Bundle Of Hers: Recent Episodes
The Scope, University of Utah Health
A podcast on diversity and amplifying underrepresented stories and voices in medicine. Like a seed that blossoms, it takes time to grow into our true, authentic selves. The lessons we learn along the way add to our identities. Medical residents Harjit Kaur, Margaux Miller, and Leen Samha, together with medical students Lina Ghabayen, Hạ Lê, and Mariam Asadian, discuss the challenges of studying and practicing medicine, and how their diverse backgrounds influence their everyday lives in medical school and beyond. Through honest and thought-provoking conversations, BUNDLE OF HERS continues to grow and learn from their diverse experiences, and each other.
Revolution refers to radical change in the established order of a society. Revolutions can be sparked by various factors such as economic inequality, political oppression, cultural hegemony, and social injustice. History books often tell us about revolutions led by men. But, so many revolutions have also been women-led. In honor of women in history, women today, and women of the future, in S6E10 of BUNDLE OF HERS, Harjit and Lina discuss the importance of women's role in leading change and shine spotlights on women revolutionaries.
Language has a profound impact on our identity and culture. The way we communicate, express ourselves, and share our beliefs and customs is deeply intertwined with language. Language goes beyond spoken words and can include nonverbal cues such as body language and tone of voice. In healthcare, using familiar language can make all the difference in a patient's healing process. In S6E9, Lina, Margaux, and Hạ discuss the importance of language to their identities, and why using trauma-informed language is an integral aspect of healthcare.
Working in medicine demands an enormous amount of dedication and effort, which often results in grueling work schedules that require doctors and other medical professionals to put in upwards of 80 hours of work per week, six days a week. This rigorous schedule leaves little time for rest, recovery, and a healthy work-life balance. Quality patient care is jeopardized when our own mental, emotional, and physical health is at risk. In S6E8, Margaux, Lina, and Mariam candidly discuss the history of the 40-hour workweek, and why, for those working in medicine, that number can double.
Grief can manifest in different ways for different people, and it is important to acknowledge there is no right or wrong way to feel grief. Beyond understanding the emotional response to loss, we should learn to recognize the physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, cultural, spiritual, and philosophical dimensions of grief. The human side of medicine is creating a safe and supportive space for patients and their families—as well as healthcare providers—as they navigate the difficult journey of loss and grief. In S6E7, Mariam, Harjit, and Lina share their stories of grief and discuss its significance in the field of medicine.
Everyone is shaped by war in one form or another, regardless of background or origin. War not only affects those on the battlefield but also weighs on citizens and communities. As healthcare providers, there is a need to be mindful of the trauma experienced by patients and to approach their care with empathy and understanding. In S6E6, Harjit, Margaux, and Hạ share their narratives of collective identity and how it is shaped by experiences of war, and talk about the complexities of war and its impact on medicine and trauma-informed patient care.
Advocacy work can sometimes be conflated with identity. When you have placed so much time and energy into something, it can be easy for it to consume all of who you are. But you are more than your advocacy work, and your continued drive to create change does not have to be all that you are. In S6E5, Hạ talks to Karishma Shah, MD/PhD candidate at University of Utah School of Medicine, and Victoria Ngo, MS4 at Virginia Commonwealth University, about how their advocacy work within the confines of medical education has both been defined by and impacted their identities.
Shame is an emotional experience when our social bonds are threatened—it is a feeling of distress, even humiliation, and is often caused by the consciousness of wrong. Shame exists in all communities, even medicine, and usually, involves someone else's point of view. In S6E4, Leen, Harjit, and Lina share experiences of shame in their personal and professional lives, and discuss how to process shame in the field of medicine.
Conforming to the system and society's expectations in order to achieve success and respect is not a new concept. As medical students and residents, there are certain boxes and identities we are expected to fit into. But more often than not, conforming to the status quo further separates us from the communities we hope to take care of. In S6E3, Lina, Hạ, and Leen discuss finding strength and empowerment in their authentic selves, and share stories of restricted identities and how the experiences affect their work in medicine and patient care.
The topic of women's beauty standards has been talked about for decades. And as women entered the workforce, gendered social control increased regulations on what a woman should wear, how she should do her hair, and even her makeup. For women, hairless and smooth skin has long been a social standard that signifies beauty—more than 99% of US women voluntarily remove some form of body hair. But body hair removal goes much deeper than the surface. In S6E2, Margaux, Leen, and Lina discuss why body hair, or lack of it, has been a symbol of racial progress and superiority, and share their own personal experiences with the expectations of beauty for a woman.
BUNDLE OF HERS returns with conversations and stories of identity. Not what people want you to be, and not what you are supposed to do—what does it mean, and how does it look to be you on your terms and by your identities as you define them? In the season six premiere, we further expand the discussions of what it means to be your true authentic self.
Cold opens are a technique commonly used in television storytelling to grab the audience’s attention and keep them from channel surfing. BUNDLE OF HERS uses cold opens as well—the random bit before the intro music starts. During the early episodes, in an effort to have more comfortable conversations, our producer gave us talking points before each episode. From how our days went, to our worst phobias. Five seasons in, we've gradually gotten accustomed to cold opens and start each episode with the most random discussions that sometimes have absolutely nothing to do with the episodes' topics. Twenty-five episodes in season five mean 25 cold opens—all together in one place—these are the conversations before the conversation.
In the second part of our two-part fifth season finale, Margaux, Leen, and Harjit share stories about their experiences as medical residents, reflecting on how they've grown as both physicians and people. BOH's veteran voices discuss burnout—why they feel jaded and tired—and talk about discovering ways to go back to their passion for medicine and prioritizing patients in the new year.
In the first part of our two-part fifth season finale, Mariam, Hạ, and Lina look back on their first season of sharing narratives and stories on BUNDLE OF HERS, and talk about the importance of community as they reflect on the highs and lows of medical school. In true confession form, the newest voices of BOH go through some of their expectations for medical school vs reality—rounding out the season with manifestations for the next year.
