The Future Minority Doctor Podcast

We all have an inner voice that speaks to us all day, every day. If that voice tends to be negative or critical, it can impede your chances of success. Fortunately, you can gradually train that inner voice to be more hopeful and optimistic. It takes practice, but it’s possible! In this episode, we discuss two main strategies to help train that inner voice in a way that will help you reach your dre...

Are you in the middle of taking organic chemistry and struggling? Have you heard horror stories from other students who have taken it and are dreading your turn? Organic chemistry (also known as “orgo” or “ochem”) is notoriously challenging, but it doesn’t have to your nemesis, and your final grade in this class does NOT determine whether you’re cut out to be a doctor. It’s really just one of thos...

In this episode, Dr. Marina chats with Jessica E., a recent UCLA graduate, about how she managed to score a 516 on the MCAT on her first try. She shares all about how long she dedicated to studying, what test prep materials she used, how she focused her study time, how many practice exams she took, and how she overcame the psychological hurdles of studying for such a big test. If you’re planning t...

Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma act out some mini medical interview (MMI) scenarios, with not-so-good and good example responses. MMIs are like “speed dating” interviews, and you only have a few minutes to leave a good impression, so preparation and practice are key. We explain a few ways to ensure that your responses show maturity, compassion, problem-solving, and good communication skills. If you’re ap...

In this episode, we answer some key questions about getting research experience as a premed student, including: - How important is it to get research experience before applying to medical school? - What types of research are there? - Is there a specific type of research I have to do? We also share some tips on how to seek out and find great research opportunities, including: - Talking to professor...

Are you just starting your first year of college? In this episode, we share tips we wish we’d known when we were just starting out — like how many classes to take to avoid feeling overwhelmed, how to choose the right balance of classes to take, and how to balance classes with work, extracurriculars, and sleep. Learning to find the right balance for you will pay off when it comes time to apply to m...

In this episode, Dr. Marina talks with Gabe C. about how he recently prepared for the MCAT and scored an incredible 514. We also talk about his upbringing in the South, what motivated him to become a doctor, his career detour as an engineer, what he did during his 5 months of preparing for the MCAT (hint: lots of practice questions and full-length practice tests), and what applying to medical scho...

Did you know that quality volunteer activities are a key component of your application to medical school? In this episode, we offer a few pointers for choosing volunteer activities that will help you reap the benefits of altruism AND show admissions committees you’re a caring and compassionate person. Our five main suggestions are: - Choose things that you actually enjoy doing. - Choose at least o...

Are you applying to medical school this cycle and wondering what you can do to prepare for interview season? In this episode, Dr. Marina & Dr. Zulma discuss the different types of interviews you may encounter, what kind of questions you might be asked in each, and how to prepare for interview day.

In this episode, Dr. Zulma interviews psychiatrist Dr. Renee Garcia. Dr. Garcia has a bachelor’s degree from CSU Los Angeles, MD from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Keck USC. She also completed a fellowship in Psychosomatic Medicine at Stanford. She shares all about her upbringing, how she unexpectedly got pregnant during her senior year of high school, how she managed to get through co...

One of the most common questions we hear from high school and college students considering a career in medicine is, “Is it possible to be a doctor and have a family?” We get it. We worried about this too when we were younger! In this episode, we help break this common question down by discussing a few others, including: (1) What is it like being a parent and a doctor? (2) Are you able to do the no...

With medical school application season upon us (hello May!), you may be wondering if you’re really ready to take the leap and apply. Application costs can really add up fast, so it’s wise to make sure you are reasonably prepared before you hit that “apply” button. In this episode, Dr. Marina & Dr. Zulma take you through some questions you should ask yourself to make sure you are adequately prepare...

In this episode, Dr. Marina interviews Morgan McManus, a college senior at Clemson University who applied to medical school during the 2021-22 application cycle and ended up getting 12 acceptances! She shares how she navigated the college premed experience, how she prepared for the MCAT (and got an amazing score!), a lot of tips and tricks for navigating the year-long medical school application cy...

In this episode, Dr. Marina welcomes Dr. Latika Hinduja, a practicing podiatrist who helps people optimize the health of their feet and ankles. She shares about growing up in India, what motivated her to switch career trajectories form computer programming to podiatry, her experience transferring from a community college to university, how she managed self-doubt and found a support system, how bec...

Is failure or rejection threatening to get in the way of you achieving your goal of becoming a doctor? If you’re tempted to give up because of bad test scores, a low GPA, a less-than-stellar MCAT score, or even a recent rejection from medical school, this episode is for you! We share some of our most challenging experiences with you to show you that failure is not the end — it is sometimes just a...

Are you a high school student considering your options for college? Are you wondering if it would be better to stay close to home or move far away to pursue your college education? Do you worry about what your family will think, or about the costs associated with living away from home? If so, this episode is for you! Dr. Zulma and Dr. Marina discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of staying...

In this episode, Dr. Zulma speaks with Dr. Ricardo Salas about his journey into medicine — including being the child of farmworkers, overcoming his fears about paying for college, how his aunt’s struggle with ovarian cancer opened his eyes to the world of cancer medicine, and how he helps people of all backgrounds deal with blood diseases and cancer.

Do you ever feel like you have way too much to do but too little time to get it all done? If you’re trying to juggle classes, work, volunteer activities, and personal and family responsibilities, it’s probably a familiar feeling. In this episode, Drs. Marina & Zulma offer four major tips to help you learn to better manage your time without feeling completely overwhelmed. These tips include: Set re...

It’s been a rough two years for many people since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Adjusting to virtual learning, losing out on volunteer and work opportunities, and possibly facing illness or death may have taken a toll on your motivation. If your motivation to stick with the premed path is wavering, Dr. Zulma and Dr. Marina have some words of encouragement and a few strategies that might help...

One of the most common questions we hear from students is, “How do you pay for college and medical school?” As you probably already know, getting an education isn’t free. The average medical student comes out of training with $200,000 in debt (which is enough to buy a house in some places!). If you’re letting worries about money hold you back from your dream of becoming a doctor, this episode is f...

An important part of your application to medical school will involve writing a one-page essay explaining to the admissions committee WHY you want to become a doctor. Writing a mediocre personal statement can really hurt your chances of getting in, so it’s important to give yourself enough time (at least 3 months) to write and edit your essay. In this episode, we review some general principles and...

With so many options for MCAT test prep materials out there, how do you even know where to start? How do you decide how long you need to prepare? How many practice tests should you take? How do you combat the feeling of overwhelm that comes with starting your trek up the MCAT prep mountain? In this episode, Drs. Marina & Zulma give you some tips to help you navigate the MCAT test prep landscape so...

Have you ever gotten totally useless advice about self-care? Does your idea of self-care involve drinking green smoothies, doing yoga, and getting expensive massages? If so, this episode is for you! We offer you three simple ideas to help you learn to take better care of yourself — including getting better sleep, practicing self-compassion, and occasionally making time for things that feed your sp...

Have you wanted a career that keeps you close to the games you love? Listen to CJ talk about discovering Sports Medicine late in his med school training, and the importance of good mentors in getting him to where he is now. Whether it's helping 70-year-olds get back to Zumba, or working with the Bruins football team and the LA Lakers, Dr Duffaut brings his own experience as college basketball play...