"Medicine is just the beginning, not the destination," says Dr. Charnetta Williams in an eye-opening discussion that shatters the conventional path of clinical practice in medicine. Her journey from the front lines of an Ebola response to a trailblazer in public health proves that a medical degree can be the key to doors you never even noticed were there.  In this episode, Dr. Erkeda DeRouen is joined by Dr. Charnetta Williams, a seasoned professional who transitioned from the rigorous world of clinical medicine to the dynamic field of public health. With experiences ranging from direct p ..read more

Dr. Sujin Lee, an immigrant from Seoul, Korea, initially moved to the United States to pursue a music career. After obtaining her degree, life had a different plan for her: marriage, motherhood, and a surprising yet fulfilling pivot to the medical field.  In this episode, Dr. Lee speaks with Dr. Erkeda DeRouen about this journey, the challenges, and the triumphs of changing careers, balancing life as a medical student with being a mother, and the advantages of entering medicine from a non-traditional background. Her insights are not just motivational but are also peppered with practical a ..read more

Navigating the Medical School Admissions process is a different journey for everyone, and with the process constantly changing, the road to becoming a physician is not always easy.  Luckily, Dr. Emil Chuck, Director of Advising Services at the Health Professional Student Association and Editorial Board Member of the Student Doctor Network is an invaluable resource. In this episode of Prospective Doctor, Dr. Chuck sits down with host Dr. Erkeda DeRouen to discuss how he and his organization provide aspiring health professionals the insights they need to navigate the intricate pathways of h ..read more

While everyone’s journey into medicine is unique, it may not be unconventional. But those are the ones that bring an incredibly fresh perspective on carving one’s own path. Dr. Kate Arnold, an OBGYN Hospitalist, Laborist, and co-founder of FemInnovation is one of those unconventional paths. Having started as a psychology major with no science background, she ventured into medicine a bit later than her peers, navigated through a post-baccalaureate pre-med program, and engaged with Alzheimer's patients before pursuing medical school at Georgetown. Her multifaceted career, including stints in aca ..read more

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 Resea ..read more

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Sarah Nasir, an osteopathic physician specializing in family medicine and sub-specializing in addiction medicine. In this episode, they talk about how medical students can cope with and navigate academic struggles in a far-from-perfect medical education system.  [00:00] Introduction [04:01] Coping With Academic Struggles [11:15] Navigating Your Journey in Medicine [17:56] Academic Bullying [21:14] What Dr. Nasir Would Change About the Medical Education System [33:13] Parting Words How Can Medical Students Cope With Academic Struggles? The medical process ..read more

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Mike Tang, an adult and child psychiatrist, addiction medicine doctor, paediatrician, and Vice President of Integrated Care at Cityblock Health. In this episode, they talk about how you can get additional certifications with addiction medicine and the importance of technology in the improvement of health across all social factors. [00:00] Introduction [07:51] Additional Certifications [09:55] Addiction Medicine [12:03] Tech to Decrease Disparities and Social Determinants of Health [15:23] What Dr. Tang Wishes He Knew As He Entered Medicine [19:47] What Dr. Tang ..read more

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. April Renee Ruffin. In this episode, they talk about everything you need to know about mentorship and finding the right mentor at the early stages of your medical career. [00:00] Introduction [03:54] The Importance of Mentorship [09:30] How Do You Find a Mentor? [13:33] How Many Mentors Should You Get? [18:47] Dr. Ruffin’s Advice For Those Starting Out in Medicine [20:39] Parting Words The Importance of Mentorship There’s existing literature that suggests how students excel academically and have higher graduation rates when they have a mentor no matter what gr ..read more

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Thomas Campanella, a healthcare executive-in-residence at Baldwin Wallace, healthcare consultant, and former healthcare attorney. They talk everything about rural health: the challenges, initiatives, and technology involved to help improve it.  [00:00] Introduction [03:00] Challenges Facing Rural Health [07:06] Initiatives for Rural Health [11:37] The Healthcare System, Legislature, and Technology [15:52] What Dr. Campanella Would Change About the Healthcare System [18:01] Parting Thoughts   Challenges in Rural Health Looking at the major cities ..read more

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Bradley Block, a general adult and pediatric ENT and host of “The Physician’s Guide to Doctoring” podcast. They talk about what every medical school should incorporate into their curriculum, the importance of patient-doctor communication, and what they think of the US healthcare system. [00:00] Introduction [07:19] Three Things That Every Medical School Should Incorporate [11:28] Patient-Doctor Communication [14:55] What Dr. Block Would Change About the Healthcare System [20:00] Parting Thoughts   What Medical Schools Should Incorporate According to ..read more