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Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Chrystene Nguyen, the founder of White Coat Romance (WCR). She is a board-certified physician in family and lifestyle medicine. They talk about online dating for health professionals and the process behind building the White Coat Romance platform.  [00:56] Introducing Dr. Chrystene Nguyen [01:39] White Coat Romance [07:30] User Verification on White Coat Romance [12:16] Dating Tips for Health Professionals & Students [16:01] What Dr. Nguyen Would Change About Healthcare   The White Coat Romance Dating App Before the WCR platform was built, it started out as an online Facebook group in July 2020. Within that community, health professionals provided each other with support, friendship, and even romance! The COVID-19 quarantine highlighted the need for relationship and community. As the group grew larger, Dr. Chrystene saw the need to develop a dating app to facilitate connection among physicians.   How Does White Coat Romance Verify its Users? WCR is exclusively for health-re

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Kenton Allen, the Co-Founder of Doc2Doc Lending. He also serves as the vice chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover. They talk about financial situation of physicians and 4th year medical students, and how Doc2Doc Lending can help.  [01:13] Introducing Dr. Kenton Allen [05:16] Driving Positive Change through Medicine [09:10] The Financial Struggles of an Early Physician [12:25] About Doc2Doc Lending [17:44] Learn about the Business of Medicine   The Financial Struggles of an Early Physician During residency, Dr. Allen was under a lot of financial stress. The cost of living was expensive in Boston, and he struggled to make ends meet. At the time, he was also paying off his student debt.  To supplement his income, he wanted to get a loan but traditional lending institutions would either reject his application or offer predatory interest rates. Despite Dr. Allen’s promising career trajectory, banks would deem him a risky borrower due to

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Janice Brown, a physiatrist who is certified in acupuncture and functional medicine. They talk about the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation, functional medicine, and Dr. Brown’s own way of practicing medicine.  [01:08] Introducing Dr. Janice Brown [03:43] Why Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation? [09:16] Functional Medicine [13:42] Practice Your Own Style of Medicine   Becoming a PM&R Physician Dr. Brown always regarded herself as a healer, but not necessarily a doctor. After college, she spent 6 years exploring multiple paths before deciding to pursue medicine. She chose to become a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physician because she is passionate about addressing the root cause of health problems, not just in managing symptoms. As a physiatrist, she can examine both the musculoskeletal and nervous systems to see what’s causing pain or illness.   Functional Medicine  Unsurprisingly, Dr. Brown is certified in functional medicine, a field which

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Mary Leung, a full-time physician who specializes in oncology and hematology. She is also a certified life coach. They talk the signs of burnout and how to overcome it, along with imposter syndrome. [01:03] Introducing Dr. Mary Leung [02:51] Why Oncology and Hematology? [06:02] Recognizing Burnout [11:14] The Arrival Fallacy [15:17] Imposter Syndrome [17:30] Dr. Mary Leung’s Advice to Pre-Meds and Medical Students   Signs of Burnout Anyone is susceptible to experiencing burnout. It can feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining—almost as if you’re running on an empty tank. You can start to become cynical when you lose sight of your purpose.  The most important piece is to recognize when you feel burnt out. Take a step back to find out why you feel this way. Burnout is by no means your fault, it happens to all of us. But it is a sign that you need to take better care of yourself. A life coach can help you address burnout by reminding you of your strengths and passion

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Sheneka Horne, a global health pediatrician and the founder of The Blk Doctor. They talk about global health fellowship programs and how students and doctors of color can find support on their journey in medicine.  [01:00] Introducing Dr. Sheneka Horne [05:09] Global Health Fellowship [09:48] Making an Impact Globally and Locally [13:17] The Blk Doctor [18:15] Finding Support for Marginalized Students How to Get Involved in Global Health Dr. Horne had several opportunities to travel locally and internationally to see how different health systems work. She advises anyone interested to choose a program carefully. Preferably the organization should have an ongoing presence, which means that they are using local interventions and teaching the natives how to continue the work they are doing. The more sustainable the effort, the better. While traveling, be mindful not to take photos that perpetuate stereotypes of impoverished communities. Making an Impact Globally and Locally Global

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Katie Baca-Motes, co-founder of the Scripps Research Digital Trials Center. She is also the senior director for Scripps Research's strategic initiatives. They talk about the best Walt Disney Imagineering concepts and practices that can be applied to improve medicine and healthcare.   [01:14] Introducing Katie Baca-Motes [05:03] Walt Disney Imagineering [07:46] Imagineering in Healthcare [12:29] Digital Research Opportunities [15:13] What Would You Change in Healthcare?   Lessons from Walt Disney Imagineers After graduating from business school, Katie had the opportunity to work at Walt Disney. Being an imagineer entailed behind the scenes work such as producing special effects, conceptualizing rides, or in Katie’s case, researching behavioral economics and consumer behavior.  Drawing on her past experiences as an imagineer, Katie believes there’s a lot of approaches that can be applied to healthcare. One of them was “blue sky thinking” where you are encouraged to think outside the