Trauma—physical, emotional, and mental—can be passed down to us from our parents and family members in the way we are raised. As defined by the Office for Institutional Equity at Duke—Inter-generational trauma is a concept developed to help explain years of generational challenges within families. It is the transmission or sending down to younger generations, of the oppressive or traumatic effects of a historical event. In an intimate conversation, Mariam and Lina reflect on intergenerational trauma from their lived experiences as immigrants, and talk about the importance of trauma-informed healthcare.
Throughout our formal education and extending into our professional careers, most of us will have participated in some form of mandatory surveys, ranging from feedback for thought leaders to problem-solving conflict resolutions. You provide your thoughts and opinions... then what? The ideal is change happens. But how is the gathered information and data used? Is it even used, or is it a practice of tokenism? The unfortunate truth is it takes more effort to make change than it does surveying opinions and thoughts. In S5E22, Leen and Harjit discuss the consequences of truthful surveys.
Awareness of your inner child can bring more fulfilled, lighter, carefree years during adulthood. Inner Child Work is healing childhood experiences and recognizing how those experiences come out in the way we behave and react as adults. Reconnecting with one’s inner child is evaluating and healing the parts of one’s self that perhaps didn’t get attention during childhood. In S5E21, Margaux and Harjit reflect on their childhoods, and how their experiences have carried with them through the way they interact with patients and their careers in medicine.
SisterSong—leader of the reproductive justice movement—defines reproductive justice as "the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities." But how do systems of oppression such as racism, ableism, and sexism, make it harder for some to access reproductive care? In S5E20, Lina and Hạ talk with Juliette Friedland, co-chair for diversity and inclusion at Optum UnitedHealth, about the disadvantages and inequalities of reproductive health, and the history and future of obstetrics and gynecology.
Discovering where you come from contributes to knowing where you're heading. We are built from the generations before us—our mothers and grandmothers before them—through their sacrifices, pain, and all they've had to endure. Each mother loves and nurtures differently, and sometimes that love and nurture are affected by historical and cultural complexities.
In S5E19, Hạ, Harjit, and Margaux dedicate a tribute to the matriarchs of their lives, sharing stories of generations prior and reflect on how they are shaped by the narratives of their ancestors.
Raising children is a community effort, but our society can make us feel we should be able to do it successfully alone. But the instincts are not always natural, and the expectations are not always met. And the advice you receive may not be the help you need. Matrescence—the physical, mental, and emotional transition into motherhood—comes differently to different women. Returning from parental leave, in S5E18, Margaux talks to Dr. Manpreet Kaur about the support network needed during the postpartum period, and how their knowledge of medicine and being working physicians contributes to their new roles as mothers.
Asian Americans are often stereotyped as educated, thriving, intelligent—"model minorities" who are perceived as achieving higher degrees of socioeconomic success to accomplish the American Dream. But stereotypes of the model minority, while seemingly positive, can cause damage and harm to the demographic. The often invisibility of anti-Asian racism and hate crimes are indistinguishably connected to the model minority myth. In S5E17, Hạ talks to fellow medical student and Asian-American Derek Chang about how increases in anti-Asian hate crimes have affected their Asian identities, and reflects on their experiences growing up and living under the model minority myth.
Oxford English Dictionary defines masculinity as "Qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men." Societies and cultures have long built the image of what a man should say, should feel, should be, and it is often projected in a way that is opposite of what it means to be a woman. In S5E16, Harjit and Mariam talk to medical students Sajjad Askaryar and Neil Sahasrabudhe about challenging societal and cultural definitions and standards of what it means to be a man, and embodying masculine traits in a way that is healthy and authentic to their own identities.
You probably wouldn't say "hip hop" and "health care" in the same sentence. But despite their surface differences, hip hop ties into health care's disparities. Hip hop is a form of resistance, voices of the unheard—it is a culture that is so often appropriated and viewed in a lesser-than lens because its origins come from a place in society that normally does not hold power. In S5E15, Harjit and Hạ discuss growing up among hip hop cultures, the influences the genre has had on their lives, and how it impacts their patient/provider interactions.
The Black Experience should be celebrated every day, not just during Black History Month. Through traumas and adversities, there are also successes and excellence that are worth highlighting and uplifting in our everyday conversations. But to round out this year's Black History Month, on a special episode, Lina and Harjit talk to Juliette Friedland and Liese Rodger about their lived experiences as Black women, and share thoughts on how to elevate and listen to Black voices—remembering the history, living the present, and striving for the future.
Student-run clinics are one of the most comprehensive examples of experiential learning in medical school education—and in combination, are meant to provide primary care services to underserved communities. But the structure of student-run clinics can create a moral dilemma between experiential learning and empowering patients for their better health. In S5E13, Hạ and Harjit talk to medical student Siale Teaupa about the flaws of student-run clinics and providing health care for underserved and uninsured patients with an anti-racist, equity, and inclusive lens.
Across identities and ethnicities, sexual liberation can look different to different people. But, the expectations, objectification, and sexualization placed onto women from societal pressures to appeal to the standard norm are common. And, on top of power-dynamic struggles, the narrative around sex-positivity for women of color can be very different from some of the mainstream feminist conversations. In S5E12, Harjit, Lina, and Mariam talk about how the sexualization of those who identify as women impacts our life stories, and the importance of unapologetically exploring your sexuality on your own terms.
With its high-stress environment, medical school can be an isolating experience. The competitive nature of medicine can sometimes make it difficult to foster authentic relationships that offer support and add to your overall well-being. When you think about a true, wholesome friendship—what does it entail? In S5E11, Leen, Harjit, and Lina talk about how their views on friendships have changed as they've grown into their own identities, and the importance of creating and maintaining authentic relationships in medicine.
Afghanistan is a region that, for years, has made headlines of war—but is often overlooked in its culture, beauty, and people. In S5E10, Mariam talks to fellow medical students Lilly Kanishka and Sajjad Askaryar about their experiences balancing their identities as Afghan-Americans in medicine, and reclaiming what it means to be Afghan in reshaping the narrative that is often perpetuated.
