A Second Opinion: The Voice of Your Future Doctors (A2O)

(Recorded in March 2021)On this week's episode, an episode release long overdue featuring then M4 (now PGY-1 at Vanderbilt Internal Medicine Residency) Rana Elgazzar.  Here her talk about her experiences growing up in Tennessee, being a Muslim woman in medicine, and Rana & Habeeb's QI project around Improving Obstetric Care for Muslim Women! Interview:  IntroductionWho is Rana Elgazzar? How did you get to where you are sitting right now?UpbringingHigh SchoolCollege/Pre-MedMedical SchoolDiscussion: Muslims & MedicineWhat is it like being Muslim in clinical spaces (either as provider and/or patient)? What is it like as a hijabi to interact with patients and colleagues who may have preconceived notions of you (or you should be)?What kind of issues have you seen or been involved in that deal with Muslim patients?Discussion: Caring for Muslim PatientsTell us about your quality improvement project:  “Improving Obstetric Care for Muslim Patients”; how did it start? What kind of work did you do? What were the results?There are often many ethical concerns that come to play when caring for Muslim patients.  Specifically, questions often arise about discrimination, preferential treatment, and whether accomodations are even possible.  What do you think about these issues? Are there practical ways that such issues can be tackled? Ending10 years from now:  where can we find you?Where can we follow you?

Our guest for this episode is Aisha Suara, a fourth year medical student at Vanderbilt Medical School, fellow A2O team member, and Habeeb's younger sister; listen to her talk about her journey to medicine, and what health equity and primary care mean to her.  Habeeb & Aisha also trade embarrassing stories from growing up and going to school together; you don't want to miss it!  Interview:  Introduction Who is Aisha Suara? How did you get to where you are sitting right now? Upbringing (Ethnic Background, Values, Influences/Role Models, etc.) High School (Challenges, Formative Experiences, etc.) College/Pre-Med (Motivations for pursuing medical school, challenges, etc.) Medical School Interview Topic #1: The Health Equity Lens What does health equity mean to you? How do you think your upbringing in rural Tennessee impacted your view of health equity and your goals as a physician? Interview Topic #2: Primary Care:  Med-Peds vs. Family Medicine How did you choose med-peds as your medical specialty?  How would you compare/contrast med-peds to family medicine? What about med-peds you to choose it as your way of providing primary care to patients instead of family medicine? What do you think about the perception of primary care as “easy” or “boring”? How do you plan to embody the principles of health equity into your career as a PCP? Conclusion Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Where can we find you? Where can we follow you?

****recorded in March 2021****This episode features Dr. Janice Bonsu, a recent graduate of The Ohio State College of Medicine. Soon after this recording, she became a PGY-1 in orthopedic surgery at Emory College of Medicine, where she is the first Black woman to become a part of their program!  Hear her discuss  the various major academic leadership positions she's held, the lessons she's learned along the way, and how she plans to pay it forward.Interview:  IntroductionWho are you? How did you get to where you are sitting right now?UpbringingHigh SchoolCollege/Pre-MedMedical SchoolInterview Topic #2:  LeadershipWhat does leadership mean to you?You have held many esteemed leadership roles, many of which have given you the opportunity to be an advocate that many, especially minorities are not privy to;  can you take us through your leadership journey and some of the cool opportunities you've been able to have?What perspectives do you feel are often missing in rooms and spaces of leadership? (i.e. seats at the table)Interview Topic #3:  Military Service Question #1:  Can you tell us more about your enlisting in the Air Force? What motivated you to serve your country?Question #2:  What did the Match mean for you?ConclusionWhere do you see yourself in 10 years? Where can we find you?Where can we follow you?

Season 2 is officially LIVE! Listen to Habeeb reflect on his recent match in Family Medicine and what things to expect for Season 2 of the show! 

In this audio recording of a recent interview about the COVID-19 Pandemic and recent events around police brutality and the movement for Black Lives, Habeeb offers his personal reflections on the past few months:  What living at home with a city councilwoman taught himWhy we should reframe our ideas on what's truly possible for our societyWhy we must keep the same energy in support of Black lives, equity, and diversityThe importance of being advocates and putting pressure on our leadersWhy medicine is not life - and finding what's really important in our livesYou can find a video excerpt on YouTube here, and the full video on Instagram Live here: 

On our SEASON FINALE, we talked with recent grads Dr. Emmanuel Boateng (Internal Medicine, Vanderbilt) and Dr. Shari Dunaway (Neurology, Ohio State).  Hear them talk about their journeys to medical school, their hottest takes on medical education and the COVID response, and their shoutouts to all of the people who have helped make their dreams of becoming a physician a reality.Introduction: Personal Introduction:  Who are you? Tell us about Your upbringingYour pre-medical journey & how you got to med schoolYour specialty choiceMOM I MADE IT! - Med School & Your Personal JourneyHow does it feel to be officially employed? To be living out the dream you’ve worked for for so long?How do you compare the person you were at white coat ceremony - to the person you are?What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started medical school?Hot TakesMedical EducationGive me your hottest take on medical education - Pre-clinicals, Step 1 & 2, Life on the Wards, etc.  - what do you think needs to change about the way we educate future physicians?COVID-19 - On The Front LinesDid you choose to graduate early? Why or Why not?What are your thoughts - as official medical professionals now - on the roles medical professionals have been playing?Shoutouts & Thank YousWho are the people who have been with you on this journey? Who are the people that you have been on this journey for?

