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 consider when trying to decide on the right path for you. (Spoiler: Becoming a physician may take longer—think 15,000 clinical hours vs. 1000—but we think it’s worth it ..read more

What beliefs about money and debt did you learn from your parents? Since these days you can't walk to the student union without being offered a credit card, and student loans that can't fit on a standard calculator, even college freshmen need to think hard about what money strategies make sense in the long-term given their earning potential ..read more

So, you didn’t score as well as you hoped on the MCAT? Drs. Zulma and Marina provide perspective on what that means for your chances of reaching your medical dreams, and remind you that while the MCAT is important it is not the only thing that gets you into a medical school. They discuss where you should apply, how to make the rest of your application shine, and when you should take a gap year to study up and polish the resume ..read more

The child of immigrants to the Bay Area, hear how Wumi took “not a linear path” through college, a degree in psychology, and several gap years, before being drawn to osteopathic medicine. Having just survived the intimidation of the MCAT and “drinking from the firehose” in first year, her insights into ways to maintain mental health under stress and constant challenging evaluations are fresh and what everyone needs to hear at some point on this journey ..read more

Dr. Jacqueline Winkelmann has a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Marina about growing up in Puerto Rico, code-switching as a fair-skinned Latina in the rigorous environment of Washington University of St. Louis, and finding her passion as a pediatric hospitalist. “Dr. Jacq” is also the force behind Scrub Sisters (www.scrubsisters.org), a sisterhood of women in medicine supporting each other to find their voice through mentorship and community. Join us for an enlightening discussion of the realities of becoming and remaining a physician as a minority woman ..read more

Hear the details of Ruben's inspiring journey from a childhood on a rural Mexican farm to UC Berkeley, and MBA, and how FMD's free coaching program helped him over the finish line to being accepted at his top choice of medical school. For more details on the application coaching program, see www.futureminoritydoctor.com/acp ..read more

We are all-too-aware of how our own minds can conjure up worst-case scenarios, and make us anxious about problems that never materialize. Science is just now beginning to understand the power of imagining positive outcomes, picturing yourself handling problems with poise, and self-affirmations. Drs. Marina and Zulma summarize recent remarkable studies, talk about their own clinical successes with visualization, and walk you through a few visualizations that will help you let go of worry and tackle your pre-med requirements with confidence ..read more

The average US college student accumulates 1-4 hours of sleep debt per night. This deficit leads to a weakened immune system, anxiety, irritability, impaired driving, and--perhaps most relevant for this podcast--poor memory consolidation. In this episode, Drs. Marina and Zulma discuss how widespread this problem is, how it has worsened with the advent of smartphones, and share scientifically-proven techniques for better sleep hygiene (including relaxing visualizations from Dr Marina ..read more

Have you ever wondered if you can be a doctor if you have ADHD? In this episode, we talk about what ADHD is, how it manifests in kids and adults, and how it can manifest differently in different individuals. We also touch on some myths about ADHD and what you can do if you have (or think you have) it so that you can still achieve all of your educational and professional goals ..read more

Are you applying to medical school? Consider writing your Impactful Experiences Essay! This essay used to be called the "Disadvantaged Statement," but generally invites applicants to share the unique challenges they've had to overcome. Although this is an optional step in your AMCAS application, it is your opportunity to share the special circumstances in your life that speak to who you are and have helped you build resilience throughout your life. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma highlight the immense value of the Impactful Experiences Essay to your application, challenge you to see ..read more