Ready to find your strength and community amidst the competitive demands of medical school? Join hosts Deana and Carlos as they sit down with Deondra Montgomery, an M3 at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MSU CHM), about turning cultural shock and academic challenge into focused momentum. Deondra shares the profound emotional pressure of being a Latina/Black, first-generation student and the culture shock of moving from sunny Southern California to Michigan for medical school. She reveals how she overcame a "rocky" M1 year by strategically connecting with student groups like SNMA and LMSA, which became her vital support network. Learn the precise strategy she used to build a strong Neurosurgery portfolio without a traditional home lab, securing mentorship through cold outreach and advocacy. Whether you're struggling with the transition to medical school, seeking competitive research opportunities, or navigating identity in medicine, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Deondra’s story proves that resilience, community, and strategic self-advocacy are the true blueprints for success in neurosurgery and beyond. What You’ll Learn:

1. The emotional and academic challenges of the first-generation student experience.
2. How to overcome M1 struggles and the culture shock of a major geographical move.
3. The Blueprint for Research in a competitive surgical specialty (Neurosurgery) when you feel "behind."
4. Strategic importance of SNMA/LMSA for support and professional growth for URM students.
5. Key takeaways from M2 mini-rotations (ruling out Ob/Gyn, loving Internal Medicine).
6. How to stay true to your cultural identity while immersed in the medical world.

If Deondra's story inspires you, hit the Like button, share your thoughts in the comments, and Subscribe for more insider advice on thriving in med school and beyond. Explore additional resources and catch every episode of The Med School Years:

Main website: https://medschoolyears.com

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Welcome to the nineteenth episode of The Med School Years Podcast! We sit down with Kamilla, an M4 at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM), who is gearing up to apply for the incredibly competitive field of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Kamilla shares her unique journey, detailing how she transitioned from a Business and Law background (she realized she "hated tearing down arguments") to medicine. She provides unfiltered insight into what it takes for a DO student to be competitive in surgery, including why she took both COMLEX and USMLE (Step 1 & 2). We also discuss the balancing act of being a Division 1 athlete, becoming a social media influencer, and navigating clinical rotations in diverse environments (Maine vs. New Jersey). This episode is essential for any non-traditional student or competitive DO applicant looking for strategic advice.

Ready to fast-track your medical journey and own your unique story? Join hosts Dina and Carlos as they dive deep with Dr. Alexandra “Ally” Copa—an accelerated third-year psychiatry resident at Jackson Memorial Health System—about turning personal challenges into professional strengths in medicine. Dr. Copa shares how she went from Miss Rhode Island to Brown University, then into a pioneering three-year MD/psychiatry pathway at UM’s Miller School. Learn how she conquered Step exams in a compressed timeline, balanced self-disclosure with professionalism, and built resilience through her own recovery from an eating disorder. Discover her passion project: integrating somatic movement therapies—like bootyoga—into holistic mental health care for children and adolescents. Whether you’re a premed exploring accelerated curricula or a med student seeking ways to stay true to yourself, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Dr. Copa’s journey proves that leveraging your passions, networking strategically, and advocating for mental health can propel you forward—without losing sight of who you are.