The Future Minority Doctor Podcast

Have you ever wondered what going to medical school without a science degree would be like? There are lots of reasons why you would want to consider majoring in other fields, like engineering or history. You don't need a science major to become a doctor. Expanding your knowledge in different areas that interest you will make you a more well-rounded future doctor, and the humanities offer some grea...

Dr. Alexa Angulo is an international medical graduate (IMG) from Mexico who graduated from UABC in Tijuana and has just started her residency in pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia. She shares her journey, from challenges in high school and medical school in Mexico to passing the additional requirements for IMGs before they become ECFMG-certified and can apply for a resid...

Do you have a strategy for applying to medical schools? How can you select the best school based on your unique needs or preferences and decide which schools are right for you? Once accepted to one or more medical schools, how do you choose the best one to spend your next four years? In this episode, Dr. Zulma and Dr. Marina discuss various aspects of selecting how many schools to apply to, helpin...

Are you a URM student ready to prepare your medical application for the next cycle? In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court banned race-conscious admissions policies. If you are committed to becoming a doctor, serving your community, and impacting the world, do not let this change hinder you! In this episode, Dr. Zulma and Dr. Marina touch on the context of this recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling endin...

How can you write a reader-catching activity description for your medical school application? Whether applying for an MD or a DO school, you will be asked to present 15 activities showcasing your skills in action. Often, students focus so much on their personal statements that they underestimate the incredible value of their activities. In the activity description, applicants can display snippets...

Do you struggle with taking initiatives? Often, premed students struggle with shyness, fears, lack of motivation, and other barriers that prevent them from advocating, speaking up, or taking action. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma discuss and share their tips on how to benefit from taking initiative as a premed student, becoming more helpful, and finding the fine balance in participating...

Bianca Silva just graduated from osteopathic medical school at the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences and is beginning her residency in family medicine at Kaiser Permanente. She shares the story of her path into medicine, which involved growing up in an immigrant family, going to community college, transferring to a four-year university, working multiple jobs, taking post-bac courses...

Did you know that you will need to ask for a few letters of recommendation when you apply to medical school? Most schools request two letters from science professors and one or more others from other people you have worked or done research with. And, even if you’re years away from applying, it’s not too early to start preparing. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma share their tips for how to...

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a medical doctor (MD) and doctor of osteopathy (DO)? You’re not alone. In this episode, we help clarify the difference between these two degrees and explain how each of them can help you achieve your dream of becoming a doctor.

In this episode, Dr. Leith States shares his story of growing up in Compton, losing a friend to cancer, being tokenized as a Black/Latino/Indigenous student, joining the navy during medical school and working as a battalion surgeon and public health emergency officer, completing an MBA, and now working for the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) at a federal level. He opens up about the c...

Do you have to work to support yourself while you’re in college or taking your premed requirements? That’s OK — many students have to balance school and work responsibilities. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma discuss some factors you should consider when choosing your work experiences so that, come application time, you’re in the best position possible to shine!

Did you know that there are many types of combined programs that enable you to get both your medical degree AND another degree simultaneously? These include BS+MD programs, MD+PhD programs, MD+MPH programs, MD+MBA programs, and many more! Listen in as we guide you through the basics of such programs and the pros and cons to consider for each.

Listen as double board-certified physician Dr. Au shares about growing up in Hawai’i as the daughter of a Native Hawaiian dad and Maori Danish mom, how her uncle with ALS motivated her to help people, majoring in mathematics at BYU-Hawai’i, confronting racial microaggressions, finding supportive networks during college and medical school, working as a pediatric hospitalist, and now helping young a...

When you’re working tirelessly to get into medical school, physician burnout may be the last thing on your mind, but it’s an important thing to understand before you commit fully to a career in medicine. (You may even be asked about physician burnout in your medical school interviews!) In this episode, we get really honest and personal about our own burnout through various stages of our medical ca...

Have you ever felt like you’re not as smart, capable, or worthy as others around you? Have you ever felt like you’re just pretending to belong as a premed? Or, have you ever done something really well and told yourself, “I just got lucky”? If so, you have likely experienced impostor syndrome — which is difficulty believing that you deserve the success that comes to you through effort. In this epis...

Listen in as Dr. Zulma interviews pediatric cardiologist Dr. Silva Sepulveda, a doctor specializing in children’s heart conditions. He shares about immigrating to the U.S., getting in trouble as a teen, working his way through college with a variety of jobs (including violinist in a Mariachi band!), overcoming challenges with the MCAT, and making his way from community college to medical school. H...

Listen in as Dr. Zulma interviews Thalia Fabian, a 4th year osteopathic medical student who just matched to residency in psychiatry. Hear her story of being born in Peru, growing up in California’s central valley, the challenges she faced as a first-generation college student, and why she chose the field of psychiatry. Her best advice to current premeds is, “Don’t be afraid!”

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a surgeon that helps treat cancer? In this episode, Dr. Juliet Siena Lumati, MD, MPH, shares her story of becoming the first-ever Black female surgical oncology fellow at Johns Hopkins She shares what her day-to-day life is like, her passion for research, and her interest in treating cancers of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas. She also talks about...

If you're planning to apply to medical school soon and want to save yourself the devastation of rejection (and the cost of having to reapply), then this episode is for you! We review the 10 most common mistakes that we see on primary applications to medical school, including: - Rushing your application - Applying late - Not explaining your "why" clearly - Leaving big gaps in your history - Not mak...

Have you ever wondered what the differences are between a physician (MD or DO), physician assistant (PA), and nurse practitioner (NP)? All of these individuals work together on healthcare teams to deliver medical care, but each one has unique education, training requirements, and roles within medicine. In this episode, we explain what the differences and commonalities are between them and what to...

Have you considered applying to an international medical school, such as one in the Caribbean or Mexico? In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of international programs so that you can make the best decision possible for your medical education and future medical career. (And stay tuned for future episodes highlighting stories from doctors who went the international route!)

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a doctor who specializes in women’s health and pregnancy? In this episode, Dr. Zulma interviews Dr. Michelle Contreras, a specialist in obstetrics & gynecology (“ob/gyn”). Dr. Contreras shares about her upbringing in rural California, what inspired her to become an doctor, what medical school and residency was like, what it’s like to take care of women t...

Have you heard of post-baccalaureate (also referred to as “post-bac”) programs? Have you considered whether a post-bac program is right for you? In this episode, we guide you through the various types of post-bac programs that exist, reasons why you might consider one, how to apply, and the potential pros and cons. Dr. Zulma also shares her experience of doing a specific type of post-bac program c...

Do you feel pressure to go directly from college to medical school? Are you forcing yourself to fit all of your premedical requirements, volunteering, research, and clinical experience into four years — and feeling burned out in the process? If so, it might be a good idea to step back and consider taking a gap year. There are many great reasons to do so, from helping to improve your GPA or MCAT sc...

Do you struggle with chronic procrastination? Are you the one cramming the night before an exam, pulling an all-nighter, and turning your assignment in just in time? Or, do you procrastinate so much that you end up missing deadlines and dropping classes? If this describes you, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma are here to share their experiences and wisdom with you — so you can start transforming your habi...