What do u want to be when u grow up?!: Recent Episodes
Katie Lin
Do people ever ask you: "What do u want to be when you grow up?!" And you just think"WHAAAAAT?!" Well, never fear! This podcast is here to help you answer that question. We interview awesome people about what they do and get top-secret information about their jobs!
There are so many professionals out there supporting people’s health in the healthcare industry! Ms. Jennifer Feeney is a Nurse Practitioner working in women’s health at the UC Davis Health Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She joins us today to tell us all about her experience of working in different types of healthcare, how she came to specialize in women’s health, and what her role entails on a daily basis. Jennifer tells us what it’s really like to work in a hospital and how she promotes wellbeing and prevention for all of her patients. We talk about her training, some of the options available to nurses, and other roles in healthcare and she shares what she loves most about getting to support women in their pursuit of healthy living, and even the pregnancy process. Tune in today to learn all about life as a nurse practitioner and find out if it just might be what you want to be when you grow up!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The difference between a nurse practitioner, a doctor, and a nurse.
- Ms. Feeney’s day-to-day responsibilities in women’s healthcare at UC Davis.
- Her journey to working in this area of nursing.
- Working in Alaska, private practice, and UC Davis.
- Different options available during nurse practitioner training.
- What nurses in the NICU focus on.
- Ms. Feeney’s original interest in working in pediatrics.
- Majoring in biology at the University of Denver before applying to a nursing program.
- Tests and exams she had to take to qualify.
- Her day-to-day experience of doing nurse training.
- What it’s really like to work in a hospital!
- Some of the most common problems that Ms. Feeney’s patients are facing.
- Why OB care is Ms. Feeney’s favorite part of her job.
- How a baby’s due date is determined and what a sonographer does.
- The process of screening for cervical cancer and breast cancer
- Advice for anyone interested in working in healthcare.
- Why shadowing is a great way to know what you want to do.
- What a physician assistant usually does.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Ms. Jennifer Feeney
UC Davis Health Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
The University of Denver
‘What's a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?’
One of the many incredible things women can do is bring humans into the world and today, we get to hear all the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of obstetrics and gynecology! Welcome to another episode of What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? In this episode, we are joined by OB-GYN Dr. Jocylen Glassberg to tell us all about what her career entails, how she balances work and family, and finding her way in a STEM field as a woman. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Dr. Glassberg’s upbringing, college experience, medical school and residency journey, and becoming an OB-GYN. She explains the differences between obstetrics, gynecology, and OB-GYN before delving into her day-to-day schedule, the kinds of patients she treats, the surgeries she performs, and more! We even hear all about prenatal care, the birth process, postnatal care, and pregnancy complications. Finally, Dr. Glassberg tells us why having more female leaders and mentors in STEM fields will encourage women to follow their passions. To hear all this and more, press play now!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing today’s guest, Dr. Jocylen Glassberg.
- The difference between a gynecologist, obstetrician, and OB-GYN.
- Why Dr. Glassberg wanted to specialize in both gynecology and obstetrics.
- What her schedule looks like and the kinds of surgeries she does.
- What being a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and a clerkship director entails.
- The kinds of diagnostic and treatment tools Dr. Glassberg uses.
- She tells us about her task to try to make clinicians happier and less burnt out.
- Dr. Glassberg tells us about her experience of teaching residents.
- Her favorite childhood hobbies and the unconventional way she chose OB-GYN.
- Our guest shares her medical school and residency experience.
- How she ended up at UC Davis Medical Group and the work/life balance she gets there.
- The kinds of issues women go to Dr. Glassberg for.
- Her favorite part about her job and how it feels to bring babies into the world.
- Dr. Glassberg talks us through the process of giving birth and her job in the process.
- The prenatal and postnatal care they provide for mothers.
- Some pregnancy complications and how OB-GYNs deal with them.
- What Dr. Glassberg thinks people should do to get more women in STEM fields.
- Advice for any listeners wanting to become OB-GYNs or going into medicine in general.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Jocylen Glassberg
While STEM fields have come a long way in terms of increasing diversity over the past few decades, there is still much to be achieved in terms of equity. Joining us today is Dr. Melissa Bauman, a neuroscientist at the UC Davis MIND Institute, professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UC Davis, and director of Women in Medicine and Health Sciences (WIMHS) at the same institution. Dr. Bauman is a passionate advocate for advancing women’s careers in science and medicine, and in today’s conversation, we learn how she is helping introduce more girls and young women to STEM fields. Tuning in you’ll learn about her own journey into neuroscience, the unique challenges that women in STEM face, and why she would never have gotten where she is today without the encouragement of key mentors and teachers throughout her schooling. Dr. Bauman shares what it’s like balancing her roles as a professor, scientist, and researcher, what a typical workday looks like for her, and the things she enjoys most about her work. She also shares her advice to young people interested in pursuing a similar career path and why she is deeply committed to giving back and helping others discover the joys of pursuing a career in STEM. To learn more about Dr. Bauman’s fascinating career, and her advice to aspiring scientists, be sure to tune in!
Key Points From This Episode:
- A warm welcome to today's guest, Dr. Melissa Bauman!
- How Dr. Bauman balances her roles as professor, scientist, and researcher.
- Insight into her passion for promoting diversity in STEM fields.
- Details about her role as director of Women in Medicine and Health Sciences (WIMHS).
- Why she is so appreciative that her parents and teachers encouraged her interest in science.
- The event that sparked her fascination with neuroscience during her college years.