How does a health care system ensure the population it serves gets the care it needs? The intentions of cultural competency may begin with wanting to deliver trauma-informed care to diverse communities, but the assumed generalization of a group of people can lead to ignored identities among individual patients. In S5E9, Lina, Hạ, and Mariam talk about the flaws of cultural competency in the patient/provider relationship, and learning cultural humility to make health care patient-centered.
There's a misconception from society that we need to be self-made to be successful. But so many of us are community-made. Communities lift us to be better versions of ourselves—and for some, are the driving forces behind our achievements. In the first episode of 2022, Hạ, Leen, Lina, and Mariam talk about finding yourself through passions and dreams, and deliberate on who we would have become without our communities.
A lot of society tells us that some people can be angry and others can't—and that rage is an emotion often associated with certain stereotypes. But just because someone else can't understand your rage doesn't mean it's not real. Rage is our lived experiences and the policing of people's rage can be used as a tool of oppression. In S5E7, Harjit, Hạ, Leen, and Lina talk about the definition of radical rage, and how to move forward with rage in a healthy way to strengthen the power that may have been taken from you.
Confidence is often said to be a characteristic of a leader. "You need to work on your confidence" if you want others to take you seriously. But is there a correct way to be confident? And when does showcasing what others may perceive as confidence interfere with your authentic identity? In S5E6, Leen, Harjit, and Mariam talk about the different forms of confidence, and the toll it can create trying to live up to other people's standard of confidence.
Research should be about pushing the boundaries of knowledge—and when done well, is built out of community and collaboration. It should not be about outshining one another. But so often in the field of medicine, the pressures to be published are attached to career gains and advancements. In S5E5, Margaux, Hạ, Harjit, and Lina talk about navigating being in a system of quantity over quality, and going back to the authentic root of gathering data and conducting research for knowledge.
There's a skewed mindset that we need to give 100% all the time. But there's strength in admitting you're not at full capacity—even momentarily—and a break is needed. That's when community matters. Concluding the comeback of our IDENTITY SERIES—a three-parter exploring who we are as human beings—in S5E4, Lina talks to Noor Mashal about the strengths and struggles of their shared identity as Palestinians, and how the Israel–Palestine conflict impacts their personal and professional lives in medicine.
Living as a minority in America, there can be pressures to conform and fit in with the majority. Continuing our IDENTITY SERIES—a three-parter exploring who we are as human beings—in S5E3, Mariam and Harjit talk about the complexities of being first-generation/immigrants in America, and how assimilation has impacted their experiences in both their personal and professional lives.
We're excited to bring back our IDENTITY SERIES—this time, a three-parter exploring who we are as human beings. In this special episode, Hạ talks to fellow medical student Xian Mao about how their identities—some similar, some different—impact their self-expression, and how the model minority expectations have played a role throughout their lives.
BUNDLE OF HERS returns with conversations and stories of growth. Like a seed that blossoms, it takes time to grow into our true, authentic selves. The lessons we learn along the way add to our identities. In the fifth season premiere, we look back on intern year—the good and the bad, the predicted and shocking. Join us as we continue to grow and learn from our diverse experiences, and each other.
No journey is the same, even if we're on the same path. Our different experiences shape who we are and who we hope to become. In the season four finale of BUNDLE OF HERS, we look back on our first year of medical residency—expectations and realities. And as we transition from interns to second-years, we also discuss what we hope the future of our medical careers will look like, and the legacies we hope to continue creating.
How we choose to express ourselves in our personal lives shouldn't impact our careers and how professional—or unprofessional—others may deem us. But so often, we can be penalized or punished professionally for something personal. And this can lead to identities being hidden due to fear of being seen as "unprofessional." Concluding the three-part conversation on professionalism, in S4E19, Margaux, Harjit, and Leen discuss social media's role in professionalism, and define what it means—to them—to be professional.
Who we are is up to us to decide. The same should also apply to the clothes we wear and how we choose to present ourselves. But there is an unspoken—sometimes, even, spoken—dress code for working professionals that can be traced back to elitism. As doctors, why does what we wear indicate the type of health care we can or can't provide? Continuing the conversation on professionalism in medicine, in S4E18, Margaux, Harjit, and Leen discuss the topic of "professional" clothing.
Oxford Dictionary vaguely defines professionalism as, 'The competence or skill expected of a professional.' As working professionals, we may be asked to "be professional." But who defines the characteristics of professionalism? We're so often socialized to think about professionalism as tolerance—being tolerant to go along with someone else's definitions for how you should act, talk, write, dress. In S4E17, Margaux, Harjit, and Leen discuss what being professional means to them, and how professionalism can oppress identities.
We often shy away from talking about politics, either because we've been socialized to not bring the topic up, or perhaps due to fear of causing conflict. But the reality is everything ties back to political power and capital, and not talking about politics creates opportunities to further keep in place the systems that may oppress us. We are all human beings in a political world—and that makes us all political beings. Concluding the conversation on collective change, in S4E16, Margaux, Harjit, and Leen discusses the importance of political awareness.
From the food we consume to the clothes we wear, to the patients we treat—everything is interconnected. And that, unfortunately, means everything is tied to capitalistic gains where, more often than not, voices—human beings— are being oppressed. It's often not close to home, and so we don't talk about it, but there are more people oppressed than the ones oppressing. In S4E15, Margaux, Harjit, and Leen discuss the power of collective voices for change against an oppressed system.
Is the person who picked your fruits and vegetables okay? Do they have proper PPE? Does the worker who made the clothes you're wearing have access to the appropriate needed health care? Are they paid fairly? As consumers, we're often protected from having to think or worry about these questions. But the labor movement is interconnected to the practice of medicine, and as healthcare providers, we should be asking these questions. In S4E14, Margaux, Harjit, and Leen discuss the labor movement.
White feminism is harmful and creates division—striving for equality in an oppressive system is impossible. We should dismantle the gender binary and remove the idea that one has to be better than the other; open our minds to the notion that there is space for everyone... because we are powerful together. In S4E13, we discuss working towards overcoming white feminism to create an inclusive system for all.
