Tag Archives: medical education

Short Coat Podcast

Federal Loan Caps & Medical School Debt: What Future Doctors Need to Know

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Medical School is Now More of a Gamble

Medical school just became a lot more expensive for some students and potentially impossible for others, thanks to the “Big Beautiful Bill.” We sit down with Chris Roling, University of Iowa’s financial aid guru, alongside M1 students Anna Royer and Isa Perez-Sandi, and M2 Maria Schapfel, to break down the most significant changes to medical student financial aid in decades. The new federal loan cap of $200,000 sounds generous until you realize the average four-year cost at public schools exceeds $280,000 and private schools hit $390,000. We talk through what happens when roughly a third of the student body already borrow more than the new limit would allow.

Chris explains how private loans work, why your credit score suddenly matters as much as your board scores, and what interest rates actually look like when federal options disappear. We examine the new Repayment Assistance Plan that replaces income-driven repayment, run the numbers on what unexpected life events could cost you, and discuss whether Public Service Loan Forgiveness is worth banking on (spoiler: Chris says don’t count on it).

Anna, Isa, and Maria share how these changes would’ve altered their medical school decisions, particularly for out-of-state students facing tuition bills that federal loans won’t touch. We also explore three-year MD programs as a potential cost-saving measure, debate whether institutions will actually lower tuition or just pass costs to students, and consider how these changes might further stratify who gets to become a doctor.

Plus, we tackle the week’s news: the Trump administration’s acetaminophen-autism claims, why AI still isn’t replacing radiologists despite 700 FDA-approved models, and the American College of Physicians calling for RFK Jr.’s removal from HHS.

Episode credits:

  • Producer: Dave Etler
  • Co-hosts: Maria Schapfel, Anna Royer, Isa Perez-Sandi
  • Guest: Chris Roling, CCOM Assistant Director of Financial Services

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.

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The Short Coat Podcast is FeedSpot’s Top Iowa Student Podcast, and its Top Iowa Medical Podcast!  Thanks for listening!

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Short Coat Podcast

The Sheriff is Watching, Ft. Bryan Carmody, MD (Recess Rehash)

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The Sheriff of Sodium investigates the current state and future of medical training

[We’re taking a vacation for a couple weeks, so while we rest and recharge enjoy this rerun!]

  • If you’ve wondered how well the system that trains future doctors works, or about what factors really determine which medical students get into the most competitive residency programs, this episode is for you.
  • M1 Fallon Jung, M2 Jeff Goddard, and M4 AJ Chowdhury get deep into these issues with a very special guest – Dr. Brian Carmody, known on his blog and YouTube channel as “The Sheriff of Sodium.”
  • Dr. Carmody, a pediatric nephrologist by training, closely analyzes and shares data-driven perspectives on medical education, pulling on threads to understand whether the current medical training system is truly functional, fair, and efficient, examining factors like student debt burdens, physician shortages projections, and the utility of metrics like Step 1 and Step 2 scores.
  • Like any good sheriff, Dr. Carmody is skeptical, especially about ideas like future physician shortages, and how schools report residency match outcomes.

More about our guest:

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.

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We do more things on…

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Short Coat Podcast

The Sheriff is Watching, Ft. Bryan Carmody, MD

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:15 — 48.8MB)

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The Sheriff of Sodium investigates the current state and future of medical training

  • If you’ve wondered how well the system that trains future doctors works, or about what factors really determine which medical students get into the most competitive residency programs, this episode is for you.
  • M1 Fallon Jung, M2 Jeff Goddard, and M4 AJ Chowdhury get deep into these issues with a very special guest – Dr. Brian Carmody, known on his blog and YouTube channel as “The Sheriff of Sodium.”
  • Dr. Carmody, a pediatric nephrologist by training, closely analyzes and shares data-driven perspectives on medical education, pulling on threads to understand whether the current medical training system is truly functional, fair, and efficient, examining factors like student debt burdens, physician shortages projections, and the utility of metrics like Step 1 and Step 2 scores.
  • Like any good sheriff, Dr. Carmody is skeptical, especially about ideas like future physician shortages, and how schools report residency match outcomes.

More about our guest:

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.

We want to know more about you: Take the Listener Survey

We do more things on…

Continue reading The Sheriff is Watching, Ft. Bryan Carmody, MD →
Short Coat Podcast

the Exam Table and Beyond: The Role of a Family Doctor

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An alumni of CCOM and SCP returns to prove: you can do it!

MD/PhD student Miranda Schene, M2 Jeff Goddard, and M1 Fallon Jung visit with alumni Teneme Konne, MD, now a second-year resident. They start by smacking their foreheads over AI-generated images in a recent medical journal, unpacking the rigorous demands of peer review and its pivotal role in scientific accuracy. The conversation then shifts to Dr. Konne’s journey in medicine, and the broad responsibilities of family medicine practitioners beyond clinical care. The resilience and growth he achieved during residency offer a comprehensive insight into the realities of becoming a doctor. Key moments include discussions on medical misinformation, the integral role of primary care physicians, and the personal and professional evolution experienced through residency. It wasn’t completely smooth, but he did it! And the crew discusses Medscape’s Physician Lifestyle & Happiness Report 2024.

