Bundle Of Hers

Remember writing your medical school personal statement—the carefully crafted story about who you were and the physician you hoped to become? Years later, after exams, long nights, and countless moments of doubt and growth, how closely does that version of you match the person you are now? In the season eight finale of BUNDLE OF HERS, Hạ, Laurel, and Sanila revisit the words they wrote at the very...

Many medical students enter training with a clear picture of what lies ahead—rigorous studying, long hours, and the expectation that it will be more endurance than enjoyment. Austen sits down with the “Pizza Girls”—Anna Tidwell, Taylor Christensen, Jade Kho, Rachael Thorpe, and Gracie Bradford—to reflect on the assumptions they carried into medical school, which ones proved true, and which ones qu...

Medical students and residents work side by side every day—but they often experience the same environment in completely different ways. Through honest stories and shared experiences, Lilly, Sanila, and Austen reflect on the unique dynamic between medical students and residents during clinical training. From the student perspective, there is pressure to perform, contribute, and prove you belong. Fr...

Getting into medical school was supposed to be the dream. Then the next goal appears—pre-clinicals, Step exams, clinical rotations, sub-internships, residency. In medicine, the finish line always seems to move. Sanila and Hạ are joined by third-year medical student Puja Batchu to explore the culture of constant milestones in medical training. Achievement does not always bring the satisfaction expe...

Medical school teaches anatomy, physiology, and clinical reasoning—but some of the most powerful lessons never appear in a syllabus. The hidden curriculum refers to the unspoken rules, behaviors, and cultural expectations that trainees absorb simply by existing within the system. Laurel, Hạ, and Lilly unpack how the hidden curriculum shapes professional identity in medicine. From navigating hierar...

Medical training often presents a clear, linear path: apply, match, specialize, advance. But real careers rarely unfold that neatly. Hạ is joined by Josh Bell, Amber Gautam, and Emilee Tu for a conversation about how careers actually take shape. They reflect on how they once envisioned their futures in medicine, the pivots and moments of ambiguity that challenged those early plans, and the externa...

We talk about resilience like it is a requirement. But what happens when handling hard things does not feel strong—it just feels heavy? Austen, Hạ, and Lilly unpack what self-care and mental health actually mean beyond the buzzwords. They reflect on the messages they absorbed about stress, strength, and asking for help, and how those narratives shape how they cope. The conversation also explores h...

Indigenous health disparities did not happen by accident—and they cannot be understood without acknowledging history. Internal medicine–Pediatrics resident Brittany Begaye joins Lilly for a conversation about Indigenous health, identity, and returning home to practice medicine. They explore how colonization, displacement, and systemic neglect shaped the health gaps we see today, and how intergener...

Mistakes happen in medicine—even when intentions are good. Sanila is joined by fellow MS4, Abby Hamilton, and Dr. Julie Thomas , a practicing rheumatologist and ethics educator, to unpack what "first, do no harm" really means in real-world clinical care. They explore the emotional weight of medical mistakes, the fear and silence that often follow unintended harm, and how clinicians can move forwar...

You can be surrounded by people and still feel deeply alone. Laurel, Hạ, and Austen unpack how loneliness shows up in medical training and practice—not as physical isolation, but as emotional and social disconnection. They reflect on when loneliness hits hardest, when it eases, and what helps them feel seen in high-pressure environments. The conversation also explores how disconnection among clini...

Medical training has a way of quietly reshaping who you are—sometimes faster than you realize. Former BUNDLE OF HERS co-host Harjit Kaur joins Hạ and Lilly for an honest reflection on the gap between who we thought we would be as physicians and who we are becoming in the process. They unpack identity, burnout, and the systems that make it hard to show up as whole people in medicine. From policy fr...

Perfection sneaks into medical training so quietly that you may not notice the weight of it—until you are already carrying too much. Austen and Sanila are joined by classmate, Jade Kho, for a conversation about imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and the moments that made them question whether they were "good enough" for medicine. They unpack the hidden standards students carry, the struggle of want...

