The Short Coat

“He who laughs has not yet heard the bad news.” Co-hosts Nathen Spitz, Brandon Bacalzo, Mariam Mansour, and Greta Becker rehash their recent …

Does a physician need to know everything about healthcare, even the *shudder* money stuff? [Dave was out of the office on recording day last week, so …

The UN Relief and Works Agency has a tough job, especially in Palestine. In this bonus episode (recorded prior to the US pa we talk with Dr. Akihiro Seita, the Director of Health and WHO Special Representative to The …

Preference Signaling Tokens may be a way to combat over-applying for residencies, but the schemes have a ways to go yet before they’re ready for prime time. Dave noticed something he’d never heard of before: a company …

Listener Shivam wrote to theshortcoats@gmail.com to ask his question: does becoming a DO hinder one’s chances in competitive specialties? MD/PhD students Aline Sandouk and Sahaana Arumugam, M2 Nathan Spitz, and M4 …

Why was the Hispanic population in Clarion, Iowa seeing so many more infections? Dr. Michael McLoughlin, internist at Clarion Clinic, was puzzled. …

A study is only as good as its methods, and the #medbikini study wasn’t pretty bad. Maybe you heard:  some researchers tried to help vascular …

Hippocrates set a high bar. Dr. Danielle Ofri–NYU professor of medicine, Bellevue Hospital internist, and author of great renown–joined us this time to talk about her new book, When We Do Harm: A Doctor Confronts …

Academic medicine--in which a physician works at a university and may have research and/or teaching duties in addition to patient care--is but one of …

Does a physician need to know everything about healthcare, even the *shudder* money stuff? Physicians go through years and years of school to be …

No doubt about it, this road to becoming a physician has financial risks It feels risky to go to medical school, and for someone with a young family, …

Listener Soma let us know that the AAMC has released an interview app for medical schools to collect videos of applicants answers to some standard …

Being a physician leaves you no choice–you ARE going to lead. One of the critical job responsibilities of being a physician is leading a team. Those teams can be small–such as those that are caring for patients–or …

It feels risky to be wrong…here’s how to get used to that [Don’t forget to share the show with your friends and family–send a screenshot of the share to theshortcoats@gmail.com to get a free thank you gift from Dave!] …

[Once again, our circumstances force us to endure mild sound quality issues. Sorry, but that’s round-table podcasting in the pandemic age. You’ll be alright.] We got some lovely responses back from listeners of last …

A group of public professionals, infectious disease professionals and community members are pushing back on the common perception that #BLM protests will unnecessarily exacerbate the pandemic. This news leads to a …

Logan wrote in to comment on what we call ‘box-checking,’ the idea that med school admissions committees only want applicants who’ve done all the …

[Would you like a FREE Short Coat pin made by Dave’s own two hands? Share an episode of SCP online and email a screenshot to theshortcoats@gmail.com…

[This episode is brought to you by Pattern. We hope you’ll check out their disability insurance offerings for docs at http://patternlife.com/partner/shortcoat.] As many of us are, The Short Coats–including this week’s …

[This episode is brought to you by Pattern. We hope you’ll check out their disability insurance offerings for docs at http://patternlife.com/partner/shortcoat.] Doctors and medical students often have an identity based …

This episode is brought to you by Pattern. We hope you'll check out their disability insurance offerings for docs at …

Moving to a new place can be daunting–but it’s an amazing opportunity!

(This episode is brought to you by Pattern Life. We hope you’ll check out their disability insurance offerings for docs at …

Policy is not sexy. I mean, it's not saving lives, or curing disease, or making groundbreaking discoveries. But it isn't a stretch to say that …

Choosing a specialty is far too important to rush it, so keep an open mind on day one of med school.

The post Recess Rehash: Why you’re better off …

Dave wants to help his co-hosts–M1s Nathan Spitz, Cody West, and newbs Chris Halbur and Eli Schmidt–in their journey to physician-hood, so he puts on his medical educator hat and visits Yahoo! Answers.  He also …

Dave asked listeners what they’re doing to help out in the time of COVID-19 and got some responses back to talk about.  These things, whether big or small, directly related or tangential to this public health …

(For the first time ever, we did the show with all five hosts in different places,  and it shows.  Forgive the scratchy audio in some places. We’re working on it, and hope you can look past it this time.) In this time …

There's no doubt that the global pandemic of COVID-19 has caused much human suffering.  And for those people around the world who are the worst …

Choosing a specialty is far too important to rush it, so keep an open mind on day one of med school.

The post Why you’re better off on day one not …

Emotions are difficult to ignore. Especially when those emotions are telling us to ACT NOW! That's what listener Jordan from Texas is fighting as …

Academic medicine--in which a physician works at a university and may have research and/or teaching duties in addition to patient care--is but one of …

How the huge change the USMLE has made to Step 1 might affect medical education and your strategy for applying to residency.

The post Step 1 is Pass/Fail. Now what??? appeared first on The Short Coat.