- What she focused on for her Ph.D. program and how she transitioned into her current role.
- A breakdown of the grant application and funding process.
- Why being a good writer is a key part of her work.
- How she manages the budget for her projects.
- The similarities between running a research lab and managing a small business.
- An overview of her research focus and how she delegates tasks to her team.
- What a typical day in Dr. Bauman’s work life looks like.
- The topics she teaches in her WIMHS class and how her course has evolved.
- A rundown of the challenges faced by women in STEM.
- Helping female students find a way forward that is a little bit easier.
- Insight into her study initiatives; selecting them, the amount of time they typically take to complete, and how they build on one another.
- Dr. Bauman’s advice to anyone interested in pursuing a similar career path.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Melissa Bauman on LinkedIn
Dr. Melissa Bauman, Ph.D. at UC Davis
Mr. Brian Maroney is a distinguished civil engineer currently serving as the Toll Bridge Seismic Retrofit Chief Bridge Engineer at Caltrans. Formerly the chief engineer of the new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, Mr. Maroney is renowned for his contributions to earthquake engineering and his pivotal role in enhancing community safety. With numerous accolades, including the Greta Ericson Distinguished Service Award, he has been instrumental in the design and creation of famous structures globally, including the Bay Bridge. The Bay Bridge that connects San Francisco and Oakland is the superhero of bridges in the region, dealing with over a third of the traffic on all state-owned bridges put together! Mr. Maroney joins us today to go in-depth about all things civil engineering, including how to earn the right to be called a Professional Engineer, why all civil engineers have to be environmentalists, how suspension bridges are built, his take on the classes you need to focus on if you want to pursue a career in bridge engineering, what sets earthquake engineering apart, and more. After this insightful episode, you’re likely to see the Golden State's iconic Bay Bridge in a new light (and maybe even decide to pursue a career in civil engineering too!)
Key Points From This Episode:
- An easy-to-understand definition of civil engineering.
- Insight into Mr. Maroney’s educational journey to become an engineer.
- The work engineers do under licensed supervising engineers.
- How to earn the right to call yourself a Professional Engineer (PE).
- Highlighting the differences between plans and specifications.
- What it’s like in the office versus being in the field as an engineer.
- Why all civil engineers have to be environmentalists too!
- Mr. Maroney’s thoughts on the scary aspects of working on a bridge.
- How suspension bridges like The Golden Gate Bridge work and are built.
- Exploring the concept of bridge engineering as a “team sport.”
- Bridge design and why it is sometimes a touchy or controversial issue.
- The lengthy public and environmental processes that are often part of civil projects.
- Aspects of making any well-designed bridge work.
- Getting art into the design of community bridges.
- Tearing down structures, objects, and homes to build bridges.
- Bridge engineers as public servants.
- Mastering the art of report writing and other written aspects of engineering.
- Critical conditions of a bridge’s life: the importance of sequencing and staging.
- Navigating earthquakes in California and what sets earthquake engineering apart.
- The best parts of Mr. Maroney’s career and his advice for listeners thinking of pursuing a similar career path.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Brian Maroney on LinkedIn
‘Brian Maroney: 3 cheers for those who get it done’
Caltrans
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
University of California Davis
California High-Speed Rail
NEPA, National Environmental Policy Act
Lincoln Logs
American Society for Civil Engineers Club
American Society for Mechanical Engineers
We’re back with Dr. Ban Truong, the all-in-one emergency trauma specialist, and we pick up our conversation with Dr. Ban explaining the chain reactions that occur in our bodies, as well as the importance of always asking “why”. We discover why emergency medicine training is more intensive than your standard medical school practices before taking a journey through two of our guest’s most eyewatering cases. Finally, Dr. Ban gives us the definition of being “boarded”, an explanation of the work of a physician nutrition specialist, and he shares some important advice that every young and aspiring medical professional needs to hear.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Medicinal chain reactions and the importance of asking “why”.
- How Dr. Ban’s emergency medicine training differed from standard medical school teachings.
- A journey through two of his most interesting and bizarre cases.
- What it means to be boarded, and what a physician nutrition specialist does.
- Dr. Ban’s advice for those who are looking to follow a similar career path.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Ban Truong on LinkedIn
UC Davis
Dr. Greg Rosellini on LinkedIn
Think Dirty
From a young age, today’s guest, Dr. Ban Truong, was pushed by his parents to become a doctor, and his hard work ethic brought their dream to fruition – earlier than anyone expected! Dr. Ban’s professional trajectory is unique, as apart from finishing school early and getting his bachelor’s degree at a young age; he also acquired his PhD before attending medical school. In our conversation, our guest walks us through his professional journey and how he became a jack-of-all-trades. Then, we discover how his hands-on experience as a researcher made medical school a little easier before diving into his childhood and getting a sense of his incredible work ethic. We also learn about the role of amino acids in the body, what Dr. Ban did after completing his residency, how moonlighting helped shape the doctor he is today, and how he fell in love with the emergency. But that’s not all! Be sure to come back for part 2 of our conversation with the sensational Dr. Ban Truong!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing the ER specialist, Dr. Ban Truong as he explains his professional background.
- How Dr. Ban became a jack-of-all-trades, and details on his days as a researcher.
- How his early hands-on experience in research helped him conquer medical school.
- A brief lesson on amino acids.
- Exploring Dr. Ban’s childhood and his remarkable work ethic.
- His trajectory after residency (having already attained his PhD before medical school).
- How moonlighting helped with his transition from residency to actually working in a hospital.
