The Pre-Health RX

Working On Your Own Timeline - Talking Howard College of Medicine with Dr. Darah Wright

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 preprof@umd.edu 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 

Answering the Diversity Question on Medical & Dental School Applications

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.

University of Maryland's PT Program: A Community of Care

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.

The Pre-Med Journey and The Value of Not Comparing Yourself to Others, with Dr. Jessie Titherington, MD

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).

What is the Pre-Health Packet? Feat. Director Wendy Loughin

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.

Reflection and Growth as a Pre-Med and Beyond: Dr. Darby Moore, MD (Medicine)

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.

Dr. Olutoyosi Ogunkua, MD (Medicine)

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.

Life as an M1 - Surviving and Thriving Your First Year in Medical School

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.

Antonia(Toni) Gaviria Rozo, PA-C(Physician Assistant)

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.

Inside the Med School Application Cycle: Isha Vashee and Jules Einhorn

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.