Turkish listener Ali would like to come to the US for residency and to practice medicine someday, so he wrote to us to ask us what we knew about how …

What does Rosanne Cash have to do with science or medicine? Sure, the American pop, folk, country, and roots rock legend isn't technically a …

Listener Salutes McGee (not her real name) is planning on med school after her tour of duty. What hard-won skills, she wonders, will transfer to …

Listener Joseph starts medical school soon, and wants to know how to manage his new life as an M1. Luckily Kylie Miller, Kalyn Campbell, Marissa …

When listener Celebi Jigglypuff (yes, that's a pseudonym) reached out to ask whether we felt taking Step 1 after a year of clinical rotations (as …

Research takes time, so what's a realistic outcome for the summer research student? Pipette LeGogettuer (not her real name) wrote in to ask for our input on her summer research plans. Not only is she struggling to come …

On a previous episode, Mason LaMarche discussed a college friend who had a habit of sketching his bowel movements. On this episode, his friend …

[Happy Holidays! Dave is on vacation, but here's a re-run to tide you over. We'll be back with new episodes starting 1/16]

We on The Short Coat …

[Happy Holidays! Dave is on vacation, but here's a re-run to tide you over. We'll be back with new episodes starting 1/16]

Short Coat Scribbleson …

This episode comes out the day after Christmas, and is recorded the week before, so we're exploring what some describe as "the most wonderful time of …

On this bonus episode of The Short Coat, we hear from Dr. John Mrachek. Dr. Mrachek is an anesthesiologist of 17 years who reached out to us at Iowa …

The amazing Dr. Ryan Gray, host of quite a few of the pre-med focused podcasts over at mededmedia.com (of which we, of course, are a member), joins Maddie Mix, Hillary O'Brien, Nick Lind, and Kyle Kinder as guest …

A question from listener Blake--do we use Anki or Brainscape for studying?--led to a discussion of the various tools and techniques Aline Sandouk …

FYI, there's new merch for charity (stickers!) at at theshortcoat.com/store! Happy Thanksgiving, bishes! It's Thanksgiving Day in the United States …

Good intentions are everywhere. Good behavior...well, that's more complicated. Such is the case with microaggressions, the term coined by Harvard University psychiatrist Chester Pierce in 1970 to describe minor yet …

We on The Short Coat Podcast like to encourage people to follow their med school dreams in spite of whatever apparent obstacles stand in the way. So …

Today's show features multiple screams, so don't freak out. Because it's Halloweeeeeeeen! Co-hosts Hillary O'Brien, Jenna Johnson, Elizabeth …

Second year students Abby Fyfe, Mason LaMarche, and Madeline Cusimano offer their advice to first-year Morgan Kennedy, who confesses that she's feeling the burn of being an M1. And Mason discusses the opportunities …

Short Coat Scribbleson Wordsonpaper (not his real name) wrote a paper for one of his classes, and was told it'd be worth putting it out there for …

Two questions this week from Short Coats! Listener Luis wrote in to ask what books co-hosts Hillary O'Brien, Kylie Miller, Emma Barr and newbie …

Fourth-year students David Rudolph and Chandini Reddi join co-hosts Brendan George and LJ Agistonelli to answer listener Krista's question--a …

A cliche, of course, but true. Because without the nurses (and other people) doing their jobs to help the doctor, the doctor can't do nuthin'--no …

Co-host and MD/PhD student Miranda Schene is a woman who has obviously been raised well. So when her mother, Ginny, wrote to theshortcoats@gmail.com …

Some of the most important contributions to knowledge have come at a terrible price. The BBC featured a story on their site about an anatomy atlas that was created by a Nazi doctor, and the images within are those of …

Elders are not just sickly adults. Ours is an aging society, and as the populations skews older, medicine has begun to realize that treating elder …

Ceremonies are important. If you're like Dave, you think they're a bit of a pain--you have to dress up and keep a straight face. But as a bit of …

Brandon Bacalzo and Angeline Vanle join the team as incoming medical students. Luckily for them they have the chance to put questions about med …

For those who have been out of the student game for a while, or who feel they need a little extra time to get acclimated to the fast pace of medical education, there are programs like our Intro to Medical Education at …

When listener Caven wrote in asking why CCOM graduates don't include hardly any specialists and why they all seemed to be going into primary care, …

Our charitable mission is supported in this episode by CommonBond.co/scp. Be sure to pay them a visit to learn more about their new medical school …

Continuing our recent discussion on the price of healthcare in the United States, on this episode we talk with Dr. Martin Makary. Dr. Makary is a …

We're devoting this episode to the perils of love between med students and their non-medical partners. Despite the clickbait title (don't hate the player, hate the game), it isn't destined to end badly! It just takes …

Dan Weissmann is a former NPR journalist who was interested in the crazy world of healthcare costs in America. He'd suggested to his former bosses that he start covering people's stories of dealing with their medical …

How do medical students deal with the stress of constant examinations? Dabin Choi, Gabe Conley, Claire Casteneda, and Erik Kneller discuss meditation, sleep, prayer, and eating habits that keep them from letting the …

When listener Caven wrote in asking why CCOM graduates don't include hardly any specialists and why they all seemed to be going into primary care, …

The thing about conspiracies that's hard to combat is that there is sometimes a kernel of truth in them that makes them more believable. Dave found some unfortunate 'facts' about medicine and doctors on a random …

Cultural competency is a tough thing to teach, but so important. Today's physician (and med students!) encounter patients from wide range of …

Dr. Marley Doyle is a reproductive psychiatrist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She's also "legally blind", with 20/400 vision. She …

We’re clearing out the backlog of listener questions–thank you listeners for so many fun ideas to talk about! Cailin had her med school dreams …

Admissions counselor Megan Kosovski joins Aline Sandouk, Emma Barr, Nick Lind, and Hannah Van Ert for this show, because we had a listener question …

[Once again, our charitable mission is supported in this episode by CommonBond.  Thank you, CommonBond!!!] Former listener Cash commented on Facebook …

Our charitable mission is supported in this episode by CommonBond.  Be sure to pay them a visit to learn more about their new medical school loan, …

Our charitable mission is supported in this episode by CommonBond.co/scp. Be sure to pay them a visit to learn more about their new medical school …

Saie Joshi is a first-year med student at Baylor, but that's not all she is. She's got a beautiful singing voice and a busy schedule advising med …

