Welcome to UMich Med Mosaic, a podcast hosted by medical students, for medical students – and those who aspire to be!
UMich Med Mosaic is a student-run podcast that explores perspectives on pursuing a career in medicine – with all the excitement, anxiety, and fulfillment that comes with that decision. We delve into the stories of our University of Michigan Medical School community’s diverse backgrounds and experiences. We explore how their histories have intersected with their decision to start med school and impact the type of doctor they are becoming.
We also take a deeper look at the realities of medical training, and how students navigate the intense demands of education while still finding purpose, fulfillment and a sense of identity in the process. Whether it is through mentorship, personal growth or moments of inspiration, we seek to understand what keeps students grounded and motivated along the way.
Through these conversations, we hope to build our community and share some helpful insights and lessons that might resonate with future medical students, healthcare professionals and anyone interested in the human side of medicine.
UMich Med Mosaic is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network (https://www.uofmhealth.org/podcasts), and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to UMich Med Mosaic wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Beyond the White Coat: The Med Student Tradition Behind Michigan’s Smoker
In this episode of UMich Med Mosaic, host Mackenzie Kay sits down with graduating student Gareema Agarwal and MD/PhD student Mark Adame to explore the history, traditions and behind-the-scenes work that bring the University of Michigan Medical School’s annual Smoker production to life. As outgoing Smoker Czars, they share their reflections on creativity, community, leadership and the tradition’s lasting impact, and how they became involved in the beloved student-run comedy musical. They discuss the process of writing, casting and producing the show, and the challenges of balancing a major creative undertaking during their medical training.
Episode Transcript (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic/beyond-white-coat-med-student-tradition-behind-michigans-smoker)
Learn more about the programs at University of Michigan Medical School (https://medschool.umich.edu/programs-admissions)
UMich Med Mosaic (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic) is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network (https://www.uofmhealth.org/podcasts), and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to UMich Med Mosaic wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
23 Jul 2026
Beyond the White Coat: Global & Local Health Experiences
In this UMich Med Mosaic, host Mackenzie Kay talks with medical students Amanda Cassetti, Emily Gitlin and Evelina Hristova about how they’ve engaged in service through initiatives like the U-M Student-Run Free Clinic, Wolverine Street Medicine and Global REACH. They reflect on building trust with patients, navigating care in nontraditional settings and the importance of ethical engagement. The conversation explores how these experiences have shaped their skills and aspirations and reinforced that service can be a critical part of becoming a physician.
Episode Transcript (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic/beyond-white-coat-global-local-health-experiences)
Links:
Global REACH | University of Michigan Medical School (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedschool.umich.edu%2Fglobal-reach&data=05%7C02%7Cpalmerea%40med.umich.edu%7Ca233defd15124e04956808dee803dfdd%7C1f41d613d3a14ead918d2a25b10de330%7C0%7C0%7C639203300508207189%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YVygnQ0mXs1fZia7nOtuFyUzJKW4NEYPy2XAueZrrMo%3D&reserved=0)
Free Clinic | UM Student-Run Free Clinic | Pinckney (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.umstudentrunfreeclinic.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cpalmerea%40med.umich.edu%7Ca233defd15124e04956808dee803dfdd%7C1f41d613d3a14ead918d2a25b10de330%7C0%7C0%7C639203300508217910%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IMuC1DDbJ76JPEdf9Mevq08jGGeE5%2FGbARMGfG6L0wY%3D&reserved=0)
Wolverine Street Medicine - Home (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wolverinestreetmedicine.org%2F%23%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cpalmerea%40med.umich.edu%7Ca233defd15124e04956808dee803dfdd%7C1f41d613d3a14ead918d2a25b10de330%7C0%7C0%7C639203300508231417%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=8tKlW0U6RKAY1qfX%2F185qnA25LBeoNpzn%2Fm6kpUvXt0%3D&reserved=0)
MD Program Year 1 | University of Michigan Medical School (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedschool.umich.edu%2Fprograms-admissions%2Fmd-program%2Fmd-curriculum%2Fmd-program-year-1&data=05%7C02%7Cpalmerea%40med.umich.edu%7Ca233defd15124e04956808dee803dfdd%7C1f41d613d3a14ead918d2a25b10de330%7C0%7C0%7C639203300508242552%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=dE%2BIOV4aF52oqZLY7zwQK171UxtQ%2B%2Blv2vWN87kl4LU%3D&reserved=0)
