

The Undifferentiated Medical Student
Ian Drummond
The Undifferentiated Medical Student (TUMS) podcast is about helping medical students to choose a medical specialty and plan a career in medicine. The list of career options available to medical students is large, but the time to explore them all is short. Moreover, mentorship in medical school is lacking, and many medical students tackle the task of career planning alone, most struggling and almost all clutching to the hope that 3rd year clinical rotations will definitively resolve their remaining uncertainties about how they want to specialize. However, having been distracted by the relentless pace of their pre-clinical curricula and specter of Step 1, 3rd year medical students are eventually confronted with the reality that there are simply too many specialties to explore in one year and that they may not even get to finish their clinical rotations before important decisions about their careers need to be made (e.g., the planning of acting internships) if they are to be competitive applicants. Thus, mentorless and clinically unexposed, many medical students are forced to make wholly uninformed decisions about their futures. By interviewing at least one physician from each of the 120+ specialties listed on the AAMC's Careers in Medicine website 1) about their specialty, 2) how they decided this specialty was right for them, and 3) for advice about long-term career planning irrespective of the specialty they went into, this podcast aims to enumerate the details of every specialty and provide virtual mentorship on how best to go about moving past being an undifferentiated medical student.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 30, 2017 • 1h 50min
Ep 045 - Emergency Medicine (Redux) with Dr. Christopher Wyatt
Go to audibletrial.com/TUMS for a free 30-day trial membership and free audiobook! Help Ian interview all 120+ specialties! www.undifferentiatedmedicalstudent.com/suggestions Become a TUMS patron! Show notes and links for this episode can be found here! Dr. Christopher Wyatt Dr. Wyatt is an emergency medicine physician at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Wyatt completed his undergraduate degree at Vanderbilt University in 2002; completed his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 2006; and then completed an emergency medicine residency at the joint Case Western / MetroHealth / Cleveland Clinic Foundation program in 2009, after which he joined the faculty at MetroHealth, Cleveland's county hospital system. Also an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Dr. Wyatt is one of the lead designers of the emergency medicine curriculum for 3rd year medical students at the School of Medicine. Voted Best Doctors in America in 2015 by Best Doctors, inc, Dr. Wyatt is also a recognized leader in his field. Please enjoy with Dr. Christopher Wyatt!

Jun 23, 2017 • 1h 35min
Ep 044 - Performing Arts Medicine with Dr. Sajid Surve
Help Ian interview all 120+ specialties! www.undifferentiatedmedicalstudent.com/suggestions Support the podcast! Show notes and links for this episode can be found here! Dr. Sajid Surve Dr. Surve is the Co-Director of the Texas Center of Performing Arts Health, as well as an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Dr. Surve completed his undergraduate degree at The College of New Jersey in 2001; completed his medical degree at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2005; completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Long Beach Medical Center in New York in 2009; and then completed a Plus One Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine fellowship at Rowan University in 2010, after which he joined the faculty. Dr. Surve has nearly a decade of experience as a Performing Arts Medicine clinician and set up both dance and music medicine clinics during his time on faculty at Rowan University. In 2014, he left Rowan for the University of North Texas to become the performing arts medicine provider for the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex as well as the UNT College of Music, where he treats performers of all disciplines and skill levels. Dr. Surve's clinical interest is in the musculoskeletal injury management and prevention in the performing arts population. Please enjoy with Dr. Sajid Surve!

Jun 16, 2017 • 1h 56min
Ep 043 - Critical Care Medicine (via Internal Medicine) with Dr. Rozy Khan
Go to audibletrial.com/TUMS for a free 30-day trial membership and free audiobook! Help Ian get to 120 interviews! Become a TUMS patron on Patreon! Show notes! Dr. Rozy Khan Dr. Khan is a critical care medicine physician, as well as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Khan completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Southern California in 2004; completed her medical degree at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2008; completed an internal medicine residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in 2011; and then completed a critical care fellowship at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine in 2013, eventually returning to California to join the faculty at USC in 2016. In addition to clinical interests in critical care ultrasound and neuro-critical care, Dr. Khan also has a special interest in workplace gender dynamics. In fact, Dr. Khan writes about such dynamics and many other topics on her popular blog TheFemaleDoc.com. She has also been a national speaker on related topics including the status of women in medicine and contract negotiation strategies. Often referred to simply as "the Female Doc" (her social media handle on both Snapchat and Instagram), Dr. Khan also broadcasts many medical educational video snippets donning her characteristic Snapchat spectacles! Please enjoy with Dr. Rozy Khan! Selected Show Notes Dr. Khan's website: www.thefemaledoc.com @thefemaledoc on Instagram. @thefemaledoc on Snapchat. @thefemaledoc on Facebook. @RozyKhanDO on Twitter. Dr. Khan's article on KevinMD.com about burnout. The ICU Book, 4th Edition 3rd Edition is cheaper, although out of date per Doc Khan. Might also be able to snag a PDF online... The one and only, PubMed. The Critical Care chapter in Harrison's Principle of Internal Medicine. Power up your VPN and have at it! Godspeed. Books: Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office Lean In

