Becoming MD

Caitlin Calland, M2 Medical Student

Becoming MD is a storytelling podcast that gives medical students and physicians a platform to share their journeys — the highs, lows, and everything in between. Each episode dives into the real experiences that shape the path to becoming a doctor, offering inspiration, insight, and connection for anyone walking the same road. Whether you’re a pre-med dreaming of your white coat or a med student pushing through another rotation, this podcast reminds you that every story in medicine deserves to be heard. Have questions you’d like answered on the show or someone you’d love to hear from? Email me at becomingmd.cc@aol.com - your input helps shape the next episodes!

Episodes

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    You Were Never Meant to Be Just a Resume with Dr. Katie Metzler

    Most medical students (yes, myself included) are stressed about the wrong things. In this episode of Becoming MD, a first-year family medicine resident Katie Metzler reflects on medical school with the perspective most students don’t have yet — what carried weight, what didn’t, and how confidence, boundaries, and authenticity mattered more than any single score. We talk candidly about preclinical burnout, the pressure to perform, and why becoming protective of your life outside medicine isn’t optional if you want longevity. Three takeaways that stayed with me: -Be intentional about protecting the things that bring you joy — they matter more than you think in this journey. -Build boundaries early, because you can’t sustainably care for others without first caring for yourself. -There is a specific role you are meant to fulfill as a physician, and there is a reason you’re on this path — even when it feels unclear. Listen if you want perspective — not reassurance. Connect with Katie Metzler: Instagram: @heydrkatie Follow along for episode updates, behind-the-scenes content, and community conversations:  Connect with Caitlin: Instagram: @becomingmd_podcastTikTok: @caitcallandLinkedIn: caitlin-callandEmail: becomingmd.cc@aol.com

    55 min

  2. 30 JAN

    Becoming a Competent Medical Student Without Being Perfect: A Different Conversation About Step 1

    You can do everything “right” in medical school and still feel like you’re failing - let's talk about it. In this episode, I talk with a female emergency medicine resident Daniella Dennis about the parts of training that don’t fit into study schedules or score reports — the fear of starting school again after time away, the pressure to always have the answer, and the realization that longer hours didn’t always translate to better learning. One of the best moments in this episode comes from talking honestly about navigating a major academic setback — not passing Step 1 on the first attempt — and why that moment didn’t derail her path to matching into her dream residency. We talk about:  How setbacks don’t define your ceilingWhy residency actually felt less suffocating than medical schoolWhat it means to trust yourself before the system tells you it’s okayThis conversation isn’t motivational. It’s grounding and for the medical student who needs the reassurance perfection is not mandatory. Connect with Daniella Dennis: Instagram: @daniella_doubledLinkedIn: @daniella-dennis Follow along for episode updates, behind-the-scenes content, and community conversations:  Connect with Caitlin: Instagram: @becomingmd_podcastTikTok: @caitcallandLinkedIn: caitlin-callandEmail: becomingmd.cc@aol.com

    59 min

  3. 23 JAN

    To the Medical Student Wondering How to Stand Out and Become Their Best Self

    Imposter syndrome is loudest in the early years of training — when expectations are high, feedback feels personal, and reassurance is scarce.   In this episode, we unpack the quiet truths of medical training: why so many students study in silence, why the need for approval never really goes away, and how isolating yourself can slowly convince you that you’re insignificant — even when you’re not.   Dr. Paul Tran shares hard-earned perspective from every phase of the journey, from student to resident to attending and medical educator, including the moment he had to unlearn that his identity wasn’t medicine — and why communication may be the most important skill you’ll ever develop.   We talk about: Why imposter syndrome peaks after school, not just during itHow studying in isolation can limit your growth — and what to do insteadThe single most valuable skill/trait a medical student can haveWhy you can’t meet expectations you don’t know aboutHow asking for advice reveals blind spots and accelerates growthWhy touching one person’s life matters more than you realize  This episode is for the student who keeps their head down, does the work, and quietly wonders if any of it really matters.   Connect with Paul Tran: Instagram: @alimentaryschoolTikTok: @alimentaryschool Follow along for episode updates, behind-the-scenes content, and community conversations:  Connect with Caitlin: Instagram: @becomingmd_podcastTikTok: @caitcallandLinkedIn: caitlin-callandEmail: becomingmd.cc@aol.com

