Becoming MD

Medical school has a way of testing more than just your intelligence — it tests your identity , your resilience , and sometimes even your faith . In this episode of Becoming MD, I sit down with fellow medical student and content creator Naa Dromo Korley for an honest conversation about what it means to stay grounded in Christ while navigating the pressure, comparison, and uncertainty that can come...

What does it actually look like to take the discipline, structure, and mental toughness from Division I athletics and apply it to one of the most demanding paths out there—medical school? In this episode, I sit down with former D1 basketball player Nehaa Sohail , who didn’t just compete at a high level—she challenged cultural expectations and carved her own path in the process. Now a third-year me...

Medical school has a subtle way of shrinking your identity. At some point, many of us stop introducing ourselves as people and start introducing ourselves as students . Your wins become exam scores. Your losses become evaluations. Your sense of worth starts rising and falling with things that were never meant to define you in the first place. And that’s a dangerous place to live. I sat down with f...

In this episode of Becoming MD , I sit down with a TikTok-famous Emergency Medicine resident Jarrod Shuck to break down what Step 1 really demands — and how to navigate it without losing yourself in the pressure. This conversation isn’t about cramming harder. It’s about becoming process-oriented. It’s about eliminating emotional studying. It’s about trusting UWorld when you’re scoring 30% and feel...

What does it look like to start medical school after an entire lifetime of discipline, leadership, and service? In this episode of Becoming MD I am joined by Mark Buford , a first-year medical student at Ross University School of Medicine, whose path to medicine began long after most. After serving more than two decades in the military, Mark made the bold decision to trade one demanding career for...

Most medical students (yes, myself included) are stressed about the wrong things. In this episode of Becoming MD , a first-year family medicine resident Katie Metzler reflects on medical school with the perspective most students don’t have yet — what carried weight, what didn’t, and how confidence, boundaries, and authenticity mattered more than any single score. We talk candidly about preclinical...

You can do everything “right” in medical school and still feel like you’re failing - let's talk about it. In this episode, I talk with a female emergency medicine resident Daniella Dennis about the parts of training that don’t fit into study schedules or score reports — the fear of starting school again after time away, the pressure to always have the answer, and the realization that longer h...

Imposter syndrome is loudest in the early years of training — when expectations are high, feedback feels personal, and reassurance is scarce.   In this episode, we unpack the quiet truths of medical training: why so many students study in silence, why the need for approval never really goes away, and how isolating yourself can slowly convince you that you’re insignificant — even when you’re not.  ...

In this episode of Becoming MD , we reflect on what life is really like as a first-semester medical student in the Caribbean. From the shock of the workload and pace to the reality behind the “beach school” stereotype, this conversation reveals what that transition actually feels like. We talk about why confidence in yourself is the most important preparation you can bring into medical school, how...

Medical training may look different across the world, but the doubts feel the same. In this episode of Becoming MD , I sit down with an international medical student Rebecca Wanderer finishing up her clinical years who reflects on surviving the first two years of medical school. We talk openly about imposter syndrome, feeling “not good enough,” and the self-doubt that follows many premeds and medi...

In this episode of Becoming MD , we sit down with female physician Larissa Assam, MD, MPH whose path to medicine was anything but linear. Through seasons of loss, doubt, and stepping away from her dreams, she found strength in her faith and courage in the fire. Her journey reminds us that becoming a doctor isn’t always clean or predictable—sometimes it’s the comeback that defines you. Now a compas...

In this episode, I sit down with a PM&R resident and content creator Clay Moss who doesn’t just “get real” about medical school—he opens the door to the parts of this journey most people never talk about. From navigating personal setbacks to carrying the mental weight of Step 1, he shares the kind of honest, unfiltered insight every med student deserves but rarely gets. Together, we dive into...

Welcome to Episode 1 of Becoming MD .  We’re starting this journey with a conversation every med student, premed, and future clinician needs to hear. In this episode, I sit down with a friend and colleague — an M2 who brings real honesty to what medical school actually feels like behind the scenes. No highlight reels. No sugarcoating. Just raw, vulnerable truth about the self-doubt, pressure, and...

What started as an idea to make medicine more human became a platform for stories worth hearing. In this short trailer, host Caitlin Calland introduces Becoming MD — a podcast built on honest stories, real conversations, and the truth about the road to becoming a doctor. It’s more than just another med school podcast — it’s a space to connect with those who’ve already walked the path ahead. Have q...