Jun 9, 2017 • 2h 8min
Ep 042 - Critical Care Medicine (via Anesthesiology) with Dr. Beverly Newhouse
Dr. Beverly Newhouse, a critical care physician and anesthesiology professor at UC San Diego, discusses life in the ICU. She describes daily workflow, common conditions like sepsis and respiratory failure, and hands-on procedures such as intubation and ventilator management. She also covers training pathways into intensivist roles, teamwork in multidisciplinary rounds, emotional challenges, and strategies to avoid burnout.

Jun 2, 2017 • 1h 38min
Ep 041 - Geriatric Medicine with Dr. Porter
Dr. Brett Porter, a board-certified geriatrician focused on dementia, end-of-life planning, and reducing polypharmacy. He talks about what geriatrics looks like in clinic and hospital settings. He explores complex problem-solving for older adults, dementia care pathways, workforce shortages, and balancing a busy career with an outdoor lifestyle.

May 26, 2017 • 1h 51min
Ep 040 - International Health with Dr. Rick Hodes
Help Ian interview all 120+ specialties! www.undifferentiatedmedicalstudent.com/suggestions/ Donations page! Show notes and links for this episode can be found here. Dr. Hodes is an American internist in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He is the Ethiopian medical director of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a 103 year old organization that provides high-impact disaster relief and long-term development assistance worldwide. Dr. Hodes completed his undergraduate degree at Middlebury College in 1975; completed his medical degree at University of Rochester School of Medicine in 1982; and then completed an internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins University in 1985. Before completing his residency, Dr. Hodes made his first trip to Ethiopia as a relief worker during the 1984 famine. He then won a Fulbright Fellowship after residency to teach at Addis Ababa University School of Medicine from 1985-1988. In 1990, he joined the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee to help care for the Ethiopian immigrants to Israel, work that eventually led him to become senior consultant at Mother Teresa's Mission, caring for sick and destitute patients. In addition to his work in Ethiopia, he has worked with refugees in Rwanda, Zaire, Tanzania, and Albania, in one instance being charged with the health of some 50,000 refugees in the Kibumba camp in Zaire. In 1999, Dr. Hodes met 2 abandoned orphans with Pott Disease (or, tuberculosis of the spine) and adopted them so that he could put them on this insurance so that he could bring them to the United States for surgery. This set in motion events that would see Dr. Hodes officially launch the Ethiopian spine program in 2006. During that first year, he got 20 new patients with spinal deformities. The clinic now averages over 1 new patient a day. Today, following nearly 3000 spine patients, Dr. Hodes partners with world-renowned, Ghanaian spine surgeon Dr. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, with whom he has arranged over 600 surgeries. Observing this, noted Indian spine surgeon Dr. S. Rajasekaran commented "Rick has the largest collection of the worst spines in the world." Dr. Hodes has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles in the medical literature; has been awarded 5 honorary doctorates; and has been a commencement speaker at multiple schools, including the University of Rochester, UC Davis, and Brandeis. The American College of Physicians has awarded him "Mastership" (the level of membership above fellow), as well as the Rosenthal Award for creative practice of medicine. He was recognized as a CNN Hero in the category "Champion of Children." He is the subject of 4 documentary films, including "Making the Crooked Straight" and "Zemene," as well as a book, "This is a Soul: the Mission of Rick Hodes" by Marilyn Berger. Dr. Hodes lives in Ethiopia with his family and patients. Please enjoy with Dr. Rick Hodes!

