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Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine
Reviewed: 6/13/24
If you’re a pre-med student or someone considering medical school, there are some fun and interesting ways to dip your toes in without getting too serious. One of the ways to learn about the real experiences of doctors and medical students is through podcasts.
Podcasts are easily accessible and are a relaxing way to learn more about the world of medicine in your downtime. If you’re not sure where to get started, we’ve got you covered. Here, we’ll go over the best podcasts for pre-med students. Let’s get started!
Without further adieu, let’s get into the best med school podcasts for pre-med students.
The Short Coat Podcast is a fun, honest, and “sleep deprived” look into the life of a medical student. The podcast is hosted by a band of med students from the University of Iowa and follows a “for students, by students” format. Episodes include interviews, the latest medical news, and helpful advice for new medical students.
We recommend the Short Coat podcast to pre-med students looking to calm their nerves. The breezy, conversational tone of the podcast is bound to set your mind at ease in terms of finding friends or relating to others during your time in medical school.
Hearing the student's perspectives reminds us that we all have the same questions, we’re all exhausted, and we are all in this together.
The Talking U and Med Student Life podcast offers admission tips from pre-med advisors, physicians, faculty, alumni, and current medical students from the University of Utah Health. While episode topics mainly focus on med school prep and culture, some episodes discuss residency life and preparation as well.
The podcast is hosted by Dr. Benjamin Chan, the Assistant Dean of Admissions at the UUSOM. It is recommended for anyone interested in a career in medicine from high school and up.
The moving Dear Premed podcast is brought to us by Dr. Mary Tate, a passionate fourth-year medical student at Harvard University. In her monthly episodes, Tate asks current medical students to write letters to their premed selves containing the advice they have accumulated. The letters typically describe their journey through medical school, with a special focus on the bumps along the way.
Episodes include attending medical school while facing adversity. Guests discuss their challenges with poverty, learning disabilities, immigration, and more. Dear pre-med is highly rated and has been described as inspiring, insightful, and motivational.
If you’re interested in storytelling, the Academic Medicine Podcast may be for you. Each episode consists of a three to seven minute story told by a medical student, resident, clinician, or educator about a moment in their medical journey. The stories often describe the feelings of doctors as they treat patients.
The listener gets an insight into the health professionals' thought process as they encounter adversity, with recent episodes highlighting the COVID-19 pandemic experience. This podcast is an excellent choice for anyone interested in medical stories.
The Undifferentiated Medical Student (or “TUMS”) podcast features interviews, tips, and strategies to help medical students plan their medical careers. Founder and host Ian Drummond is an MD/MBA graduate who is passionate about the lack of mentorship available for medical students today and hopes to change that with his informative episodes.
The podcast mainly focuses on career planning and helping medical students decide what specialty to enter during residency and beyond. For pre-med students, Drummond’s guests and insights may be a helpful tool for mapping out your medical journey.
Kendall Britta, MD, and Amy Rogers, MD, cohosts of the 2 Docs Talk podcast, discuss current issues in medicine and health policy. The doctors examine hot topics, including current vaccine debates, physician shortages, SSRIs, and more.
You may be asked about current medical issues during your medical school application process. 2 Docs Talk is a great resource for medical news; it offers insights into current issues that could help you form your responses to application and interview questions.
Are you studying for the MCAT? Try listening to The MCAT podcast! This podcast has episodes focusing on all different areas of the MCAT, from creating test prep schedules to common MCAT mistakes. Oh, and did we mention it’s free?
As one of the longest, the MCAT podcast currently has over 250 episodes that are uploaded weekly and packed with useful tips. If you’re gearing up to take the test, we highly recommend taking a look at this podcast.
For our Canadian readers, let’s take a look at the Pluripotent Premed podcast. Hosted by third-year medical students Ziad and Christopher, this podcast is a great option for pre-meds looking to study medical school in Canada.
The two hosts tackle major medical school challenges throughout the episodes, such as the MCAT, med school interviews, work-life balance, and more.
The podcast is well-rated and has been called the best pre-med podcast in Canada by some of its listeners. If you’re looking for a Canadian pre-med podcast to guide you through your medical school years, this may be the one for you.
The OldPreMeds Podcast is a more serious look into applying to med school at a non-traditional age. Many pre-med students don’t follow the traditional high school, college, or medical school format, and this podcast exists to give those pre-meds some useful tips and tools.
The All Access: Med School Admissions podcast is dedicated to simplifying the medical school admissions process for pre-med students. The podcast is hosted by admissions expert Christian Essman, Senior Director of Admissions & Financial Aid at Case Western Reserve University.
The episodes include guests from other medical schools talking about the admissions process of their programs. Essman’s goal with this podcast is to “bring transparency to the medical school application process and help prospective applicants put themselves in the best position to be a competitive applicant.”
InsideTheBoards is your go-to podcast for acing those medical school exams. It breaks down challenging topics into easy-to-understand chunks, making your study sessions a breeze.
If you're gearing up for your exams or just need a refresher on tricky concepts, this podcast has all the insights you need to succeed.
Dr. Ryan Gray hosts The PreMed Years, a podcast that guides you through the path to medical school. From mastering the MCAT to excelling in interviews, he covers it all.
If you're exploring a career in medicine or deep into the application process, this podcast provides advice and support. Tune in for detailed, step-by-step guidance on how to pursue a career in medicine.
Specialty Stories, led by Dr. Ryan Gray, is all about helping you pick your medical specialty. Every episode features doctors from different fields chatting about their jobs and lives.
It offers a sneak peek into what each specialty is really like. If you're a medical student or resident trying to figure out your future path, this podcast is packed with useful insights to help you choose wisely.