MD Curriculum Health Equity | University of Michigan Medical School (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedschool.umich.edu%2Fprograms-admissions%2Fmd-program%2Fmd-curriculum%2Fmd-curriculum-health-equity&data=05%7C02%7Cpalmerea%40med.umich.edu%7Ca233defd15124e04956808dee803dfdd%7C1f41d613d3a14ead918d2a25b10de330%7C0%7C0%7C639203300508253574%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bjIn4VM6bJSC1HTtA9UZIL%2Fqyod9ZhvsQljMhdBYrrA%3D&reserved=0)
Learn more about the programs at University of Michigan Medical School (https://medschool.umich.edu/programs-admissions)
UMich Med Mosaic (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic) is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network (https://www.uofmhealth.org/podcasts), and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to UMich Med Mosaic wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
1 Jun 2026
Beyond the White Coat: Finding Your Voice at the Patient’s Bedside
In Episode 5 of UMich Med Mosaic, host Mackenzie Kay talks with Josh Chen and Gabriel Culian about the transition from classroom learning to caring for real patients on the wards. They discuss first patient encounters, moving from standardized patient practice to clinical rotations, and learning how to build meaningful connections at the bedside. They also reflect on the role medical students can play in helping patients understand their care, supporting families during moments of serious illness and grief, and discovering the kind of compassionate, curious physicians they hope to become.
Episode Transcript (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic/beyond-white-coat-finding-your-voice-patients-bedside)
Learn more about the programs at University of Michigan Medical School (https://medschool.umich.edu/programs-admissions)
UMich Med Mosaic (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic) is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network (https://www.uofmhealth.org/podcasts), and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to UMich Med Mosaic wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
16 Apr 2026
Beyond the White Coat: Hidden Curriculum, Belonging, Self-Advocacy
In Episode 4 of UMich Med Mosaic, host Mackenzie Kay talks with Hanikka Muna and Blake Hardin – both members of our First in Family student organization – about the “hidden curriculum” in medicine. They discuss imposter syndrome, finding study strategies and learning to be comfortable with uncertainty. They also explore belonging as first-gen students, building community and practicing self-advocacy through networking and asking for help.
Episode Transcript (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic/beyond-white-coat-hidden-curriculum-belonging-self-advocacy)
For more information:
M-Home Learning Community | University of Michigan Medical School (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedschool.umich.edu%2Fprograms-admissions%2Fmd-program%2Fmd-program-our-community%2Fm-home-learning-community&data=05%7C02%7Cpalmerea%40med.umich.edu%7Cd9eb8a8ed2ef400ff13208de9a597105%7C1f41d613d3a14ead918d2a25b10de330%7C0%7C0%7C639117906094838383%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2FQ45lfSbBrz65JtE8OM6kZwQ3J7dPzuggWgHL67wfKU%3D&reserved=0)
Support for All Students | University of Michigan Medical School (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedschool.umich.edu%2Fprograms-admissions%2Fmd-program%2Fmd-program-our-community%2Fsupport-all-students&data=05%7C02%7Cpalmerea%40med.umich.edu%7Cd9eb8a8ed2ef400ff13208de9a597105%7C1f41d613d3a14ead918d2a25b10de330%7C0%7C0%7C639117906094847372%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GcMAY468K3mJXwLeEat1q88EzxFMtTAxTBhIKVxEFgY%3D&reserved=0)
First in Family | University of Michigan Medical School (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedschool.umich.edu%2Fstudent-organizations%2Ffirst-family&data=05%7C02%7Cpalmerea%40med.umich.edu%7Cd9eb8a8ed2ef400ff13208de9a597105%7C1f41d613d3a14ead918d2a25b10de330%7C0%7C0%7C639117906094856692%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=2JTYrtDr2zWCrh%2Fz%2B0rmc2eBzSpvSOqg1yBxO0ra2yM%3D&reserved=0)
Learn more about the programs at University of Michigan Medical School (https://medschool.umich.edu/programs-admissions)
UMich Med Mosaic (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic) is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network (https://www.uofmhealth.org/podcasts), and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to UMich Med Mosaic wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
24 Mar 2026
Beyond the White Coat: Balance, Burnout and Being Human in Med School
In Episode 3 of UMich Med Mosaic, host Mohika Nagpal sits down with M3 Krupa Patel to talk honestly about balance in medical school -- what it looks like across all four years, and how students can stay human while juggling coursework, rotations and board prep. They discuss battling burnout, setting boundaries with friends and family, building sustainable routines and leaning on support systems at the University of Michigan Medical School, including peer support advocates, counseling resources and wellness representatives.
