The Med School Years

In this episode of the Med School Years Podcast, we sit down with Devere Knight, an M2 at the Jacobs School of Medicine at the University of Buffalo. Devere shares his unique journey as a non-traditional applicant, transitioning from a career in biotech to pursuing his dream of becoming a physician. We discuss what it's like to be part of his school's brand new curriculum, the importance of extrac...

Welcome to the tenth episode of The Med School Years podcast! We sit down with Dr. Chris Gasparis, a newly minted MD entering PGY-1 in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Northwell Health System in New York. Dr. Gasparis matched into one of the most competitive specialties, and he's here to share the blueprint for how he made it happen. From discovering his passion for cardiothoracic surgery to strategicall...

Harshini, a rising second-year medical student at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, joins The Med School Years to reflect on her M1 year and the path that brought her to medicine. After earning a BS in Biology and a BA in Psychology at Stony Brook University, Harshini completed an MBA during her gap year—a decision that strengthened her leadership skills and gave her a deeper understandin...

Welcome to the eighth episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this fascinating discussion, Deana Golini and Carlos Tapia interview Kasthuri Nair, an M4 student at Emory University School of Medicine. Kasthuri shares her truly unique journey, from her undergraduate days at Brown University, through a medical writing internship at MD Anderson, and a Master's at Johns Hopkins, to becoming a medic...

Meet RJ, a now second-year medical student at The Ohio State University College of Medicine who was accepted without taking a gap year. In this episode of The Med School Years, RJ shares how he transitioned from a small, Catholic university (Notre Dame) to a large state school, and how staying organized helped him navigate the med school application process. He reflects on how his two minors, Lati...

Welcome to the sixth episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this highly anticipated episode, we sit down with Dr. Joshua McBriar, a freshly minted PGY-1 in Neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Neurosurgery/Zucker School of Medicine. Joshua matched into one of the most competitive specialties, and he's here to share the blueprint for how he made it happen. From discovering his passion for neurosurgery t...

Welcome to the fifth episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this episode, we interview Cristian Ovies, a 3rd-year MD-PhD student at Weill Cornell Medicine, offering a deep dive into the unique world of dual-degree programs. Cristian unravels the often-complicated timeline and competitive nature of the MD-PhD dual degree, sharing how he navigated a record number of interviews to find his perfe...

Welcome to the fourth episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this episode, we interview Kelsey Mendell, a determined 3rd-year medical student at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, offering a unique perspective on the DO path in medicine. Kelsey discusses the key differences and surprising similarities between MD and DO training, shedding light on the often-u...

Welcome to the third episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this episode, Sabrina Pescatore, a tenacious 3rd-year medical student at UTMB, on the path to a male-dominated orthopedic residency. Sabrina shares her experiences navigating a male-dominated specialty, including the subtle (and not-so-subtle) challenges she faces. Discover her empowering motto, "You can hold the leg," and her practi...

Welcome to the second episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this episode, neurosurgery resident Gersham at University of South Florida shares his pathway and strategy into getting into one of the most competitive residencies - and what he would and wouldn't recommend. We explore the unexpected challenges of transitioning from premed to med school, navigating burnout, choosing a specialty, an...

Welcome to the very first episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this episode, Drexel medical student Navin shares how his vision for becoming a doctor transformed through medical school—from wanting to be a pediatrician to pursuing interventional radiology. We explore the unexpected challenges of transitioning from premed to med school, navigating burnout, choosing a specialty, and the impor...