Join Dr. Adam Rodman as he explores the history of medicine and its relevance in today's world on Bedside Rounds. This podcast combines storytelling with insights, offering a journey through the evolution of medical practices.
If you're intrigued by the connections between past and present in healthcare and enjoy storytelling, check out Bedside Rounds.
The Doctors Unbound podcast is where physicians step beyond the clinic and into the spotlight. It discusses everything from entrepreneurship to writing and more. This show
Suppose you’re curious about the paths taken by medical professionals. Doctors Unbound offers an inside look into the work of doctors making a difference outside the traditional realm of medicine.
Check out The Elective Rotation, the top-ranked podcast for Hospital Pharmacy enthusiasts! It's perfect for Pharmacy Students, Residents, Pharmacists, Nurses, Physicians, and Critical Care Practitioners in hospital settings.
With episodes dropping every Monday and Thursday, you'll get unbiased critical care and hospital pharmacy content from a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist.
EM Basic is a great podcast for those venturing into emergency medicine. Hosted by Steve Carroll, DO, it simplifies emergency care and offers practical tips for dealing with common situations.
If you're considering a career in the ER or just want to learn more about emergency medicine, this podcast is an excellent resource to get you started on the right foot.
The Happy Doc podcast is all about helping doctors find happiness and balance in their careers. Dr. Taylor Brana chats with healthcare professionals who share practical tips for juggling work and life.
If you're worried about burnout or just want to ensure a fulfilling career in medicine, this podcast offers valuable insights and advice to keep you smiling in scrubs.
BrainWaves makes learning about neurology easy and engaging. Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your understanding, this podcast has something for everyone.
From the fundamentals to complex cases, it's a great resource for exploring the brain and nervous system. Tune in and discover the wonders of neurology with BrainWaves.
The Ortho Show is a podcast for everything related to orthopedic surgery. Covering surgical scenarios and featuring interviews with orthopedic surgeons, it offers valuable insights into the field.
This podcast offers a clear and informative perspective for anyone keen on orthopedics or simply interested in learning more about the field. Tune in for a closer look at the exciting realm of orthopedic surgery.
Sawbones, hosted by Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband, Justin, is one of the best podcasts for medical students; where they discuss the fascinating stories behind medical history and add humor to the mix.
From unusual treatments to intriguing tales, they share it all in a way that feels like chatting with friends. If you're curious about medicine's quirky side and enjoy a good laugh, Sawbones is the perfect listen—a fun way to learn something new.
Surgery 101 is a podcast dedicated to teaching students all about surgery. With clear explanations of common surgeries and surgical principles, it's the perfect resource for anyone interested in pursuing a career in surgery.
Whether you're just starting to explore the field or already deep into your studies, Surgery 101 offers straightforward guidance to help you understand the ins and outs of the operating room.
The Drive, hosted by Dr. Peter Attia, is all about health, wellness, and living longer. This podcast dives deep into the latest medical research and expert insights on how to lead a healthier life.
If you're curious about cutting-edge science or want to improve your well-being, The Drive has you covered. Tune in to stay at the forefront of medical knowledge and learn how to live your best life.
The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast is a network of medical podcasts created for clinicians. They focus on bringing practical insights and knowledge through expert interviews. The team, which includes students, residents, and educators, produces a weekly show covering various medical topics.
They feature guests who are knowledgeable in their fields and can address the everyday challenges faced by internists. Guests are sourced from different channels, including listener suggestions and social media. The podcast also aims to spotlight emerging voices in medicine alongside established experts.
Pulmcast is a podcast dedicated to lung health and critical care, hosted by doctors who specialize in pulmonary medicine. They cover everything from common breathing problems to caring for seriously ill patients.
If you're curious about how our lungs function, Pulmcast explains things clearly, making learning accessible and enjoyable.
If you're already surrounded by medicine all day, you might wonder about the appeal of podcasts focused on the field.
Well, everybody does things to unwind after a long day. You may have a favorite show or other non-clinical podcasts you like to listen to, which is important to prioritize to help you relax. However, podcasts about medicine can be both relaxing and informative. There’s no harm in finding a podcast you like that may also teach you a helpful thing or two!
Another reason to listen to podcasts is to hear the real experiences of medical professionals. This can be inspiring and give you insight into different medical specialties, residencies, and medical schools that you may not have access to elsewhere.
Interviews and conversations with medical professionals can help you feel connected to the medical community and calm your nerves about fitting into the medical school culture.
Essentially, there are plenty of benefits to listening to med school podcasts as a pre-med student. Even though you may already hear a lot about medical school in your day-to-day life, there may be some new information you could absorb in a relaxing way through an interesting med school podcast.
Here we’ve included some frequently asked questions about medical school podcasts.
As with any source on the internet, you should verify the information before applying it to your medical school papers or vocabulary. For the most part, if podcasts are created by or affiliated with a trusted medical university or organization, they are reliable sources of information.
Health-focused podcasts, interviews, articles, volunteerism, and clubs are all great ways to get a better understanding of medical school culture in your premed or junior years.
2 Docs Talk is a great podcast for keeping up with the latest medical news, as well as The Future of Healthcare podcast and The Daily Medical News.
Whether you’re a pre-med student, an ambitious high schooler, or are simply curious about the medical school process, our list is full of fun and interesting podcasts for you.
While you can choose anything to listen to during your downtime, expanding your knowledge by listening to a medical podcast is a great way to show your commitment and further develop your interest in medicine.
If you’re heading into the medical school admissions process, it’s important to stay up-to-date on medical news. Choose podcasts that include weekly updates on current situations in the medical world. This information may come up in your interview, so it’s good to stay informed.
Storytime or interview podcasts are better for casual listening or for grasping the culture of medical school. Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with a medical podcast.
Happy listening!
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