Tag Archives: Srishti Mathur

Five Med Students on Thriving in Clerkships

Five M3s explain what actually happens when preclinical learning meets real patients.

Dave sits down with a crew of M3s and one asterisked MSTP M4 — Riley Behan-Bush, Samantha Gardner, Srishti Mathur, Sahana Sarin, and Sarah Upton — to talk about the actual experience of clerkships: what the jump from three semesters of preclinical book-learning into surgery, psychiatry, emergency medicine, and family medicine really feels like, why the first two weeks can swing from “best of med school” to “worst of med school” depending entirely on the rotation you land, and how you’re supposed to figure out your place on a team that changes every two weeks. They dig into the actual mechanics of honoring a clerkship — shelf exam cutoffs that can sit at 90%+, evaluations that make up 70-80% of a grade, and the particular indignity of missing honors by a single point after doing everything right.

The group works through how to handle conflicting instructions from residents and attendings, how to ask questions without challenging the hierarchy (“for my own understanding, can you explain why you decided…”), and how to actually figure out a specialty when you love everything, including surgery where you’ll stand for hours. Sahana’s pros-and-cons journal after every rotation gets a real endorsement. Also, they answer a batch of questions submitted by their own preclinical classmates: how much free time you actually get (some), whether Des Moines versus Iowa City rotations matter (it depends what you want out of medicine), and what actually makes clerkship life easier — which turns out to be a year’s supply of Costco garbage bags, a cellular hotspot, and, for at least one host, a husband who meal preps.

Episode credits:

  • Producer: Isa Perez-Sandi
  • Co-hosts: Srishti Mathur, Sarah Upton, Samantha Gardner, Riley Behan Bush, Sahana Sarin
  • Production: SCP Media Lab–Anna Royer, Cyrus Barati, Isa Perez-Sandi, Zach Grissom, Sarah Upton, Srishti Mathur, David Lee, and Jacob Thompson 

[URL template for episode https://media.blubrry.com/theshortcoat/podcast.uiowa.edu/com/osa/CHANGETHIS.mp3]

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa, the Carver College of Medicine, or the State of Iowa. All discussions are intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. Nothing said on this podcast should be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always seek qualified professional guidance for personal decisions.

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.

We need to know more about you! https://surveys.blubrry.com/theshortcoat (email a screenshot of the confirmation screen to theshortcoats@gmail.com with your mailing address and Dave will mail you a thank you package!)

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

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From Bartending to Bedside: What Our Pre-Med Jobs Taught Us About Medicine (Recess Rehash)

[Dave’s out of the office this week, so please enjoy this previously released episode!]

No med student starts with a blank slate

If you’re thinking of starting over and going to med school, you might wonder what your previous jobs have done to prepare you for it. Good news: your old jobs and activities might matter more than your GPA ever will.

In this episode, M2s Samantha Gardner, Sarah Upton, Nick Lembezeder, and Srishti Mathur unpack the skills they didn’t know they’d use in medicine—the ones they gained by being not-a-doctor. From surviving music juries to calming drunk uncs, from educating bros about consent to making the hard calls without enough information, they’ve found the road to medicine is rarely straight—and that’s probably a good thing.

Also, why confidence is overrated and how to react when given feedback (hint: STFU). Oh, and we hear from a listener who wants to know if we were super studious in high school. We try to let him down gently.

Episode credits:

  • Producer: Dave Etler
  • Co-hosts: Srishti Mathur, Nick Lembezeder, Samantha Gardner, Sarah Upton

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the official positions of the University of Iowa, the Carver College of Medicine, or the State of Iowa. All discussions are intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. Nothing said on this podcast should be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always seek qualified professional guidance for personal decisions.

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.

We need to know more about you! https://surveys.blubrry.com/theshortcoat (email a screenshot of the confirmation screen to theshortcoats@gmail.com with your mailing address and Dave will mail you a thank you package!)

