Recipes for Residency

This episode features Dr. Arsalan Saleem, MD. He attended medical school in Pakistan and finished up at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. He completed two residencies at UTMB, one in a Diagnostic Radiology (DR) and another in Interventional Radiology (IR). He recently joined the faculty at UTMB and will be serving as a co-program director for the IR and DR residency programs.
In this episode, we talk about the up-and-coming field of IR and the current pathways/tracks to become an interventionalist. Dr. Saleem sheds some light on speaking with IR programs, letters of recommendation, research, and much more!
RESOURCES:
Society of Interventional Radiologists (https://www.sirweb.org/learning-center/rfs-landing-page/medical-student-and-resident-educational-resources/)
EMAIL:
Dr. Saleem: [email protected]
Me: [email protected]

This episode features Dr. Joseph Sonstein, MD. He completed his medical school and residency training at UTMB in Galveston, Texas. He currently serves as the program director for urology and as an associate professor in urology at UTMB.
In this episode, we get a program director's opinion on what it's like to apply to urology and things students should keep in mind. We discuss STEP1, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and more!
RESOURCES:
UroResidency (https://uroresidency.com/resources)
Urology Match (https://www.urologymatch.com/)
American Urological Association (https://www.auanet.org/)
Society of Academic Urologists (https://sauweb.org/home.aspx)
EMAIL:
Dr. Sonstein: [email protected]
ME: [email protected]

This episode features Dr. Michael Laposata, MD, PhD. He completed both his doctorate degrees at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, and his residency training at Washington University in St. Louis. He currently serves as the chair of pathology and the director of the MD-PhD program at UTMB.
In this episode, we talk about the different sides of pathology and the thought process behind choosing a medical speciality and subspecialty within pathology. Dr. Laposata is passionate about medical student education and mentorship, so tune in for great advice on applying to pathology and residency altogether.
RESOURCES:
The Pathologist (https://thepathologist.com/)
The College of American Pathologists (https://www.cap.org/)
American Society of Clinical Pathology (https://www.ascp.org/content)
United States and Canada Academy of Pathology (https://www.uscap.org/)
Texas Society of Pathologists (https://www.texpath.org/amsimis/)
EMAIL:
Dr. Laposata: [email protected]
Me: [email protected]

This episode features Dr. Courtney Townsend, MD, FACS. He did both his medical school and residency training at the University of Texas Medical Branch and a fellowship in surgical oncology at the University of California Los Angeles. Throughout his time in medicine, Dr. Townsend has served many roles including: President of the American College of Surgeons, President of the American Surgical Association, Director of the American Board of Surgery, and Chair of Surgery at UTMB - to name a few. He is the editor-in-chief for Sabiston Textbook of Surgery.
In this episode, we talk about what it's like to apply to a surgical residency and the things applicants should consider to be successful - along with general medical and life advice from a man that may know a little about both.
RESOURCES:
https://www.facs.org/member-services/join/medical-student
https://theasgs.org/
EMAIL:
Dr. Townsend: [email protected]
Me: [email protected]
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments. See you guys in the next one!

This episode features Dr. Dawnelle Schatte, MD. She did both her medical school and residency training at Baylor College of Medicine and did a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Texas at Houston. She now serves as the assistant dean of clinical education and professor in psychiatry at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Her specific interests include child and adolescent psychiatry and medical student education.
In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of applying to psychiatry, what is important and what may not be so important, thoughts on Pass/Fail STEP1 and more!
RESOURCES:
Psychiatry:
https://www.psychiatry.org/residents-medical-students/medical-students
Child and adolescent: https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Medical_Students_and_Residents/Medical_Students/Home.aspx
EMAILS:
Dr. Schatte: [email protected]
Me: [email protected]
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments. See you guys in the next one!