- The moment he decided to be a doctor, and how he honed in on the emergency room.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Ban Truong on LinkedIn
UC Davis
Dr. Dorothy Gietzen on LinkedIn
Dr. Greg Rosellini on LinkedIn
Dr. Edward Hughes on WebMD
Welcome back to What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up for the second part of our conversation with Dr. David Liang, and he continues our discussion by explaining what you’ll typically find on a resident’s schedule. We talk about the factors that lead people away from applying to medical school, the attributes of a good doctor, the transition between medical school and working at a hospital, and the (many) tests that you’ll need to take to become a cardiologist. After explaining why California is a haven for doctors, our guest walks us through his standard work day and the procedures he performs, the differences between cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons, the most bizarre case he’s ever encountered, and how Google is reshaping the landscape of modern medicine. Dr. Liang is a people’s person, and forming relationships is his favorite part of his job. He describes Marfan Syndrome in great detail and explains why this condition is one of his main concerns. With the advancement of technology and medical innovations, now is the perfect time to get into medicine, and Dr. Liang graciously leaves us with encouraging words of advice for any young, aspiring medical professionals.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Dr. David Liang explains what a resident’s schedule looks like.
- How the high workload and intensive hours turn people away from studying medicine.
- Why the medical school admissions process is a bigger problem than we may realize.
- The traits of a good doctor.
- How one quickly gets over the gruesome aspect of medicine after enough exposure.
- Dr. Liang breaks down the transition from medical school to working at a hospital.
- A brief interlude on using animal hearts for experiments and teaching.
- The tests you need to take to become a doctor and specifically, a cardiologist.
- Why our guest chose to practice medicine in California.
- A typical work day in the life of Dr. Liang, and the procedures he most commonly performs.
- The differences between the tools of a cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgeon.
- Why cardiologists should always be aware of the rest of the body as well.
- Dr. Liang’s most interesting and bizarre case that involved nicotine gum as the treatment.
- The power of Google in modern medicine.
- What our guest loves most about his job, and how he goes about finding new patients.
- The ins and outs of Marfan syndrome, and why Dr. Liang is focused on the condition.
- Why now is a great time to get into medicine, and Dr. Liang’s advice to aspiring medical professionals.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. David Liang on LinkedIn
Dr. David Liang Stanford Profile
Stanford Health Care
Hoag Medical Group | Dr. David Liang
The Marfan Foundation
ACME Meat Company
Jonathan Larson
Vincent Covello
John Ritter
Magic Johnson
James Carter
If you’ve read this episode’s title and you’re wondering if we have an actual doctor on the show, the answer is a resounding, yes! We are thrilled to welcome Dr. David Liang from Stanford Health Care, who is here to talk to us about what it takes to succeed as a medical professional. We begin by examining Dr. Liang’s other exploits before he began studying medicine, the role that engineering played in kickstarting his medical career, and the type of students and subject matter that he covers in his lectures. After giving us a behind-the-scenes peek into the medical school process, Dr. Liang explains the differences between a residency and an internship, the career trajectory for graduating doctors (inducing details of his own journey from high school to running a private practice), and why he would encourage everyone to pursue a career in an industry that they’re naturally skilled in. We also dive deeper into pursuing research as a vocation, how medical grants are issued in America, and so much more. But wait! We are not done yet, so be sure to tune into part 2 of our riveting conversation with the remarkable Dr. David Liang for more helpful insights into the medical profession.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing Stanford’s Dr. David Liang, as he describes who he is and what he does.
- A bit more on Dr. Liang’s teaching and research exploits.
- How his medical venture began with a combination of medicine and engineering.
- His usual student demographic, and the content he covers in his lectures.
- Insight into the medical school process.
- Dr. Liang explains residency and internship, and the differences between the two.
- How doctors can go about looking for work once their studies are complete.
- Dr. Liang’s journey from high school to medical school to eventually his own private practice.
- Why people should strive to look for work in fields that they’re naturally talented in.
- How to pursue research as a career in medicine.
- When research turns into experimentation and beyond.
- How grants for medicine are issued in the USA.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. David Liang on LinkedIn
Dr. David Liang Stanford Profile
Stanford Health Care
Hoag Medical Group | Dr. David Liang
MIT
B.F. Skinner
Welcome back to part two of this incredible miniseries, where we speak to Mr. Scott Shields, Associate Director and Chief Curator at Crocker Art Museum about what it means to be a museum curator. As an author who has written extensively about art, Mr. Shields builds on our conversation from last time by letting us in on the cost and effort of creating an exhibition catalog and sharing some of the books he has written. Tuning in today, you’ll learn more about the little title cards that go next to the artworks in a museum, how the meaning of art has evolved over time, and what makes it valuable in the first place. Mr. Shields also gives us a glimpse into the career path that led him to Crocker, from what he studied and where to how he gained experience in the art world through internships, plus so much more! As he says, there is no such thing as a “typical day” for a museum curator, but that’s part of what he loves about his job. To hear Mr. Shields’ advice for aspiring curators and find out if you have what it takes to become one, be sure to join us for this inspiring and informative conversation!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Mr. Shields’ career as a writer and the role that catalogs play in exhibitions.
- The amount of work that goes into creating a book about a particular show.
- Insight into museum title cards; which display information about each artwork.
- Some of the books that Mr. Shields has written on artists over the years.
- The story of his passion for Californian art and the career path that led him to Crocker.
- Mr. Shields’ time as a student and his interest in art growing up.