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen is joined by Dr. Raji Akileh, a D.O. and CEO of MedEd Cloud. Dr. Raji will take us through how MedEd Cloud operates and how it can help equip medical students with information before they take their board exams. He will also take on the topic of revolutionizing the medical healthcare system in the United States.   [00:21] Introduction of Dr. Raji Akileh [02:20] The Medical Education System [04:03] MedEd Cloud [08:03] Opportunities in MedEd for Board Studies [13:21] Participation for MedEd Cloud [14:50] Modules and Opportunities from Outside Medicine [16:13] What Would You Change in the Healthcare system [19:24] How to Connect with Dr. Raji   Keeping Up With Trends A lot of medical students out there would work hard to pass their boards, and a big proponent of these tests is the knowledge and updates they take from their respective schools. Many schools still take the more traditional approach and practices when it comes to medical education. This situation has widely stunted the learning gr

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen is joined again by Dr. Stephanie Pearson. In this episode, Dr. Pearson steers from disability insurances to life insurances. She will give us an insight of the different types of life insurances and how medical professionals and students can choose which type of insurance they can select from depending on their lifestyle.   [00:21] Re-Introduction of Stephanie Pearson [03:54] About Life Insurances [07:26] Why Buy Life Insurance? [11:05] Difference Between Term and Whole Insurance [16:22] Figuring Out the Right Coverage For You [21:00] What Would You Change in the Healthcare System   Life Insurances Unlike disability insurances, life insurances serve more as an umbrella insurance for individuals regarding health, benefits, and other safety nets depending on ones’ lifestyle. For medical students and practitioners, life insurance will be an essential purchase down the line particularly for individuals who plan to start or have a family. Life insurances are customizable and more flexible to cha

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen is joined by Joshua Roshal. Joshua is currently a surgery resident from Brigham and Women’s Department of Surgery. He’s done 7 years in medical school and has already taken up leadership and teaching roles. He joins Dr. Erkida as he talks more about his research focus on education for medical students. [00:23] Introduction to Joshua Roshal [03:39] New Era of Medical Education [08:47] Surgical Simulation at Home [11:38] Tips for Surgery Students [15:41] Changes You’d Want to Make in Healthcare [18:35] How to Reach Joshua Surgical Studies Amidst the Pandemic Surgical education is more hands-on than other medical fields due to their nature of work being on the ground for patients. Unlike other doctors from other fields, surgical experts are the key performers when patients undergo surgery. The practice calls for students to be on the field to conduct their field of expertise. At the height of the pandemic, the education on surgical studies became a speed bump for its students. While other fiel

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen is joined by Dr. Jia Ng. She is a board-certified nephrologist and epidemiologist and today, she talks about the world of research for medical students. Dr. Jia describes the opportunities and procedures she encountered from doing research, as well as the conditions they need to be in for them to thrive in the field. [00:28] Introduction of Dr. Jia Ng [01:35] Transitioning and Opportunities in Research [03:18] Recommendation for Research Pursual [06:41] Importance of Research in Residency [11:51] Dr. Jia: Why the US over Australia? [15:47] How to Get Involved in Research   Research Dr. Jia mentions that Research is more complex than students and experts should perceive. According to her, research is a field that not only takes on the basic know-hows of medicine, but also the data driving the knowledge that caters to how medicine works along the evolution of society. Research allows the industry to adapt new knowledge for medical practitioners to not only develop new medicines, but also the

Dr. Erkeda is joined by Dr. Dana Corriel, she is an internist by training as well as a successful entrepreneur. As a medical practitioner who’s taken the traditional route to where she is now, Dr. Corriel is now devoted to using her business skills to help promote the autonomy of doctors and practitioners. She’s already launched her own venture called SoMeDocs to help medical students and seasoned doctors promote themselves and their areas of expertise.   [00:23] Introduction of Dr. Corriel [02:13] About SoMeDocs [07:13] Essentials for Social Media Awareness [12:16] About Medical Branding [14:14] Opportunities for SoMeDocs [16:09] Desired Changes in Healthcare   The Power of Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurial skills are underrated skills acquired in the medical field. A lot of students and experts neglect the entrepreneurial side of being in the medical field. While it is one achievement to be a professional, there is also the factor of gaining clients or patients that avail your services. For Dr. Corriel, her

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Harvey Castro, an emergency medicine physician, healthcare consultant, and the author of "ChatGPT Healthcare”. He’s here today to talk about the applications of AI technology like ChatGPT to medicine. [00:43] Dr. Castro’s Medical Journey and Background [01:15] AI in Healthcare [05:10] Writing ChatGPT Healthcare [06:33] Using AI for Innovation and Learning in Medicine [12:35] Dr. Castro’s Advice for a Successful Medical Career   AI & ChatGPT Healthcare AI tools like ChatGPT are gaining popularity nowadays—is there any way can we use it for medicine? Although not yet FDA approved, it can have potential applications for diagnosis and learning. Medical professionals should familiarize themselves with AI tools so they can benefit from the tech and properly advise patients. Using Tech and AI for Student Learning ChatGPT can also be used for studying. Students can ask AI to help create flashcards, mnemonics, and to explain complex topics more simply. It can also summarize long jou

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen welcomes Dr. Basma Faris, a former registered dietician and now OB-GYN and Culinary Medicine Specialist. She shares her storied journey from starting out as a dietician and finally into medicine school, but not without a few bumps along the way. She also shares valuable tips on how to ace your med school interviews through the media training she received. [00:22] Introducing Dr. Basma Faris [06:53] How Dr. Faris Controlled Her Narrative [13:23] How to Showcase Yourself During Med School Interviews [18:39] The Importance of Practicing [22:16] Tips for Rotation [26:19] Culinary Medicine [33:10] Dr. Faris’ Best Piece of Advice [34:47] Where to Find Dr. Faris To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor.