Feminism is complex. Oxford dictionary defines feminism as, "The advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes." But the trouble with this idea of feminism is, first and foremost, having to buy into a gender binary in which other oppressions, such as racism, are excluded. In their book review of White Women's Rights: The Racial Origins of Feminism in the United States, Alok Vaid-Menon concludes, "White women were more invested in privilege than equality, seeking the right to oppress others rather than imagining a more just world for everyone." In S4E12, we discuss the history of white feminism.
The assumed mindset is patients should be able to trust doctors because doctors presumably have more education. But placing doctors on an invisible pedestal can have negative connotations. The motion of elitism inhibits solidarity and creates barriers—barriers between each other, and our patients. Patients should not only be able to trust their doctors, but understanding and comfortably conversing about their health needs and concerns are equally, if not more, important. Concluding the conversation about elitism in medicine, in S4E11, Harjit and Leen discuss breaking away from elitism to provide better patient care.
The white coat is a symbol of elitism in medicine. There's a certain way doctors talk, and there's a certain way doctors dress. History has long placed doctors into the elite class—a group of individuals who may be of higher intellect, wealth, power, and/or special skills and experiences, and in return may have higher influence in society. But medical elitism can build barriers among those in the field of medicine and also with patients. In S4E10, Harjit and Leen discuss how elitism in medicine can affect patient care.
Perception is how one interprets reality. Awareness is knowledge of a situation. A medical student's perception of a situation may differ from a resident's. Our mindsets are constantly shifting, the way we view and think about things is constantly changing—our changing perspectives mean we're growing. Concluding the conversation on changing perceptions, in S4E9, Leen, Margaux, and Harjit reflects on the perceptions they had as medical students versus how they view the situation now as medical residents.
John Hopkins defines evidence-based medicine (EBM) as "the ideal that health care professionals should make 'conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence.'" As medical students, EBM was probably just a section on an exam or test. But as residents, knowing when to use EBM when treating patients isn't always so clear-cut. Continuing the conversation on changing perceptions, in S4E8, Leen, Margaux, and Harjit discuss the perception and reality of evidence-based medicine.
The way we viewed the world as medical students is—with little argument—different than how we view the world as medical residents. As our roles shift, we start to see systems and patients differently with new responsibilities and adjustments we may have once been sheltered from. In S4E7, Leen, Margaux, and Harjit talk about their changed perceptions as they evolve from medical students to medical residents.
As a medical community, we have—whether unknowingly or not—assisted in normalizing fatphobia by simply instructing patients to "lose weight" without having the complicated conversation of "why?" To understand how fatphobia and weight bias have become internalized in ourselves, it's important to think back and reflect on our experiences. Concluding the conversation on the flaws of BMI—in S4E6, Margaux, Harjit, and guest pediatric nurse Isis talk about their struggles with weight bias and combating fatphobia in medicine.
As health care providers, we were probably taught at one point or another during our education that health is the absence of illness. And that a person's weight is a standard measurement of health. But the origin of BMI—body mass index— was never intended to link a person's weight with how healthy, or unhealthy, they are. In S4E5, pediatric nurse Isis joins Margaux and Harjit to discuss weight bias and the flaws of BMI.
Medicine is rooted in systems—but that doesn't mean change isn't possible. When you imagine a new and better world, it's important to understand why the current one isn't working. Before anything, radicalization begins when you challenge yourself. Concluding the conversation on radicalism—in S4E4, Harjit, Bushra, and Margaux share moments of radical impact in health care and discuss how to move forward towards change.
According to Paulo Freire, "The radical, committed to human liberation, does not become the prisoner of a 'circle of certainty' within which reality is also imprisoned." Radical thinkers tend to think outside the circle and should challenge the question, "What radicalized me?" Continuing from the previous episode—in S4E3, Harjit, Bushra, and Margaux further their conversation on being radical thinkers and remember to the beginning of their radical journey.
Every person's worldview is based on their personal experiences. We should understand how we view the world now, and how we want to view it in the future. According to Paulo Freire, "The radical, committed to human liberation, does not become the prisoner of a 'circle of certainty' within which reality is also imprisoned." In S4E2, Harjit, Bushra, and Margaux discuss what it means—to them—to be radical.
BUNDLE OF HERS returns with more conversations and stories. Now, more than ever, it's important to listen to untold and underrepresented voices. In the first episode of season four, we talk about our hopes and goals for the future, and what it means to be fearless as we move forward.
2020 has been a ride and as we get ready to welcome 2021, we would like to wish everyone a warm and cozy winter holiday as the year wraps. However you celebrate, keep safe.
Thank you for joining our conversations during season three—BUNDLE OF HERS will be back with a new season and all-new episodes in the new year!
Bundle Of Hers is still on hiatus, but in the meantime, we wanted to introduce you to a new podcast from the same network that produces our show. It's called Clinical. Their current story, Unit on the Brink: Voices from the COVID Frontline, shares the narratives of medical frontline workers that are facing the COVID-19 pandemic head-on. Learn more about the podcast, and hear a six-minute sample of the current story now. If you like what you hear, you can find full episodes and subscribe at thescoperadio.com/clinical.
Sometimes, you just need people to tell you the truth, even if the truth isn't something you might want to hear. A good mentor not only points out your strengths but also helps you correct weaknesses as well. In this mentor moment, Bushra remembers a hard, but important, piece of advice from her first year of undergraduate.
It's a strange dynamic when everyone around you gives you praises and compliments, but you're full of negative self-doubt. Words can have the ability to bring you down, but it can also just as easily prop you up. In this mentor moment, Leen shares one of the most important lessons she learned in med school.
The subjective education taught in medical school can cause medical professionals to presume patients will inherently give their trust, thus allowing us to move freely in their space and examine them without questioning. In this mentor moment, Margaux recalls an informal, but important, lesson learned while performing patient care.
The way someone looks can impact our views of them—but it shouldn't. Someone's words and actions are the things that should matter. In this mentor moment, Harjit remembers a brief but impactful moment that helped her reflect on her own way of viewing the world.
