Whether you’re looking for something educational or just something interesting to listen to, we’ve compiled a list of our top 5 podcasts for medical students. From USMLE prep to interesting case studies to medical career advice, here’s a list of our favorite podcasts for medical school:
Top 5 Podcasts for Medical Students
1. Board Rounds
A podcast for first and second year medical students to help prepare for USMLE Step 1, Board Rounds is a collaborative podcast between the Medical School Headquarters and BoardVitals. Episodes detail short case studies and clinical complaints that the host then walks listeners through to a diagnosis. Episodes are usually between 10-15 minutes, perfect for a short morning commute.
Per Board Rounds: “A collaboration between the Medical School Headquarters and BoardVitals, Board Rounds for the USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 is here to make sure you are as prepared as possible when you walk into to take your board exam. This test can make or break your residency dreams and we want to make sure you do as well as you can. We’ll provide the information and motivation that you need, to help you get the score you deserve.”
2. The Undifferentiated Medical Student
A podcasts for medical students that have not yet decided on a specialty, The Undifferentiated Medical Student is a podcast aimed at helping medical students plan their career in medicine. Each episode interviews at least one physician who explains their specialty and why they decided to pursue that specialty as well as advice for current medical students still planning their clinical careers.
Per The Undifferentiated Medical Student: “The list of career options available to medical students is large, but the time to explore them all is short… distracted by the relentless pace of their pre-clinical curricula and specter of Step 1, 3rd year medical students are eventually confronted with the reality that there are simply too many specialties to explore in one year and that they may not even get to finish their clinical rotations before important decisions about their careers need to be made (e.g., the planning of acting internships) if they are to be competitive applicants. Thus, mentorless and clinically unexposed, many medical students are forced to make wholly uninformed decisions about their futures.”
3. EM Basic
A podcast for medical students interested in emergency medicine, each episode focuses on a different chief complaint within the emergency department and walks listeners through the appropriate workup and diagnosis. Diagnoses are often unique and certainly fascinating for any student interested in emergency med. Episodes are usually under 30 minutes, great for background listening during your morning routine or route to campus.
Per EM Basic: “[EM Basic is] your boot camp guide to emergency medicine. Made for medical students and emergency medicine interns to review common chief complaints in emergency medicine from the ground up.”
4. The Short Coat
A podcast for current medical students, The Short Coat podcast discusses everything and anything medical students might want to know. From expectations for medical students on social media, to the changing standards of medical school education, to the cost of medical school and how to pay for it, this podcast covers a new topic every week and has a loyal following of medical students around the country. Episodes are usually close to 1 hour each, perfect for a road trip podcast playlist.
Per The Short Coat: “Featuring a variety cast of medical students from the University of Iowa, The Short Coat is a brutally honest look at medicine, med school, and what life is like here at the margins of medicine. Skip this show if you’d prefer not to know and hate laughter.”
5. TED Health
A podcast for science and medicine nerds, TED Health podcast has it all. Every episode covers a new topic with some of the greatest minds in medicine and science. Recent episodes include discussions on brain science, mRNA medicine, climate change, and photoacoustic medical imaging. There’s something for virtually everyone on this podcast. Episodes are usually 30 minutes or less.
Per TED Health: “From smart daily habits to new medical breakthroughs, welcome to TED Health, with host Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider. TED speakers answer questions you never even knew you had, and share ideas you won’t hear anywhere else, all around how we can live healthier lives.”