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.

We want to know more about you: Take the Listener Survey

We do more things on…

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Short Coat Podcast

Bias, Baby Heads, and Memes

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Understanding others begins with asking questions.

  • M3 Jacob Hansen, and M1s Taryn O’Brien, Alex Nigg, and Fallon Jung consider recent studies highlighting the ineffectiveness of traditional implicit bias training and the disparities in medical care for children of color.
  • Jacob successfully finished Step 1 and the co-hosts tap him for some of his insights from clinical rotations, particularly learning he won’t be pursuing a career in surgery.
  • Dave tries to understand an important aspect of med student culture using his Gen X brain: memes, including their potential as educational tools.

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.

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We do more things on…

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Short Coat Podcast

Hot Takes: Med School Edition (Part 1?) (Recess Rehash)

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[It’s winter break for us here at the University of Iowa, so we’re taking a break. Our next new episode will be out January 18, 2024. In the meantime, enjoy this rerun!]

These might be very bad ideas…but we’ll talk about them anyway.

  • Riley leads a discussion with Jeff, Levi, and Katie of unpopular opinions about medicine and medical education.
  • Anki sucks! Gap years should be mandatory! All clerkships should be optional! 8th graders should review scientific papers!
  • We don’t know about you, listeners, but the co-hosts enjoyed this discussion so much you can look for a part 2 in December!

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”).

We want to know more about you: Take the Listener Survey

Continue reading Hot Takes: Med School Edition (Part 1?) (Recess Rehash) →
Short Coat Podcast

Hot Takes: Med School Edition (Part 1?)

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:01 — 60.4MB)

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These might be very bad ideas…but we’ll talk about them anyway.

  • Riley leads a discussion with Jeff, Levi, and Katie of unpopular opinions about medicine and medical education.
  • Anki sucks! Gap years should be mandatory! All clerkships should be optional! 8th graders should review scientific papers!
  • We don’t know about you, listeners, but the co-hosts enjoyed this discussion so much you can look for a part 2 in December!

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”).

We want to know more about you: Take the Listener Survey

Continue reading Hot Takes: Med School Edition (Part 1?) →
Short Coat Podcast

SCOTUS Changed Med Ed As We Know It with Dr. Abby hardy-Fairbanks

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CONTENT WARNING: We’re discussing a controversial subject. The opinions expressed are not those of the University of Iowa or any other institution. Listener discretion is advised.

We try to predict the future of medical training in light of the fall of Roe V. Wade

  • Dr. Abby Hardy Fairbanks, medical director of Iowa City’s Emma Goldman Clinic joins co-hosts MSTP students Madi and Riley, and M2s Mao and Tyler to help us understand how the recent SCOTUS decision striking down abortion as a federally protected right will affect their training.
  • The changes may extend beyond OB-Gyn training to affect other specialties…as well as the trust that confidentiality brings to the doctor-patient relationship.
  • Also, Dr. Hardy-Fairbanks talks about the advocacy roles physicians can take on, from state-house lobbying to voting to just being there for their patients.  

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”).

We want to know more about you: Take the Listener Survey

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Short Coat Podcast

How Med Students Would Change Medicine

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There’s plenty of change needed.

  • Dave asks his co-hosts to discuss the things they would like to change about medicine and medical education, if (when) they could.
  • A study in JAMA Pediatrics finds one reason students of color may drop out of med school: mistreatment.
  • Dave fiddles around with AI text-to-image software. Can his co-hosts guess what the AI was trying to create?

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”).

We want to know more about you: Take the Listener Survey

Continue reading How Med Students Would Change Medicine →
Short Coat Podcast

Quality over Quantity: Clinical Experiences and Volunteering in COVID Times

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yelling photo

[This episode is sponsored by Panacea Financial, a Division of Sonabank, Member FDIC. Please support our sponsor by visiting https://panaceafinancial.com/]

The Short Coats have begun livestreaming their recordings in our Facebook group (most Fridays at noon central–join us and be a part of the show). Listeners Garrett and Isaac wrote in with questions about the clinical hours schools want from their applicants. How important is the number of hours, asked Garrett, and what changes in that number are schools making in COVID times? Lucky for you, gentlemen, MD/PhD student Aline Sandouk, M3 Emma Barr, and M1s Alex Belzer and AJ Chowdhury are on the show to suss it out for you. Plus, we provide some suggestions for alternatives if the usual activities just aren’t available to you. And livestream viewer Cierra asks how we think this year’s experiences will change medical education. Did we learn new things about how to deliver medical education? Are students less prepared than they would otherwise have been?

A couple shows ago, Dave indulged himself in a rant about Americans’ seeming inability to follow best practices for spreading COVID, basically saying those folks are wimps. But a recent editorial in MedPageToday.com makes him reconsider his delivery.

We Want to Hear From You

How’d we do on this week’s show? Did we miss anything in our conversation? Did we anger you? Did we make you smile? Call us at 347-SHORTCT anytime  or email theshortcoats@gmail.com.  It’s always a pleasure to hear from you!