    54 min

  4. 16 JAN

    Day in the Life of a Caribbean Medical Student: Surviving the First Term

    In this episode of Becoming MD, we reflect on what life is really like as a first-semester medical student in the Caribbean. From the shock of the workload and pace to the reality behind the “beach school” stereotype, this conversation reveals what that transition actually feels like. We talk about why confidence in yourself is the most important preparation you can bring into medical school, how the sacrifices our loved ones made to get us here become fuel on the hardest days, and why mnemonics are some of the closest things medical school has to cheat codes. In this episode, you’ll hear: What a real day in the life of a first-semester Caribbean medical student looks likeWhy confidence in yourself is the most important preparation you can bring into medical schoolHow the sacrifices of family and loved ones can become motivation, not pressureWhy mnemonics are essential tools for surviving the volume of medical schoolThis episode is for premeds considering medical school, first-semester students finding their footing, or anyone curious about what the early days of Caribbean medical school are truly like. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, behind, or unsure of yourself, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone — and that you’re becoming. Connect with Michael Rankins: Instagram: @highlyrankedTikTok: @med.rankConnect with Caitlin: Follow along for episode updates, behind-the-scenes content, and community conversations: Instagram: caitcallandTikTok: @caitcallandLinkedIn: caitlin-callandEmail: becomingmd.cc@aol.com

    1 hr

  5. 9 JAN

    Different Systems, Same Doubts: Imposter Syndrome, Preclinical Survival, and Becoming MD

    Medical training may look different across the world, but the doubts feel the same. In this episode of Becoming MD, I sit down with an international medical student Rebecca Wanderer finishing up her clinical years who reflects on surviving the first two years of medical school. We talk openly about imposter syndrome, feeling “not good enough,” and the self-doubt that follows many premeds and medical students through preclinical training. In this episode, you'll hear: How to build study habits that carry you through exams when motivation and confidence are lowHow to confront burnout, comparison, and imposter syndrome without letting them define your progressHow to stay grounded in your calling to medicine and keep moving forward when doubt creeps inThis episode is for anyone navigating medical school, preparing for exams, or questioning whether they belong in medicine. If you’ve ever felt behind, overwhelmed, or unsure of yourself, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone. Connect with Rebecca Wanderer: Instagram: @rebeccawandererTikTok: @rebeccawandererConnect with Caitlin: Follow along for episode updates, behind-the-scenes content, and community conversations: Instagram: caitcallandTikTok: @caitcallandLinkedIn: caitlin-callandEmail: becomingmd.cc@aol.com

    48 min

  6. 12/12/2025

    Faith in the Fire: Becoming a Doctor When Life Falls Apart

    In this episode of Becoming MD, we sit down with female physician Larissa Assam, MD, MPH whose path to medicine was anything but linear. Through seasons of loss, doubt, and stepping away from her dreams, she found strength in her faith and courage in the fire. Her journey reminds us that becoming a doctor isn’t always clean or predictable—sometimes it’s the comeback that defines you. Now a compassionate family physician, she shares how faith grounded her, how perseverance rebuilt her path, and how life’s hardest moments shaped the doctor she is today. This episode is for anyone questioning their journey, navigating setbacks, or needing reassurance that delayed does not mean denied. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why the challenges you’re facing now—stress, doubt, grief, or burnout—can shape you into a stronger, more compassionate doctor than any “perfect path” ever could.What it really looks like to chase a medical degree while life refuses to slow down—when people still get sick, loved ones still pass, and you’re somehow expected to keep going.How to find grounding, meaning, and spiritual steadiness in medical school and residency, even when everything around you feels too fast to breathe.Connect with Caitlin: Follow along for episode updates, behind-the-scenes content, and community conversations: Instagram: caitcallandTikTok: @caitcallandLinkedIn: caitlin-callandEmail: becomingmd.cc@aol.com

