First Line | Pre-Med and Medical Student Professional Development and Mental Health

Episode 134. As part of the starting solids with baby-led weaning series, I conclude the list of foods I started while my baby was 6 months old, including the order in which I introduced them and how I prepared each food. I also discuss when to introduce allergens and how often to feed your baby in the first month of starting solids. This is all based on my own experience, so make sure you have an...

Episode 133. I discuss my experience with starting foods #4 through #6 (after the first three foods discussed in episode 132). I share how I prepared these foods when introducing them and other variations I tried with subsequent exposures. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only, not as medical...

Episode 132. Hear about how I started solids with daughter using a baby-led weaning approach. In the first week, I introduced three foods that can be prepared safely in multiple ways for babies! Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only, not as medical advice. Views expressed are my own and do no...

Episode 131. Hear from a doctor and first-time mom about when and how to start solids. There is some evidence-based information that I did not learn in medical school and your pediatrician may not be discussing with you. Hear about why I decided on baby-led weaning and my perspective on incorporating Montessori values into the feeding space. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.first...

Episode 130. Hear my opinion on whether you should study between the Match and day 1 of residency and how to plan out when to take Step 3 or Level 3. I also share tips on housing decisions, food planning, student loans, and communication with co-residents. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statemen...

Episode 129. I share the best diet during pregnancy, the 5 most important vitamins and minerals to take, how much caffeine you should drink, your expected weight gain, and how to calculate the number of calories to eat. I include what I learned from my experiences when I was pregnant last year. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and...

Episode 128. As someone who recently passed Level 3 with a score over the 90th percentile, I share how I personally studied for the exam as well as tips on when to take the exam, what question bank to use, which Anki deck to use, and how to balance studying with clinical work. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (...

Episode 127. Hear about the pregnancy basics everyone should know, including due date calculations, the difference between gestational age and fetal age, how pregnancy tests work, and what symptoms you're likely to have as early as the two-week wait. I speak from my own experience since this episode was recorded when I was 17 weeks pregnant with my baby girl born while I was a first-year psych...

Episode 126. Learn more about PCOS from a doctor who has been diagnosed with PCOS. Hear more about my fertility journey in episodes 115, 116, 117, 119, 122, and 123. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠   For a discount off your TrueLearn...

Episode 125. I share what PCOS is and my story of how I was diagnosed with PCOS after 10 years of symptoms without a diagnosis. Learn about the criteria of PCOS and how it is diagnosed. Hear more about my fertility and pre-conception journey by listening to episodes 115, 116, 117, 119, 122, and 123. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med...

Episode 124. Hear about important topics you need to know before entering the postpartum period, what to expect normally, and how to monitor for complications. Since I am about 7 months postpartum at the time of this recording, I offer some of my anecdotes along the way, including why I chose to breastfeed my baby and how long it took me to lose my pregnancy weight. Visit First Line’s website and...

Episode 123. Hear my recording from December 2022 as I reflect on a delayed diagnosis of PCOS and months of fertility treatments, supplements, and lifestyle changes that luckily ends happily with a positive pregnancy test. I have since given birth to a healthy baby girl and had "infertility" taken off my medical record. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast....

Episode 122. I discuss my workup for infertility and irregular periods, including hypo hypo and PCOS. I talk about starting Provera (progesterone) and Clomid (clomiphene citrate) to induce ovulation. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠  ...

Episode 121. As a continuation of my previous episode of Chapman's points, I finish the anterior Chapman's points and cover all the posterior points. I share additional tips on how to study the Chapman's points as an osteopathic medical student and resident. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, per...

Episode 120. Hear my tips for remembering the chapman's points and test taking strategies for chapman point questions on COMLEX Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and COMAT shelf exams. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠   For a discount of...

Episode 119. Hear about my lab results from my first appointment with my midwife and what testing was recommended for my irregular periods. I also mention which fertility supplements were recommended to me and which ones I found to be beneficial. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applica...

Episode 118. I discuss the importance of ranking programs in order of your preference, how to determine the length of your rank list, what factors to consider when deciding how to rank programs, and what to think about if you are dual applying. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applicati...

Episode 117. Hear about what it is like to discontinue taking the birth control pill when trying to conceive and starting a preconception diet. I also discuss why I chose to see a midwife instead of an obstetrician (OB/GYN) and what my first preconception appointment was like. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (...

Episode 114. I discuss my tips for writing a letter of interest to residency programs that you hope to receive an interview invite for as well as a letter of intent to the residency program you have decided to rank number one. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www...

Episode 116. I share the dietary changes I made and the specific supplements I decided to take before becoming pregnant with my daughter last year. Learn about which vitamins are most important when trying to conceive (TTC) and why your preparation should really start months before you want to become pregnant. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service...

Episode 115. This is part 1 of a series detailing my journey from pre-conception planning, my infertility diagnosis and treatment, and my eventual first pregnancy, all while completing medical school. This episode features a recording from February 2022 when my journey first began. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Stude...

Episode 113. Here are a few more questions that are commonly asked during residency interviews and how to prepare for them. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠   For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: ⁠https://truelearn...

Episode 112. I speak about the most challenging questions I was asked during residency interviews when I went through the Match. If you are applying to residency, you will need to know to expect these questions! Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/fir...

Episode 111. During the 2023 match season, I wrote down the most common interview questions I was asked during residency program interviews. I am choosing to share my list on First Line, along with some advice on preparing for interviews and approaching these questions! Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, per...

Episode 109. From deciding what to wear to answering the question about your greatest weakness, hear from a first-year resident about what you must know when interviewing with medical residency programs for the Match in the United States! Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠   Visit First Line’s website and b...