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

Episode 108. I share my personal journey through infertility, pregnancy, and labor and delivery while in medical school and the first year of residency. From the emotional struggles to the joy of meeting my baby girl, I detail the ups and downs of my fertility and birth story. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠ https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (...

Episode 107. Hear recommendations for how to prepare for medical school interviews from a resident physician who recently graduated medical school. I share my top tips on what to do before interview day, from researching schools to practicing with mock interviews, and how to approach common questions during the interview thoughtfully to showcase your authentic self. Editing Service and One-on-One...

Episode 106. Here's a detailed guide to navigating the ERAS application’s experiences section and effectively using program signaling. Learn strategies to select meaningful experiences and making your application stand out to residency programs. This is the second episode of a walkthrough the ERAS application. Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, pe...

Episode 105. Hear when you should start working on your ERAS residency application and when to hit submit. Learn about the cost of applying to residency as a medical student or recent graduate. As a recent applicant from the 2023 cycle, I share tips for the first half of the application (including geographical and setting preferences). Stay tuned for a future episode about the rest of the applicat...

Episode 104. Let's dive into mixed specialties that blend medical and surgical components as well as indirect patient care specialties. Specialties covered include ENT, ophthalmology, urology, ob/gyn, anesthesia, dermatology, interventional radiology, diagnostic radiology, and pathology. I also discuss dual or combined specialty programs like internal medicine/pediatrics and family medicine/em...

Episode 103. Let's dive into surgical careers, exploring a wide range of specialties from general surgery to neurosurgery and more. Whether you're a medical student choosing a path or just curious, we break down the conditions treated and the extensive training required. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠https://www.firstlinepodcast.com For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription us...

Episode 102. Let's explore non-surgical medical specialties that DOs and MDs can specialize in and their crucial roles in patient care. Learn how these specialties address everything from preventive health to complex conditions. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠https://www.firstlinepodcast.com Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal state...

Episode 101. Let's dive into the process of choosing a medical specialty. We'll cover practical tips and key considerations to help you align your career path with your values, skills, and passions. Visit First Line’s website and blog: ⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.firstlinepodcast.com⁠ Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠...

Welcome to Season 3!  My name is Dr. Aubrey Ann Jackson, and I am the creator and host of First Line. Season 3 is the first season I can introduce myself as a doctor since I just graduated from medical school! This season, you can expect new content about my experience transitioning into residency as a PGY-1 psychiatry resident physician. Here is what you can expect in the new season (starting wit...

Episode 100. This episode is for anyone who wants to learn more about the miracle of pregnancy and childbirth! A fascinating part of pregnancy is the function of the placenta and the umbilical cord, so I share in this episode what I think everyone should know about these vital elements of the maternal-fetal connection. Learn more about the complicated array of hormones that work together for a hea...

Episode 99. When applying to medical school, programs will send you a set of about 2-5 prompts for essays after they receive your primary application. It is just as important as the primary app when deciding who to interview! Some schools screen applicants and only send secondaries to selected applicants while other schools send secondaries to everyone. The purpose of secondaries is help schools d...

Episode 98. This episode covers how to use residency navigator (also see my episode on using other resources like FREIDA and residency explorer). You will find the full list of residency programs on the ACGME website. I also discuss the most important factors to consider when choosing programs to add to your residency list and the importance of making a short list within your list of programs you'...

Episode 97. MSAR for MD programs (free information and paid version with additional features)- https://students-residents.aamc.org/medical-school-admission-requirements/medical-school-admission-requirements-msar-applicants Choose DO Explorer for DO programs (free resource)- https://www.aacom.org/explore-med-schools/choose-do-explorer Factors to consider when choosing schools: public vs. private, r...

Episode 96. This episode is based on the 2024 application cycle. Some dates for deadlines may change from year to year; however, many of the details of the application itself will remain the same, so this episode is helpful if you applying during future application years as well! Pay attention to the date when schools can start reviewing your application. Aim to have your application submitted and...

Episode 95. Am I competitive for my specialty? How many programs should I apply to? What is my chance at matching? What programs participate in the SOAP process? Should I dual apply? ACGME website- full listing of all programs and accreditation status Advanced Data Tables- match summary by specialty, which specialties are growing (best document to see if your chosen specialty has categorical posit...

Episode 94. There are two main applications used by medical students who are exploring residency programs to apply to: Residency Explorer and FREIDA. In this episode, you'll learn about how to use each site and take advantage of the filters and program information. As a fourth year medical student, I share insight into what information to focus on and what information may not be as accurate. Learn...

Episode 93. How should you go about making the list of residency programs you want to apply to through ERAS? Hear from a 4th year medical student who recently matched and just went through this process less than a year ago! Consider these factors: Location- regional preference, urban vs. rural Training opportunities- learn how programs can differ in their training Fellowship opportunities (if appl...

Episode 92. What should I be doing each month for my application and preparation for interviews? What topics should I write about in my personal statement? How can I stick out as an applicant? Medical School Application Personal Statement Editing Service: ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/share/8YmpP4⁠ The Princeton Review has stated that at some schools the personal statement accounts for over 60% of your...

Episode 91. Top 10 tips from this episode: Talk about your hobbies and extracurriculars during medical school and how they connect to your specialty Make sure your personal statement can serve as a stand alone document Consider mentioning a red flag so that you can reclaim it as a positive based on what you learned and how you adapted Include a personalized paragraph for your top programs Include...

Episode 90. ⁠ The personal statement is the most important part of your application for many specialties. It is also the part of your application that you uniquely have control over. The 2021 program director survey cited that in all specialties, the personal statement is more important when selecting who to interview than other factors including 1) volunteer and extracurricular experiences, 2) aw...

Episode 89. There are three types of intelligence: thinking intelligence, feeling intelligence, and doing/instinctual intelligence. Everyone has all three types of intelligence, but everyone has one dominant center of intelligence. The Enneagram numbers can be sorted into triads, and these triads also line up with a center of intelligence. Head triad = thinking center of intelligence (5, 6, and 7)...

Episode 88. This episode is composed of three parts: one recording from after rank lists are due (discussing my initial thoughts and providing an overview of how the Match Process works through NRMP), one recording after receiving the first match week email that states if an applicant matches or not (spoiler: I matched!), and a final recording with a reflection after I learn what program I matched...

Episode 87. Female anatomy and the physiology of the female reproductive system is often misunderstood while other women don't even know the basics about how their own bodies work! This episode is important for everyone to listen to, not just individuals who have a uterus. In addition to discussing the structure and function of the organs that make up the intricate female reproductive system, I al...

Episode 86. I discuss three types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Learn about these conditions that everyone should know, including the ABCs of melanoma (red flags to look out for when you do self-checks). Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlin...

Episode 85. As an applicant in the 2023 ERAS season, I share my insights into ERAS and how to plan for your application. Here's why you should devote time and energy to crafting a competitive application. A competitive ERAS application starts with a well-constructed curriculum vitae (CV) or resume, which you should start working on in your first year of medical school and update as you gain ex...