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

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Clown Shoes, Attending Feedback, and a Very Quiet Goose

Med School Students and Staff Rank Weird Situations

This week M3s Srishti Mathur and Zach Grissom are joined by CCOM admissions expert Rachel Shulista and the PA Program clinicals coordinator Andrew Dao. You might think they’re here to offer their expertise in some informative way so that Short Coat Listeners can benefit. You’d be wrong, because Dave is making everyone rank things nobody should have to rank: how believable your excuse for missing sleep is, how harsh your last piece of attending feedback was, how likely you are to botch a procedure you’ve never done before. It’s another round of our special version of That Escalated Quickly, the card game where the only rule committing to the rank.

Can a very quiet goose gets past MCAT exam security? It’s a question worth knowing the answer to. After all, test day involves tattoo checks and confiscated glasses. We explore how to tell grandma you’re dropping out of med school to make clown shoes. Srishti verifies that Rachel’s forehead isn’t covered in fishing bait before giving it a lil kiss. Rachel, who reads every single admissions application that crosses her desk (but does not make decisions on them, she swears, don’t @her) does not appreciate Dave’s BS and tells him he’s the problem.

Also, we settle the eternal question on how to answer “why do you want to be a doctor” at a party, and Dave does an Obama impression that everybody agrees needs work.

Episode credits:

  • Producer: Dave Etler
  • Co-hosts: Srishti Mathur, Zach Grissom, Rachel Shulista, Andrew Dao
  • Production: SCP Media Lab–Anna Royer, Cyrus Barati, Isa Perez-Sandi, Zach Grissom, Sarah Upton, Srishti Mathur, David Lee, and Jacob Thompson 

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa, the Carver College of Medicine, or the State of Iowa. All discussions are intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. Nothing said on this podcast should be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always seek qualified professional guidance for personal decisions.

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.

We need to know more about you! https://surveys.blubrry.com/theshortcoat (email a screenshot of the confirmation screen to theshortcoats@gmail.com with your mailing address and Dave will mail you a thank you package!)

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

Continue reading Clown Shoes, Attending Feedback, and a Very Quiet Goose →
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Choosing a Professional Identity: Beyond Medical School Classes

How medical schools help students figure out what kind of doctor they’ll be.

Looking at medical school and wondering what you’ll actually *do* with all that training? Like, you know you’ll doctor…but in what way? What will that look like for you?

Luckily, most schools have something like the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine’s distinction tracks—formal project-based programs that let med school students dig deeper into teaching, research, humanities, global health, service, or healthcare leadership while they’re grinding through anatomy and clinicals.

Dave visits with M2s Tyler Pollock, Maria Schapfel, Srishti Mathur, and M1 Anna Royer for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about what these tracks actually look like from the inside. You’ll hear about Maria’s six weeks in Gabon for global health, Anna’s quilting project for humanities (yes, really), Tyler’s surgery database for teaching, and why Srishti thinks everyone should do the service track. They get into the messy reality of balancing these co-curricular activities with courses, clerkships, and shelf exams; debate whether research culture in medical school is actually helping anyone; and what things get in the way of the other things. If you’re trying to figure out how to become the kind of doctor you actually want to be—not just survive med school—this conversation will show you what’s possible beyond the curriculum.

Episode credits:

  • Producer: Tyler Pollock
  • Co-hosts: Srishti Mathur, Maria Schapfel, Anna Royer

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa, the Carver College of Medicine, or the State of Iowa. All discussions are intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. Nothing said on this podcast should be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always seek qualified professional guidance for personal decisions.

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.

We need to know more about you! https://surveys.blubrry.com/theshortcoat (email a screenshot of the confirmation screen to theshortcoats@gmail.com with your mailing address and Dave will mail you a thank you package!)

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

Continue reading Choosing a Professional Identity: Beyond Medical School Classes →
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Demand to Be Called ‘Doctor,’ or Let It Slide (AITA)? (Recess Rehash)

[It’s winter break, and everything has come to a halt here, including podcasting. We’ll be back soon, promise!]