The encouragement you receive from a young age can have the ability to propel you towards future greatness and success. In this mentor moment, Bushra reminisces on a moment from her childhood that boosted her self confidence and pride and set her on the path of becoming a doctor.
No matter how passionate you are, doubt from others can do wonders in bringing you down. In this mentor moment, Leen thinks back to a moment she observed as a med student in the emergency room and reflects on how watching someone else's passion reignited hers.
Starting something new can come with a learning curve and imposter syndrome is very real. In this mentor moment, Margaux thinks back to words from a team leader and reflects on how simple words and acts of encouragement can make an immense difference for someone struggling to find their place.
We should remember that we are all connected and intertwined, and so we should be uplifting each other. In this mentor moment—the first in a collection of MENTOR MOMENTS from BUNDLE OF HERS—Harjit remembers words from Oprah Winfrey and reflects on using her own voice as a tool to amplify stories of the underrepresented.
We’re excited to share our mentoring moments with you! MENTOR MOMENTS is sharing moments that held life-changing and learning experiences. We believe that centering mentorship relationships around identity is vital—when we discover who we are and project our identities, we find people who we can connect with. Join us as we grow together through our reflections in this new mini-series, and stay tuned for the fourth season of BUNDLE OF HERS coming soon!
Diversity can be a sensitive subject for some, and the line separating inclusion and tokenism can be blurry. Merriam-Webster defines tokenism as, "the policy or practice of making only a symbolic effort, as to desegregate." Have you ever been tokenized?
Medicine, like the human body, is a universal science. But a difference in language can create a barrier between physician and patient. How do we navigate something so universally similar when effective communication is missing?
"Every patient should be treated the same." WRONG! Quite the opposite—we believe no two patients should receive the same care. From their health conditions to their cultural backgrounds, each patient is different. Acknowledging and understanding the differences will help you provide better care.
It's easy to go with the flow—going against the current is the difficult task. And bringing up topics of race, prejudice, biases, and discrimination can be uncomfortable. But it's okay to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, because being an ally can be uncomfortable. Allyship is "the key to unlocking the power of diversity.” In part two of a two-part discussion, Harjit and Margaux talk to Dr. Amy Cowan about what it means to be an ally.
Race and discrimination can be sensitive topics that people may find uncomfortable to speak about. But they don’t have to be. Talking about race doesn’t make you racist. Not talking about race doesn’t mean you’re not racist. Allyship is "the key to unlocking the power of diversity.” In part one of a two-part discussion, Harjit and Margaux talk to Dr. Amy Cowan about what it means to be an ally.
You wanna change the world, heal its wounds, and make it a better place … all while studying for next week’s test. But when you’re worried about numbers and scores, the reason you’re studying medicine in the first place can be hard to hold onto. Margaux and Leen talk about activism in med school and what it means to be an activist and advocate in health care.
It should be admitted that not all research are conducted equally with everyone in mind, because everyone is a lot of people. As human beings, and especially as medical experts, we should challenge the information we learn and ask whether it is real knowledge or skewed bias. We should critically think about the ideas that might have formed throughout our life due to outside influences. In this episode, Margaux, Harjit, and Bushra talk about how medical literatures can be colonized and what it looks like to decolonize the research and think through a critical lens.
Medicine is entrenched in anti-Black racism, just like every other institution. We are active participants in perpetuating harm. It's important to acknowledge the effects that racism has on our communities, whether it be discrimination for some or privilege for others. In this episode, we discuss contributions of anti-Black racism.
Four years later, we finally reached the bittersweet end of medical school! In the season three finale of BUNDLE OF HERS, we reflect on some of our favorite memories, lessons learned, and accomplishments achieved. As we conclude this chapter, we also discuss the future and the legacies we hope to create. When season four of BUNDLE OF HERS returns, we'll all be DOCTORS!
Concluding our IDENTITY SERIES—a four-parter exploring who we are as human beings—in this special episode, Bushra talks to long-time family friend, Anisa Abdullahi, about how their Somali upbringings have influenced their identities and shaped what it means to be successful in life.
Continuing our IDENTITY SERIES—a four-parter exploring who we are as human beings—in this special episode, Margaux talks to Dr. Kyley Cox and Dr. Mckenna Coletti about how their decisions to start their families during medical school have influenced their identities and shaped their presence in medicine.
We're excited to continue our IDENTITY SERIES—a four-parter exploring who we are as human beings. In this special episode, Leen talks to fellow medical student Lina Ghabayen about how their Palestinian culture has influenced their identities and shaped their presence in medicine.
We're excited to introduce our IDENTITY SERIES—a four-parter exploring who we are as human beings. In this special episode, Harjit talks to fellow medical student Siale Teaupa about how their different cultural backgrounds and upbringings have influenced their identities and shaped their presence in medicine.
"Racist" can be an emotional and triggering label—nobody wants to be called a racist. Anti-Black racism is an unfortunate part of American history and still exists today. It's important to acknowledge the effects that racism has on our communities, whether it be discrimination for some or privilege for others. In this episode, we discuss contributions of anti-Black racism.
As fourth-year medical students about to enter residency during a global health crisis, the future is unclear. We have questions and we're scared. But we'll fight through together. In this episode, we discuss the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on our communities.
The health of one individual has profound implications and impact the health of others, not only in their communities but worldwide. University of Utah Global Health aims to provide support and help local health organizations in their mission to improve the quality of life in their communities around the world. In this episode, Harjit, Margaux, and Leen talk to Dr. Adil Husain about how health is interdisciplinary and interconnected.
Four years of medical school and months of residency interviews all leads up to Match Day, when the National Resident Matching Program releases results to applicants seeking residency and fellowship training positions in the United States. It’s an event that, traditionally, we’ve all celebrated together. But because of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Match Day 2020 looked very different from previous years. In this episode, we talk about our ups and downs with this year’s Match Day and what the future looks like for our graduating class of med students.
Fourth year of med school is all about residency interviews. Ours included a lot of travel horror stories, bronchitis, pre-dinners, rejecting/canceling interviews, the whole drama of the actual day—and Watermelon Sour Patch Kids. In this episode, we spill everything good and bad about being on the interview trail for residency.