May 19, 2017 • 2h 43min
Ep 039 - Being a Physician Scientist in the Pharmaceutical Industry with Dr. Brandon Atkins
Go to audibletrial.com/TUMS for a free 30-day trial membership and free audiobook! Help Ian interview all 120+ specialties www.undifferentiatedmedicalstudent.com/suggestions/ Donations page! Show notes and links for this episode can be found here! Dr. Brandon Atkins Dr. Atkins is a cardiologist as well as a Clinical Director of Cardiovascular Clinical Research at Merck Research Laboratories in Rahway, New Jersey. Dr. Atkins completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia in 1993; completed his M.D. and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at the University of Pennsylvania by 2000; completed an internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital in 2003; and then completed a fellowship in Cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2006. Upon completing his fellowship, Dr. Atkins was recruited to Cleveland where he was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. At University Hospitals, he treated patients on the in-patient Cardiovascular Service and served as an Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine residency. In addition, Dr. Atkins was a faculty member in the Case Cardiovascular Research Institute within the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. During his basic science research career, he received and completed a mentored K Award from the National Institutes of Health as well as a career development award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He was able to establish his own independent biomedical research laboratory focused on the study of vascular biology and the basic molecular mechanisms of cardio- and cerebro-vascular disease. His work has resulted in multiple publications in the literature and presentations at scientific meetings. In mid 2015, Dr. Atkins transitioned from academia to the pharmaceutical industry joining Merck Research Laboratories as a Clinical Director of Cardiovascular Clinical Research, work that has seen him involved with early and late stage development projects in atherosclerosis, heart failure, and thrombosis. Please enjoy with Dr. Brandon Atkins.

May 12, 2017 • 1h 6min
Ep 038 - Orthopedic Trauma Surgery with Dr. Julius Bishop
Help Ian interview all 120+ specialties! www.undifferentiatedmedicalstudent.com/suggestions/ Show notes! Dr. Bishop is an orthopedic traumatologist as well as an Associate Residency Program Director of Orthopedic Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Bishop completed his undergraduate degree at Harvard College in 2000; completed his medical degree at Harvard Medical School in 2004; completed an orthopedic surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2009; and then completed a fellowship in orthopedic traumatology at Harborview Medical Center in 2010, after which he joined the faculty at Stanford. Dr. Bishop specializes in the treatment of fractures of the upper and lower extremities and the pelvis as well as post-traumatic problems including malunion, nonunion and infection, and has contributed several video lectures to VuMedi.com about lower extremity fracture management. Dr. Bishop's research interests include medical education, orthopedic biomechanics, and the basic science of fracture healing. Of note, Dr. Bishop was featured on an episode of Doctor Radio entitled The Orthopedics Show that aired on Sirius Radio XM. Please enjoy with Dr. Julius Bishop!

May 5, 2017 • 2h 23min
Ep 037 - Psychiatry with Dr. Jeanne Lackamp
Dr. Jeanne Lackamp, Director of the Division of Psychiatry and Medicine at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, talks about the challenges and advancements in psychiatry, the importance of understanding the psychosocial environment of patients, and the future of the specialty. They also discuss topics such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, differences in international psychiatry, and the significance of empathy and respect in treating psychiatric patients.

Apr 28, 2017 • 1h 42min
Ep 036 - Musculoskeletal Radiology with Dr. Peter Young
Help Ian interview all 120+ specialties! www.undifferentiatedmedicalstudent.com/suggestions/ Show notes! Dr. Young is the Interim Section Head of Musculoskeletal Radiology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, as well as the Director of Medical Imaging for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. Dr. Young completed his undergraduate degree at DePauw University in 1989; completed his medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine in 1993; completed a residency in radiology at Oakwood Hospital is Dearborn, Michigan in 1997; and then completed a fellowship in musculoskeletal radiology at University Hospitals in 1998, where he remains today as faculty. While his fellowship emphasized sports medicine MRI, Dr. Young's musculoskeletal training also included exposure to orthopedic oncology. As such, in addition to reading images for the Browns, Dr. Young's clinical interests include diagnosing bone and soft tissue malignancy. Moreover, Dr. Young is the coordinator of Emergency Radiology at University Hospitals and therefore spends considerable time aiding his colleagues in the ED. Lastly, as an associate Professor of Radiology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Dr. Young is actively involved in the education of medical students and residents. Please enjoy with Dr. Peter Young!