This week, with help from LJ Agostinelli, Irisa Mahaparn, and new co-host Fili Bogdanic, Dave offers listener Karstan some advice for med students (and others) who want to start a podcast. It's a worthwhile activity, …

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene is a sprawling organization, and for good reason. As CEO Karen Goraleski says, it's a big tent. And with all the disciplines needed to fight emerging infectious …

We're devoting this episode to the perils of love between med students and their non-medical partners. Despite the clickbait title (don't hate the player, hate the game), it isn't destined to end badly! It just takes …

Dr. Marley Doyle is a reproductive psychiatrist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She's also "legally blind", with 20/400 vision. She …

If you got only rejection letters this application season, you might be thinking your dreams of attending med school are dead. Well, pick yourself …

Think of an inventor. What comes to mind? The quirky lone genius, coming up with a blockbuster device that will save the world? The Avengers' Tony Stark in a cave throwing together a functional exosuit from scrap …

Listener Zachary wrote to theshortcoats@gmail.com to ask whether it's useful for students to join medical associations and societies such as the AMA, …

As CCOM's second-look day (which we call Get Acquainted Day) approaches, Aline Sandouk, LJ Agostinelli, Miranda Schene, and Danial Syed discuss the …

Here's a question we get often, in one form or another: will [some aspect of my life to date] hurt my chances for getting into medical school? Kyle …

Listener Nathan called in to the SCP Hotline at 347-SHORTCT to ask how research works for medical students. Is it necessary? Is it recommended? How do you find research to do? Irisa Mahaparn, Miranda Schene, Emma …

Dr. Mamdouh Aker is a very big deal in Palestine, the kind of man everyone knows and respects, and it's easy to see why. He’s urology surgeon and …

Listener Jen sent an email to theshortcoats@gmail.com asking M4 Irisa Mahaparn, and M1s Nick Lind and Madeline Slater about the doubts they've experienced in their journey through medical education. Oh, Jen. The …

[Purchase an SCP T-shirt to contribute to our Charity of the Semester, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Visit http://theshortcoat.com/store. Thank you!] Listener Renee writes in to ask Aditi Patel, Maddie Mix, …

This week, we're winging it on SCP--life was a bit more complicated for Dave than usual--but we have some great questions to address from some non-US listeners. Nice to have confirmation that we have more than a couple …

But what's this? Podcast merch? Dave has a special announcement, what we're going to use the money for (it's *not* for the show or to line Dave's pockets), and how you can get a special offer and help do some good at …

When thinking about a career in medicine, those who are leaning towards getting an MD often consider the Physician Assistant path; and if they're leaning towards a PA career they often consider the Medical Doctor path. …

Former co-host and now PM&R Doctor Cole Cheney returns for a discussion of what he's discovered about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness …

Happy New Year! With the holidays slowing down the pace of listener questions, Dave asks new co-host LJ Agostinelli and old hands Rob Humble and …

Madeline called to ask: it's finals week and you're stricken with seasonal depression--what's a med student to do? We feel you, Madeline. Luckily, Aline Sandouk, Nick Lind, Derek Bradley, and Hillary O'Brien are ready …

Aline Sandouk discusses with her co-hosts the recent breakthrough in her research--which is pretty much that she's experiencing the exact opposite of what PhD students fear, and that her research may just have a path …

Are you buying what med student Instagrammers are selling? You've probably noticed them. Cute med students hawking makeup and study guides on Instagram, posting photos of their fav study beverage, and composing …

Short Coats Rob Humble and Claire Castaneda are joined by new co-hosts Mitchell Hooyer and Jeremy Sanchez to talk about their personal experiences as members of the LGBT community while studying medicine. They …

This past week, the Carver College of Medicine hosted its 12th annual Examined Life Conference. Our featured presenter, journalist and memoirist …

The MD isn't the only degree offered by many medical schools. For those who get excited about data, research, and advancing medical knowledge, you …

[We’re now available on Spotify and RadioPublic!] Co-hosts Tim Maxwell, Aline Sandouk, Annie Rempel, and Mackenzie Walhof confront pictures of their …

As medical science progresses, it not only answers questions but generates even more. Listener Tyler pointed out a study (now on hold) that proposes …

This past week, the Carver College of Medicine hosted its 12th annual Examined Life Conference. Our featured presenter, journalist and memoirist …

Our newest co-host has already had a taste of fame. Abby Fyfe joins the crew this time, along with Aline Sandouk, Jayden Bowen, and Aditi Patel. …

Jennifer Andersen, a sociology PhD student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, teaches a course called Sociology of Health and Health Care. She …

We love listener feedback...even when it's negative. And this whole obesity thing is really great for generating negative listener feedback. For …

The MD isn't the only degree offered by many medical schools. For those who get excited about data, research, and advancing medical knowledge, you …

This week, listener Jen sent us an article from JAMA in which the author bemoans his tendency to let the electronic health record (coupled with his …

In most of India, palliative care--a medical specialty focused on improving the quality of life of people with life-limiting or disabling diseases--is available to only 1% of people who need it. But in Kerala, one …

Fifi Trixiebell (not her real name) wrote to theshortcoats@gmail.com asking us to discuss what medical students learn about nutrition, and whether they think the keto diet is just another fad. Luckily, Madeline Slater, …

Listener Hannah wrote in after shadowing physicians, noting that many of the morbidly obese patients she observed resisted their doctors' advice to lose weight. Is there any hope that doctors can treat this intractable …

Aline Sandouk, Jayden Bowen, Aditi Patel, and newbie Madeline Slater are on hand to answer listener questions, such as J's query about the utility of …

