Success in Medicine

Join Dr. Samir Desai as he interviews Showly Nicholson who just received some great news - he got into Harvard Medical School!  In Part 1 of this two-part series, Showly describes his journey to medical school with a focus on academics. Although he set a goal to achieve all As in high school, this goal proved to be elusive.  You'll see how Showly made adjustments to his study plans and strategies...

With over 500 internal medicine residency programs to choose from, it can be difficult for applicants to decide which programs to apply. In this episode, join Dr. Samir Desai as he discusses 3 important factors to consider.

In this episode, Dr. Samir Desai continues his conversation with Dhruv Gupta, a fourth-year medical student who just received some good news. He got into Psychiatry! Part 2 will provide an in-depth look at letters of recommendation and the residency interview. Although some of the information is directed towards psychiatry residency applicants, all residency applicants will find this information i...

Join Dr. Samir Desai as he interviews Dhruv Gupta, a fourth-year medical student who just received some good news. He got into Psychiatry! Dhruv's interest in psychiatry can be traced back to his childhood spent living in different countries. He encountered poverty and violence, and you'll learn why those experiences motivated him to pursue psychology as a major in college. With an interest in psy...

Matching into Ophthalmology has been difficult for years, and the 2018 Ophthalmology Match was no exception. There were far more applicants than positions available, and approximately 25% of the applicant pool failed to secure residency positions in the specialty. To maximize the chances of a successful match, it's important that you have the "right strategy" in place. Although the optimal strateg...

In this episode, join Dr. Samir Desai as he answers an important question about letters of recommendation in the medical school admissions process. Should applicants send medical schools a premedical committee letter of recommendation or individual letters of recommendation? 

Seventy-five percent of U.S. citizens studying medicine abroad choose to attend medical school in the Caribbean. As difficult as that decision can be, it can be even more challenging to decide which school among the 60 plus medical schools in the Caribbean to attend. In this episode, join Samir Desai as he interviews Maninder Sethi, a graduate of the Windsor University School of Medicine. You'll l...

Matching into Emergency Medicine can be difficult given that there are far more applicants than residency positions available. In recent years, nearly 10% of allopathic medical students have failed to match. These numbers are worse for osteopathic and international medical graduates. To maximize the chances of a successful match, it's important that you have the "right strategy" in place.  Althoug...

International medical graduates (IMGs) seeking to submit strong residency applications recognize the importance of U.S. clinical experience. However, the process of finding and securing such experiences, known as observership and externships, can be very difficult. In this episode of the Success in Medicine podcast, join Dr. Samir Desai as he interviews Veena Sampatkumar, an IMG who completed mult...

International medical graduates (IMGs) seeking residency positions in the U.S. recognize the importance of securing strong letters of recommendation from rotations completed in the U.S. Unfortunately, many letters written by preceptors or attending physicians following observership experiences are suboptimal. These letters are often short, and lacking in the specifics and details residency program...

After applying for residency, many applicants send emails to programs expressing their interest, hoping that their communication will increase their chances of receiving interviews.  Unfortunately, these emails often fail to make the impact that applicants wish to make because of a variety of errors. In this episode, Dr. Samir Desai will discuss common mistakes that program directors encounter in...

The challenges and demands of medical school can affect the relationships medical students have with their loved ones. In this podcast, Dr. Desai interviews Sarah Epstein, author of the book "Love in the Time of Medical School." Learn how Sarah and her now-husband Brian were able to overcome the challenges and demands of medical school to maintain their healthy relationship. Featuring Sarah's own...

Are you interviewing for internal medicine residency? If so, you must prepare for the common question, "Do you have any questions for me about our program?" In this podcast, Dr. Samir Desai will show you how to ask questions that will give you important information about the program while helping you to stand out from other applicants.

Are you interviewing for family medicine residency? If so, you must prepare for the common question, "Do you have any questions for me about our program?" In this podcast, Dr. Samir Desai will show you how to ask questions that will give you important information about the program while helping you to stand out from other applicants.

Join Dr. Samir Desai as he discusses how to develop a compelling and powerful answer to the interview question, "What discovery do you think has had the greatest impact on medicine?" 

Are you interviewing for anesthesiology residency? If so, you must prepare for the common question, "Do you have any questions for me about our program?" In this podcast, Dr. Samir Desai will show you how to ask questions that will give you important information about the program while helping you to stand out from other applicants.   

A number of medical schools and health professions programs have replaced the traditional interview with the multiple mini interview or MMI in the admissions process. In this episode, Dr. Desai shares three major mistakes that applicants commonly make during the MMI, and provides advice on how to avoid them.

Medical students have made important contributions to relief efforts during and following disaster situations all across the world. In this episode, Dr. Samir Desai discusses the impact students have had on those affected. You'll learn how you can get involved through efforts in your local area or by joining teams traveling to disaster-stricken areas. 

Talented medical students with a track record of achievement outside the classroom as undergraduates sometimes have difficulty doing the same during medical school. Join Dr. Samir Desai as he tells the story of how one student found himself in this situation just a few months before it was time to apply for medical school. You'll discover why this happens, and the consequences of a relatively bare...

In Part 2 of Lessons Learned from Medical School in China, join Dr. Samir Desai as he explores how to deliver culturally competent care to Chinese Americans through an interview with Dr. Hassan Raza. Having grown up in the U.S., Dr. Raza attended medical school in China. With this background, Dr. Raza offers his unique perspectives on important topics with respect to Chinese Americans, including c...

Students considering attending medical school in the Caribbean have tough choices to make. Among the questions which need answers: Which school should I attend? What is the quality of the preclinical education, and how well will I be prepared for the USMLE exams? Where can I do my clinical rotations in the U.S., and what are the quality of these experiences? How do graduates fare in the residency...

A lack of shadowing can affect your chances of gaining admission to medical school. Learn about one student's struggles to find shadowing opportunities, and what he did to overcome obstacles in the process. Join Dr. Samir Desai as he offers a very specific approach to help students land shadowing positions. 

Imagine leaving the United States to attend medical school in China, not knowing a single word of Mandarin Chinese or being particularly fond of Chinese food. How hard would it be to adapt? In this Q & A, Dr. Hassan Raza describes what it was like to attend medical school in China, the lessons that he learned from Chinese patients, and how these lessons continue to influence the way in which he de...

Hear from a patient whose life changed unexpectedly and dramatically late one night. As she tells her story, you'll learn about her interactions with physicians. Join Dr. Samir Desai in this powerful interview which will serve as a reminder that what we say and how we say it can have a significant impact on our patients. 

Premedical students are often told that shadowing is important to the medical school admissions committee. How important is shadowing? Why is it important? Is it absolutely necessary? Can you get into medical school without shadowing? Join Dr. Samir Desai as he discusses the answers to these important questions.