Prospective Doctor (from MedSchoolCoach)

Latest Episodes:

Finding Love in a White Coat: A Dating App for Health Professionals Apr 06, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Chrystene Nguyen, the founder of White Coat Romance (WCR). She is a board-certified physician in family and lifestyle medicine. They talk about online dating for health professionals and the process behind building the White Coat Romance platform.

[00:56] Introducing Dr. Chrystene Nguyen

[01:39] White Coat Romance

[07:30] User Verification on White Coat Romance

[12:16] Dating Tips for Health Professionals & Students

[16:01] What Dr. Nguyen Would Change About Healthcare

The White Coat Romance Dating App

Before the WCR platform was built, it started out as an online Facebook group in July 2020. Within that community, health professionals provided each other with support, friendship, and even romance! The COVID-19 quarantine highlighted the need for relationship and community. As the group grew larger, Dr. Chrystene saw the need to develop a dating app to facilitate connection among physicians.

How Does White Coat Romance Verify its Users?

WCR is exclusively for health-related professionals and doctoral students. Users must provide a Medical License Number or an NPI (National Provider Identifier). There are also other options to prove their degree. In addition, users are also asked to provide a photo of themselves to ensure authenticity. White Coat Romance’s verification process ensures that each person is properly vetted, allowing like-minded professionals to connect safely.

Dating for Physicians

Dr. Chrystene believes that a positive mindset helps set the tone for meeting people. Your deep knowledge of yourself should guide you in navigating relationships. Clear boundaries and communication should never be overlooked. Connecting with others helps fulfill our social needs, which allows us to be at our best when serving patients. Finding a life partner is one of the best investments you can make for yourself since they will permeate all aspects of your life.

You can reach Dr. Chrystene Nguyen through her LinkTree, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, or TikTok.

Visit the White Coat Romance website and LinkTree for more information. Follow WCR on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Doc2Doc Lending: A Financial Lifeline for Early Physicians Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Kenton Allen, the Co-Founder of Doc2Doc Lending. He also serves as the vice chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover. They talk about financial situation of physicians and 4th year medical students, and how Doc2Doc Lending can help.

[01:13] Introducing Dr. Kenton Allen

[05:16] Driving Positive Change through Medicine

[09:10] The Financial Struggles of an Early Physician

[12:25] About Doc2Doc Lending

[17:44] Learn about the Business of Medicine

The Financial Struggles of an Early Physician

During residency, Dr. Allen was under a lot of financial stress. The cost of living was expensive in Boston, and he struggled to make ends meet. At the time, he was also paying off his student debt.

To supplement his income, he wanted to get a loan but traditional lending institutions would either reject his application or offer predatory interest rates. Despite Dr. Allen’s promising career trajectory, banks would deem him a risky borrower due to his high debt and low income.

After talking to his peers, Dr. Allen found that this experience was common among early physicians. This was the catalyst for him to found Doc2Doc Lending.

Doc2Doc Lending Programs

Doc2Doc Lending is a lending platform that caters exclusively to doctors and dentists. They recognize that the physician population is less risky, even though banks would disagree. The underwriting is done with a prospective view rather than a retrospective one. Although primarily for professionals, Doc2Doc Lending also helps students transition from medical school to residency through their Match Day personal loan program.

This lending service was made by doctors for doctors, to help ease the burdens of financial stress through easier access to capital and favorable interest rates.

Financial Tips and Learning Resources

Financial literacy starts with good habits. Have a savings goal as early as now to build wealth. Start thinking about your retirement plan and how you can protect yourself from unexpected events. It's also a good idea to monitor your credit score, as this will dictate interest rates for loans and mortgages. To learn more about financial literacy, the White Coat Investor is a good resource that you can start with.

Fill out a loan application and consult with a doctor at Doc2Doc Lending. You can reach Dr. Kenton Allen by sending him an email at kenton@doc2doclending.com.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

From Symptoms to Solutions: How PM&R and Functional Medicine Work in Tandem Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Janice Brown, a physiatrist who is certified in acupuncture and functional medicine. They talk about the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation, functional medicine, and Dr. Brown’s own way of practicing medicine.

[01:08] Introducing Dr. Janice Brown

[03:43] Why Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation?