As healthcare providers, we hope we're able to treat any patient who may walk through our doors. But, unfortunately, discrepancies in healthcare is a real problem, especially for the LGBTQ community. How do you get a seat at the table when there's no table? In this episode, Margaux and Harjit talk to Dr. Cori Agarwal and Dr. Erika Sullivan about the Transgender Health Program at University of Utah Health, and their work with med students and residents to better support a minority patient population.
How you choose to identify is your choice—no one has the right to tell you otherwise, not your family, not your friends, not your physician. But finding—and expressing—your identity isn't always easy. Sometimes, there are external and internal pressures. In this episode, Harjit and Bushra talk to fellow med student Laurel about what it looks like to start conversations, challenge the status quo, and create a space that includes all.
Failing medical school is probably the biggest fear for every medical student. You don't anticipate you'll fail, and you can't really prepare for it either ... but what happens if you do fail? How do you handle the situation logistically? How do you handle the situation mentally? In this episode, we talk about the difficult topic of failing medical school and how to move forward.
Money is a complex talking topic, especially between people with varying socioeconomic status. Education is expensive. Healthcare is expensive. But they shouldn’t be. In this episode, Harjia, Bushra, and Leen talk about their own relationships with money, and discuss how the political system affects the kind of health care we provide.
It should be admitted that not all research are conducted equally with everyone in mind, because everyone is a lot of people. As human beings, and especially as medical experts, we should challenge the information we learn and ask whether it is real knowledge or skewed bias. We should critically think about the ideas that might have formed throughout our life due to outside influences. In this episode, Margaux, Harjit, and Bushra talk about how medical literatures can be colonized and what it looks like to decolonize the research and think through a critical lens.
There will always be people who don’t trust the empirical evidence we have worked so hard to study. Listen as we discuss how to navigate mistrust with medicine.
Sometimes it can feel awkward to reach out to someone you notice may need support. Learning how to navigate and break through these feelings is a key part of being a compassionate doctor, colleague, and friend.
Native American voices and stories are very few in a lot of conversations—but that doesn’t mean they’re silent. Sometimes, one voice is enough to influence and create positive change. In this episode, Margaux and Harjit talks to Celessta Merrill, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), about the barriers she’s had to overcome in the field of medicine, as well as health barriers for Native Americans.
A common consensus in med school is that the hard part is getting in. But truth is, a lot of us worry about whether or not we’ll actually become physicians. Med school can be filled with a lot of doubts, especially if you feel like you haven’t found stability in the field of medicine. In this episode, Harjit and Leen talk about the stress and burdens they’ve felt about stability—or lack thereof—in medicine as people of color.
The stories we tell about who we are, who we’ve been, and who we want to become are important. Everyone deserves to have their stories told and heard, no matter the content. In this episode, we have a conversation with The Washington Post’s Eli Saslow about his book, Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist and the importance of storytelling.
You know you’re a medical student when you cannot count how many times you’ve run after a resident… only to follow them to the door of a bathroom. It happens. We’re sharing some of our embarrassing, funny, confusing, and frustrating moments of third-year so far… because you shouldn’t have to go through medical school alone.
Going into medicine, a lot of us might fear delivering difficult news and information to patients and their families. After all, what's the "right" way to tell someone they've been diagnosed with cancer, or that their parent has passed? As doctors, is it better to be strong for the patient, or be vulnerable with them? In this episode, we talk about the importance of presentation of knowledge when you have to have that difficult conversation with patients and their families.
Diversity can be a sensitive subject for some, and the line separating inclusion and tokenism can be blurry. Merriam-Webster defines tokenism as, "the policy or practice of making only a symbolic effort, as to desegregate." Have you ever been tokenized?
Your voice is powerful. In this episode, we discuss why—and how—we speak up regarding difficult issues and topics. And we dare you to do the same.
When you think about the future of medicine, what do you see? What do you envision? Together with our home teams, University of Utah School of Medicine and University of Utah Health, we traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for the 2019 AAMC Annual Meeting to ask how the rest of the country is shaping the future of medicine.
In a new environment, it’s human nature for most of us to want to fit in. We want to feel like we belong and part of a community. But if we’re trying to be like everyone else, at what point do we lose our own identifies? Harjit and Margaux welcomes back Bushra and Leen, and talk about adapting to new environments while on their away-rotations.
One’s reading journey is an interesting thing. We started with other people reading to us, then we read single words, then sentences. It began with picture books, then chapter books, textbooks, then research papers. We read for different reasons, too. For some people, reading is therapeutic. Others read for knowledge and understanding. Harjit and Margaux talk about how reading can introduce new perspectives, and how the introduction of new perspectives helps them become better healthcare providers.
It's easy to go with the flow—going against the current is the difficult task. And bringing up topics of race, prejudice, biases, and discrimination can be uncomfortable. But it's okay to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, because being an ally can be uncomfortable. Allyship is "the key to unlocking the power of diversity.” In part two of a two-part discussion, Harjit and Margaux talk to Dr. Amy Cowan about what it means to be an ally.
Race and discrimination can be sensitive topics that people may find uncomfortable to speak about. But they don’t have to be. Talking about race doesn’t make you racist. Not talking about race doesn’t mean you’re not racist. Allyship is "the key to unlocking the power of diversity.” In part one of a two-part discussion, Harjit and Margaux talk to Dr. Amy Cowan about what it means to be an ally.
If a parent or sibling (or any family member) is also in the medical field, does that mean you're going into a family business? If you grew up in a medical family, you know what we're talking about—"Are you going to be a doctor, too?” How do you know if you're on this path because of passion, or because the path is familiar? Harjit and Margaux talk to classmate Natalie Wall about the good and bad parts of growing up in a medical family, and how having a family member in medicine has impacted their own journeys in medicine.
"The persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills" is Oxford Dictionary’s definition of imposter syndrome. In this episode, Harjit and Margaux share stories about when they’ve felt like imposters in med school and how they've overcome the feeling of not deserving something.
