Episodes
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Why are the AMA and the AAPA Fighting? PA2 Olivia Quinby, PA2 Raginya Handoo, PA2 Julie Vuong, and M4 Katie Higham-Kessler dig into the intense âscope creepâ debate between the American Medical Association ("Scope creep will destroy everything!") and the American Association of Physician Assistants ("WTF we're just trying to fill the gaps, bro!"). They discuss arguments from both sides about non-physician practice rights and the impacts on healthcare quality and access. And then thereâs this question: should this rivalry break out into the patientsâ view, what will it mean for their trust in a system many already find untrustworthy? Meanwhile, listener Olivia, a hopeful PA student herself and fearing that she missed the mark this year, seeks advice on strengthening her application while she waits to hear back from her schools. The hosts provide personal insights and practical tips on standing out in PA school applications, focusing on experiences, recommendation letters, and writing skills. Weâve all been there, Oliviaâhang tight!
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[We tried to put together a Halloween episode, but everyone was doing med school stuff. Rude. So enjoy this re-run!] As another physician shortage looms, M2s Jeff and Olivia and M1 Fallon look at the reasonsâthe market forces, political issues, and the missing incentives. There is some good newsâa shortage of physicians means that residents get a ton of solicitations for post-training jobs. Elon Muskâs Neuralink might be bad for monkeys, but the FDA has cleared the way for human trials to begin. What place do techbrosâwho have a rep for âmoving fast and breaking thingsââ have in medicine where lives are at stake? And Dave gives a pop quiz on this yearâs Ig Nobel Prize winners--listen to learn more about the latest technology in excretion analysis!
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Missing episodes?
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Dave is joined by MD/PhD student Miranda Schene, M1 Chase Larsson, M2 Radha Velamuri, M2 Fallon Jung, and M2 Holly Hemann for our monthly dip into relatable Reddit's 'Am I the Asshole' stories: Is it okay for my husband to combine his MD career with a new passion for working at McDonalds? Is it okay to clarify to everyone I meet that my boyfriend is in fact not a doctor of essential oil therapy? Why do all my former pre-med friends hate me very much, it's a total mystery, I'm just dropping my doctor truth bombs? How should I not engage with my childhood friend about vaccine fears? Also, stories of hospital code blues, Fallon overcomes her elevator anxiety, and Dave's theory that humans are just garbage large language models floating on a lizard brain. Finally: please make a plan to VOTE in this year's elections! Find out how to vote and what's at stake for your area at vote.org.
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Self-reflection is key to choosing what med schools to apply to. Listener Virginia dropped us a line at https://theshortcoat.com/tellus to ask us how she might go about selecting from the 195 med schools in the US to build her list of schools to send her application to. M1s Chase Larsson, Sarah Lowenberg, Luke Geis, and M4 Katie Higham-Kessler look back on how they made their decisions, taking into account family proximity, costs, personal interests, geography, and vibes! Also, an unsurprising JAMA Surgery review of the risks associated with professional slap fighting. And the group practices a necessary medical school skill: confidence in the face of uncertainty (AKA speaking on things about which they know nothing).
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On this episode we welcome guest Dr. Joshua Trebach, an emergency medicine physician here at Iowa. This past spring he posted on X that medicine must "lose the mentality of thinking its okay to be miserable for years (or decades) to justify it being 'finally worth it' in the end."We couldn't agree more--live now, not later! Which is why PA2 Julie Vuong, M2 Fallon Jung, and MD/PhD student Madi Wahlen are each finding ways to reject that mentality. Indeed, medical education is changing, perhaps slowly, to reinforce the idea that just because medicine can be a difficult life doesn't mean that you should obsessively look forward to the day it gets better. That day is a long way away, so do what you can (what you must) to be who you want to be even as you're drinking from the firehose. Also, we answer one of listener Mohamed's questions on how he can jump right into his first year this fall with his eyes on patient advocacy.