The first of two parts of our group interview series with graduating medical students, with this week's guests Dr. Trent Johnson and Dr. Tiffany Clinton!  Hear them talk about how their lives have been affected by COVID-19, how they've coped with no having a graduation ceremony, and what the Match process is *really* like..Introduction: Personal Introduction:  Who are you? Tell us about Your upbringingYour pre-medical journey & how you got to med schoolMOM I MADE IT! How does it feel to be officially employed? To be living out the dream you’ve worked for for so long?COVID-19With COVID-19 affecting match, graduation, and most likely intern year - how do you feel about all of these very sudden changes? And in what ways have you coped, adjusted, or innovated how you’ve chosen to celebrate your well-earned achievements?The MatchWalk Us Through the Match Process - give us the scoopWhat are applications like?What is the interview process like?How was making your match list?Shoutouts & Thank YousWho are the people who have been with you on this journey? Who are the people that you have been on this journey for?

***Originally recorded in November 2019***Our first episode of our #A2O2O Graduation series! On this episode, we interviewed recent medical school graduate and incoming dermatology resident Dr. Starling Tolliver!  Hear her talk about her journey to medicine, how tragedy motivated her to start Ohio State's MAPS Chapter, how she was able to succeed in medical school, and her thoughts on health & hair for Black patientsIntroduction: Who is Starling Tolliver? How did you get to where you are sitting right now? Your Story - Pre-Medical JourneyHow was navigating pre-med courses here in college as a student of color?What were some of the challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?You mention on your blog about the significant impact of a tragic event that occurred to a close friend of yours during your undergraduate years. How did manifest into the work you do today?Beasting Medical SchoolDuring your time in medical school, you have excelled in the classroom, with pretty excellent grades.  AND you obliterated the behemoth that is USMLE Step 1, with a score of over 250!  What is your key to success? Health & Hair for BlackWhat motivates you to be a dermatologist? Why do you think it is important to prioritize hair & skin care for melanated men and women?ClosingNext 10 years - where do you see yourself?  What is Dr. Starling Tolliver up to?Where can we follow you? How can we support you?

In this episode, we interview Mark McIntyre, MBA, a rising fourth-year medical student who dishes on how he's stayed involved during the pandemic, the unexpected changes to exam testing/preparing for boards (#Prometric), and the health disparities affecting minority communitiesWhat have you been up to during this time-off?How have you been involved in the COVID-19 response? What have you been observing?How has COVID-19 affected your fourth year plans and schedule? What's going on with Prometric and USMLE testing?How would you grade our response as a country to COVID-19?How do you believe minority communities have been affecting during this pandemic/social isolation period?

This episode features first year medical student Amara Ndumele, who inspires us all with her story to medical school, the obstacles she's faced, the passions she has, and the future she hopes to shape.Introduction: Who is Amara Ndumele? How did you grow up and what brings you to OhioYour StoryPLAY PODCAST CLIP (final 2 minutes)Tell us your thoughts on what “reform” truly means to youThe importance of mentorship - Who are some of the great influences in your life who have reformed you? (Shout em out!)As an aspiring physician and a passionate advocate:  what areas of medicine & society do you think are in need of the most reform?How do you think we can begin to address these issues?ClosingWhen your life and your career is all said and done, how do you hope people will remember you? What sort of things do you hope to do? What is the legacy you look to leave behind?  Where can we follow you? How can we support you?

-- Originally recorded in Fall 2019 --On this episode, A2O Host Habeeb Suara sits down in the guest's chair to answer questions on his journey to medical school, his upbringing in rural TN, and his inspiration for starting the podcast!  Phillip Anjum, a second year medical student at OSUCOM and award-winning filmmaker/storyteller, serves as the show's host today and offers his thoughts on the future of medicine/physician workforce as well.IntroductionWho is Habeeb? How did you get to where you are sitting right now? How did your upbringing in rural TN impact your outlook on life and on medicine?What does being a physician mean to you?How did A2O Podcast get started?Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

A2O is back with new episodes!  Habeeb provides some of his reflections during this time, as well as updates on what to expect from our new episodes and questions we should answer during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Current M2 and Former College Athletes Brian Fowler tells his story growing up in Upstate NY, his days as a college football player at Central Connecticut State, and how he re-routed his life to become a Black Man in MedicineIntroduction: Who is Brian Fowler? How did you get to where you are sitting right now? Your StoryTell us more about your athletic career; when did you start playing? How did you pick football?; and tell us about how it progressed until the end of collegeBoth Sports & Medicine involve plenty of commitment, work outside the “arena”, and lots of preparation.  Given that, how would you compare and contrast athletics & medicine.  Are they pretty similar? Or you find them to be two completely endeavors?How did you decide medical school/a career in medicine was for you? What steps did you take the steps to get there?Defying the Odds - For All Those Who Said We Couldn’t Make ItAlong the way, did you have any naysayers? How did you deal with them? And did you decision to pursue medicine fracture any friendships or relationships?What does being a Black Man in Medicine mean to you?Let’s say your younger self was in this studio, sitting right now in front of you.  What would you say to him? What advice would you give?ClosingLet’s fast forward 10 years; where can we expect to find Dr. Brian Fowler? Where can we follow you? How can we support you?

