Medicine is often described as a marathon rather than a sprint.

Yet many learners arrive in medical school after years of pushing themselves toward a goal, working hard, sacrificing time, and proving they can persevere.

At some point, however, many people begin asking a different question.

Not “Can I do this?”

But rather:

“How do I keep doing this while still taking care of myself?”

Today’s conversation is about sustainability.

It’s about wellness, resilience, meaning, relationships, boundaries, and the reality that caring for others often requires learning how to care for ourselves.

Guest Co-Host: Dr. Eric Hui

Beyond the Chart: Conversations in Medicine is a podcast dedicated to supporting learners as they navigate the journey into and through medicine.

This podcast is brought to you by the Office of Student Affairs at the College of Medicine in collaboration with the student-led Wellness Task Force.

Many students enter medical school having been successful learners for most of their academic lives. They have study habits that worked, systems that felt reliable, and a sense of confidence in how they learn.

And then something shifts.

The pace changes. The expectations change. The amount of material changes. And strategies that once worked well may suddenly feel less effective—or not effective at all.

For many learners, this can be disorienting.

It raises questions like:
How do I keep up?
Why isn’t this working anymore?
What am I supposed to be doing differently?

Today’s conversation is about that transition.

Not just what to learn—but how it feels to learn in a new environment, when your old ways of doing things no longer fit as easily as they once did.

Guest Co-Host: Dr. Andrew Houmphan

Beyond the Chart: Conversations in Medicine is a podcast dedicated to supporting learners as they navigate the journey into and through medicine.

This podcast is brought to you by the Office of Student Affairs at the College of Medicine in collaboration with the student-led Wellness Task Force.

For many aspiring physicians, receiving an offer of admission to medical school feels like the finish line.

Years of hard work, uncertainty, and anticipation finally lead to that one moment.

But what often receives less attention is what happens next.

Because entering medical school isn’t simply an academic transition—it’s a personal one.

Today’s conversation is about that experience: the excitement, the uncertainty, the expectations, and the reality of beginning the journey into medicine.

Guest Co-Host: Dr. Kyle MacDonald

Resources mentioned in this episode can be found on the USask College of Medicine Office of Student Affairs website: Student Affairs - College of Medicine | University of Saskatchewan

Beyond the Chart: Conversations in Medicine is a podcast dedicated to supporting learners as they navigate the journey into and through medicine.

This podcast is brought to you by the Office of Student Affairs at the College of Medicine in collaboration with the student-led Wellness Task Force.