- How his creativity serves him in his day-to-day work as a curator.
- What he loves most about his job, from acquiring new artworks to installing exhibitions.
- Artists on Mr. Shields’ “wishlist” that he would love to add to the Crocker collection.
- Ways that the meaning of art evolves and changes over time.
- Unpacking what makes art valuable: rarity, quality, fame, and more!
- A look at Mr. Shields’ personal favorite period in art history.
- Why internships are key for anyone interested in becoming a museum curator.
- What a “typical day” looks like for Mr. Shields at the Crocker Museum.
- Current and upcoming exhibitions that you can visit at Crocker!
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Scott Shields on LinkedIn
Crocker Art Museum
AI Am I?
A Marriage of Arts & Crafts: Evelyn and William De Morgan
Artists Rights Society
E. Charlton Fortune: The Colorful Spirit
Armin Hansen: The Artful Voyage
Richard Diebenkorn: Beginnings, 1942-1955
Wayne Thiebaud 100: Paintings, Prints, and Drawings
A Touch Of Blue: Landscapes by Gregory Kondos
Granville Redmond: The Eloquent Palette
Art museums enable us to see and engage with contemporary and historic artworks that we otherwise wouldn’t have access to. It takes a very special person and a considerable amount of time and effort to obtain these items, verify their authenticity, store them properly, and curate exhibitions around them. To learn more, we’re joined by Mr. Scott Shields, Associate Director and Chief Curator at Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, California. He grew up in Nebraska, has a master's degree and a Ph.D. in art history, and has curated many impressive exhibitions at the Crocker; drawing in large numbers of people who flock to the museum for a chance to view its collection of art and ceramics. Mr. Shields is also an author, having written books and catalogs about art. In this episode, he tells us what it takes to be a museum curator, from building relationships with art collectors to keeping up with the sometimes fickle art world and everything in between! Tuning in, you’ll find out how artworks are loaned, what goes into fine art logistics, where Mr. Shields gets ideas for new exhibitions, and what he considers when adding a new piece to the museum collection, plus so much more. This was a super interesting and incredibly insightful interview, so be sure to tune in (and stay tuned for part two!)
Key Points From This Episode:
- The varied responsibilities that Mr. Shields has in his capacity as chief curator.
- Insight into the Crocker, the oldest art museum in the Western United States.
- Different curatorial departments that Mr. Shields oversees at the Crocker.
- Loans, insurance, shipping, and more: what goes into putting an exhibition together.
- Why relationship-building is such an important part of Mr. Shields’ job.
- Opportunities for travel and access to private art collections.
- The sometimes complex nature of fine art logistics!
- What makes good art: assessing worthwhile additions to the museum collection.
- Keeping up with modern and contemporary art and why the art world isn’t always fair.
- Where Mr. Shields gets ideas for upcoming exhibitions and how he markets them.
- Art storage, artwork preservation, and curating every aspect of the exhibition space.
- Stay tuned for part two of our conversation with Mr. Scott Shields!
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Scott Shields on LinkedIn
Crocker Art Museum
Breaking the Rules: Paul Wonner and Theophilus Brown
Some jobs are more than a career — they’re a calling! Ms. Emily Lo, Fire Department Battalion Chief, considers firefighting one such role. During Part 2 of our conversation, we dive into the relationship between the police and the fire department and the difference between a fire truck and a fire engine before Ms. Lo shares the story of one of the first fires she put out at age 20. She shares the process of moving up in the ranks and the typical daily calls she receives, before discussing why she doesn’t consider her job to be about her, but rather the people she serves. We explore balancing family life with a career at the fire department, setting priorities, and her favorite aspects of the job. To finish, we discuss the amazing sense of teamwork that Ms. Lo considers a highlight of the job. Tune in to hear all this and more from our trailblazing guest!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The relationship between the police and the fire department.
- Distinguishing between a fire truck and a fire engine and which one carries water.
- The story of one of Ms. Lo’s first fires at the age of 20.
- Why the worst calls she receives involve children.
- How many calls she receives per day.
- The process of advancing ranks in the fire department.
- When firefighters in different cities work together.
- Why firefighting is by far the most rewarding career that Ms. Lo can think of.
- Why she doesn’t consider her job to be about her, but the people she serves.
- Balancing family life with a career as a firefighter.
- Learning that something’s got to give, and she cannot take on certain responsibilities.
- Ms. Lo’s favorite aspects of her job: helping to deliver babies, when things go well at work, teamwork and more.
In this episode, we hear from Emily Lo, who is the Batallion Chief at the Davis Fire Department. She has been a firefighter for 32 years, and female Asian-American battalion chief in the City of Davis. She is a member of the Davis Firefighters Union and the Women's Commission Mentoring Program, where she mentors aspiring female firefighters. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about the responsibilities of a firefighter, the ‘four ups’ that she teaches her rookies to live by, and some of the skills necessary to excel as a firefighter. You’ll also hear what a typical week looks like for Miss Lo, different physical training requirements, and why it is so important to have a supportive team in this industry. You’ll also hear all about how she empowers other women in the field through mentorship and recruitment, how requirements differ between departments and areas, and much more! Tune in to hear more of Part 1 of this inspiring conversation today.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Meet Miss Emily Lo, the female Asian-American battalion chief in the City of Davis.
- What the responsibilities of a firefighter are at every level of seniority leading up to Batallion Chief.
- The ‘four ups’ to live by that Miss Lo teaches her rookies.
- Skills and abilities necessary to succeed as a firefighter including navigation, maths, and more.