Episode Transcript (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic/beyond-white-coat-balance-burnout-and-being-human-med-school)
Learn more about the programs at University of Michigan Medical School (https://medschool.umich.edu/programs-admissions)
UMich Med Mosaic (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic) is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network (https://www.uofmhealth.org/podcasts), and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to UMich Med Mosaic wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
13 Feb 2026
Beyond the White Coat: Navigating Love in Med School
In this episode, host Mohika Nagpal chats with medical student couples Ava Harb & Piroz Bahar and Cyndi Edelman & Austin Cornish about balancing relationships, academics and clinical rotations at the University of Michigan Medical School. They share how teamwork, communication and little routines help them navigate the demands of med school together. The conversation covers challenges like couples matching for residency and finding time for favorite Ann Arbor date spots.
Episode Transcript (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic/beyond-white-coat-navigating-love-med-school)
Learn more about the programs at University of Michigan Medical School (https://medschool.umich.edu/programs-admissions)
UMich Med Mosaic (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic) is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network (https://www.uofmhealth.org/podcasts), and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to UMich Med Mosaic wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
13 Jan 2026
Parenting in Medical School
In this episode, host Mackenzie Kay talks with Beth Kranyak and Kyle Homer about juggling medical school and parenting. Beth and Kyle share how they manage coursework, clinical rotations and family life, and reflect on how being parents shapes their experience at Michigan Medicine.
Episode Transcript (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic/parenting-medical-school)
Learn more about the programs at University of Michigan Medical School (https://medschool.umich.edu/programs-admissions)
UMich Med Mosaic (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic) is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network (https://www.uofmhealth.org/podcasts), and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to UMich Med Mosaic wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
14 Oct 2025
Path to Medicine: Pit Stops on the Way to Medical School
Host Mohika Nagpal interviews Eliyas Asfaw and Siddhi Deshpande about gap years before medical school, highlighting how these experiences provide new perspectives, skills, and personal growth for prospective students.
25 Jul 2025
Path to Medicine: Navigating the MD-PhD Journey
Host Mohika Nagpal interviews MSTP fellows Hannah Carter, Caleb Chang, and Philip Barrison, who reveal how they balance MD and PhD training while finding mentors and staying grounded through community.
27 Jun 2025
Path to Medicine: All Gas, No Breaks
Host Mohika Nagpal interviews medical students Mary Falstin, Kayla Blaise, and Kallen Schwark about their experiences transitioning directly from undergraduate studies to medical school.
30 May 2025
Path to Medicine: Stories from the Med School Finish Line
Host Mackenzie Kay interviews medical students Julian Neshewat, Charlotte Jackson, and Gabriela Ashenafi about their diverse paths through medical school, specialty selection, and the importance of mentorship at the University of Michigan.