Let's all agree to agree on food. We all need to eat—it's an essential part of living. But yet, some of us skip meals more often than our bodies can handle. The issue of finances or access to food aside, sometimes you just don't have time for food. Due to the nature of a lot of our jobs, sometimes we leave the house in the morning on an empty stomach and it stays empty until later that evening. Sometimes we're in a hurry and it's a sugary donut for lunch. Margaux and Harjit talk about their coping strategies for tackling "the food situation" as fourth-year med students with unpredictable schedules.
You wanna change the world, heal its wounds, and make it a better place … all while studying for next week’s test. But when you’re worried about numbers and scores, the reason you’re studying medicine in the first place can be hard to hold onto. Margaux and Leen talk about activism in med school and what it means to be an activist and advocate in health care.
“Where are you from?” — What prompts the question and what’s it really asking? Your ethnicity, culture, where you were born, raised, and where you call home are identifiers of who you are. Ideally, you should feel comfortable and proud of who you are. Unfortunately, many people of color in America, instead, can feel fear of not being “American” enough. Harjit and Bushra talk about their experiences #GrowingUpBrown and how they’ve come to feel pride being a person of color in a predominately white environment.
Safe to say choosing a specialty is one of the most important decisions to make for any medical student. Do you choose the specialty, or does the specialty choose you? There can be a lot of expectations in the decision-making process—especially if you came into medical school with unintended biases—but how many of those expectations are actual realities? In the first episode of season three, we talk about how we chose our specialties.
This is BUNDLE OF HERS, a podcast from four very different women, from very different backgrounds. We keep it real and raw, focusing on honest and thought-provoking conversations about the challenges women and minorities face in the field of medicine. Join us as we stumble gracefully through med school.
It's the season two finale and we're reflecting back on memories from our third year of medical school: lessons we've learned, goals we've achieved, and challenges we overcame. And we also look forward to the future—preparing for the end of our medical school journey (!!!) and the conversations we want to continue on the third season of BUNDLE OF HERS.
We’ve never really considered ourselves as influences—we like to think we’re just sharing stories about diverse experiences in medicine. But with more and more influencers using social media to expand their reach, what does it mean to be an authentic social influencer? In this episode, we talk about the responsibilities and accountabilities of social media.
There's a common stereotype that claims doctors are overly confident. That's actually true—it takes confidence to save a human life. But, having confidence doesn't equal to being high and mighty. Being confident means believing in yourself. Believing you're more than a test score or a bad rotation. In this episode, we talk to thoracic surgeon Dr. Rosemarie Serrone about the importance of having confidence in a world that can often make you feel like you're not good enough.
According to UNEnvironment.org, environmentalism is, "Any proclamation of a human right to environmental conditions of a specified quality." Access to clean air, drinkable water, and a safe environment are some of the basic human rights we sometimes take for granted, simply because we have access. In this episode, we talk about how, as health care providers, we can better help contribute to a more sustainable, safer, cleaner, and healthier environment for all.
Rejection isn't something a lot of people want to talk about, but it's probably safe to assume rejection happens to a lot of people. Whether it's rejection to med school, from a mentor, or even from friends who aren't in the mood for hanging out—rejection's hard. But rejection doesn't have to be the end. In this episode, we talk about getting past rejections and not letting them define your successes.
How do you play the game but still get what you want? How do you make a change while still fitting into the system? In this episode, we talk to Dr. Nwando Olayiwola, chief clinical transformation officer at RubiconMD and founder of the Association of Minority Women Professionals, about making change and leading through authenticity, passion, and diversity.
Failing medical school is probably the biggest fear for every medical student. You don't anticipate you'll fail, and you can't really prepare for it either ... but what happens if you do fail? How do you handle the situation logistically? How do you handle the situation mentally? In this episode, we talk about the difficult topic of failing medical school and how to move forward.
Going into medicine, a lot of us might fear delivering difficult news and information to patients and their families. After all, what's the "right" way to tell someone they've been diagnosed with cancer, or that their parent has passed? As doctors, is it better to be strong for the patient, or be vulnerable with them? In this episode, we talk about the importance of presentation of knowledge when you have to have that difficult conversation with patients and their families.
It can sometimes be difficult to separate between religion and science, especially if you practice both. But, religion and science can co-exist. In this episode, Leen and Harjit talk to fellow classmate Bryan Grover about navigating the ambiguity of culture and religion in science, and the discussion of theory versus fact.
It's something the majority of us can relate to, but many actually don't receive proper sex education, or they’re getting unhelpful and misinformed information. Sex education is surprisingly still stigmatized in medical school. On this episode, we talk about why, as future doctors, we think it's critical people, especially young teenagers, receive proper education on sex, birth control, and learn about their own sexual orientation, and why it's important to normalize the conversation surrounding sex.
For a long chunk of history, the field of medicine was male-dominated and obstetrics and gynaecology was no exception. In this episode, we talk about the growth of the field, the root of sensitivity surrounding the medical specialty, and why, even though OB/GYN is now largely female-dominated, discrepancy still exists.
Healthy bodies can come in all shapes and sizes. But sometimes our cultural weight bias (or fatphobia) can interfere with patient rapport. Margaux and Harjit discusses the issue of weight bias in health care.
Third-year of med school involves a lot of soulsearching—we're more than halfway to becoming physicians and finding the time to balance everything in life can be a huge task. In this episode, Leen and Bushra talk to Dr. Megan Fix, emergency medicine physician and mentor for medical students and residents at University of Utah Health, about understanding priorities and how to balance med school with everything else going on.
Life keeps going but that doesn't mean you shouldn't slow down every now and then to reflect on all the good you've accomplished and all the milestones you've passed. Self-reflecting is important for self-growth—it can help ground you to where you want to be and get to in life. As the year comes to an end, we're chatting about goals we made and the lessons we learned in 2018.
For many med students, the climb to residency can seem like a steep mountain, and it can be difficult to take a step back and recognize your accomplishments. But it's important to remember that all residents, all physicians, were med students at one point in their journey to the top. We talked to psychiatry resident Jackson Wong about navigating the hospital hierarchy and how to prepare ourselves for residency.