- The typical hours a week worked by firefighters - 56 to 72 hours per week.
- Miss Lo’s journey to becoming a firefighter and her 32-year career in the field.
- Why she sees firefighting as a lifelong calling.
- What firefighting training entails overall.
- Different physical training requirements for different areas.
- What it’s like to be the first Asian American Woman to reach the rank of a Batallion Chief.
- Why it’s so important to have a supportive team.
- Her experience of transitioning from Taiwan to the US and how sports helped her to make friends.
- What makes a good team and how to build trust with your teammates.
- Miss Lo’s experience training other female firefighters.
- How the Women's Commission Mentoring Program was formed and what their recruitment efforts entail.
- Differing requirements at different fire departments.
- Miss Lo’s presentation ‘A Day in the Life of a Firefighter’ at the firefighting job expo.
- Breathing in smoky environments and how it changes with exposure.
- What a typical workday looks like for Miss Lo at the moment.
- What firefighters typically do when they’re not on call.
- The role of area familiarization in firefighting.
Joining us today on What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up, is a cardiothoracic surgeon by the name of Dr. James Fann. Dr. Fann works at the Stanford University Medical Center. He attended Northwestern for both his college and medical school degrees, and then he did his residency and fellowship at Stanford. Dr. Fann is part of an amazing summer internship at Stanford called The Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills Summer Internship (CSSSI), which allows high school students to gain hands-on experience and insights from distinguished doctors and surgeons about their daily work, human anatomy, and their professional lives. Join the conversation as we hear what being a cardiothoracic surgeon is all about, how Dr. Fann got interested in medicine, and why he believes the internal drive and digging deep into your why is crucial. Listen in to hear more about the CSSSI program and his advice to those interested in pursuing a similar career. This is a jam-packed episode, so don’t miss out. Start listening now!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Dr. Fann tells us more about himself and what he does as a cardiothoracic surgeon.
- He defines the role of a cardiothoracic surgeon and the type of work he does.
- The difference between adult cardiac surgery and congenital heart surgery.
- How experience steered him into the field of medicine and led him to specialize as an adult cardiothoracic surgeon.
- Dr. Fann shares his thoughts on the internal drive: why we are the way we are and what motivates us.
- What he was like as a younger student, his work ethic, and taking advantage of opportunities.
- He talks about the different internships he participated in during high school.
- His favorite subjects in school.
- We talk about the exploratory process in college: How do you determine what to major in, at this point in your life (high school)?
- Where he went to college and what he majored in.
- His opinion on the accelerated program at Northwestern: a combined program of a two-year undergrad and four years of medical school.
- An important question to ask yourself before deciding on what to do (after high school).
- Where he grew up and why he decided to go to Northwestern.
- The prerequisites, in terms of classes and tests, to become a cardiothoracic surgeon.
- What convinced Dr. Fann that becoming a surgeon was what he could and wanted to be.
- He shares his experience of medical school and residency.
- Dr. Fann recounts his first time seeing a human heart and the inside of the human body.
- How the flow (of things) helps make decisions.
- He talks about how he stays focused and awake during long operations.
- We hear about some of the longest operations he’s been a part of and the frequency of them.
- Did he have to take the MCAT?
- Dr. Fan talks about the stress levels of his job and what it means to be on-call.
- The most common cases he sees and the diagnosis and treatment that follows.
- A typical day as a cardiothoracic surgeon and more about his job specifics.
- His favorite aspect of working as a cardiothoracic surgeon.
- How he got into CSSSI (the internship).
- A quick summary of what CSSSI is.
- Advice to those interested in pursuing a similar career path as Dr. Fann.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. James Fann
Stanford University
The Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills Summer Internship
Chemistry is all around us. Once you know what to look for, it’s impossible not to see! This episode is all about the wonders of chemistry and how it is present in the world around us. Instead of tuning into an interview, get ready to learn a bunch of interesting facts about the fascinating world of chemistry. Biochemistry and the body’s processes, redox reactions, and electrochemistry kick off our journey before we dive into the weird and wonderful world of thermal chemistry and how it relates to our daily lives. Learn about energy changes, calories and chemical potential, and changes in temperature and state. Sharpen up your knowledge about hydrogen bonding and electronegativity. Find out why water’s high specific heat is a good thing and much more today. After listening to today’s episode, you won’t see the world the same way!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Why this episode is a little different from the usual format.
- How learning about chemistry changes your perception of the world around us.
- The different kinds of chemistry, starting with biochemistry.
- Ways that the body uses carbohydrates and fructose to power itself.
- The chemical makeup of a carbohydrate,
- Redox reactions in electrochemistry: reduction and oxidization.
- Laboratory and industrial applications of redox reactions.
- Thermal chemistry and energy changes.
- The different kinds of energy and their units.
- Differentiating between calories and the associated chemical potential.
- Changes of temperature and state.
- Hydrogen bonding and electronegativity.
- How the periodic table is arranged with electronegativity in mind.
- Water’s high specific heat and why it’s a good thing.
- How this applies to the temperature of the ocean.
- The energy needed for water to change temperature.
- The technical definition of boiling.
- Why chemistry really is everywhere.