[09:16] Functional Medicine

[13:42] Practice Your Own Style of Medicine

Becoming a PM&R Physician

Dr. Brown always regarded herself as a healer, but not necessarily a doctor. After college, she spent 6 years exploring multiple paths before deciding to pursue medicine. She chose to become a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physician because she is passionate about addressing the root cause of health problems, not just in managing symptoms. As a physiatrist, she can examine both the musculoskeletal and nervous systems to see what’s causing pain or illness.

Functional Medicine

Unsurprisingly, Dr. Brown is certified in functional medicine, a field which focuses on why patients are unwell. Physicians look at the different factors such as sleep, diet, exercise, hygiene, stressors, relationships, and personal history. Dr. Brown also practices acupuncture which helps patients relieve pain and anxiety.

Practice Medicine in Your Own Way

Regardless of what you’ve learned, you can always shape your own practice of medicine. Observe other doctors and emulate the traits and behaviors that resonate with you. Treat patients in the way that feels most comfortable and efficient for you.

But never forget that you are not just a doctor. It’s easy to lose sight of your other identities when your identity as a physician takes precdence. To stay grounded in who you are, make sure to devote time to your personal hobbies and interests when you can.

You can reach Dr. Janice Brown through her website or send her an email at janice@betterhealthlifecoaching.com.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Beating Burnout and Imposter Syndrome: Tips for High-Achievers Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Mary Leung, a full-time physician who specializes in oncology and hematology. She is also a certified life coach. They talk the signs of burnout and how to overcome it, along with imposter syndrome.

[01:03] Introducing Dr. Mary Leung

[02:51] Why Oncology and Hematology?

[06:02] Recognizing Burnout

[11:14] The Arrival Fallacy

[15:17] Imposter Syndrome

[17:30] Dr. Mary Leung’s Advice to Pre-Meds and Medical Students

Signs of Burnout

Anyone is susceptible to experiencing burnout. It can feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining—almost as if you’re running on an empty tank. You can start to become cynical when you lose sight of your purpose.

The most important piece is to recognize when you feel burnt out. Take a step back to find out why you feel this way. Burnout is by no means your fault, it happens to all of us. But it is a sign that you need to take better care of yourself. A life coach can help you address burnout by reminding you of your strengths and passion, while suggesting ways to address the stressors in your life.

What is Arrival Fallacy?

Arrival fallacy is this cognitive bias that you will become happy after achieving a certain goal. In medicine, you become eager to reach the next steps, believing that it will guarantee happiness. That kind of bliss doesn’t last very long. In no time, you’ll be looking for the next milestone. Instead of perpetuating this false belief, students and physicians should learn to enjoy the process. You can be happy even during challenging times. Live in the present moment and savor both the good and bad.

Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

High-achieving individuals often believe that they are not deserving of their success, despite all the hard work they put in. It’s common to have self-doubt. To address imposter syndrome, be mindful of how you speak to yourself. Remind yourself that it’s okay to recognize your efforts. Treat yourself the way you would treat a friend: with compassion and encouragement.

You can reach Dr. Mary Leung through her LinkedIn or send her an email at shiningwithgratitudemd@gmail.com. Check out her website for more resources.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Global Health Fellowship Programs for Med Students and Doctors Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Dr. Sheneka Horne, a global health pediatrician and the founder of The Blk Doctor. They talk about global health fellowship programs and how students and doctors of color can find support on their journey in medicine.

[01:00] Introducing Dr. Sheneka Horne

[05:09] Global Health Fellowship

[09:48] Making an Impact Globally and Locally

[13:17] The Blk Doctor

[18:15] Finding Support for Marginalized Students

How to Get Involved in Global Health

Dr. Horne had several opportunities to travel locally and internationally to see how different health systems work. She advises anyone interested to choose a program carefully. Preferably the organization should have an ongoing presence, which means that they are using local interventions and teaching the natives how to continue the work they are doing. The more sustainable the effort, the better. While traveling, be mindful not to take photos that perpetuate stereotypes of impoverished communities.

Making an Impact Globally and Locally

Global health work in another country allows you to understand other cultures and health practices better. This experience offers a new way of looking at health and medicine. But even in the US, there are still places which have poor access to hospitals, electricity, and water. You can do meaningful work even in your home country. There’s no shortage of people who need help.