24 Mar 2025
The Path to Medicine: From Healthcare Professional to M.D.
This month on UMich Med Mosaic, we meet first-year medical students Santi Herrera Alzate and Ani Kamel from the University of Michigan Medical School. Both students, along with our host Mackenzie Kay, decided to pursue a medical degree after working in other health care-related roles. They share their compelling reasons for making this life-changing decision, their unique paths to medical school, and how their previous experiences have enriched their journey. Join us to hear their stories and learn more about making this career transition.
Episode Transcript (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic/path-medicine-healthcare-professional-md-0)
Learn more about UMich Med Mosaic (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic)
Learn more about the programs at University of Michigan Medical School (https://medschool.umich.edu/programs-admissions)
UMich Med Mosaic is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network (https://www.uofmhealth.org/podcasts), and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to UMich Med Mosaic wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
24 Feb 2025
Path to Medicine: The Big Switch
This month on UMich Med Mosaic, we meet Sam Lehn, Rodriguez Roberts II and Alexander Young, all medical students at the University of Michigan Medical School. Each decided to become a doctor after pursuing careers in fields spanning public policy, teaching, consulting and film production. Hear why they decided to make the big switch, how they went about it, and in what ways they’re bringing their previous career experiences into their medical school journey.
Episode Transcript (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic/path-medicine-big-switch)
What to know more about the topics mentioned during the show? See links below:
AAMC: Restarting Your Journey to Medical School (https://students-residents.aamc.org/aspiring-docs-fact-sheets-applying/restarting-your-journey-medical-school)
MD Admissions Requirements | University of Michigan Medical School (https://medschool.umich.edu/programs-admissions/md-program/md-admissions/md-admissions-requirements)
Biorhythms | University of Michigan Medical School (https://medschool.umich.edu/student-organizations/biorhythms)
University of Michigan Student-Run Free Clinic (https://medschool.umich.edu/student-organizations/university-michigan-student-run-free-clinic-umsrfc)
Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG) | University of Michigan Medical School (https://medschool.umich.edu/student-organizations/emergency-medicine-interest-group-emig)
Learn more about UMich Med Mosaic (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic)
Learn more about the programs at University of Michigan Medical School (https://medschool.umich.edu/programs-admissions)
UMich Med Mosaic is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network (https://www.uofmhealth.org/podcasts), and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to UMich Med Mosaic wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
20 Feb 2025
Introducing: UMich Med Mosaic
Welcome to UMich Med Mosaic, a podcast hosted by medical students, for medical students – and those who aspire to be!
UMich Med Mosaic is a student-run podcast that explores perspectives on pursuing a career in medicine – with all the excitement, anxiety, and fulfillment that comes with that decision. We delve into the stories of our University of Michigan Medical School community’s diverse backgrounds and experiences. We explore how their histories have intersected with their decision to start med school and impact the type of doctor they are becoming.
We also take a deeper look at the realities of medical training, and how students navigate the intense demands of education while still finding purpose, fulfillment and a sense of identity in the process. Whether it is through mentorship, personal growth or moments of inspiration, we seek to understand what keeps students grounded and motivated along the way.
Through these conversations, we hope to build our community and share some helpful insights and lessons that might resonate with future medical students, healthcare professionals and anyone interested in the human side of medicine.
Episode Transcript (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/umich-med-mosaic/introducing-umich-med-mosaic)
UMich Med Mosaic is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network (https://www.uofmhealth.org/podcasts), and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to UMich Med Mosaic wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Who has been a guest on UMich Med Mosaic
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Eliyas Asfaw
Siddhi Deshpande
Hannah Carter
Caleb Chang
Philip Barrison
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 5 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
9
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
Contact UMich Med Mosaic
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about UMich Med Mosaic
Who hosts UMich Med Mosaic?
Mohika Nagpal host the show. Published by Michigan Medicine Podcast Network.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes monthly, based on its RSS feed.
Does UMich Med Mosaic take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Host of UMich Med Mosaic?
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