Walking into medical school without a roadmap hits differently when you are the first in your family to do it. No insider language, no built-in mentors, no one who can explain the difference between Step exams, clerkships, and the hidden curriculum everyone else seems to know. Kirsten Myers, PGY-3 in neurology, joins Lilly to talk about navigating medicine as a first-gen trainee—what it feels like...

This season's IDENTITY SERIES episode spotlights new co-host Sanila as she brings along three friends from different chapters of her life to reflect on the milestones that shaped her continuing growth. Through stories of childhood quirks, academic pivots, community roots, and the struggles that made her stronger, the four friends explore how identity is built over time—and how hindsight reveals ju...

"Should I go to medical school or pursue research?" Hannah Happ joins Laurel and Hạ for a straightforward conversation about the MD, PhD, and MD/PhD paths—why they chose their routes and the lessons learned along the way. From career goals to identity, personality fit, and the day-to-day realities of each track, they offer insights into understanding what each journey looks like and how to ch...

Nearly one in four adults lives with a disability—but in medicine, disability is often treated as something to "fix" rather than understand. Hạ and Laurel discuss disability in medicine—what the term actually means, why it matters, and how it manifests in both medical training and patient care. From neurodiversity and trauma-informed practice to the ableism built into training systems, the co...

In the season eight premiere of BUNDLE OF HERS, Lilly, Austen, and Sanila get real about what it means to face challenges in medicine—and how those moments shape who you become. From juggling self-doubt and identity pressures in med school to navigating the steep learning curve of residency, they open up about the struggles that pushed them to grow. Together, they introduce this season’s theme,&nb...

Discovery is not always a bold breakthrough—it is often what quietly emerges after the questions, the challenges, and the moments when you are not sure where the path is leading. In the season seven finale of BUNDLE OF HERS, Laurel, Hạ, and Alizah reflect on what they have uncovered about themselves, their surrounding relationships, and their roles in medicine. As they revisit moments that challen...

Intern year is a whirlwind—one filled with overwhelming responsibility, steep learning curves, and moments of deep self-doubt. It is the year new doctors step into roles that test their stamina, skills, and sense of self—all while learning how to care for others and themselves at the same time. Mariam and Lilly open up about the emotional and physical toll of residency's first year. Through honest...

Not all medical training paths follow a straight line. For some physicians, the journey includes a preliminary year—a one-year position in a specialty like internal medicine or surgery that provides clinical training before transitioning into their chosen field. Lilly is joined by fellow prelims Shima, Jenna, and Lena for a candid conversation about navigating this in-between space in trainin...

Medical education is known for its demanding structure, but the toll it takes on students and physicians is rarely addressed with the same intensity. Nearly 30% of medical students experience depression, and rates of suicidal ideation are alarmingly high—three times greater than their same-age peers. Residents and attending physicians face similar challenges, often without access to the care and s...

Despite Latine individuals making up nearly 20% of the U.S. population, they remain vastly underrepresented in medicine. With the Latine community projected to reach 111.2 million by 2060, the lack of diversity in health care raises concerns about access, language concordance, and culturally competent care. Vida Sandoval and Marisol Solis from  La Comunidad en Medicina  join Hạ for a con...

Grief is an inevitable part of life, but for physicians, it often exists in tension with the expectation to keep moving forward. While they provide care and comfort to others, how do they make space for their own losses? Medical student Kate Tyler joins Lilly for a raw conversation about the emotional weight of grieving in medicine and the challenges of balancing personal and professional loss. Th...

Universal health care is a system in which all individuals can have access to essential medical services without financial hardship. While more than 70 countries provide some form of universal health care, the structure and effectiveness of these systems vary. In contrast, millions worldwide still face significant barriers to care due to high costs, lack of coverage, or systemic inequalities. Inte...

In high-stakes careers like medicine and research, the weight of responsibility can feel all-consuming. However, maintaining a strictly stoic demeanor can unintentionally create distance. Studies show that play and humor are essential for mental well-being, helping to reduce stress, build resilience, and even improve team dynamics. When physicians allow moments of lightness and authenticity, they...