Welcome to Step It Up with Dr. A! I'm Dr. Nivedita Agarwal, physician, educator, and mentor. Through this podcast, I share lessons from my journey in medicine and explore topics including medical careers, leadership, personal growth, resilience, and purposeful living. Whether you're considering medicine, navigating your career, or seeking inspiration to grow with confidence and clarity, this channel is for you. Join me as we learn, grow, and take the next step toward becoming the best version of ourselves.
The Road Less Traveled: Resilience, Reinvention and Finding Your Path in Medicine
Send us Fan Mail Guest: Dr. Devika Umashanker | Host: Dr. Nivedita Agarwal What if the road less traveled leads you exactly where you're meant to be? In this inspiring episode of Step It Up with Dr A, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal welcomes Dr. Devika Umashanker, an obesity medicine physician, educator, and healthcare leader, to explore the power of resilience, reinvention, mentorship, and finding your purpose in medicine. From biomedical engineering and healthcare finance to medical school at the Amer...
22 Oct 2026
The Road to Harvard Medical School: Building More Than a Résumé-Siri Palreddy's Journey
Send us Fan Mail Step It Up with Dr. A | The Road to Medicine Series What does it really take to get into Harvard Medical School? Is it academic excellence, research, leadership, or something much deeper? In this inspiring episode of Step It Up with Dr. A, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal sits down with Siri Palreddy, a first-year medical student at Harvard Medical School, to explore her journey from growing up in Connecticut and attending Choate Rosemary Hall to studying Biology and English at Amherst C...
28 Sept 2026
From Osteopathic Medicine to the Cath Lab: Dr. Boskey Patel’s Journey
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Step It Up with Dr A, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal sits down with Dr. Boskey Patel, an interventional cardiologist, to explore the unexpected turns, setbacks, mentors, and moments of determination that shaped her journey from osteopathic medical school to the cath lab. Dr. Patel shares how undergoing brain surgery as a teenager first strengthened her interest in medicine, and how her path later took her through psychology and neuroscience, clinical research, post-b...
14 Sept 2026
Sky is the Limit: Medicine, Leadership, Mentorship & Finding Your Own Path with Dr. Listy Thomas
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Step It Up with Dr A, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal sits down with Dr. Listy Thomas for an inspiring conversation about medicine, leadership, mentorship, and creating a career that reflects who you are and where you want to go. Dr. Thomas shares lessons from her journey, including navigating career transitions, stepping into leadership, recognizing opportunities, overcoming self-doubt, and understanding the importance of both mentorship and sponsorship. We also expl...
25 Aug 2026
The Road to Medicine: One Surgeon's Journey Across Three Continents
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Step It Up with Dr. A, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal sits down with Dr. Aziz Benbrahim, MD, FACS, FASMBS, for a deeply personal conversation about a journey that began in a small oasis town in Morocco and ultimately led through France, Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital, Yale, and a distinguished career in surgery and physician leadership. Dr. Benbrahim shares how early encounters with illness and limited access to medical care helped shape his path toward m...
3 Aug 2026
A Conversation with Dr. Adam Weinstein: Finding Your Path: Lessons from a Physician, Educator, and Mentor
Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to become a successful physician—and thrive throughout the journey? In this episode of Step It Up with Dr. A, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal sits down with Dr. Adam Weinstein, Professor of Medical Sciences and Pediatrics at the Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, pediatric nephrologist, medical educator, and mentor to countless future physicians. Together, they explore the road to medicine—from choosing a medical school and adapting to ...
20 Jul 2026
Mentorship Matters — Learning From Those Who've Walked the Path Before You
Send us Fan Mail No one becomes a physician alone. Behind every successful doctor are mentors, teachers, colleagues, and friends who offered guidance along the way. In this episode of Step It Up with Dr. A, we explore why mentorship can be one of the most powerful influences on your journey into medicine. Learn how to find mentors, build meaningful professional relationships, ask for help with confidence, and become the kind of student that mentors are excited to support. We'll also discuss t...
6 Jul 2026
Research, Curiosity & Standing Out — What Medical Schools Really Want to See
Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to stand out as a future physician? Many students focus on grades, research, and extracurricular activities—but are those the things that matter most? In this episode of Step It Up with Dr. A, we explore what medical schools are truly looking for, why curiosity may be your greatest strength, and how meaningful experiences can shape both your application and your future in medicine. If you're a high school student, pre-med, or anyone considering a care...
6 Jul 2026
Service, Empathy & Understanding Patients — Why Medicine Is About More Than Science
Send us Fan Mail What separates a good physician from a truly exceptional one? Medicine is about far more than diagnoses, medications, and medical knowledge. In this episode, we explore the human side of healthcare—why empathy, service, and genuine connection are at the heart of great medicine. Through personal reflections and powerful lessons learned along the journey, discover why the patients you'll impact most may remember not what you knew, but how you made them feel. Reflection Question...
6 Jul 2026
What Does a Doctor's Life Really Look Like?| The Reality Behind the White Coat
Send us Fan Mail What is life as a physician really like beyond the white coat? In this episode of Step It Up with Dr. A, we go beyond the highlights seen on television and social media to explore the realities of a career in medicine. From the many paths physicians can take to the challenges, uncertainties, and meaningful moments that define the profession, this episode offers an honest look at what it truly means to care for patients. Whether you're a high school student, pre-med, medical s...
20 Jun 2026
Shadowing, Volunteering & Clinical Exposure — What Actually Matters?
Send us Fan Mail How do you know if medicine is truly the right path for you? Many students focus on grades, test scores, and building the perfect résumé. But some of the most important lessons happen outside the classroom. In this episode, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal shares insights on shadowing, volunteering, leadership, clinical exposure, and personal growth—and why these experiences are about far more than checking boxes for medical school applications. Whether you're a high school student, coll...
20 Jun 2026
Are You Academically Ready? What It Really Takes to Succeed as a Pre-Med Student
Send us Fan Mail Do you have to be a genius to become a doctor? Many students worry about whether they're smart enough, prepared enough, or taking the right path toward a career in medicine. In this episode, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal challenges some of the most common misconceptions about academic success and explores the qualities that truly matter on the journey to becoming a physician. Through personal insights and practical guidance, you'll learn why success in medicine is about much more than...
20 Jun 2026
Why Medicine? Getting Real About Your "Why" | The Road to Medicine: What No One Tells You
Send us Fan Mail What inspires someone to become a physician? In the first episode of The Road to Medicine: What No One Tells You, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal shares the personal story that first sparked her interest in medicine and explores one of the most important questions every aspiring physician should ask: Why medicine? Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep stepping it up. – Dr. A Support the show If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear your story. Share your thoughts in the comme...
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