UMich Med Mosaic

In Episode 5 of UMich Med Mosaic, host Mackenzie Kay talks with Josh Chen and Gabriel Culian about the transition from classroom learning to caring for real patients on the wards. They discuss first patient encounters, moving from standardized patient practice to clinical rotations, and learning how to build meaningful connections at the bedside. They also reflect on the role medical students can...

In Episode 4 of UMich Med Mosaic, host Mackenzie Kay talks with Hanikka Muna and Blake Hardin – both members of our First in Family student organization – about the “hidden curriculum” in medicine. They discuss imposter syndrome, finding study strategies and learning to be comfortable with uncertainty. They also explore belonging as first-gen students, building community and practicing self-advoca...

In Episode 3 of UMich Med Mosaic, host Mohika Nagpal sits down with M3 Krupa Patel to talk honestly about balance in medical school -- what it looks like across all four years, and how students can stay human while juggling coursework, rotations and board prep. They discuss battling burnout, setting boundaries with friends and family, building sustainable routines and leaning on support systems at...

In this episode, host Mohika Nagpal chats with medical student couples Ava Harb & Piroz Bahar and Cyndi Edelman & Austin Cornish about balancing relationships, academics and clinical rotations at the University of Michigan Medical School. They share how teamwork, communication and little routines help them navigate the demands of med school together. The conversation covers challenges like...

In this episode, host Mackenzie Kay talks with Beth Kranyak and Kyle Homer about juggling medical school and parenting. Beth and Kyle share how they manage coursework, clinical rotations and family life, and reflect on how being parents shapes their experience at Michigan Medicine. Episode Transcript Learn more about the programs at University of Michigan Medical School UMich Med Mosaic is a part...

In this episode of the UMich Med Mosaic podcast, M3 host Mohika Nagpal leads a conversation about the evolving role of gap years on the path to medical school. Mohika shares her own experiences working in a sleep medicine private practice and teaching at her high school. Eliyas Asfaw describes his consulting work during his gap year, and Siddhi Deshpande reflects on her Fulbright research fel...

In this episode of the UMich Med Mosaic podcast, M1 Mackenzie Kay talks with MSTP fellows Hannah Carter, Caleb Chang, and Philip Barrison about balancing MD and PhD training, finding mentors, transitioning from clinic to lab, and how community and creative outlets keep them grounded. Episode Transcript Learn more about UMich Med Mosaic Learn more about the programs at University of Michigan Medica...

In this episode of the UMich Med Mosaic podcast, M3 host Mohika Nagpal sits down with a group of dedicated "marathoners"—students who transitioned directly from college to medical school without taking any gap years. She talks with Mary Falstin, an M1 student; Kayla Blaise, an M3 student; and Kallen Schwark, an MSTP student rejoining the medical class. Episode Transcript American Medical Associati...

In this episode of the UMich Med Mosaic podcast, M1 host Mackenzie Kay chats with a trio of incredible M4 students, Julian Neshewat, Charlotte Jackson and Gabriela Ashenafi, just days before their medical school commencement ceremony. The conversation explores their paths and experiences at the University of Michigan Medical School with a particular focus on choosing a specialty. Gabriela talks ab...

This month on UMich Med Mosaic, we meet first-year medical students Santi Herrera Alzate and Ani Kamel from the University of Michigan Medical School. Both students, along with our host Mackenzie Kay, decided to pursue a medical degree after working in other health care-related roles. They share their compelling reasons for making this life-changing decision, their unique paths to medical school,...

This month on UMich Med Mosaic, we meet Sam Lehn, Rodriguez Roberts II and Alexander Young, all medical students at the University of Michigan Medical School. Each decided to become a doctor after pursuing careers in fields spanning public policy, teaching, consulting and film production. Hear why they decided to make the big switch, how they went about it, and in what ways they’re bringing their...

Welcome to UMich Med Mosaic, a podcast hosted by medical students, for medical students – and those who aspire to be! UMich Med Mosaic is a student-run podcast that explores perspectives on pursuing a career in medicine – with all the excitement, anxiety, and fulfillment that comes with that decision. We delve into the stories of our University of Michigan Medical School community’s diverse backgr...