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[Content warning: this episode contains frank discussions of mental health and mentions suicide.]Getting your support systems in order is key to success in med school with a mental health diagnosis. In this episode listener Haley, who is considering medical school while managing a bipolar diagnosis has been told by her psychiatrist that med school probably isnât for her. PA2 Julie Vuong, M3 Shauna Liu, M1 Riley Dean, and MD/PhD student Sebastian Gomez, join host Dave Etler share their personal experiences with mental health challenges, including anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD. The crew candidly discusses the importance of seeking support, the stigma around mental health, and the accommodations available in medical school. Advice is offered on forming a strong support network, being open about personal struggles, and leveraging mental health diagnoses as a unique strength in the medical field. The episode concludes with insights into the support systems to look for in a school, the balance of life and medical education, and the significance of mental health awareness.
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Sign up for the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Professional and Graduate School Virtual Conference! https://theshortcoat.com/premed/Compared to MDs, the PA profession offers flexible employment and a (relatively) relaxed path to a healthcare career. Dave teams up with PA2s Noah Vasquez, Olivia Quinby, and Anna Cole, and PA1 Chloe Kepros to celebrate PA Week 2024! The crew looks at the unique challenges and experiences of being a physician assistant student, like why they chose the profession, the contrasts between themselves and their MD-student colleagues, the value of diverse educational backgrounds, the clinical experiences theyâve gathered along the way, the lessons theyâre learning watching people in other healthcare roles, and how their different pre-PA work experiences shape their perspectives and skills. Plus, without the additional hoops physicians must jump through (eg., their match process, residency education, and state licensing), PAs enjoy a flexibility of employment thatâs unmatched in the MD world.
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Sheâs arguably the better host. Dave is too tired to helm the show, so he lured Admissions Coordinator Rachel Shulista to be on the show, then hands over the hosting duties to her while he instead takes a co-hostâs chair! Joined by M3 Jeff Goddard, and M2s Taryn OâBrien and Fallon Jung, the group discusses the questions that Fallon apparently has had tucked away in her drafts folder and never sent in back when she was a listener. The episode also dives into serious discussions, such as the approach to end-of-life care, the importance of mental health among medical professionals, and personal reflections on lifeâs purpose. Midway, a spontaneous game of pondering deep questions amidst in-depth conversations about the medical profession, aging, and life choices. And stay to the end to see Daveâs movie star doppelganger, according to Rachel.
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Sign up for the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Professional and Graduate School Virtual Conference! https://theshortcoat.com/premedBalancing Medical School Ambitions and Personal Well-beingDave is joined by M2 Taryn OâBrien, M1 Sarah Sarah Lowenberg, Luke Geis, and Radha Velamuri dive into some listener questions, including from Charlotte, a senior in college recently accepted into medical school who is doing a lot and wants to do more. Meanwhile, Moesha wrote in to ask how pre-meds can stop feeling like theyâre not doing enough! And a 70-year-old man graduates from medical school proving that too much is never enough. Whatâs the balance between gaining more experience and taking time to relax? How might Charlotte balance personal well-being and enjoying oneâs remaining college days? The cohosts share their own challenges, including managing self-doubt and the rigorous demands of medical school. We also play a fun game in which Dave proposes that Radha be the dean of a medical school for cave people, and that the others practice communicating biomedical terms to her new clan.
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Are You The Asshole?
Dave is joined by co-hosts M1 Alec Marticoff, M1 Zach Grissom, PA1 Chloe Kepros, and M2 Holly Hemann. Together, they adjudicate several of redditâs Am I The Asshole submissions. Why is discussing MCAT scores such treacherous ground? Is it an overreaction to get a second opinion? Are UFC/MMA fights sacrosanct? They also explore what itâs like to be involved in relationships with medical students (it ainât easy), and the sacrifices each partner should be prepared to make. These stories of struggle and strife offer an inside look into what itâs like to be, date, and prepare for a life with a medical student. Share todayâs episode with your partner!
We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!We welcome your feedback, listener questions, and shower thoughts. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Can we answer a question for you? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? Let us know at https://theshortcoat.com/tellus and weâll put your message in a future episode. Or email [email protected].
