medical school stress Archives

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What med schools don’t tell you about hitting pause.

Turns out, pausing med school can actually be the smartest career move. Whether you’re spiraling in burnout, floundering in step prep, or just eyeballing that MPH, here’s an option you should consider: taking a leave of absence.

MD/PhD student Riley Behan-Bush, and M2s Srishti Mathur, Megan Perry, and Jay Miller take on the taboo option you’ll only find in the student handbook—what happens when med students hit pause. From Riley’s built-in MD/PhD “leave” to Srishti’s public health ambitions and Dave’s stats on distress, the Short Coats break down the reasons people step back… and why they return stronger.

Of course, going on leave isn’t without risks. The crew spills on insurance nightmares, loan limbo, and the heartbreak of watching your classmates match without you. But they also dish on planning your leave, making it productive, and protecting your peace.

Look to your left. Look to your right. Y’all are going to graduate.

Episode credits:

Producer: Dave Etler
Co-hosts: Riley Behan-Bush, Srishti Mathur, Jay Miller, Megan Perry

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What happens when medical students trade books for the chaos of real patient care

They spent months and months learning medicine from books. Then suddenly, they were thrown into hospitals with real patients, real pressure, and only the barest clue what they were doing. In this episode, Dave sits down with M4s Jacob Hanson and Happy Kumar, and M3s Zay Egren and Tony El-Sokkari to relive their first clerkship experiences—the awkward mistakes, every unexpected challenge, and the moments that made them feel like they actually belonged in medicine. From simulated patients yelling at them, to missing the first day of a rotation, to being told never to ask an attending questions, the crew shares the ups and downs of transitioning into the hospital world. They also break down how to ask for feedback the right way, what attendings actually expect from students, and why residency interviews feel like a mix of speed dating and job interviews. Plus, a wild case of “cheese hands” (Xanthelasma, if you’re fancy) makes them all question their dietary choices.