In this inspiring episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with Dr. Tracy Kedian, professor of family medicine and associate dean of admissions at UMass Chan Medical School. Together, they explore how UMass Chan fosters not only academic excellence but also personal growth, leadership, and wellness among its medical students.

Dr. Kedian discusses how programs such as WIN (“what I need”) Week and the Vista Curriculum create a supportive environment where students learn to lead with compassion and resilience. She also highlights the school’s emphasis on community engagement—from the Worcester campus to the Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health (PURCH) track in Springfield—and the critical importance of understanding the diverse communities physicians serve.

Listeners will gain insight into how UMass Chan’s holistic approach prepares future doctors to thrive in medicine while maintaining their well-being and purpose. Whether you’re an aspiring physician or advising premed students, this episode offers an authentic look at a medical school that truly “walks the talk” of student support and community-driven medicine.

Related Resources

• UMass Chan Medical School
• Vista Curriculum
• PURCH track
• LEAD@Lahey track
• Morningside University

Related Admissions Straight Talk Episodes

• The Fastest Way to Medical School Is Slowly: Avoiding Early Premed Mistakes [Episode 608]
• How to Overcome the Biggest Weaknesses in Med School Applications [Episode 605]
• How Many Med Schools Should You Apply To? [Episode 607]
• Tuft’s MS in Biomedical Sciences: Your Pathway to Med School? [Episode 535]

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What happens when you combine medicine, business, and technology? The cross-disciplinary Master of Science in Clinical Informatics Management degree at Stanford University combines all three of these disciplines. Over the course of just 12 months, students gain the skills to implement cutting-edge technologies, strengthen core business and leadership capabilities, and apply innovative solutions to mee the needs of diverse populations. In this episode of the Admissions Straight Talk podcast, Accepted medical school expert Dr. Valerie Wherley is joined by Dr. Kevin Schulman, Professor of Medicine at Stanford University and program director, to discuss the Stanford MCIM program. Dr. Wherley and Dr. Schulman they talk about tackling big problems in healthcare, why the MCiM degree was created, who the program is right for, and the options MCIM students have for their capstone project.

Learn more about the Master of Science in Clinical Informatics Management program here: https://med.stanford.edu/content/sm/master-clinical-informatics-management.html/

00:00 Welcome to the Admissions Straight Talk podcast
00:49 How (and why) the MCIM degree was created
02:05 Cross-disciplinary approach
04:01 Who is the MCiM program right for?
06:04 ROI and marketable skills
08:50 Capstone project options
12:56 The Stanford design process
14:32 MCiM application timeline and scholarship options
15:39 The importance of letters of recommendation
16:20 What makes an MCiM applicant stand out

Related Resources

• Dr. Kevin Schulman biography
• Stanford MCiM program information
• Stanford University Knight-Hennessy Scholars program
• Five Tips for Applying for Stanford’s Knight-Hennessy Scholarship

Related Episodes

• Transitioning from the Military to an MBA at Stanford GSB [Episode 471]
• What These Seasoned Startup Founders Have Done Since Earning Their Stanford MBAs [Episode 382]
• Stanford MBA Grows His Amazing Tech Startup [Episode 369]

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If you are a medical school reapplicant, tune in for today's episode of the Admissions Straight Talk podcast! Accepted medical school expert Dr. Valerie Wherley is joined by Mory Gould, current M1 medical student and former Accepted client who worked with Valerie when reapplying to medical school. Mory discusses the med school application process, the weaknesses he identified in his profile after not receiving any acceptances, and how he and Valerie made his second application cycle a success. If you are applying to med school -- for the first time OR the second time -- this episode is full of valuable advice.

00:00 Welcome to the Admissions Straight Talk podcast
00:29 Welcome to our guest, Mory Gould
01:36 Mory's first application cycle
04:22 Weaknesses in the first application
05:16 The importance of patient care experience
07:56 Second application cycle and results
08:50 Advice for med school reapplicants
11:25 Vulnerability and openness to feedback

Related Resources

• Mory Gould contact information: morygould@gmail.com
• Dr. Valerie Wherley bio and contact information
• Healthcare Experience vs. Patient Care Experience... What’s the Difference?, Accepted YouTube video
• UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips and Timeline [2025–2026], Class Profile
• The Importance of Extracurricular Activities for Medical School Applications

Related Episodes

• The Fastest Way to Medical School Is Slowly: Avoiding Early Premed Mistakes [Episode 608]
• How Many Med Schools Should You Apply To? [Episode 607]
• How to Overcome the Biggest Weaknesses in Med School Applications [Episode 605]
• Rejection and Reapplication: How to Respond [Episode 523]

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YouTube
Facebook
LinkedIn

Contact Us
www.accepted.com
support@accepted.com
+1 (310) 815-9553