We want to know more about you:
We do more things onâŠ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortcoatYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theshortcoatYou deserve to be happy and healthy. If youâre struggling with racism, harassment, hate, your mental health, or some other crisis, visit http://theshortcoat.com/help, and send additions to the resources there to [email protected]. We love you. Music provided by Argofox. License: bit.ly/CCAttribution
DOCTOR VOX â Heatstroke: youtu.be/j1n1zlxzyRE
Catmosphere â Candy-Coloured Sky: youtu.be/AZjYZ8Kjgs8
Hexalyte â Wandering Hours: youtu.be/FOAo2zsYnvA⊠-
Dr. Marty Makary is a public health researcher and bestselling author whose new book, Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets it Wrong and What It Means for Our Health, is an incredibly accessible exploration of the pitfalls of medical groupthink and the importance of questioning deeply held assumptions in medicine. It explores how medical training often suppresses big-picture thinking and critical questioning. Co-hosts M2 Alex Nigg, PA2 Julie Vuong, and M3 Jeff Goddard, and M2 Fallon Jung talk with Dr Makary about the disconnect between whatâs practiced in medicine and science, the dangers of dismissing new ideas due to fear of association with discredited concepts, and the significance of maintaining scientific objectivity. The episode combines personal anecdotes, practical advice for navigating medical school, and a thought-provoking discussion on improving transparency and trust in healthcare. Join us for an engaging exploration of the critical issues in modern medicine and the role of young practitioners in driving change.
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Med Students discuss their âWhy Medicine?â answers. Dave welcomes newly minted medical and PA students at the Carver College of Medicine to share their first-week experiences and the challenges of adapting to medical school. M1s Sydney Skuodas, Michael Arrington, Alex Murra, Luke Geis, and PA1 Harrison Parker discuss what theyâve learned about time management, personal growth during âgap years,â overcoming imposter syndrome, and balancing personal life with rigorous medical training. The co-hosts also discuss the personal motivations behind their decisions to pursue medicine, revealing stories of past careers, family influences, and the aspiration to impact lives directly. Donât worry about the shock device weâre using, Iâm sure theyâre fine, plus it was Lukeâs idea.
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M2s Leticia Franciso and Gizzy Keeler, who served as orientation leaders for this year's new crop of medical and PA students, were in a good position to talk about the experience of transitioning from Orientation Week to the first year of medical school, highlighting the changes in attitudes and relationships they saw. They, along with PA2 Julie Vuong and M4 Katie Higham-Kessler compare the pre-med and medical school environments and offer advice to incoming students. And our admissions expert Rachel Schulista returns to help answer questions from listener JustAGirl who's trying to stay sane during the application process while the other applicants around her are not being especially helpful, and listener Chris's worry that he's looking to the future at the expense of the present. Plus, the importance of having diverse experiences, the real value of personal statements in applications, and why the pursuit of genuine personal interests will help you get into med school and beyond. Join us!
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Med School is a non-trivial endeavor, but against the backdrop of a new class of MD and PA students arriving at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Dave and the co-hostsâincluding M3 Hend Al-Kaylani, PA2 Julie Vuong, M2 Gizzy Keeler, and M3 Trent Gilbertâshare their humorous and sometimes âsmellyâ experiences from their first semester, play a trivia game Dave made up called âBlechardy with Alex Trebot 2.0,â and eat jelly beans. This is high-yield stuff, folks.
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Itâs another trip through Reddit, arbiter of A-holishnessWhat lessons does medical school teach? Aside from the foundations of cellular life, mechanisms of health and disease, and clinical and professional skills? As M2 Holly Hemann, MD/PhD student Miranda Schene, PA Professor Jeremy Nelson, and PA1 Julie Vuong discover, it can teach you where itâs not appropriate to study external reproductive anatomy, that some people consider wearing scrubs an example of stolen valor, and that itâs sometimes best for a student to keep his mouth shut. Itâs okay, weâre here to learn from each other!We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
We welcome your feedback, listener questions, and shower thoughts. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Can we answer a question for you? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? Let us know at https://theshortcoat.com/tellus and weâll put your message in a future episode. Or email [email protected].