Activia (not her actual name, though it probably should be. Feel free to take that name, anonymous caller) emailed us at theshorcoats@gmail.com to …

On today's show, we'll answer a question from listener Victoria about having a feeding tube during med school interviews--should she worry that it …

Our visit with pre-health students in the Carver College of Medicine's Summer Health Professions Education Program continues as co-host Teneme Konne …

The day-to-day of internship, residency, and an MD career doesn't allow much time to process the effect it's having on the practitioner. Rushing from one patient to the next, putting out the fires even while drinking …

The Summer Health Professions Education Program, SHPEP, has become a summer tradition at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Students …

Executive Producer Jason has kindly let Dave go on vacation, so Aline Sandouk takes over the hot seat, with Irisa Mahaparn, Hillary O'Brien, Elizabeth Shirazi, and Jayden Bowen. Together they unravel the mysteries of …

While Dave and the crew try a recipe from the Med School Success Cookbook, they consider listener Imari's question: how much did co-hosts Aline …

'tis the season to be applying to medical school. Which is why we got so many listener questions to address on this episode (thank you!) Listener …

Listener Amari returns to ask Aline Sandouk, Jayden Bowen, Tony Rosenberg, and Mark Moubarek--what do they think of med school YouTubers? Is it …

Listener Hanna wrote in to ask an important question: is it better to apply this year despite possibly ending up in the second tier of applicants due …

How can you brag about yourself without bragging about yourself? We are taught from a young age (most of us, anyway) not to brag. It is better, we …

We love when listeners get in touch, which is why Dave was glad to hear from Adil who, after listening to our discussion of the new national Right-To-Try legislation, sent us a paper he wrote on the subject the year …

Steve Sosebee is the president and CEO of the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. He’s married to Dr. Zeena Salman, a pediatric oncologist working with …

Listener Meghan is about to start med school in the fall, and is thinking about what sort of regular habits medical students like Aline Sandouk, Tony …

Irisa Mahaparn, Tony Rosenberg, Aline Sandouk, and Rachel Schenkel--a crew of rising M3s and an MD/PhD candidate--were on hand this time to help answer some listener questions. Arman writes in to give us his method for …

Listener Amanda is like many medical students--anxious and worried. In her case, she wonders if she won't be as prepared for med school as her …

Our Short Coat Podcast keyfob giveaway is still happening! Post the show somewhere on the internet where pre-med and med students hang out, and email a screenshot to theshortcoats@gmail.com, and we'll send you one with …

Oh, gosh. It's Kaci McCleary and Amy Young's last show as co-hosts. Irisa Mahaparn and Teneme Konne join them to discuss their impending moves to …

The day-to-day of internship, residency, and an MD career doesn't allow much time to process the effect it's having on the practitioner. Rushing from one patient to the next, putting out the fires even while drinking …

Remembering a recent episode in which we spoke briefly of colored test tubes, Adee writes in with a question for Hilary O'Brien, Erik Kneller, …

Listener Zipadee Doodah (not her actual name) was the victim of unwanted sexual attention from a patient. Because her employer didn't have a policy …

Short Coat Podcast veteran Keenan Laraway, MD (CCOM '15, Internal Medicine), returns to the microphone to give his insights into one of the most important parts of residency--finding and being a mentor.

The post Night …

How do medical students deal with the stress of constant examinations? Dabin Choi, Gabe Conley, Claire Casteneda, and Erik Kneller discuss meditation, sleep, prayer, and eating habits that keep them from letting the …

Listener Lavender BloodPoison (not their real name) sent us a message saying they were impressed by CCOM's Primary Care residency match statistics. …

Listener Luis wrote in expressing his anxiety that his med school--which he'll begin attending this fall--doesn't have the prestige or programs to …

The Short Coats discuss their perspective on how med school can test a romance, and what role it should play in the selection of a school to attend.

…

The Short Coats propose some paths forward for non-empathetic med school applicants, as well as outlining some of the less obvious areas empathy …

One of the things we Short Coats agree on is that the stigma medical students and physicians face when dealing with mental illness must end. We are …

Dave found himself with another group of women co-hosting the show, so what better time to talk about #MeToo and the powerful people being taken down …

Can Courtney succeed in med school despite the demands of motherhood? We ask a mom who did it. And, how med students can erase debt fast.

The post …

In the first of a two-part answer to listener Courtney's question, Dr. Tom McNalley (MD '04) joins the gang to assure her that it is possible to be a parent of three small children while studying medicine. Also, we …

We revisit this weeks' co-hosts fears of moving into the clinical curriculum--were their fears realized? The US's largest health insurance company …

During Human Rights Week at the Carver College of Medicine, we heard some hard truths from national news commentator, human rights activist, and …

Annie wrote in to theshortcoats@gmail.com to ask Kaci McCleary, Erik Kneller, Gabriel Conley, and Marissa Evers if she should give up her 10-year job …

The second-year students are moving from the pre-clinical curriculum to the clerkships this week. This transition is exciting--after all, seeing …

Listener Arman calls back to thank us for some good advice we gave him on continuing his hobbies and interests outside medical school! Nevertheless, …

It's winter break at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. For most people, that means there are a couple weeks to relax and rejuvenate …

As the semester wrapped up, Dave didn't feel it was necessary to ponder great questions or debate contentious issues, so this week's show is pretty newsy...and there's never a shortage of things to talk about there. Of …

From an early age people are asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Whether they knew it all along or discovered their career path along the way, medical students have made a commitment to the answer, “I want …

Chrissa wrote in to say that she believes that complementary and alternative medicine systems should be more important to mainstream, Western …

Preparing for Residency Interviews Welcome to Night Float! In this series  of special episodes, resident physicians take a break from the demands of their days (and nights) to offer information, guidance, and support to …