Dr. Erkeda is joined by Dr. Stephanie Pearson, an OBGYN turned insurance broker who changed her career from a practitioner to safety net provider for medical experts. Almost 10 years ago, Dr. Pearson sustained an injury during an operation procedure and was left with a career unable to pursue the work she studied for. Since then, she’s had a change of heart and now uses her skills and knowledge in the medical industry to help other people who are unintentionally placed in that same position, by creating a disability insurance firm for physicians and other healthcare providers. [00:23] Introduction of Dr. Pearson  [01:57] Adapting to Post-Injury  [06:49] About Disability Insurances  [12:55] Advice for Physicians with Disabilities [16:56] Group Benefits vs Private Benefits [22:36] What Dr. Pearson Would Change in Healthcare   What Happens to Physicians After Injuries For a professional in the medical field, it can be a confusing moment in life when you suddenly sustain some type of injury. As a practitioner,

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Anita Lwanga, a kinesiologist, internist, and geriatrician who is actively involved in educating the next generation of physicians. She’s here today to share her best tips for how pre-meds, medical students, and residents can obtain research experience.  [00:56] Dr. Lwanga’s Medical Journey and Background [02:50] Why Internal Medicine? [05:47] How Important is Research Experience? [12:20] How to Obtain Research Experience [18:14] What Dr. Lwanga Would Change in Healthcare   Why You Need Research Experience Having research experience on your resume can help your application stand out from the crowd. As a pre-medical student, it’s nice to learn research skills early, which will serve you later on as a medical student and physician. Medical students need to have ample research projects so the dean can write a strong letter of recommendation. Physicians who want to move up in academic institutions will be able to do so based on their quality and quantity of publications. If your

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen is joined by Dr. Jattu Senesie, an OBGYN physician from the company Essence of Strength. Today, Dr. Jattu narrates her journey as a child aspiring to become a physician to leading her own firm as well as the key takeaways and learnings that she can give for aspiring physicians in the field. [00:57] Introduction of Dr. Jattu Senesie [04:38] Dr. Jattu’s Attending Experience [09:58] Looking After your Mental Health [11:00] Current Activities and What to Expect [17:37] Summarizing Sustainable Well-Being [20:47] Advice for Non-Traditional Path Takers [26:52] Changes in the US Healthcare System [28:46] Conclusion Full show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Jake Khoussine who is currently a fifth year student of a combined MD-PhD program. As the founder of Madrasa Advising, he advises students on how to prepare for an MD-PhD program so they can become successful physician-scientists. [00:58] Jake’s Medical Journey and Background [04:42] Why Apply to an MD-PhD Program? [10:55] How to Get Accepted into an MD-PhD Program [16:58] Study Tips for MCAT and Medical School [20:51] What Jake Would Change in Healthcare Full show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Kojo Sarpong who is a student at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He is an incoming resident at Vanderbilt Neurosurgery. Dr. Sarpong shares his inspiring story of how he started as a housekeeper and became a neurosurgeon.  [01:03] Moving from Ghana to the United States [05:43] Pivot to Medicine [10:08] The African Research Academies for Women [16:34] From Housekeeper to Neurosurgeon [26:38] How to Match in Competitive Specialties [31:49] Dr. Sarpong’s Advice: Own Your Story Full show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen is joined by Dr. Tea Nguyen, the show’s very first podiatrist. Dr. Nguyen is a podiatrist who has her own private practice in Sta. Cruz, California. She joins Dr. Erkeda to discuss the world of podiatry and how diverse this branch of the medical field can be.   [01:06] Dr. Tea Nguyen and Choosing Podiatry [04:55] Training for Podiatrist  [07:06] Ways to Work in the Field [09:25] Learnings from Podiatry [10:58] Tracks to Employment [12:32] Pearls for Podiatry (for takeaway) [14:00] What Would You Change in Healthcare   Full show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen is joined by Shital Vora, a physical therapist and co-founder of the Global Brigades organization. As a founder of the Global Brigades, Shital tells the story of how she founded the organization and the milestones they have achieved to help communities in need of sustainable healthcare and economic resources. [01:30] Roles of Physical Therapist in Healthcare [05:10] The Global Brigades [11:07] How Students Can Get Involved in The Global Brigades [15:56] What Would You Change in Healthcare? [19:22] Involvement in Local Areas and Organizations Full show notes