Working in real estate can be a fulfilling and financially rewarding career, but it’s certainly not an easy one! Today, you’ll learn some of the ins and outs of the business from Mr. Russell White, who is the owner of White House Realty in Sacramento, California, and a full-service real estate broker who has been in the business for almost 30 years. In that time, he has handled tens of thousands of real estate transactions, has personally owned over 20 rental units, and has been a partner on numerous “flips,” which allows him to provide the kind of experienced and personal service that most agents cannot. Mr. White was very generous in sharing his secrets to success with us and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the real estate industry to help you decide if a career as an agent or broker is the right fit for you. To find out how to become a realtor, what a typical workday looks like, and why Mr. White suggests doing what you love, plus so much more, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Defining the term “house flipping.”
- An overview of Mr. White’s long and experienced career in the real estate industry.
- What it takes to become a broker or a realtor and maintain your license.
- Understanding the difference between a real estate broker and a real estate agent.
- How Mr. White knew that he wanted to work in real estate.
- What a regular workday looks like for him as a “professional problem solver.”
- Insight into what a typical house flipping project entails.
- Ways to advertise, grow, and find clients in real estate.
- The entrepreneurial spirit that Mr. White has had since he was younger.
- Advice that people often ask him for and why he recommends doing what you love.
- Being your own boss versus working for a real estate company.
- What Mr. White loves about his job, namely the flexibility it affords him.
- Why you should consider getting your real estate license.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Russell White on LinkedIn
White House Real Estate & Property Management
California Department of Real Estate
Are you a creative person? Do you love art? You don’t necessarily need to be an artist in order to find a fulfilling career in the art industry! Art careers come in many different shapes and sizes, from creating original artworks to selling and promoting them to teaching others. Today, you’ll hear from Miss Rishika Assomull, who is the Deputy Director and Senior Specialist of Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Art at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. Tuning in, you’ll find out the difference between modern and contemporary art, what Miss Rishika’s role entails, and what it takes to work at one of the biggest auction houses in the world. We also discuss the importance of building relationships and finding mentors, and Miss Rishika tells us what she loves about working in the industry and shares her advice for anyone who wants to follow a similar path. If this sounds like something you’d love to do when you grow up, be sure to tune in today to find out more!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Insight into Miss Rishika’s background and her role at Sotheby’s.
- Distinguishing between modern and contemporary art.
- The history of Sotheby’s and what they do as an auction house.
- How Miss Rishika participates in live auctions on behalf of her clients.
- What goes into promoting rare artworks and items to clients around the world.
- The importance of authentication (and how you can tell if a painting is counterfeit!)
- The process of appraising a painting and deciding on its value.
- Different types of art that Miss Rishika handles in her department.
- What she loves about working in the art industry (including the travel opportunities it offers).
- Advice for those who want to follow a similar career path: find multiple role models!
- The critical role that internships played in Miss Rishika’s career development.
- A look at her education, process of self-discovery, and what she has learned "on the job.”
- Highlighting some of the most fascinating aspects of her career.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Rishika Assomull on LinkedIn
Rishika Assomull on Instagram
Rishika Assomull on X
Sotheby’s
Today on The K Files, Katie talks to a very special guest: Michael Hirst, the attorney! Michael is the owner of his own law firm, Hirst Law Group in Davis, California. With experience in many aspects of the law, Michael is a renowned attorney and has 15 years of experience as an Assistant US Attorney for the Eastern District of California. Some of his cases have been featured on national television shows like 60 Minutes, ABC, and NPR, and in front-page stories in publications such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, just to name a few! He has also received multiple prestigious awards, including some from federal agencies, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Health and Human Services. During our conversation today, Michael shares valuable insights regarding what an attorney does and the different types of laws they can practice. He tells us about his career journey and how working as an investigator ultimately led him to pursue a career in law. He gives listeners some great nuggets of advice, especially for those considering a similar career path. So, if you’re interested in maybe becoming an attorney someday, do not miss today’s jam-packed episode!
Key Points From This Episode:
- What an attorney does and the different types of law they can practice.
- Michael’s career journey, from graduating from law school to working at Hirst Law Group.
- How being an investigator for medical malpractice lawsuits led him to become an attorney.
- Insight into his post-secondary education journey (and what he studied at college).
- Why Michael thinks that internships are a great idea.
- His recommendation for those considering law school: work as a paralegal.
- What makes working for the government different than working at a law firm.
- The story behind how Michael started his own law firm.
- Key differences between working for yourself and working for the government.
- Michael’s experience of teaching federal court litigation and trial technique classes at UC Davis for the international law program.
- His favorite part of being an attorney (and the work involved).
- Keeping up with the law; how Michael finds the process of staying up to date.
- He elaborates on the bar exam and taking continuing legal education classes.
- Parting advice for anyone considering a similar career path!
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Michael Hirst on LinkedIn
Hirst Law Group
We’re back with another episode of What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up and on today’s episode, we have Ms. Catherine Reon joining us. Ms. Reon is the co-owner of CRKW studio, an architecture and design firm in Sacramento where she is the principal designer for interiors. Ms. Reon has decades of experience working at both a big company and in her own firm. She knows her way around materials and hardware and how to create a space perfect for the project; whether it is commercial, residential, or multi-family. As you tune in today, you’ll hear from Ms. Reom about what sparked her interest in interior design, what her day-to-day job entails, and the different team members she often works closely with. She tells us about the difference between an interior designer and an interior architect, why it’s important to take your education as far as you can, and what her career journey looked like. This is a jam-packed episode with tons of information on all things related to interior design and what you can expect from a career in this field. Ms. Reon has always been very passionate about what she does and is very inspiring! So don’t miss out on this epic episode and tune in now!
Key Points From This Episode:
- More about Ms. Reon, who she is, and what she does!
