All Access: Med School Admissions

About All Access: Med School Admissions

Applying to medical school can be a very complex and confusing process! All Access: Med School Admissions by Christian Essman, Senior Director of Admissions & Financial Aid at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, brings listeners into informative and entertaining conversations between admissions colleagues from medical schools across the US. Christian and his guests try to bring transparency to the medical school application process and help prospective applicants put themselves in the best position to be a competitive applicant. More info at: https://case.edu/medicine/md/admission/all-access-med-school-admission-podcast

Publisher

Christian Essman

Category

health & fitness · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Apr 2019

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

88 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Episode 88: Understanding Executive Functioning with Dr. Tori Cordiano

   In this episode, we dive into a topic that admissions officers and student affairs deans across the country are talking about behind closed doors: executive functioning. Incredibly talented, high-achieving pre-meds and accepted students are sometimes dropping the ball on important administrative details, missing deadlines, ignoring instructions, and struggling with personal management and it can get in the way of success! To help us make sense of this, I'm joined by Dr. Tori Cordiano, a licensed clinical psychologist, speaker, and writer specializing in executive functioning, anxiety, ADHD, and youth development. Recommended directly by her colleague Dr. Lisa Damour, Dr. Cordiano breaks down what executive functioning actually is, why smart students struggle with it, and how you can build robust self-management systems before stepping foot into medical school. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Tori Cordiano's Website & Newsletter: https://www.drtoricordiano.com/ Dr. Cordiano's Parent Course on Executive Functioning: https://www.drtoricordiano.com/virtual-courses Dr. Lisa Damour's Podcast (Ask Lisa): Check out the Season Kickoff episode 288 featuring Dr. Tori Cordiano on executive functioning in teens: https://drlisadamour.com/resource/series/ask-lisa-podcast/ Executive Functioning Resources: Versteeg, M., et al. (2021). What Were You Thinking? Medical Students' Metacognition and Perceptions of Self-Regulated Learning. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 33(5), 473–482. Jain, A., Prakash, K., & Malhotra, A. S. (2025). Transitioning to medical school: The intersection of mental health and time management. Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice, 16(4), 557-564. Hong, W. H., et al. (2015). Thinking about thinking: changes in first-year medical students' metacognition and its relation to performance. Medical education online, 20(1). Baars, M. A., Nije Bijvank, M., Tonnaer, G. H., & Jolles, J. (2015). Self-report measures of executive functioning are a determinant of academic performance in first-year students at a university of applied sciences. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 1131. The Smart but Scattered Guide to Success (Dawson & Guare)

2. 

   14 May 2026

   Episode 87: The University of Georgia School of Medicine

   In this episode, host, Christian Essman, welcomes Dr. Brian Steele, the inaugural Associate Dean for Admissions at the University of Georgia (UGA) School of Medicine. Together, they explore the birth of Georgia's newest medical school - the 159th MD-accredited institution in the U.S., a fitting tribute to the 159 counties it was built to serve. Dr. Steele discusses the school's mission-driven approach to addressing Georgia's healthcare crisis, particularly in rural and underserved areas. You'll get an exclusive look at their innovative "Georgia Road Trip" orientation, where students travel across the state to experience the diverse communities they will one day serve before they ever step foot in a classroom. If you find this podcast to be a helpful resource, RATE, REVIEW, FOLLOW, & SUBSCRIBE please! It helps others find it! Also, please share this with your friends! Send me your recommendations for future medical schools that you'd like to hear featured! Send it to: allaccess@case.edu Visit our website for more information on this episode and others. https://linktr.ee/allaccessmedschool This podcast is hosted, edited, and produced by: Christian Essman UPCOMING INFO SESSIONS: CWRU SOM Application Tips & Insights - May 20, 2026: Register Here AAMC Virtual Fair - June 3 & 4, 2026: https://virtualfairs.aamc.org/Fair/UpcomingFairs (https://virtualfairs.aamc.org/Fair/UpcomingFairs) RESOURCES: UGA School of Medicine: https://medicine.uga.edu/ Admissions: https://medicine.uga.edu/future-students/admissions/ Contact: medadmissions@uga.edu

3. 

   4 Mar 2026

   Episode 86: The University of Kentucky College of Medicine

   In this episode, host Christian Essman sits down with Dr. Wendy Jackson, Associate Dean for Admissions at the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Medicine. Together, we dive into the unique "Kentucky Integrated Curriculum" that blends foundational science with clinical training from day one, and explore the school's innovative multi-campus system that spans the Commonwealth. Dr. Jackson shares her own inspiring journey as a first-generation student and UKCOM alumna, talking candidly about her path from rural Ohio to leading admissions at the institution that shaped her career. You'll get the inside scoop on the distinct cultures of the four UK campuses: Lexington, Morehead, Bowling Green, and Northern Kentucky - and how the school's unique house system is organized into groups named after breeds of horses which fosters a collaborative, supportive environment across all four years. If you're a prospective applicant, you'll hear valuable advice on the admissions process, including how to navigate campus selection on the secondary application, the importance of demonstrating a genuine "Kentucky tie," and what the committee looks for in high-quality clinical and shadowing experiences. Dr. Jackson also provides a behind-the-scenes look at their in-person interview day and how they review applications to find students committed to bridging healthcare gaps in rural and underserved populations. Tune in for an insightful conversation about the "hidden gem" of Kentucky, rethinking the medical school playbook, and what it means to train physicians who are as personable and resilient as they are clinically skilled. Perfect for aspiring med students, first-generation applicants, or anyone curious about how a top-tier state institution balances elite medical training with a deep-rooted mission to serve its community! If you find this podcast to be a helpful resource, RATE, REVIEW, FOLLOW, & SUBSCRIBE please! It helps others find it! Also, please share this with your friends! Send me your recommendations for future medical schools that you'd like to hear featured! Send it to: allaccess@case.edu Visit our website for more information on this episode and others. https://linktr.ee/allaccessmedschool This podcast is hosted, edited, and produced by: Christian Essman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianessman/) RESOURCES: UK College of Medicine: https://medicine.uky.edu/ Tour Sign-ups: https://medicine.uky.edu/sites/meded/tours New Health Education Building: https://provost.uky.edu/michael-d-rankin-md-health-education-building Admissions: https://medicine.uky.edu/sites/meded/admissions Contact: kymedap@uky.edu

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