Reddit’s “Am I the Asshole?” makes us question everything

Reddit’s “AITA?” brings out the best and worst in people—and this week, we’re analyzing some choice cases through the lens of med school. M1s Srishti Mathur, Sahana Sarin, Maria Schapfel, and Mahaasrei Ghosh debate whether people in these scenarios are truly in the wrong or just victims of someone having a very bad day.

We break down the pressure on pre-meds and med students to do research, the value of publications, and the “gunner” mentality. Is bench research a necessary evil, or are pre-meds wasting their time? When is it appropriate to insist on being called ‘Doctor?’ Is it okay to go nuclear to take someone down a notch when they need it? Is a degree in design and marketing as important as an MD? It’s a chaotic mix of ethics, egos, and existential crises—so strap in.

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.

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

Continue reading Demand to Be Called ‘Doctor,’ or Let It Slide (AITA)? (Recess Rehash) →
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Family expectations, culture clashes, and career priorities: Who’s the A-Hole? (Recess Rehash)

[Due to Thanksgiving break, we have no new episode this week for you, but here’s a good one from our back catalog!]

When your boyfriend’s an OB/GYN and your friends can’t chill

We’re passing judgment, because someone has to. This week’s Reddit-fueled medical panel takes on uncomfortable questions that your group chat definitely isn’t ready for: Is dating an OB-GYN inherently weird? Should your partner be your #1 even when you’re literally delivering babies at 3 AM? And what happens when your parents think taking three days off is career suicide?

We drag a few well-meaning but very misinformed relatives, unpack how culture collides with medicine, and dissect how med students actually keep their relationships alive. Plus, one brave listener dares to ask: “Can I move out of my family’s one-bedroom and still be a good daughter?”

Expect spicy, real talk, and a few questionable ideas we’re choosing not to redact.

Episode credits:

  • Producer: Holly Hemann
  • Co-hosts: Srishti Mathur, Samantha Gardner, Kate Timboe, Alexis Baker

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.

We need to know more about you! https://surveys.blubrry.com/theshortcoat (email a screenshot of the confirmation screen to theshortcoats@gmail.com with your mailing address and Dave will mail you a thank you package!)

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

Continue reading Family expectations, culture clashes, and career priorities: Who’s the A-Hole? (Recess Rehash) →
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The Rural Doc Crisis and the Med Students Who Plan to Be Where They’re Most Needed

The Truths and Solutions for Small-Town Healthcare.

We’re talking about rural medicine, where the needs are huge, the systems are broken, and sometimes, you just have to trust the process. Did you know that rural Americans have only 13.1 docs per 10,000 people compared to 31.2 in urban areas? Yeah, the need is real. But why are these students signing up for the challenge? And what the heck does a $50 billion Senate program have to say about processed cheese slices?

M2s Srishti Mathur, Megan Perry, Kassidy Brady, and M1 Megan Ahman grew up seeing the healthcare gaps firsthand, and now they’re dreaming of a career in rural medicine. From small town Iowa, Nevada, and Illinois, they explain that coming from a smaller area often fosters a skewed (but positive) perception of healthcare. Learn why practicing in a smaller community will allow them to wear multiple hats and take on greater roles, not just as a physician but as advocates for public health.

We look at the incentive programs designed to lure doctors into underserved areas, offering significant loan forgiveness if you practice primary care rurally for a number of years. We then open up the debate on compulsory rural service (a common practice in other countries). Does it work? We also discuss the new $50 billion Senate program intended to transform rural healthcare, analyzing the requirement for physicians to take continuing education on nutrition, and Feds’ barring of low-income people from buying “non-nutritious” foods (whatever that means).

You’ll discover the crucial pros and cons of rural practice, the opportunities rural physicians have to offer a wider medical practice than would be practical in an urban setting. The crew examines how telehealth might bridge the specialist gap, not just for patient-to-physician interaction, but for physician-to-physician collaboration. We also explore the valuable lessons learned from required under-resourced community rotations, emphasizing that knowing where patients come from and learning the community culture is beneficial, even for future urban specialists.