- How long she has been an interior designer and what initially sparked her interest in design.
- Ms. Reon tells us about her educational journey toward becoming an interior designer.
- She describes what her job as an interior designer entails; her day-to-day.
- She explains the different members of team designers could (potentially) work with.
- The difference between an interior designer and an interior architect.
- Why you should take your education as far as you can: flexibility later on in your career.
- Why Ms. Reon splits her work 50/50 into commercial and residential industries.
- She explains the difference between commercial and residential jobs.
- We hear about the different programs used by interior designers.
- Which skills are required to become an interior architect.
- How Ms. Reon got to where she is today in her career.
- What inspired Ms. Reon to start her own business.
- The best thing about owning your own business is.
- She talks about the process of taking on a new job or new client.
- Where she gets her inspiration from.
- Why she loves working with materials.
- How she keeps up with codes and interior trends.
- What Ms. Reon likes best about her.
- She describes a typical workday for an interior designer.
- How to grow your interior design business according to Ms. Reon.
- The advice she would give to someone wanting to pursue a career in interior design.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Catherine Reon on LinkedIn
CRKW Studio
CRKW Studio on Instagram
Archicad
Photoshop
Revit
Pinterest
Houzz
Crate & Barrel
West Elm
Pottery Barn
Welcome back to another episode of the K files, where we help you answer the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?”. Many of us experience pressure from our parents to follow a particular career path, which usually means becoming a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. This has always been the case for our guest, Dr. Dennis Vo, who was expected to fit into one of these boxes his entire life. After spending years preparing to become an optometrist, Dr. Vo realized that his passion lay elsewhere and decided to pursue a career as a chiropractor. While this profession was still within the healthcare field, it required an entirely different approach. In our conversation, Dr. Vo breaks down his journey to becoming a chiropractor, the opportunities available when you’re first starting out, and some of the strategies you can use to forge your path. We also talk about the types of people he’s treated over the years, from athletes to babies, and why having the time to get to know his patients is one of the biggest joys of his job. Dr. Vo is an accomplished chiropractor who has been able to help countless people in his community. If you want to learn more about this fascinating profession and its capacity for helping people, make sure you tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to Dr. Dennis Vo, his career background, and where he works.
- The definition of chiropractic and how it is practiced by chiropractors.
- An overview of the long history of chiropractic manipulations.
- The educational background you need to become a chiropractor.
- Dr. Vo’s original goal of becoming an optometrist.
- How Dr. Vo discovered his love for chiropractic work.
- The expectations of Dr. Vo’s parents and how they shaped his trajectory.
- Learn about Dr. Vo’s typical work day and what he enjoys most.
- The wide range of patients that Dr. Vo treats at his practice.
- Dr. Vo’s experience treating high school athletes.
- The difference between acute and chronic pain.
- Why treating chronic pain is a more complicated process.
- How his patient’s age affects Dr. Vo’s treatment strategies.
- What Dr. Vo enjoys most about his work: his patients.
- Dr. Vo’s advice to anyone looking to pursue a similar career path.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Dennis Vo on LinkedIn
How much math do you need to know to be good at accounting? What is the difference between a CPA and an accountant? Are tax laws complicated? Today’s guest has all the answers! In this episode, we talk to Mr. Virgil Smith. He has been a certified public accountant for about 45 years. He worked for the California Franchise Tax Board for eight years before he started his own CPA firm called Virgil Smith CPA in Davis, California, where he continues to work today. Tuning in you’ll hear all about what a CPA is, why Mr. Smith wanted to become one, and what inspired him to start his own firm. He explains what a typical work day looks like for him, why he needs to have continued training, and how the rapport he has with his clients is his favorite thing about the job. Tuning in you’ll learn all about how complicated tax laws are, what the tax season is, and whether or not owning your own CPA business is better than working for a big organization. If you’re as pumped as I am to learn more about accounting, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to Mr. Virgil Smith, his career background, and where he works.
- How a CPA is different from an accountant.
- Some of the extra training Mr. Smith had to become a CPA.
- How Mr. Smith realized he wanted to become a CPA.
- What a typical work day looks like for Mr. Smith and how COVID has changed things.
- His favorite thing about his job: the good rapport he has with his clients.
- Insight into how complicated tax laws are.
- The continuing education that Mr. Smith needs to have to be a CPA and what this is like.
- What the tax season is and why CPAs are so busy during this time.
- What it is like for Mr. Smith to own his own accounting firm and what inspired him to start it.
- How owning your own business is different from working for a big organization.
- Mr. Smith’s advice to anyone who is interested in becoming a CPA.
- How much math you have to know to be good at accounting.
Despite his father’s warning about the challenges that come with being a music teacher, Mr. Moreno let his passion guide him, and today he is an Orchestra and Symphony Director in Davis, California, and the director of the Sacramento Youth Symphony's Academic Orchestra. His father wasn’t wrong, and Mr. Moreno has faced many uphill battles during his time as a teacher, but the difference that he knows he is making in the lives of his students, and the joy that he gets from his work, makes it all worth it! Join us for today’s episode of The K Files, where Mr. Moreno shares where his interest in music originated, what his educational journey as a musician has looked like, an overview of his day-to-day work, and the most memorable moment of his time as a teacher! If you’re passionate about music and about people, this episode will help you decide if you’ve got what it takes to turn those passions into a teaching career!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing today’s guest, orchestra and symphony director, Mr. Moreno.
- Mr. Moreno shares what his college experience at UC Davis was like.