Current M3 and Future Pediatrician/Dean of Admissions Corey Thompson details  his experiences growing up on the East Side of Columbus, Ohio, what it means to learn to be a doctor in the same city he calls home, and about his health education HEADS UPIntroduction: Who is Corey Thompson? How did you get to where you are sitting right now? Columbus - Born & BredYou are a Hometown Hero; How does it feel to be training to be a physician, within the same city and community you’re invested in growing and building in the future?Tell us more about where you’re from in ColumbusWhat is Heads Up? Why did you decide to start this program?What’s your hope for its long term impact?Columbus - Do you feel people (classmates, residents, attendings, etc.) have a good feel of the spirit of the people and the vibe of the city? Or do you feel people have these preconceptions that may (or may not) leak into interactions with locals?How would you compare campus to the surrounding areas? What’s different? To your knowledge, how do people feel about OSU (beyond the athletic programs)? Do you look to stay in Columbus? What kind of impact do you hope to make?ClosingWhere can we follow you? How can we support Heads Up?Follow Corey @whatsupdoc_21 on Instagram and TwitterFollow HEADS UP @headsup_osucom on Instagram & TwitterFollow the podcast @a2o_podcast on Instagram and Twitter

Current M2 and Founder/President of Rising Up Strong (an organization that focuses on health and wellness for children with intellectual & developmental disabilities) Christine Chilaka joins the podcast to tell her story, how she started her organization, and why the work she does is so importantIntroduction: Who is Christine Chilaka? How did you get to where you are sitting right now? Rising Up StrongWhat is Rising Up Strong?How did you become interested in working with children with disabilities?What has kept the program going?What has been the most rewarding part?Eat for Change campaignEducation & StigmaWhat do you think are the most misunderstood things about children with disabilities?What role do you think *education* (both health & gen ed) has on improving their physical and emotional well-being?What role do you think the *education system* (i.e. schools) has on improving their physical and emotional well-beingDo you think we as a society too often try to define who these children can do or be, and if so, do you think that has destructive effect on their growth and development?ClosingHow can people become more involved/more knowledgeable about the IDD community?Let’s fast forward 10 years; where can we expect to find Dr. Christine Chilaka? Where can we follow you? How can we support Rising Up Strong?

Ohio State M4 (and future anesthesiologist) Derin Adejare-Smith joins the podcast to talk about her blog "Curve Balls & Med School", which has motivated hundreds of pre-medical students for over 6 years to pursue careers in medicine. https://curveballsandmedschool.com/Introduction:  Who is Derin Adejare-Smith? How did you get to where you are sitting right now?Curve Balls & Medical SchoolHow did it start? What has kept it going? What has been the most rewarding part of it all?  Take us to a moment where you realized the power of what you do? What do you think is the role of a physician in promoting healthy habits and behaviors in their patients?As a future doctor and fitness enthusiast, and someone who blogs in a way that i’m sure is therapeutic for you well-being,Art of the Side Hustle/Side ProjectHer opinion on free time in medical schoolGrowing interest & demand in finding physicians who can have an impact beyond the walls of the hospital;  Do you agree? and do you see yourself being that kind of physician?What advice would you have for people, who are busy like yourself (med students, residents, pre-meds, lawyers, whoever) and are looking to carve out some time to pursue a passion but are unsure of how?Let’s fast forward 10 years, it’s 2029; Who is Derin Adejare now? What’s she up to? Where can we find her? Follow Derin: @hey.derin (Instagram), @AdejareSmith (Twitter)Follow Our Podcast: @a2o_podcast (Instagram, Twitter)

A little preview of what to expect for the upcoming season!  Habeeb dishes out all things planned for Season 1, and how you can keep up with everything #A2O

Our Pilot Episode!  Check out our very first episode with four esteemed guests:Anthony Nguyen (M2)Mackenzie Banks (M2)Marianela Feliu (M1)Mark McIntyre (M2)Topics for this EpisodeWhat is A Second Opinion? Purpose, Objectives, and Future GoalsGuest IntroductionsOur Home & Our Tribes:  What are the communities that have shaped our identities? Who are the people/what are the memories we carry with us on our journeys through medicine?What does being in medicine/med school mean to you? Detail your journey, what fuels you during the tough times of medical school, and how you view your future professionThe 10-Year PlanWhere do you see yourself in 10 years? What kinds of impacts do you hope to make in your medical career?