We want to know more about you:
We do more things onâŠ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortcoatYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theshortcoatYou deserve to be happy and healthy. If youâre struggling with racism, harassment, hate, your mental health, or some other crisis, visit http://theshortcoat.com/help, and send additions to the resources there to [email protected]. We love you. Music provided by Argofox. License: bit.ly/CCAttribution
DOCTOR VOX â Heatstroke: youtu.be/j1n1zlxzyRE
Catmosphere â Candy-Coloured ... -
Why perfect isnât always the goal
Listener Noah wrote to us from the UK askingâamong other thingsâhow he could flourish when he starts medical school. One statement caught our eye, however: that he was determined to do everything right the first time. M4s Matt Engelken, Chirayu Shukla, Happy Kumar, and Jacob Lam discuss their perspective on how thatâs not necessarily the right goal to aim for.
Then listener Tiffany, a med student herself, asked the boys how they prepared for the Step 1 licensing exam. That word âlicensing,â it turns out, is importantâas a pass/fail exam, this isnât like most exams, where the goal is to get as close to perfection as is possible. Instead, the idea is to demonstrate your general knowledge and pass without losing your mind.
We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!We welcome your feedback, listener questions, and shower thoughts. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Can we answer a question for you? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? Let us know at https://theshortcoat.com/tellus and weâll put your message in a future episode. Or email [email protected].
We want to know more about you:
We do more things onâŠ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshortcoatYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theshortcoatYou deserve to be happy and healthy. If youâre struggling with racism, harassment, hate, your mental health, or some other crisis, visit http://theshortcoat.com/help, and send additions to the resources there to [email protected]. We love you. Music provided by Argofox. License: bit.ly/CCAttribution
DOCTOR VOX â Heatstroke: -
This week, M3 Jeff Goddard, M2 Taryn O'Brien, and MD/PhD student Riley Behan Bush are on hand to discuss July's news. First, it's hard to ignore Johns Hopkins joining the tuition free bandwagon thanks to Michael Bloomberg...but this gift goes further...maybe it could actually have a desired effect! Meanwhile, the New York Times offered an expose on a practice that might prey on the emotions of anxious new parents--cord blood stem cell storage. And the public health world marks the passing of the man who exposed the infamous Tuskegee Study...a scandal that's still reverberating today.
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Sometimes everyoneâs a jerk. The hosts discuss the importance of self-evaluation in medicine, but sometimes you just gotta askâwas I a jerk? Dave Etler, MD/PhD student Miranda Schene, M4 Happy Kumar, and M2 Holly Hemann use Redditâs âAm I the Asshole?â submissions to exploring feelings of impostor syndrome, the ethics of classroom behavior, fair recognition of achievements, and cases of medical malpractice. Along the way, they provide practical advice for medical school admissions, dissect the delicate balance of maintaining professionalism in the medical field, and what to think when even mom craps on your dreams. Shut up, mom!
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LIstener Neurotic Premed dropped us a message at https://theshortcoat.com/tellus to ask what medical students in long-distance relationships, both platonic and romantic, do to keep them alive and healthy. MD/PhD student Madi Wahlen, M2 Fallon Jung, M3 Jeff Goddard, an PA2 Julie Vuong have a lot of experience in that area. From long-distance parenting to making sure friends still feel connected, it takes planning and intentionality along with a slight tweak to what it means to be "together." They share how they do it successfully!Plus, Chinese researchers appear to have cured a man of his diabetes, Ozempic is powerful enough to affect the food and beverage industry's bottom lines, and Florida allows c-sections outside of hospitals in a bid to improve access.
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M1 Fallon Jung, PA1 Olivia Quinby, MD/PhD student Faith Prochaska, M2 Jeff Goddard, and special guest Dr. Peter Kaboli dive deep into the heart of rural medicine. We kick off with a candid discussion about growing up in small towns and how these experiences shape our understanding of community and healthcare. Dr. Kaboli, an expert in rural health with the Veterans' Administration, shares his insights into the nuances of rural medicine. We explore the multifaceted challenges and rewards of practicing medicine in rural settings, from the importance of forming deep connections with patients to navigating the scarcity of healthcare resources. Telemedicine, workforce issues, geographic barriers, and the digital divide are central to the art of medicine in small towns and on county roads, sometimes requiring innovative approaches to healthcare delivery.
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