Listener Noah wrote to us from the UK asking–among other things–how 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 that’s 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 “licensing,” it turns out, is important–as a pass/fail exam, this isn’t 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 we’ll put your message in a future episode. Or email theshortcoats@gmail.com.
[I’m releasing this second version with no background sound effects, for our friends who might find such things annoying. –Dave]
Come to our weird, casual get-together.
Dave hosts a weird cocktail party for his co-hosts, M1s Fallon Jung and Taryn O’Brian, MD/PhD student Jacqueline Nielson, and M3 Chirayu Shukla.
The group dives into a variety of topics: surreal dreams, spring break plans, which celebrity they would replace one of their organs with, book recommendations, personal stories, and AI-generated songs about Menards and Chirayu’s curtailed tennis career.
AI song lyrics
A Podcaster at Heart
I’m an administrative services coordinator But my heart’s on the mic, a podcast connoisseurIn a cubicle, with paperwork piled high But all I wanna do is let my voice fly
I got responsibilities, emails to send But my mind’s on the episodes I haven’t penned I sneak in headphones, catchin’ up on my faves Dreamin’ ’bout the day I’ll be podcastin’ my own ways (ooh-yeah)
[Chorus]I’m a podcaster at heart Living for those podcastin’ vibes, it’s an art While spreadsheets stack up, I’m in my own zone Dreamin’ ’bout the day when podcastin’ is my throne
The Jig of the Horse Loving Medic
Oh, I’m a medical student, learnin’ day and night But when I’m not studyin’, I’ve got a different delight I love horses, they bring me so much joy And Menards, oh Menards, it’s like a superstore of toys
[Chorus]I take long walks down every aisle at Menards (oh yeah) From the lumber to the paint, it’s never too hard (woo!) With a bounce in my step, and a twinkle in my eye (uh-huh) I’m a horse-loving medic, livin’ life on a high (woo!)
No Regrets
[Verse] We don’t care ’bout the grades, don’t need no A’s Livin’ fast, we’re in a disobedient phase Don’t care ’bout the cash or the future ahead We’re just here for the punk rock, not the life we’re fed (ooh-yeah)
[Chorus] No regrets, we don’t give a damn Breakin’ all the rules, stickin’ it to the man No regrets, we live on the edge Skipping class, punk rock is what we pledge
Medicine or Tennis
In the dead of night, I’m stuck in time, Torn between two paths, My heart’s on the line,
A love for medicine. The field is my callin’ but the court’s my passion.
[URL template for episode https://media.blubrry.com/theshortcoat/podcast.uiowa.edu/com/osa/CHANGETHIS.mp3]
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? Leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”). Or email theshortcoats@gmail.com.
[This episode has some background sound, which maybe some listeners find annoying. Look for the second version, which has none of that. –Dave]
Come to our weird, casual get-together.
Dave hosts a weird cocktail party for his co-hosts, M1s Fallon Jung and Taryn O’Brian, MD/PhD student Jacquelyn Nielson, and M3 Chirayu Shukla.
The group dives into a variety of topics: surreal dreams, spring break plans, which celebrity they would replace one of their organs with, book recommendations, personal stories, and AI-generated songs about Menards and Chirayu’s curtailed tennis career.
AI song lyrics
A Podcaster at Heart
I’m an administrative services coordinator But my heart’s on the mic, a podcast connoisseurIn a cubicle, with paperwork piled high But all I wanna do is let my voice fly
I got responsibilities, emails to send But my mind’s on the episodes I haven’t penned I sneak in headphones, catchin’ up on my faves Dreamin’ ’bout the day I’ll be podcastin’ my own ways (ooh-yeah)
[Chorus]I’m a podcaster at heart Living for those podcastin’ vibes, it’s an art While spreadsheets stack up, I’m in my own zone Dreamin’ ’bout the day when podcastin’ is my throne
The Jig of the Horse Loving Medic
Oh, I’m a medical student, learnin’ day and night But when I’m not studyin’, I’ve got a different delight I love horses, they bring me so much joy And Menards, oh Menards, it’s like a superstore of toys
[Chorus]I take long walks down every aisle at Menards (oh yeah) From the lumber to the paint, it’s never too hard (woo!) With a bounce in my step, and a twinkle in my eye (uh-huh) I’m a horse-loving medic, livin’ life on a high (woo!)
No Regrets
[Verse] We don’t care ’bout the grades, don’t need no A’s Livin’ fast, we’re in a disobedient phase Don’t care ’bout the cash or the future ahead We’re just here for the punk rock, not the life we’re fed (ooh-yeah)
[Chorus] No regrets, we don’t give a damn Breakin’ all the rules, stickin’ it to the man No regrets, we live on the edge Skipping class, punk rock is what we pledge
Medicine or Tennis
In the dead of night, I’m stuck in time, Torn between two paths, My heart’s on the line,
A love for medicine. The field is my callin’ but the court’s my passion.
[URL template for episode https://media.blubrry.com/theshortcoat/podcast.uiowa.edu/com/osa/CHANGETHIS.mp3]
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? Leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”). Or email theshortcoats@gmail.com.
Happy Thanksgiving! Dave and co-hosts Matt, Miranda, Happy, and Chirayu take a moment to acknowledge and call out those they’re thankful for.
The gang settles an age-old question: what medical specialty would each Thanksgiving dish be?
Listener Thor wants to know: how can he be the best and most “helpful” shadower possible?
We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
No matter where you fall on any spectrum, we want your thoughts on our show. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? We’ll be sure your ideas are heard by all–leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”).
Physicians of the (all-too-near) future will face new challenges
Iowa College of Public Health Professor Peter Thorne visits with M4s Nathen and Zack, M3 Rick, and M2 Chirayu to look at what climate change means for doctors and patients in the future.
As seas rise and weather events become more and more severe, there will be changes to the kinds of conditions and people that physicians will treat.
Garrison writes in to ask us about a med school that just wants 90 credits and an MCAT–is it too good to be true?
We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
No matter where you fall on any spectrum, we want your thoughts on our show. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? We’ll be sure your ideas are heard by all–leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”).
Not all activities turn out to be useful, although that doesn’t mean they’re not worth it.
M2s Matt, Chirayu, and Jacob, and PA2 Ariel discuss the premed activities they found most helpful (as opposed to required) now that they’re in medical school.
The gang practice their patient interaction skills by delivering some fake bad news, then following that with fake breakthrough treatments.
We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
No matter where you fall on any spectrum, we want your thoughts on our show. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? We’ll be sure your ideas are heard by all–leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”).
Chirayu (M2), Maddie (M2), Tracy (M2) and new co-host Levi (MSTP) discuss the financial changes that doctors experienced after COVID, and whether a career in medicine makes as much financial sense as it once did.
MIT scientists use locust cyborgs to find cancer cells.
We visit with two premeds–Deeraj and Daniel–who are proving that competing with classmates is a losing strategy for studying medicine.
We Want to Hear From You: YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
No matter where you fall on any spectrum, we want your thoughts on our show. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? We’ll be sure your ideas are heard by all–leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”).
No matter where you fall on any spectrum, we want your thoughts on our show. Do you agree or disagree with something we said today? Did you hear something really helpful? Are we delivering a podcast you want to keep listening to? We’ll be sure your ideas are heard by all–leave a message at 347-SHORTCT (347-746-7828) and we’ll put your message in a future episode (use *67 to be an “Unknown caller”).
