The Pre-Health RX

We chat with Dr. Aaron George, Associate Dean of Clinical Education at Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine in Hagerstown, MD.   We chat about our partnership and their mission as Maryland’s newest medical school.   Contact us at [email protected] if you have questions for our guests, or thoughts on who we should bring on.   The UMD-Mertius School of Osteopathic Medicine Pathways Program Information is available here: https://prehealth.umd.edu/explore-careers/medicine   KEY TOPICS:   Medicine Pre-Med Osteopathic Medicine   #PreMed

In this episode, we talk to Dr Katie Monroe, MMSc, PhD/AA-C, Academic Program Director of the Anesthesiologist Assistant program at Emory University. We talk about what makes a strong candidate for admissions, the dynamic role of the Anesthesiologist Assistant, and a bit on the future outlook for the profession.   Contact us at [email protected] if you have questions for our guests, or thoughts on who we should bring on.   KEY TOPICS: Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Programs   #PreMed #PreHealth

How do you overcome imposter syndrome as a pre-med? Are you doing activities to check a box, or are they things you're passionate about?   We talk with Divine Enyi, a Senior Neuroscience and Chemistry major at the University of Maryland, about her path as a pre-med. Divine is a Senior Student Ambassador with our office.   Contact us at [email protected] if you have questions for our guests, or thoughts on who we should bring on.   Key Topics:   Pre-Med Imposter Syndrome Advocacy

Where can a career in Pharmacy take you, and what is the importance of being curious as that career unfolds? Listen to this discussion with Dr. Mojdeh Heavner about her career in Pharmacy - from residency at Yale New Haven hospital to her current role at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Dr. Mojdeh Heavner is Assistant Dean for Experiential Learning, Professor of Critical Care, and Pharamacotherapy Residency Program Coordinator at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, and a Terp alum (B.S., '04, Biological Sciences with specialization in Physiology & Neurobiology). Contact us at [email protected] if you have questions for our guests, or thoughts on who we should bring on.   KEY TOPICS: Pharmacy School Admissions Residency Critical Care

What is military medicine, and what makes Uniformed Services University so special? We talk with Ellion Trotman, a Terp alum who just finished his third year in medical school at  the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine at Uniformed Services University. We discuss how to choose meaningful activities, why military medicine, and discuss the wonderful support that Uniformed Services University offers. Ellion Trotman is a Terp alum (B.S., '21, Nutrition and Food Science and Biological Sciences). His YouTube channel can be found at  https://www.youtube.com/@EllionTrotmanMedicine Contact us at [email protected] if you have questions for our guests, or thoughts on who we should bring on.   KEY TOPICS:  Medical School Admissions Military Medicine Clerkships

What does a strong applicant to Pennsylvania College of Optometry with Salus at Drexel University look like? What makes their curriculum unique?   Listen to this conversation with Christopher Speece, Associate Director of Admissions for Salus at Drexel University, and Tara Schumacher, Assistant Director of Admissions for Salus at Drexel University, to learn more about their program, why students choose Salus, and what makes their curriculum stand out.   Contact us at [email protected] if you have questions for our guests, or thoughts on who we should bring on.   KEY TOPICS:   Optometry School Admissions Postbacc programs Salus at Drexel University Pennsylvania College of Optometry

There is no one "right" timeline to medical school - it's the path that works best for you.   In this episode, we talk with Dr. Darah Wright, graduate of Howard University College of Medicine, Maryland alum, and practicing Internal Medicine physician. We chat about postbacs, finding people who are in your corner, and why it's important to stay true to your timeline - not someone else's.   Dr. Darah Wright is a Terp alum (B.S., '08, Psychology).   Contact us at [email protected] if you have questions for our guests, or thoughts on who we should bring on.   KEY TOPICS:   Medical School Admissions Postbacc programs Howard University College of Medicine 

Wondering how to answer the diversity question on your medical and dental applications? This is a quick explainer on what you can include & why your individual identities matter when answering this question - both in our pre-health packet and on your applications.

We chat with the University of Maryland's Doctorate of Physical Therapy program to learn about what they look for in the admissions process, how they care for students on campus, and how they stay connected with the Baltimore community. Plus, we talk about how to write a great Statement of Purpose.   Our guests are Dr. Alisa Pravdo, Assistant Professor and Director of Student Affairs and Brett Weinstein, Assistant Director of Admissions, both at the University of Maryland's Doctor of Physical Therapy program.   This episode is a great fit for Pre-PT students.

This episode features Dr. Jessie Titherington, a first year surgery intern at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, a Terp alum, and a graduate of Drexel University College of Medicine. She talks about how to be true to yourself in the application process, not comparing yourself to other pre-med students, and developing the confidence you need to be a practicing physician. Dr. Titherington is a Terp alum (B.S. '18, Biological Sciences).

HPAO's Director and Assistant Dean, Wendy Loughlin, joins us to explain the Pre-Health packet. Who should get it, what does it cover, and why is it so much writing? Listen to find out.

We chat with Dr. Darby Moore, MD, a first-year intern in Anesthesiology to hear about her time in medical school, the value of following your passions, finding balance, how she chose her speciality, and so much more. Dr. Moore is a Terp alum(B.S. '20, Kinesiology), graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and currently lives in Spokane, Washington.

We sit down with Dr. Olutoyosi Ogunkua, MD, Obstetric Anesthesiologist to hear about what it takes to succeed as a pre-med, medical student, and beyond. Dr. Ogunkua is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and completed his residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Ogunkua is also a Terp alum(B.S. '08, Psychology and History), and currently practices in North Carolina.

We talk with Courtney Butler, Academic Development Specialist with the University of Maryland School of Medicine about what the first year of medical school looks like and what it takes to really thrive as an M1. From what you can do as an undergrad, what classes to take, to how to build a support system in medical school, we talk about putting together the pieces to be your best self.

A conversation with Antonia(Toni) Gaviria Rozo, Physician Assistant. Toni graduated from the University of Maryland(B.S. '19, Biological Sciences), and completed her PA program at George Washington University in 2023. She is practicing in Washington, DC, and shares her path to PA, how she chose her speciality, and what it's like to translate in a medical setting.

We change it up a bit this episode and talk to two recent graduates who are currently in the 2025 application cycle for medical school. They talk about their tips and tricks for the MCAT, balancing classes and extracurriculars, and how their application process is going so far. Isha(B.S. Biochemistry, '24) and Jules(B.S. Neuroscience, '23) are both Terp alums.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Ryan Spangler, MD about his journey to medicine, how to build your profile as a pre-med, interview tips, and advice for undergraduates.   Dr. Spangler is currently the Director of Undergraduate Medical Education in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a Terp alum(B.S. '07, Biological Sciences).

Join us as we talk with Dr. Roshi DeSilva, DO, about life as a practicing Psychiatrist, how she chose her medical school, and what it's like dealing with imposter syndrome as a medical student and practitioner. Dr. DeSilva is a Terp alum(B.S. '13, Biological Sciences), and currently practices in New Jersey.

We sit down with Dr. Ellen Paulisick, DDS, to learn about her journey as a General Dentist.  Dr. Paulisick is a Terp alum(B.S. '07, Biological Sciences) and graduated from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. In this episode, she shares her path to dentistry - starting out as pre-med, switching to dentistry, and what it's like now as an owner-practitioner. Have questions for future guests, or know someone we should interview? Contact us on Instagram at UMDHPAO.