Episode 116: Medical Student and Physician Safety with Dr. Marissa Flaherty
Release Date: 09/26/2024
Episode 134: Records and Registration with Mr. Brian Wynder
The OSA Insider
Happy new year! For our first episode of 2026, we are featuring a topic that’s not flashy, but it is so important - records and registration. What are the differences among MedScope, Vida Nova, SURFS, and UMB’s MyHub? What should you do if you have a hold on your record? What if your future residency program contacts the OSA to request verification of your medical education? Mr. Brian Wynder answers all these questions and more. He is the Records and Registration Coordinator for the SOM, also known as the MD Program Registrar. He helps peel back the curtain on how records and registration...
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Episode 133: Applying to Dermatology Residency with 2025 Grad Dr. Emily Ma
The OSA Insider
Our series on applying to residency programs marches on with a deep dive into the Dermatology application process with SOM 2025 graduate, Dr. Emily Ma. She shares practical, down-to-earth advice for applying to such a competitive specialty.
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Episode 132: Applying to Ophthalmology Residency with 2025 Grad Dr. Fernando Martinez Guasch
The OSA Insider
We are continuing our series on applying to residency programs, this time with a warm, wise conversation with Dr. Fernando Martinez Guasch. He graduated from the SOM in 2025 and is completing his internship year before pursuing an Ophthalmology residency. He shares so many insights about the Ophtho match and about navigating this time of life in general.
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Episode 131: General Surgery Program Director Dr. Steve Kavic
The OSA Insider
Our series on applying to residency programs continues, this time with UMMC's General Surgery Program Director, Dr. Steve Kavic. He shares a wealth of information on what he looks for in candidates, how to approach personal statements and interview days, and how he supports his residents to achieve their career goals.
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Episode 130: Internal Medicine Program Director Dr. Danny Baek
The OSA Insider
Our special series on applying to residency continues, this time with an interview with Internal Medicine Residency Program Director Dr. Danny Baek. She shares her approach to the residency application process and match, how signaling works in her field, what she looks for in applicants, and her best advice for students navigating this unique life chapter. This episode is filled with practical info and tons of support for our students.
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Episode 129: Applying to Residency! Interventional (and Diagnostic) Radiology with New SOM Grad Dr. Shirin Parsa
The OSA Insider
We continue our series on Applying to Residency with brand new SOM grad Shirin Parsa. She's a prelim surgery intern who will complete her residency in Integrated Interventional Radiology at the University of Maryland. She shares her residency application journey, including the mentorship she received, the interviews she went on, and how she crafted her rank list. Each of these conversations has pearls for all third—and fourth-year students, regardless of specialty. Listen in, and let us know what other specialties you'd like to learn about in this series.
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Episode 128: Applying to Residency! Dr. Pharibe Pope on ENT
The OSA Insider
We are kicking off a brand new series on Applying to Residency with recent SOM graduates who recently went through the Match. We'll get to know their individual stories, special considerations for applying to their field, and how they approached items like their personal statement, letters of recommendation, away rotations, and rank lists. You'll learn about virtual vs. in-person interviews, signaling, and so much more. In this episode, you'll get to meet SOM 2025 graduate Dr. Pharibe Pope and learn about the ENT application process.
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Episode 127: Deciding on a Specialty in Third Year
The OSA Insider
Imagine that you start medical school knowing exactly which field you want to go into. You line up your mentors and your research projects in that field. Whenever you shadow a physician, it’s in that specialty. Eventually, you start your 3rd year of med school, and you tell everyone what you want to do. And then - you change your mind. You fall in love with a totally different field. What do you do? In this episode, we hear from two recent SOM grads, Dr. Mia Wessel and Dr. Beita Badiei, about this exact scenario. They share how they pivoted, what went into those decisions, and how to choose...
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Episode 126: Starting a Family in Medical School with M4 Olivia Torre
The OSA Insider
One of the most commonly asked questions about life and medicine is: “When is the right time to start a family?” It’s such a good question, and there’s no single, one-size-fits-all kind of answer. In this episode, we’ll get to know a student who has been juggling parenthood and medical school with great skill and grace. Olivia Torre, a 4th-year medical student who got her PhD before coming to medical school, is the mom of an adorable toddler named Emilia. In this episode, Olivia shares all about becoming a parent while in medical school: how she handles the various responsibilities,...
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Episode 125: The Hidden Curriculum with Dr. Sarah Dubbs and Dr. Sandra Quezada
The OSA Insider
We all know about the medical school curriculum. But what about the hidden curriculum, or how students learn about the unspoken culture of medicine through everyday, informal interactions? In this episode, Dr. Sandra Quezada and Dr. Sarah Dubbs explore the hidden curriculum with some examples, chat about whether the hidden curriculum can be positive or negative, and offer guidance on how students can best navigate the hidden curriculum and thrive within it. References: Lawrence C, Mhlaba T, Stewart KA, et al. The Hidden Curricula of Medical Education: A Scoping Review. Acad Med....
info_outlineSometimes, patients may exhibit agitated or even violent behavior in the clinical setting. It is so important to understand background and context, try to preserve the therapeutic relationship, and also ensure our and our patient's physical safety in these challenging circumstances. Dr. Marissa Flaherty from the OSA and the Department of Psychiatry is a wealth of information on this topic. In this episode, she offers tons of practical tips, scripting, and solutions for staying safe, de-escalating potential conflict, and remaining an advocate for your patient's needs while protecting yourself.