Dave found himself with another group of women co-hosting the show, so what better time to talk about #MeToo and the powerful people being taken down …

Mark Shrime is an otolaryngologist (and American Ninja Warrior competitor) who may just be on the leading edge of change in the way global health …

Dave loves all Short Coats--he's like a benevolent god, except without any godly powers or omniscience but with plenty of love. However, he does like …

Medical school definitely hasn't made a priority of teaching about how medicine works as a business. MDs who get involved in that side of healthcare …

When many people think about becoming a physician, they focus on the positive side of the practice of medicine. Things like diagnosing and …

Dave has been noticing a certain mid-semester droopiness among some students at the College of Medicine. Perhaps, he conjectured, we all need a bit …

In Iowa and many other states, migrant workers are a big part of the economy. Many of these people don't have time for and can't afford regular …

Alumni Nate Curl, MD (emergency medicine, '07) and Cathryn Turner (pediatric psychiatry, '10) returned to the Carver College of Medicine last week to …

Once you're on the path to doctorhood, it can be hard to step off. You'll probably be happy...but what if you find out you'd rather just skate? Sure, you're making money, you're an important part of the medical …

Dave's gotten a few requests over the years from folks who want to know: is it a good idea to have pets while you're in medical school? And Dave …

Donors are very important to universities and medical schools, typically contributing money to further the educational mission. Often, donors get a …

Euthalia (not her actual name, though it probably should be. Feel free to take that name, anonymous caller) called us at 347-SHORTCT to express her …

Among the biggest projects a premed faces: not just getting into medical school, but getting into one that meets their needs. Do they want a school …

Katee Verhoef and Corbin Weaver, from the new show The Vagibonds Podcast are in the studio to talk about their work discussing feminism through the OB/GYN student lens, as well as how they never introduce their co-host …

Interview season begins soon, which means it's time to worry about the weird questions you'll be asked during med school interviews. Kayla got in …

Our recent show on mental illness in medical school generated some listener feedback. K wrote to say thanks for the honest discussion (our …

While Dave was on vacation, Teneme Konne got together with some folks we talked to back in July, pre-health students in UI's Summer Health …

[Hey, gang! We're re-releasing this super good episode because when it first posted the file was screwed up. Enjoy!] Physicians are no better than the rest of us at dealing with mental illness, even as they struggle …

A listener wants to know more about the secondary application. Given the the turnaround time often recommended (a week), how important are they? Do they need to be as well crafted as your personal statement? What do …

Sometimes you're having so much fun that the time flies by and you forget that you have other important things to do. That's what happened on this week's show, in which Dave brings Aditi Patel, Aline Sandouk, Kylie …

The world of work, and medical school, is often about adjusting for a number of "top" priorities. Dave's been having one of those weeks where his …

The world of work, and medical school, is often about adjusting for a number of "top" priorities. Dave's been having one of those weeks where his …

This week, Teneme Konne introduced Dave to some students participating in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/AAMC venture, the Summer Health Professions Education Program, which has as it's aim to strengthen the …

As a planned parenthood sex educator, listener T'keyah wants to know what medical schools teach about meeting the needs of LGBTQIA+ patients. Amy …

A flood of listener questions this week! It's probably due in part to medical school application season has begun, which means medical school …

Listener T'keyah sends Cole Cheney, Aline Sandouk, and John Pienta a question on gap years, which boils down to what kinds of gaps are okay according …

A listener wants to know more about the secondary application. Given the the turnaround time often recommended (a week), how important are they? Do they need to be as well crafted as your personal statement? What do …

What is it about public health issues that lends itself to bandwagons? John Pienta, Levi Endelman, Hillary O'Brien, Issac Schwantes, and Jason Lewis discuss Finland's contribution to parenting, the cardboard box in …

Sometimes you're having so much fun that the time flies by and you forget that you have other important things to do. That's what happened on this week's show, in which Dave brings Aditi Patel, Aline Sandouk, Kylie …

It's a more-or-less unstated goal of ours to show medical learners that podcasting can be a beneficial experience both for the host and for listeners. And we're always banging on about the need for better science …

Listener T'keyah sends Cole Cheney, Aline Sandouk, and John Pienta a question on gap years, which boils down to what kinds of gaps are okay according …

One of our podcasting goals is to encourage others to create their own shows, especially medical learners. So John Pienta, Irisa Mahaparn, Adam Erwood, and Erin Pazaski were pleased to hear from listener Terel, who got …

Improvisational acting is a greater part of medical school than one might expect. Between pretending to be doctors for one's simulated patients, or …

We've got a crowd of M1s in the house rapidly approaching the end of their first year. This past week, Kylie Jade Miller, Levi Endelman, Adam Erwood, and new co-host Irene Morcuende took their physical exam skills …

Dave is no scientist, but he is 'science-adjacent.' This week, after having read of research involving the benefits to brain function conferred by …

Among the topics we Short Coats often ruminate on is the lack of basic science literacy in the public and press...and among politicians. How did we …

Sometimes, Dave has ideas. This time Dave's idea was to get his long-suffering co-hosts to enjoy the YouTube beauty treatment known as The Black …

This episode is all about false dichotomies--situations or ideas that seem like dilemmas (and thus require a difficult choice to be made) but which …

Statistics on Human Trafficking vary, but Dr. Shannon Findlay, an Emergency Medicine resident at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, offers some sobering information. It is believed that 21 million people …

Dr. Sharon Larson is Iowa's first female cardiothoracic surgeon. You might be forgiven for thinking that Iowa's been a bit backwards for not having had this glass ceiling broken sooner, but there aren't exactly a …

