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The Med School Years

The Med School Years

Medical School Headquarters 30 Episodes Jun 10, 2026

Join Deana Golini from Medical School Headquarters in our newest podcast, Med School Years! Med School Years is the essential podcast designed to guide medical students through the highs and lows of medical school and confidently match into their dream residency programs. Each episode features insightful conversations with successful medical students, experienced residency program directors, and experts who have navigated the path you're walking now. Gain practical strategies, powerful advice, and inspiring stories to help you thrive academically, manage challenges, and secure your future in medicine. Subscribe now, and make your med school years the best years yet! Check out all of the podcasts Medical School HQ has to offer at medicalschoolhq.net!

Episodes

30: Augustine, MS4 at UT San Antonio, Incoming Plastic Surgery Resident Jun 10, 2026 38:42 What do wrapping high-end Mustangs and Integrated Plastic Surgery have in common? More than you think. Join host Deana Golini as she interviews Augustine, an upcoming graduate of UT Long School of Medicine and incoming Integrated Plastic Surgery resident at Baylor Scott & White Hospital. Augustine breaks down his unique "aha" moment, explaining how his background in an automotive "auto salon"
29: Julia, M4 at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine May 20, 2026 40:34 What happens when you enter medical school in a diverse urban center during the peak of a pandemic? You learn to become an observer. Join host Deana Golini as she interviews Julia See, an M4 at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, who transitioned from the research-heavy halls of Johns Hopkins to the community-driven wards of Jackson Memorial Hospital. Julia discusses her "late" deci
28: Ananya, M2 at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine May 6, 2026 46:47 What happens when your dream of becoming a doctor is interrupted by a life-threatening diagnosis? Join host Deana Golini as she interviews Ananya Bashyam, an M2 at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, who survived three relapses of leukemia while completing her medical school applications and her first year of training. Ananya pulls back the curtain on the "dark side" of medicine, sharing the vulner
27: Payal, M4 at Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine Apr 13, 2026 43:12 What do you do when medical school makes you feel disconnected from your purpose? You lean into the "extra" opportunities that others overlook. Join host Deana Golini as she interviews Payal, an M4 at Kansas City University, who transformed her medical education by embracing an OMM Fellowship and a national leadership role with the AAFP. Payal shares the raw reality of her M1 "identity crisis," ho
26: Chino, 3rd Year MD-PhD Student at Icahn SOM at Mount Sinai Apr 1, 2026 40:35 What does it really mean to commit to an eight-year training path? Join host Deana Golini as she interviews Chinoso Nwakama, a third-year MD-PhD student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who is currently deep in the research phase of his dual degree. Chinoso (Chino) shares his journey from rural Minnesota to the heart of New York City, explaining how the Flex Grad pipeline program al
25: Ashley, M2 at New York Medical College Mar 13, 2026 40:24 What do you do when your medical school dreams and personal life collide? You master the art of disciplined organization. Join host Deana Golini as she interviews Ashley Abing, an M2 at New York Medical College, who just balanced the academic intensity of second year with her own wedding weekend. Ashley, an alumna of the Brown University Master’s in Medical Sciences, shares how she transitioned fr
24: Sheila, M2 at University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine Mar 4, 2026 33:56 What do you do when medical school tells you "no" twice? You fight harder. Join host Deana Golini as she interviews Sheila "Shay" Solares, an M2 at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, about her three-cycle journey to the white coat. Sheila shares the reality of being a first-generation student navigating a system she didn't fully understand until her third attempt. From
23: Ishan, M4 at Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine Feb 11, 2026 48:37 Is a three-year Internal Medicine residency just a stepping stone, or the foundation of your career? Join host Deana Golini as she interviews Ishan Gupta, an M4 at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, about his hyper-focused path toward a Cardiovascular Fellowship. Ishan shares the blueprint for navigating an osteopathic medical curriculum that included a staggering 120 exams in two years.
22: Paulos, M2 at University of California Davis School of Medicine | Med School Years Podcast Jan 21, 2026 48:28 Ready to bet on yourself, even when the odds seem impossible? Join hosts Deana and Carlos as they sit down with Paulos Flores, an M2 at UC Davis School of Medicine, whose journey to medicine is anything but typical. Paulos spent nearly a decade as a professional poker player and a long-term caregiver for his mother before deciding to pursue medicine in his 30s. He shares the raw reality of startin
21: Cold Email to Mass Eye and Ear: An M4’s ENT Research Breakthrough Jan 14, 2026 36:14 Ready for the strategic blueprint to matching into a highly competitive surgical specialty? Join hosts Deana and Carlos as they dive deep with Afash Haleem, an M4 at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), who is applying for Otolaryngology (ENT). Afash shares his unique journey as a BS/MD graduate who strategically took a gap year for a research fellowship at Mass Eye and Ear. He reveals how he
20: First-Gen to Future Neurosurgeon: Building Research, Mentorship, & Credibility Dec 31, 2025 38:25 Ready to find your strength and community amidst the competitive demands of medical school? Join hosts Deana and Carlos as they sit down with Deondra Montgomery, an M3 at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MSU CHM), about turning cultural shock and academic challenge into focused momentum. Deondra shares the profound emotional pressure of being a Latina/Black, first-generation st
19: OMM in a Scalpel World: Practical Ways DOs Add Value on Surgical Teams Dec 24, 2025 41:47 Welcome to the nineteenth episode of The Med School Years Podcast! We sit down with Kamilla, an M4 at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM), who is gearing up to apply for the incredibly competitive field of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Kamilla shares her unique journey, detailing how she transitioned from a Business and Law background (she realized she "hated tearing d

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