Sometimes it can feel awkward to reach out to someone you notice may need support. Learning how to navigate and break through these feelings is a key part of being a compassionate doctor, colleague, and friend.
Whether you connect on a cultural level, or that you're women practicing medicine, most of us want to feel like we matter, like we're valued. Making connections with others from the same communities can give you a sense of belonging.
You know you’re a medical student when you cannot count how many times you’ve run after a resident… only to follow them to the door of a bathroom. It happens. We’re sharing some of our embarrassing, funny, confusing, and frustrating moments of third-year so far… because you shouldn’t have to go through medical school alone.
Diversity can be a sensitive subject for some, and the line separating inclusion and tokenism can be blurry. Merriam-Webster defines tokenism as, "the policy or practice of making only a symbolic effort, as to desegregate." Have you ever been tokenized?
We watched and discussed New Amsterdam, NBC's newest medical drama based on the oldest public hospital in the United States — the good, the bad, and the medical inaccuracies.
Medicine, like the human body, is a universal science. But a difference in language can create a barrier between physician and patient. How do we navigate something so universally similar when effective communication is missing?
Medical school is tough enough without feeling like you're not good enough. Not smart enough. Not hard working enough. As third-years, fitting into the hospital hierarchy can be challenging. Are you part of the team? Or are you only a student?
There have always been discussions about whether physicians should show empathy or remain stern when interacting with patients. And while there are valid points on both sides, it's important to remember that physicians are human beings. And human beings have emotions.
"Every patient should be treated the same." WRONG! Quite the opposite—we believe no two patients should receive the same care. From their health conditions to their cultural backgrounds, each patient is different. Acknowledging and understanding the differences will help you provide better care.
The main difference between first and second year of medical school verses third year is the hands-on patient experience. You're finally able to put everything you've learned from lectures and books to practice... and then realize there's a learning curve.
Thirty episodes in, we're reflecting back on favorite memories from our second year of medical school, the lessons we've learned, and the goals we've achieved. And we're also looking forward to the future—third year rotations and a whole lot more conversations on a second season of BUNDLE OF HERS!
Burnout looks different at various phases of medical education. On this episode, we discuss what second-year burnout looks like and how we combat the stress.
We get real about the discrepancy in representation of different races and ethnicities in medical school.
Medical school is hard, and many people navigate it with a family. On this episode, we learn how two moms balance medical school and family life.
Your voice is powerful. In this episode, we discuss why—and how—we speak up regarding difficult issues and topics. And we dare you to do the same.
Leadership is a common skill set that's looked for on a medical school application. But what actually is leadership and what makes someone a leader?
ABC's new hit medical show, The Good Doctor, explores many layers of medicine. On this episode on BUNDLE OF HERS, we're discussing the groundbreaking show and what it means to be a "good" doctor.
Does the type of student you are define the type of doctor you'll become? Some may think slow, or bad, learners can't become good doctors--but we think otherwise.
Exchanging Valentine's Day cards in grade school, crushes, flirting, dating, marriage... this is the gossip on love in medical school.
There will always be people who don’t trust the empirical evidence we have worked so hard to study. Listen as we discuss how to navigate mistrust with medicine.
January is National Mentoring Month. Take the time to thank the teachers, doctors, and family members who have encouraged, supported, and challenged you to grow.
It's no secret women have more challenging times in the workforce, even more so in the medical field—a field predominantly men. With the limited representation in medicine, it's important and critical to amplify women's voices and stories. In this episode, Harjit and Margaux talk to women's health expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones about "losing the pantyhose and pumps" as we compare and contrast medical school today with what medical school was like for women in the '70's.
You don't have to have perfect MCAT scores or grades to get into medical school. Listen to Margaux and Harjit's "non-traditional" experiences of getting into medical school.
Join us as Matthew Petersen, a 4th year medical student, takes a break from his residency interviews to discuss LGBTQIA health and how daily interactions impact our lives.
The U.S. healthcare system isn’t perfect. Join us as we discuss if there is anything we can do as medical students and as future physicians to provide health care to those in need.
Since starting BUNDLE OF HERS, we’ve learned about promoting ourselves on social media. In this episode, we discuss how we're navigating the pressures surrounding body image.
Join BUNDLE OF HERS as we discuss how our childhood experiences with language affects our learning and self esteem, even in medical school.
Our classmate, Maggie Bale, joins Leen and Margaux to talk about her service with the Peace Corps before medical school.
The content of this podcast is Maggie’s alone and does not reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Botswana Government.
Any Grey's Anatomy fans out there? We are! And we had a chance to watch the new season premiere after our finals. Join us as we discuss the great—and not so great—aspects of medicine on TV.
There's more than one way to get to medical school. Justin Leavitt shares his story and has encouraging words for those who aren't on the traditional route to medical school.
Join us as we share our birth stories from around the world in conjunction with the OB/ GYN portion of our Metabolism & Reproduction unit.
Does Islamophobia effect health care? Listen to our personal experiences as we talk to fellow medical student, Ali Etman.
Dress or suit? Black or white? We've been through it—let us help you navigate the stress of dressing for medical school interviews.
Join Brian Coburn and Nancy Ann Little, current third-year medical students, share their second-year experiences with BUNDLE OF HERS.
Have you felt depressed? We have. Join us as we share our experiences navigating mental health in medical school.
As first-year medical students prepare for their white coat ceremony, BUNDLE OF HERS discuss and dissect the Hippocratic Oath.
The spark notes of medical school orientation, what they might not tell you, how to navigate your first year and things to remember.
Get to know Harjit Kaur, Margaux Miller, Bushra Hussein, and Leen Samha—BUNDLE OF HERS—and why we got into the field of medicine.
This is Bundle Of Hers, a podcast about what medical school is really like by four very different women, from very different backgrounds. We discuss the challenges of studying medicine and how our backgrounds influence our days in medical school and beyond. Join us as we keep it real and raw while stumbling gracefully through med school. Listen to Bundle Of Hers, available wherever you get your podcasts.