Finally, stick around as we take an unexpected, macroscopic look at everyday office objects and ultra-processed food–things look great from a distance but are confusing, even off-putting, when you zoom in; but can the co-hosts figure out what they’re seeing?

Episode credits:

  • Producer: Megan Perry, Kassidy Brady
  • Co-hosts: Srishti Mathur, Megan Ahmann

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa, the Carver College of Medicine, or the State of Iowa. All discussions are intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. Nothing said on this podcast should be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always seek qualified professional guidance for personal decisions.

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.

We need to know more about you! https://surveys.blubrry.com/theshortcoat (email a screenshot of the confirmation screen to theshortcoats@gmail.com with your mailing address and Dave will mail you a thank you package!)

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

Continue reading The Rural Doc Crisis and the Med Students Who Plan to Be Where They’re Most Needed →
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My Family Thinks I’m a Doctor Already

What med students wish their families actually understood about medical school

Your family means well… but when you start med school, suddenly every ache, rash, and conspiracy theory in the house is your domain! In this episode, the Short Coat crew gets real about what it’s like to be seen as a doctor when you’re really drowning in flashcards.

M2s Srishti Mathur and Nick Abouassally, and M1s Anna Royer, and Drew Bolisay trade stories about how their families misread med school life — from assuming they’re “on the wards” in year one to asking them to diagnose random symptoms at family gatherings.

They unpack what kind of support actually helps (spoiler: food) and what doesn’t (“It’s just a season of life, honey”). You’ll hear heartfelt moments about parental pride, intergenerational tension, and cultural expectations — plus a final improv game that proves even fake medicine is hard work.

If you’ve ever tried to explain Step 1 to your grandma, this one’s for you.

Episode credits:

  • Producer: Dave Etler
  • Co-hosts: Srishti Mathur, Nick Abouassally, Anna Royer, Drew Bolisay

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa, the Carver College of Medicine, or the State of Iowa. All discussions are intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. Nothing said on this podcast should be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always seek qualified professional guidance for personal decisions.

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.

We need to know more about you! https://surveys.blubrry.com/theshortcoat (email a screenshot of the confirmation screen to theshortcoats@gmail.com with your mailing address and Dave will mail you a thank you package!)

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

Continue reading My Family Thinks I’m a Doctor Already →
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From Bartending to Bedside: What Our Pre-Med Jobs Taught Us About Medicine

No med student starts with a blank slate

If you’re thinking of starting over and going to med school, you might wonder what your previous jobs have done to prepare you for it. Good news: your old jobs and activities might matter more than your GPA ever will.

In this episode, M2s Samantha Gardner, Sarah Upton, Nick Lembezeder, and Srishti Mathur unpack the skills they didn’t know they’d use in medicine—the ones they gained by being not-a-doctor. From surviving music juries to calming drunk uncs, from educating bros about consent to making the hard calls without enough information, they’ve found the road to medicine is rarely straight—and that’s probably a good thing.

Also, why confidence is overrated and how to react when given feedback (hint: STFU). Oh, and we hear from a listener who wants to know if we were super studious in high school. We try to let him down gently.

Episode credits:

  • Producer: Dave Etler
  • Co-hosts: Srishti Mathur, Nick Lembezeder, Samantha Gardner, Sarah Upton

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the official positions of the University of Iowa, the Carver College of Medicine, or the State of Iowa. All discussions are intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. Nothing said on this podcast should be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always seek qualified professional guidance for personal decisions.

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.

We need to know more about you! https://surveys.blubrry.com/theshortcoat (email a screenshot of the confirmation screen to theshortcoats@gmail.com with your mailing address and Dave will mail you a thank you package!)

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

Continue reading From Bartending to Bedside: What Our Pre-Med Jobs Taught Us About Medicine →
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Going on Leave: The Power Move No One Talks About in Med School

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

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.

We need to know more about you! https://surveys.blubrry.com/theshortcoat (email a screenshot of the confirmation screen to theshortcoats@gmail.com with your mailing address and Dave will mail you a thank you package!)

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

Continue reading Going on Leave: The Power Move No One Talks About in Med School →
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