Board Certified - Medical licensing and career podcast

Your personal statement should include more than just metrics. Laurel Poole is the Director of Admissions for the MD program at UCF. In this episode, Laurel discusses why the personal statement is one of the most important parts of a medical school application and what types of experiences tend to resonate most with admissions readers.    Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep cour...

Wondering what you should focus on most for your med school application? Dr. Charlene Green is the Assistant Dean of Admissions, Outreach, and Diversity at the UC Davis School of Medicine, where she oversees medical school admissions and pathway programs designed to support aspiring physicians. In this episode, we discuss how to put your best foot forward for med school using academic metrics, ext...

Curious about becoming a physical therapist? Dhruv Shah is a licensed Physical Therapist with ATI Physical Therapy, serving patients in Glendale, Arizona through personalized rehabilitation and movement-focused care. In this episode, Dhruv walks us through a day in the life of a PT, the necessary skills required for this industry, and common misconceptions about physical therapy.  Achievable offer...

Passing the USMLE Step exams is no easy feat, especially in a single academic year. Dr. Maheen Hashmi is an Internal Medicine resident at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, passing all three USMLE exams within a single academic year. In this episode, Dr. Hashmi discusses her strategy for passing the Step exams, how long it took her to study for each exam, and practical tips for smart, effici...

Knowing material for the CSCS isn't enough; can you apply it under pressure? Mark Christiani is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with over a decade of experience in tactical training and collegiate human performance. In this episode, Mark walks through the CSCS exam sections, how to approach the most difficult topics, and how to balance your study schedule day to day.    Achievable...

Considering a career in Ophthalmology? Dr. Nicholas Volpe, MD, is a distinguished leader in academic ophthalmology and currently serves as Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, Dr. Volpe brings extensive clinical expertise and a strong commitment to advancing patient care, educ...

Understanding the USMLE Step exams is crucial to obtaining your medical license. Dr. Abhiraj Yadav is the Founder of The Stenosis Report, a medical student-led research club, and a USMLE mentor and author. In this episode, Abhiraj walks us through the different USMLE Step exams, the best resources to ensure success, and a good timeline to follow so you feel confident with each one. Achievable offe...

Coaching different demographics requires understanding nuances and applying various concepts. Conor Heeney is the Performance Sport Science Coordinator at Liverpool John Moores University and has been coaching athletes in strength and conditioning for over 11 years. In this episode, Conor guides us through the various coaching concepts for each demographic and how different training philosophies a...

What does the journey look like for a non-US IMG to become a licensed physician? Dr. Yulius Haryadi, MD, is a non-US IMG from Indonesia currently working as a PCP in the US after achieving high scores on his USMLE exams. In this episode, we discuss the overview of what is ‘classic’ and what other pathways are out there, steps to become eligible for your license, getting LORs, and more.  Check out...

How can you create a holistic medical school application to really impress admissions committees? Linda Abraham is the CEO of Accepted and has been an admissions consultant since 1994. In this episode, Linda shares her expert advice on building a strong, holistic medical school application, addressing weaknesses, and crafting a cohesive personal essay narrative for the most effective application....

You're officially a CSCS, so how do you find work? Markus Fürst has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) since 2019 and a full-time strength and conditioning coach since 2020. In this episode, Markus discusses how to use your certification to break into your career and grow in the industry.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE...

Preparing for the MCAT can be a confusing and overwhelming experience. Shirag Shemmassian has been guiding students through medical school and residency admissions for over 20 years. In this episode, Shirag shares his unique insights into MCAT FAQs, including how long to prep, what score you need, and the best time to take your MCAT.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses...

Preparing for the USMLE as an IMG can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Immanuel Olarinde, MD, has been a tutor in the USMLE since 2018 with over 20,000 hours of tutoring experience. In this episode, Immanuel covers the challenges many IMGs face when preparing for the USMLE exams and how to overcome them and achieve success.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses fo...

What are the different strength and conditioning certifications and which one is best for your career path? Conor Heeney is the Performance Sport Science Coordinator at Liverpool John Moores University and has been coaching athletes as a strength and conditioning coach for over 11 years. In this episode, Conor guides us through the various certifications in strength and conditioning, explains how...

The medications section on the PTCE can feel overwhelming. Lorraine Lohner is a pharmacy professor and hosts the YouTube channel, the PTCB Exam Tutor, helping students ace their pharmacy exams. She has won several awards for her work, including being a two-time Amazon best-selling author with her books, Top 200 Drugs: Memorizing Made Ridiculously Easy and Pharmacy Calculations Made Ridiculously Ea...

How can you use practice exams to understand your mistakes when studying for the MCAT? Dr. Becca Güler, EdD is a medical educator that has guided hundreds of premed, MD/DO, and PA students and residents through all aspects of their training. She is also the author of Achievable's MCAT course. In this episode, Becca explains the best approach to practice exams, how to fix your mistakes, and what ca...

Are you curious if you should become a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist? Markus Fürst has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) since 2019 and a full-time strength and conditioning coach since 2020. In this episode, Markus discusses the types of backgrounds that benefit from obtaining the certification, the advantages of non-traditional applicants, and common m...

Anatomy is the most nuanced section of the USMLE Step 1. Aliza Kamran Khan has been helping students prepare for medical exams for over five years and works as a USMLE instructor. In this episode, Aliza discusses the most high-yield anatomy topics tested, how to effectively retain information for the exam, and common mistakes to avoid.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep course...

How does the matching process work for IMGs? Dr Maheen Hashmi is an Internal Medicine resident at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, passing all three USMLE exams within a single academic year. In this episode, we discuss the significance of smart signaling, crafting a compelling personal statement, and strategically selecting programs.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep...

There are several different paths to take as a Pharmacy Technician, so which one is right for you? Sharon Denise Garrett is a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT) with over 17 years of experience. In this episode, Sharon discusses various career settings, including retail pharmacies, hospitals, and other career paths available to pharmacy technicians.  Achievable offers affordable and effective on...

How can you set yourself up for success as a premed? Dr. Jessica Freedman is the founder of MedEdits Medical Admissions and has been guiding students through the premed admissions process since 2007. In this episode, Jessica walks us through a typical 4-5 year plan, the application timeline, and how to approach application materials.  https://info.mededits.com/med-school-tips-freshman-sophomore-pr...

Are you an IMG preparing for the USMLE, wondering what it takes and who will support you on your journey? Dr. Yulius Haryadi, MD, is a non-US IMG from Indonesia currently working as a PCP in the US after achieving high scores on his USMLE exams. In this episode, we discuss evidence-based learning techniques, the timeline for preparing for these exams, and how to approach each stage of preparation....

Are you thinking of taking a gap year before applying to medical school? Linda Abraham is the CEO of Accepted and has been an admissions consultant since 1994. In this episode, Linda shares her expert advice on how to best utilize a gap year, what you should accomplish in that time, and who benefits most from choosing this path.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for t...

Are you working toward becoming a pharmacy technician and curious about what it takes? Lorraine Lohner is a pharmacy professor and hosts the YouTube channel, the PTCB Exam Tutor, helping students ace their pharmacy exams. She has won several awards for her work, including being a two-time Amazon best-selling author with her books, Top 200 Drugs: Memorizing Made Ridiculously Easy and Pharmacy Calcu...

Are you curious about how NGOs (non-governmental organizations) play a part in our global health? Angelo Moreno is the President of the IFMSA (International Federation of Medical Students' Associations) and has worked with the organization in various roles for over five years. In this episode, Angelo discusses the importance of NGOs and how they contribute to global health efforts, the relationshi...