We recorded this week's show while doing a Facebook LiveThis week we start with some feedback from listener Paulius, who has a suggestion for a …

Love is on the air this week, as Cole Cheney hears a declaration of listener Naomi's feelings...and then gets a Valentine's week surprise. Also, …

The efficacy of any biomedical researcher is based on his or her foundation of scientific knowledge. Few would have any problem grasping that idea. …

Ian Drummond is a fourth-year student at Case Western. When it came time to consider what specialty to go into, Ian realized he didn't have the …

Is labeling people during a med school interview a good idea? Is such labeling always an example of ad hominem? Are doctors who write newspaper …

On Inauguration Day, listener Tekia (and we hope that's spelled right) called to let us know that we were helping her stay frosty. Another listener, Liza, wrote wondering if her peers with MD family members are at an …

Medical school admissions committees look for clinical experiences on applications, so it behooves premeds to seek out ways to get into the clinic as …

Fresh from winter break, Kaci McCleary, Tony Rosenberg, Mark Moubarek, and new co-host Teneme Konne bring us up to date on their activities during their time off. We hear from co-host Amy Young as she sends in her …

Dave and the gang (Kaci McCleary, Rob Humble, Elizabeth Shirazi, and later in the show Anthony Hunt (an Iowa pharmacy student to whom Rob is affianced) say goodbye to what many acknowledge was an itchy, prurient rash of …

Dave once again forces the group to play a game of questionable relevance to medicine in which his co-hosts ask each other anatomy questions while wearing speech jammer headphones. Corbin Weaver, Matt Wilson, and Issac …

We tried Roto Z eye drops in the past, and were unimpressed. But thanks to Doug Russo, who secured the real deal--Roto Z Pro eye drops--Kaci McCleary and newbies Matt Wilson, Jenna Schade and Elizabeth Shirazi felt the …

Dave and the crew--Mark Moubarek, Levi Endelman, Julie Gudenkauf, and Erin Pazaski--look back on things they experienced as the semester draws to a …

Coaching is an integral part of sports, it's often used by corporate executives, and even helps people manage ADHD. But until recently coaching wasn't something physicians used to achieve their goals. For this show, …

Just hours before a new crop of medical students are to be welcomed into the world of medicine, Kaci McCleary, John Pienta, Aline Sandouk, Mark Moubarek, and Lisa Wehr confront one of the most uncomfortable topics in …

Happy Thanksgiving! The crew--John Pienta, Marc Toral, Dylan Todd and new guy Jay Blomme--were lucky enough to hear from a couple listeners about our recent post-presidential election episode. For instance, Kayla …

With the close of the election of 2016, many people, including us, found themselves dismayed and surprised by a great many things. But why were we so shocked? Now that our hindsight has been LASIK'd, some are noticing …

John Pienta, Levi Endelman, Kylie Miller, and Adam Erwood get to answer some probing questions: what's the first thing a student wants to know upon starting a new clerkship? What's the most important skill they've …

Compassion fatigue is a problem for many practitioners. In medicine, some of the needs are so great, and the resources are often so finite. Aline Sandouk, John Pienta, Rob Humble, and Kaci McCleary discuss what happens …

Halloweeeeeeennnn! It's upon us, and while we're women and men of science around here, we're not completely able to shed our lizard-brain's need to take shortcuts. Which is why we are not at all surprised to know that …

WHO researchers in Uganda are keen to teach schoolchildren there how to spot dubious health claims. This leads Dave to ask Levi Endelman, John …

[Since Dave and the Writing and Humanities Program was putting on an art-and-medicine conference last week, we’re posting this rerun.  Enjoy!] Dave helps Mark Moubarek, Amy Young, Rob Humble, and Corbin Weaver to …

This week, Dave, Aline Sandouk, John Pienta, Doug Russo, and Tony Rosenberg reflect upon the joy that podcasting brings, as we were recording the show on International Podcasting Day (Sept. 30).  Something else to …

After listening to our recent show that featured a review of a wrist-worn device that you can shock yourself with to punish you for engaging in bad …

Close your eyes, and picture an opioid abuser. If you're like me, you see a man in a flophouse or dark alley. He's cooking up heroin in a spoon over a lighter. Maybe he has a loop of tubing around his upper arm, and …

This week, Dave volunteers to wear a device that's received a lot of buzz lately, Pavlok. It's creator says that through classical conditioning it …

Stress is a part of medical school. Worrying about tests, studying until you drop, late nights, early mornings, and drinking from the firehose all …

Dave, John Pienta, Mark Moubarek, Matt Maves, and Levi Endelman are aware that the world is full of questions.  Nowhere is that more true than on the …

yan Gray, MD, was a physician in the Air Force. He'd planned all along to be an orthopaedic surgeon...but the military had other plans for him: …

Just hours before a new crop of medical students are to be welcomed into the world of medicine, Kaci McCleary, John Pienta, Aline Sandouk, Mark Moubarek, and Lisa Wehr confront one of the most uncomfortable topics in …

Is Dave ready for Snapchat? Corbin Weaver, Cole Cheney, Taz Khalid, and Tony Rosenberg try to convince him to start one up for the show. Are …

Dave is excited to meet some new people who are getting ready to don the short coat this coming week. Kylie Miller, Brady Campbell, Kyle Anderson are …

Dave's feeling a bit concerned for the future of the world these days. As a consumer of science fiction movies and books, he's long noticed a theme …

Do you, dear students, have tons of money? No? Weird. Luckily, Joe Saul-Sehy of the Stacking Benjamins podcast joins us on the show this week. …

Sister Helen Prejean has been an anti-death-penalty advocate since 1981, when she first became the pen pal of a death-row inmate in Louisiana's …