    53 min

  7. 05/12/2025

    Med School to Residency: Insights a PM&R Resident Wishes You Knew

    In this episode, I sit down with a PM&R resident and content creator Clay Moss who doesn’t just “get real” about medical school—he opens the door to the parts of this journey most people never talk about. From navigating personal setbacks to carrying the mental weight of Step 1, he shares the kind of honest, unfiltered insight every med student deserves but rarely gets. Together, we dive into what actually builds resilience, how to recognize and dismantle imposter syndrome, and why choosing PM&R became a turning point in rediscovering purpose in medicine. This conversation goes beyond study tips—it's about identity, growth, and learning to stay grounded when the grind feels overwhelming. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to avoid the slippery slope of losing yourself in medicine while protecting your mental health.What residents wish they knew earlier about the tough parts of med school—and which stressors never mattered as much as they felt.The mindset shift that makes Step 1 feel less overwhelming and more strategic. If you’re craving practical advice wrapped in authenticity, stories that make you feel seen, and a reminder that the hard parts of medicine are survivable, this episode will hit home. Connect with Clay Moss: Instagram: drclaymoss Listen now and join the journey. Be sure to follow the channel. Connect with Caitlin: Follow along for episode updates, behind-the-scenes content, and community conversations: Instagram: caitcallandTikTok: @caitcallandLinkedIn: caitlin-callandEmail: becomingmd.cc@aol.com

    36 min

  8. 28/11/2025

    M2 Life: The Parts Nobody Talks About

    Welcome to Episode 1 of Becoming MD.  We’re starting this journey with a conversation every med student, premed, and future clinician needs to hear. In this episode, I sit down with a friend and colleague — an M2 who brings real honesty to what medical school actually feels like behind the scenes. No highlight reels. No sugarcoating. Just raw, vulnerable truth about the self-doubt, pressure, and daily grind that shape you into the physician you’re becoming. We unpack what a real day-in-the-life of an M2 looks like, how to navigate the moments that make you question everything, and tips for you that we've learned in our journeys thus far. Whether you're applying to med school, in the thick of studying, or simply curious about what this journey really demands — I am hoping this episode will make you feel seen. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • How med school changes you — and how to stay in control of that change  • The role of self-doubt in growth (and why it’s not the enemy)  • Application insights and strategies no advisor is telling you  • A candid look at the real M2 experience — routines, struggles, wins, and everything in between This episode is unfiltered, relatable, and packed with the things we wish someone told us at the start. Connect with Aria Abedinzadeh: Instagram: aria_abedinzadeh22TikTok: @aria_abedinzadeh Connect with Caitlin: Follow along for episode updates, behind-the-scenes content, and community conversations: Instagram: caitcallandLinkedIn: caitlin-callandEmail: becomingmd.cc@aol.com

    51 min

  9. 01/11/2025

    Introducing Becoming MD

    What started as an idea to make medicine more human became a platform for stories worth hearing. In this short trailer, host Caitlin Calland introduces Becoming MD — a podcast built on honest stories, real conversations, and the truth about the road to becoming a doctor. It’s more than just another med school podcast — it’s a space to connect with those who’ve already walked the path ahead. Have questions you’d like answered on the show or someone you’d love to hear from? Email me at becomingmd.cc@aol.com - your input helps shape the next episodes! Connect with Caitlin:  Instagram: instagram.com/caitcallandLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/caitlin-callandEmail: becomingmd.cc@aol.com

    1 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

Becoming MD is a storytelling podcast that gives medical students and physicians a platform to share their journeys — the highs, lows, and everything in between. Each episode dives into the real experiences that shape the path to becoming a doctor, offering inspiration, insight, and connection for anyone walking the same road. Whether you’re a pre-med dreaming of your white coat or a med student pushing through another rotation, this podcast reminds you that every story in medicine deserves to be heard. Have questions you’d like answered on the show or someone you’d love to hear from? Email me at becomingmd.cc@aol.com - your input helps shape the next episodes!

Information

  • Creator
    Caitlin Calland, M2 Medical Student
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Becoming MD
  • Show Website
    Becoming MD