, two first-generation Latina doctors -- as we introduce ourselves and our podcast. Why are we doing this podcast? What can you expect to learn? Also, a sneak peek of some of the voices of minority physicians we'll be hearing from in future episodes.