Dr. Lauren Hughes is a graduate of the Carver College of Medicine who, in addition to her work as a family physician, has made a career in public …

On a recent show, Dave opined that shaving one's armpit hair might cut down on deodorant failure, and a listener called into vindicate him, much to Mark Moubarek's shame. Another listener, PharmD and author Tony wants …

John Pienta's been experimenting with his diet. Aline Sandouk, Mark Moubarek and Corbin Weaver talk about the science and John's experiences with a ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting. He concludes that the …

In his former life, co-host Mark Moubarek was a children's entertainer. So in a stroke of genius, Dave decides to have him make balloon animals for Aline Sandouk, Marc Toral, and Rob Humble. On an audio podcast.  But …

Ask "How are you?" of students in the hallways of the Carver College of Medicine, and you'll hear them respond that they're "living the dream." …

Is Dave ready for Snapchat? Corbin Weaver, Cole Cheney, Taz Khalid, and Tony Rosenberg try to convince him to start one up for the show. Are …

We want to know more about you! Post a photo of where you're listening using #shortcoatpeeps, so we can creep on you. With the semester suddenly over, Doug and Rob look back with Kaci on their first year of medical …

Sister Helen Prejean has been an anti-death-penalty advocate since 1981, when she first became the pen pal of a death-row inmate in Louisiana's …

Oh, snap.  Our recording last week was nuked by the computer gods.  Here’s a re-run to keep your auditory meatus occupied. What can medical students and residents do to keep their chins up during their training? That’s …

The war in Syria continues, and while West Africa's Ebola outbreak has receded, Doctors Without Borders is still in West Africa as it works to …

Prince has left the building, so The Short Coats take a moment to eulogize the Purple One. Listener Rayhaan is looking for advice on preparing for …

As Alison Pletch and Deep Bhatt prepare to leave CCOM and begin residency, they share with Kaci McCleary and Corbin Weaver their thoughts on leaving Iowa and beginning their new chapters. LIstener Todd calls the Short …

From inner-city Oakland, Cali to medical school; that's an unlikely journey. Unlikely because inner city poor kids don't even hear about …

Today's show features empathy--having too much or too little, or what happens when it's switched on very suddenly. Aline Sandouk, Marc Toral, Amy Young, and Kaci McCleary discuss an autistic man whose ability to sense …

The understanding of the twin epidemics of obesity and diabetes is changing. The "calories in, calories out" model of obesity is giving way, faster …

Listener Oscar's having the pre-med/post-acceptance jitters; luckily Aline, Marc, Dylan, and Lisa are on hand to offer some advice on this all-too-common case of impostor syndrome. Plus, now that Match Week has …

Are board exams a waste of resources? Is electrocution an antidote to boredom? This week we discuss the petition, created by medical students at Harvard, to zap the USMLE Step 2 exam, and opine on whether it (and …

We answer a listener question, and we wear bags on our heads and touch things.

The post A Touching Episode appeared first on The Short Coat.

As Kaci entered her clinical clerkships, she had four two-week specialty rotations in a row, and found herself hating them. Are two-weekers a waste …

Corbin Weaver visits the local grocery store to hear a presentation on pelvic floor disorders, part of the store’s health outreach efforts, and marvels at the fact that A) many people seem to have a very foggy notion of …

Social psychologist Amy Cuddy’s well known TED talk discusses the utility of ‘power poses,’ and medical students are always looking for ways to feel …

Dave helps Mark Moubarek, Amy Young, Rob Humble, and Corbin Weaver to practice their clinical skills by  answering random people’s “health” questions from the saddest place on the Internet. But first we discuss the …

Zika has been in the news, if you haven’t noticed, as a neglected tropical disease which has been linked to a frightening surge in birth defects in Central and South America.  The response to Zika is going to depend …

What can medical students and residents do to keep their chins up during their training? That’s what listener Ross–who has noticed the contrast between his happy med student co-workers and his crabby resident …

Dr. Paul Farmer is sort of the rock god of global health.  He’s an incredibly busy and influential guy, so when he flew in from Liberia to spend the …

Dave and Emily White, fresh from the University of Iowa Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology’s yearly 4Cast conference,  talk about their …

John Pienta, Cole Cheney, Amy Young, and newbie Rob Humble join Dave to discuss the recent winter break, the Rose Bowl, and Stanford’s half-time band …

Cole Cheney returns from our state capital, where he’s been doing his clerkships at our kind-of satellite campus (more about this program …

After Martin Shkreli’s arrest, John Pienta, Marc Toral, Greg Woods, and Amy Young, discuss why Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli is so hated, given that capitalist enterprises have profit as their overarching goal–hasn’t he …

Second-years Kaci McCleary, Marc Toral, Corbin Weaver, and Aline Sandouk are about to finish their didactic studies in the curriculum and embark on …

Even though Dave’s in NYC, he still finds a way to call it in (pun intended) for a show with Kaci McCleary, Corbin Weaver, John Pienta, and Jason Lewis. We discuss the possibility that most medical abstracts are at best …

Thanksgiving happened last week, so enjoy this re-run! This time, Dave is on vacation, but John Pienta, Aline Sandouk, Cole Cheney, and Kaci McCleary …

This Thanksgiving, why not enjoy a Cthurkey while you contemplate the many health hazards embodied by America’s favorite celebration of gluttony?  …

Lisa Wehr, Kaci McCleary, Dylan Todd, and Marc Toral discuss things of much import, such as why Dave’s iPad lock screen is a pile of dangerously toxic potatoes, and why it’s important to use the correct pronunciation of …

Tony Rosenberg, Alex Volkmar, and Doug Russo indulge their Star Wars geekery with Dave, entertaining the various Internet theories of Luke’s and Jar …