Supporting the Marginalized in Medicine

The path to becoming a physician is not easy, but it can be even harder if you’re part of a minority group. To help you on your journey, don’t be afraid to reach out to others. Everybody has experienced failure at some point, so you are not alone.

Dr. Horne started The Blk Doctor in an effort to help black physicians overcome burnout. She coaches fellow doctors on how to ask for opportunities and boundaries for a more fulfilling practice.

You can reach Dr. Sheneka Horne through her Instagram and Facebook. Visit The Blk Doctor website to learn more coaching programs, mentorship, and other resources.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Did Disney Just Save Healthcare? Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Katie Baca-Motes, co-founder of the Scripps Research Digital Trials Center. She is also the senior director for Scripps Research's strategic initiatives. They talk about the best Walt Disney Imagineering concepts and practices that can be applied to improve medicine and healthcare.

[01:14] Introducing Katie Baca-Motes

[05:03] Walt Disney Imagineering

[07:46] Imagineering in Healthcare

[12:29] Digital Research Opportunities

[15:13] What Would You Change in Healthcare?

Lessons from Walt Disney Imagineers

After graduating from business school, Katie had the opportunity to work at Walt Disney. Being an imagineer entailed behind the scenes work such as producing special effects, conceptualizing rides, or in Katie’s case, researching behavioral economics and consumer behavior.

Drawing on her past experiences as an imagineer, Katie believes there’s a lot of approaches that can be applied to healthcare. One of them was “blue sky thinking” where you are encouraged to think outside the box. For the moment, forget all the realistic constraints in order to come up with innovative solutions. Another thing they did at Disney was that they involved different departments during brainstorming. It was a way to learn and understand multiple perspectives. If clinicians and medical professionals can think big and acknowledge other voices, then healthcare would be much better off.

Caring for and Empowering Patients

Katie also believes that taking inspiration from Disney’s naming convention can help improve healthcare. At Disney, customers are called “guests”, which already shifts the way its staff members treat them. Staff members are not just crew personnel, their title motivates them to create the best experience possible for guests. Similarly, if we can give empowering labels and put patients at the center of care, then we can provide the best care possible.

You can reach Katie Baca-Motes through her Twitter and Linkedin. Visit the Scripps Research Digital Trial Center website to learn more about their studies and opportunities.

You can watch Dr. Erkeda DeRouen’s talk about Disney and Healthcare on the TEDx YouTube.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Preparing Medical Students for Board Exams with MedEd Cloud Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen is joined by Dr. Raji Akileh, a D.O. and CEO of MedEd Cloud. Dr. Raji will take us through how MedEd Cloud operates and how it can help equip medical students with information before they take their board exams. He will also take on the topic of revolutionizing the medical healthcare system in the United States.

[00:21] Introduction of Dr. Raji Akileh

[02:20] The Medical Education System

[04:03] MedEd Cloud

[08:03] Opportunities in MedEd for Board Studies

[13:21] Participation for MedEd Cloud

[14:50] Modules and Opportunities from Outside Medicine

[16:13] What Would You Change in the Healthcare system

[19:24] How to Connect with Dr. Raji

Keeping Up With Trends

A lot of medical students out there would work hard to pass their boards, and a big proponent of these tests is the knowledge and updates they take from their respective schools. Many schools still take the more traditional approach and practices when it comes to medical education. This situation has widely stunted the learning growth of students in the United States, given that many other countries have already slowly started to advance with the help of technology and science. Many traditional-style school still fear change, and this mindset may be the hindering factor to why medical education in the U.S. may not be that advanced.

You can reach Dr. Akileh through his Linkedin profile.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

The Pulse on Physician Protection: Why Life Insurance is a Vital Prescription for Doctors Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen is joined again by Dr. Stephanie Pearson. In this episode, Dr. Pearson steers from disability insurances to life insurances. She will give us an insight of the different types of life insurances and how medical professionals and students can choose which type of insurance they can select from depending on their lifestyle.

[00:21] Re-Introduction of Stephanie Pearson

[03:54] About Life Insurances

[07:26] Why Buy Life Insurance?