- Mentors who have been influential on Mr. Moreno’s musical journey.
- Mr. Moreno’s role in bringing the Masters degree in conducting to UC Davis.
- How Mr. Moreno felt when he heard his college violin teacher play the burg violin.
- Where Mr. Moreno’s musical journey began.
- What drew Mr. Moreno to conducting.
- How Mr. Moreno’s father responded when he told him he wanted to be a music teacher.
- Challenges that Mr. Moreno has faced as a music teacher.
- What Mr. Moreno’s job entails.
- How Mr. Moreno chooses the music for his students to play.
- Advice for aspiring music teachers.
- Mr Moreno’s commitment to continuous personal development
- The most memorable moment from Mr. Moreno’s teaching career.
- Why teachers need long holidays!
- What Mr. Moreno loves most about being a teacher.
Links Mentioned:
Angelo Moreno
Even though Dr. Julie’s parents were both optometrists, and founded Helmus Optometry, she never felt pressured to pursue it as a career. It was only after completing her studies and experimenting with several different jobs and interests, that Dr. Julie decided to go back to school, become an optometrist, and take over the family business. Today on the show, Katie speaks with Dr. Julie about owning a small business, being an optometrist, and why she loves serving in her hometown. Dr. Julie describes what it was like studying to be an optometrist, and why being a slightly older student helped her connect with faculty members and get an added level of value out of her training. Tuning in you’ll hear about Dr. Julie’s typical day as a business owner and an optometrist, and why she makes an effort to be extra alert on days when she’s seeing patients. She also reflects on how optometry has become much more medicalized since her parents' time and explains how she helps various patients with medical conditions like glaucoma and dry eyes. To learn more about Dr. Julie’s work, as well as her advice for young people who want to pursue optometry as an option, join us today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to today’s guest: Dr. Julie.
- How Dr. Julie’s parent’s founded Helmus Optometry.
- Why Julie never felt pressured to become an optometrist.
- The studies that Dr. Julie had to complete to become an optometrist.
- How Helmus Optometry has changed over the years.
- Some of Dr. Julie’s previous work, including being a Spanish-English medical interpreter.
- The benefits of returning to your studies as an older student.
- How learning a second language can make you a better problem solver.
- What Dr. Julie loves most about being a small business owner.
- The fascinating mix of people that Dr. Julie has had on her team.
- The variety of ocular diseases that young optometrists are expected to treat.
- Dr. Julie’s observations on how optometry has become much more medicalized.
- How screen time can be related to dry eye symptoms.
- A breakdown of what a typical day at work looks like for Dr. Julie.
- How the glare from screens can affect your eyes.
- Insights into the special glasses that can mitigate these effects.
- Some of Dr. Julie’s hobbies outside of work, like her fondness for writing and journaling.
- Dr. Julie’s encouraging advice for anyone figuring out what they want to do.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Helmus Optometry
What do you want to be when you grow up? Your host, Katie, really doesn’t have an answer to that question. In this podcast, we talk to people about their jobs and what they do to help you to find your own answer. Today’s guest is Mr Jeff Bryant, an English teacher in California since 2003. He teaches students who are intellectually gifted, and his focus is on philosophy and academic writing rather than on traditional literary. Before he was a teacher, Mr. Bryant was a salesman and then an actor. Today, you’ll hear why he is grateful to be a teacher and considers it to be a wonderful career, how 9/11 changed his life’s direction, and what his day-to-day looks like in the classroom. He also tells us about the four kinds of rigor that the education system should develop within kids and why he believes that the intellectual kind is the most important to prioritize. Find out how the needs of gifted kids are often misunderstood and hear why, as a teacher, it is so important to find an age group where you thrive. Join us to hear all this and more from this inspiring teacher today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to today’s guest: Mr. Jeff Bryant.
- The story of how he found his place at a teacher at the first school he worked at.
- How he tried different careers before becoming a teacher.
- What Mr. Bryant wanted to do before he found teaching: acting and sales.
- How 9/11 changed the course of his life.
- The immediate sense that he had that he wanted to work in education from his first role.
- Night school, substitute teaching, and why he likes that he came to teaching at an older age.
- Why, at first, Mr. Bryant wanted to be a kindergarten teacher.
- The creative license and trust he is given because of the flexibility of his work environment.
- How his class differs from the ordinary curriculum with philosophy as a jump-off point rather than literature.
- Why administrative rigor is such an important part of learning.
- How academic learning ordinarily lines up with things that can be quantified.
- The misunderstood need of gifted children.
- What the idea of intellectual rigor means to Mr. Bryant and why it is what he focuses on.
- Why it is so important to create meaningful emotional connections as a kid.
- Why Mr. Bryant considers how he dresses to be a part of his job.
- How planning enables him to be spontaneous in the classroom.
- The girls club he hosts on a Friday where they quietly watch movies.
- His daily schedule and why he procrastinates on grading.
- The benefits he experiences as a teacher including meeting interesting kids and hearing fun stories about his own eccentricities.
- How he has learned to withhold advice and be an ear to kids.
- Why, to be a good teacher, you have to know what age you work best with.
- Why Mr. Bryant believes that all education is moral education.
- The challenge that putting kids in schools at a much younger age poses.
- The fourth rigor: social, emotional rigor.
- The new teachers at his school and their focus on the fourth type of rigor.
- Why teachers have to use their time on holiday to decompress.
- How the teaching year is structured and how teachers use their time off.
- Mr. Bryant’s advice for those interested in teaching: it’s a wonderful career!