Cory has found something to enable Dave’s plan to hang a portrait of himself somewhere in the medical school, which leads (somehow) into a discussion …

New York Presbyterian and Columbia decide to get out of family medicine, so they abruptly closed their FM residency program…three months after a new …

John Pienta has an profound moment with a patient, one which crystalized for him a sense that he’s doing exactly the right thing in his life. …

Lisa Wehr teaches Kaci McCleary and Dylan Todd about the invention of the shipping container. We look forward to the day when humans are replaced by robots in the workplace so people can pursue their real dreams. On the …

They stand up every day in the front of the room, going on about the nitty-gritty details of this or that, while your desperate fear of missing something that will be on the test is coming off you like an odor.  But who …

Are you under-caffeinated but hate the kind of caffeine that doesn’t stick to the roof of your mouth?  Do you lack ways to describe unlikely illnesses and injuries with absurd specificity?  Then come along with us as …

Dave rewards his podcasters with a tasty treat. Though this may be a new definition of the words ‘tasty’ and ‘treat’ of which Marc Toral, Dylan Todd, …

Dylan Todd, Marc Toral, Eric Wilson are on hand to give advice to caller Todd, who is just beginning his journey from community college to medical …

Christina Sloan, Marc Toral, Dylan Todd, and Eric Elliott are all in the Medical Scientist Training Program, which recently enjoyed a retreat in which they explored the intersections between medicine and science fiction …

From the vibrant Boulware Learning Community, Kaci McCleary, Aline Sandouk, Dylan Todd, and Lisa Wehr discuss Yelp’s new hospital reviews and …

The Annals of Internal Medicine published an editorial from a medical educator admitting and highlighting the fact that there are objectionable people in medicine, and showing how the hierarchical nature of medicine …

Kaci McCleary, Cory Christensen and Tae Kim are excited to experience Iowa State Fair food, which is arguably responsible for a large percentage of Iowa’s dead people.  Enjoy your nacho balls and other crunchy spheres, …

Listener Brett leaves us a voicemail in the hopes he’ll receive a Starbucks gift card, and he wins, so we play his message (apparently recorded from the scene of a horrific car accident). Brett, don’t forget to send us …

          [Today’s episode is a rerun, brought to you by Dave’s vacation.  Enjoy!] This time, Mark Toral, John Pienta, Kaci McCleary and Nick Sparr discuss Medical Student Performance Evaluations and Dave’s problem: if …

A discussion on StudentDoctor.net made Dave wonder if Kaci McCleary, Alison Pletch and John Pienta are truly prepared for life as a doctor. Are their …

The commitment required for medical school is well known.  But what do you find out about this commitment out only after you’ve begun?  Should you …

You’ve got the grades under control, right?  You’ve got your extracurriculars all planned, right?  You’re shadowing, researching, studying, …

Lisa Wehr, Kaci McCleary, Aline Sandouk, and John Pienta discuss the anesthesiologist whose patient accidentally caught her on tape insulting, …

Dylan Todd joins the team, along with Aline Sandouk, Marc Toral, and Cory Christensen to talk about magic. Specifically, whether there is a role for …

They stand up every day in the front of the room, going on about the nitty-gritty details of this or that, while your desperate fear of missing something that will be on the test is coming off you like an odor.  But who …

Senuri Jayatilleka and Eric Wilson have clawed their way to the surface of the M3-year waters to take a breath, and are ready to update Lisa Wehr on …

This time, Kaci McCleary, Lisa Wehr, and Cory Christensen are joined by CCOM alumna Yolanda Villalvazo to talk about what it’s like to have your …

We’ve been bandying about the topic of professionalism recently, and perhaps we’re not the only ones.  Kaci McCleary, Alison Pletch, and Eugene Velednitsky caught an episode of the Inside Stories podcast which featured …

This time, Mark Toral, John Pienta, Kaci McCleary and Nick Sparr discuss Medical Student Performance Evaluations and Dave’s problem: if you’re looking for it to be a recommendation, that’s not going to happen; but the …

Melissa Palma met former transplant surgeon Hani Elkadi in the clinic, and when they got to talking  she realized she couldn’t keep him to herself. …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher This time, Lisa Wehr, Aline Sandouk, Keenan Laraway, and John Pienta have a wide ranging …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher They stand up every day in the front of the room, going on about the nitty-gritty details of this or that, while your desperate fear of missing something that will …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher Dave returns from his vacation at Disney World in sunny Florida, and recaps for Senuri …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher This time, Dave is on vacation, but John Pienta, Aline Sandouk, Cole Cheney, and Kaci McCleary …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher Fourth-year students David Janssen and Lindsey Knake recently arrived home to Iowa from …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher Our show this time was record in front of a remarkably appreciative audience at The Examined Life Conference, and it was a lot of fun.  We talked with several …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher The blogosphere is full of science misinformation, and lately Food Babe has been getting an …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher It’s a long road, and a lot of deliberate work to get to the top spot in academic medicine; and there’s not that many top spots available.  Fortune 500 CEOs are a …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher Hey, sports fans! This week, Aline Sandouk, Kaci Mcleary, John Pienta, and Cory Christensen …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher The excitement was palpable as we waited for the clock to strike 11 a.m. CST. Or maybe it was …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher Okay, now that I got my pot joke out of the way, we can focus on the episode, the topic of which this week is medical and recreational cannabis.  Nathan Miller, Kaci …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher Medical School is hard work. Between the information to memorize and the concepts to …

We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher Aline Sandouk shares her secret to stoking the fires of studying, in which bombastic music plays a part, which is great so long as it doesn’t cross the line into …