[11:05] Difference Between Term and Whole Insurance

[16:22] Figuring Out the Right Coverage For You

[21:00] What Would You Change in the Healthcare System

Life Insurances

Unlike disability insurances, life insurances serve more as an umbrella insurance for individuals regarding health, benefits, and other safety nets depending on ones’ lifestyle. For medical students and practitioners, life insurance will be an essential purchase down the line particularly for individuals who plan to start or have a family. Life insurances are customizable and more flexible to change depending on the person and what they want to be more secure about.

Knowing You’re Covered

The importance of why insurance exists is for individuals to be covered in terms of health, giving them an extra life line in case bad things may happen. Being a health practitioner does not always guarantee that you are 100% covered, being that most of them are exposed to contagious illnesses and unwanted accidents. It’s essential to know and measure what you want insurance to cover in your life now, beit medical, education, mortgages, etc.

You can reach Dr. Pearson through her Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin, or you may also reach her through her website and landline that is 610 658 325. Or you can email her at stephaniepearsons@pearsonsravitz.com.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

The Future of Surgery in a Post-COVID World Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen is joined by Joshua Roshal. Joshua is currently a surgery resident from Brigham and Women’s Department of Surgery. He’s done 7 years in medical school and has already taken up leadership and teaching roles. He joins Dr. Erkida as he talks more about his research focus on education for medical students.

[00:23] Introduction to Joshua Roshal

[03:39] New Era of Medical Education

[08:47] Surgical Simulation at Home

[11:38] Tips for Surgery Students

[15:41] Changes You’d Want to Make in Healthcare

[18:35] How to Reach Joshua

Surgical Studies Amidst the Pandemic

Surgical education is more hands-on than other medical fields due to their nature of work being on the ground for patients. Unlike other doctors from other fields, surgical experts are the key performers when patients undergo surgery. The practice calls for students to be on the field to conduct their field of expertise. At the height of the pandemic, the education on surgical studies became a speed bump for its students. While other fields got to soothingly take their studies through online platforms, surgery students were taken the opportunity to be onsite. This situation has led to many difficulties to really immerse oneself to the field of practice. Fortunately, throughout the pandemic, experts have come up with ways to potentially get the students to be more involved and innovative to how they learn.

You can connect with Josh through his Twitter.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor. You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedSchoolCoach

Dr. Erkeda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordgram/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProspectiveDoctor

Unlocking the Opportunities and Challenges of Medical Research Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Erkeda DeRouen is joined by Dr. Jia Ng. She is a board-certified nephrologist and epidemiologist and today, she talks about the world of research for medical students. Dr. Jia describes the opportunities and procedures she encountered from doing research, as well as the conditions they need to be in for them to thrive in the field.

[00:28] Introduction of Dr. Jia Ng

[01:35] Transitioning and Opportunities in Research

[03:18] Recommendation for Research Pursual

[06:41] Importance of Research in Residency

[11:51] Dr. Jia: Why the US over Australia?

[15:47] How to Get Involved in Research

Research

Dr. Jia mentions that Research is more complex than students and experts should perceive. According to her, research is a field that not only takes on the basic know-hows of medicine, but also the data driving the knowledge that caters to how medicine works along the evolution of society. Research allows the industry to adapt new knowledge for medical practitioners to not only develop new medicines, but also the overall medical healthcare system application. These applications include the in and out flow of patient care from medications to consultations and prescriptions. For students who are interested to take up research, it’s important to note that they will be tasked on training with groups and mentors, working on large amounts of data that can be published in order to help a certain medical field in terms of innovative solutions to customer-friendly applications.

Paving Your Own Path

Medical students will have the opportunity to pave their own path in the field of research. The field may seem simple, but the avenue students take to be where they want to be may be more complex than they think. The key to having control over the path you want in the field of research is working around the knowledge that you are familiar with. Familiarity comes in the form of how well you know the healthcare system within a certain area and region or the connections you have with that set location as well. While it’s important not to look at it as a race, getting where you need to be in the industry takes time, and that is inevitable.

You can connect more with Dr. Ng through her website and YouTube channel.

To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at Prospective Doctor or https://somedocs.com/. You can also reach us through our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/somedocspublic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somedocs/

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