Student Doctor and Kriti

Student Doctor and Kriti

In this episode of Our Voices, Our Future, we sit down with Kriti Saxena, a second-year medical student in the United States with a background in Neuroscience from New York University, who also shares her journey into medicine through social media by offering honest, relatable insights into medical school, lifestyle, and the pre-med experience. During this episode we talk about her path into medicine and the experiences that first inspired her to pursue this field, as well as the role resilience has played throughout her journey. We discuss her preparation for the MCAT and how persistence shaped her approach during one of the most challenging stages of the pre-med path. Kriti also reflects on her time working as an ophthalmic technician and what that role taught her about perseverance and pursuing opportunities in healthcare. Finally, we explore how she continues to advocate for herself in medical school, the common lessons she has learned across each stage of her training, and her advice for students who may be struggling with setbacks or uncertainty about belonging in medicine. To learn more about Kriti and her work, you can visit her social media: @krititomd You can find more information about the work AMWA’s Advocacy Committee has done and how to join their efforts here: https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/advocacy/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/advocacy/] You can find more information about AMWA’s Gender Equity Task Force here: https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/initiatives/gender-equity-task-force/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/initiatives/gender-equity-task-force/] If you are interested in joining the group, reach out to getf@amwa-doc.org [getf@amwa-doc.org] If you are interested in learning more about the podcast or being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to our team at getf@amwa-doc.org [getf@amwa-doc.org] If you are interested in joining the incredible network of women in medicine - join AMWA today at https://www.amwa-doc.org/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/] Thank you for tuning in to Our Voices, Our Future, we will see you next time!

Doctor and Self Preservation Advocate

In this episode of Our Voices, Our Future, we sit down with Dr. Laura Vater, a medical oncologist, writer, assistant professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine, and Director of Compassionate Medical Education at the Hippocratic Collective, to explore how writing can serve as both reflection and advocacy within medicine. During this episode we talk about how storytelling can be used as a powerful tool to address mental health stigma in the medical field, the process of finding one’s voice as a clinician-writer, and the ways Dr. Vater balances evidence-based medicine with personal narrative. We also discuss the response from the broader medical community to open conversations about humanism and mental health, and what advice she offers to trainees and clinicians who want to use writing as a form of advocacy but may feel hesitant to speak up. To learn more about Dr. Laura Vater and her work, you can visit her website: Lauravater.com [http://Lauravater.com] You can also reach out to Dr. Laura Vater via email: doclauravater@gmail.com [doclauravater@gmail.com] You can find more information about the work AMWA’s Advocacy Committee has done and how to join their efforts here: https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/advocacy/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/advocacy/] You can find more information about AMWA’s Gender Equity Task Force here: https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/initiatives/gender-equity-task-force/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/initiatives/gender-equity-task-force/] If you are interested in joining the group, reach out to getf@amwa-doc.org [getf@amwa-doc.org] If you are interested in learning more about the podcast or being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to our team at getf@amwa-doc.org [getf@amwa-doc.org] If you are interested in joining the incredible network of women in medicine - join AMWA today at https://www.amwa-doc.org/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/] Thank you for tuning in to Our Voices, Our Future, we will see you next time!

Doctor and Language Advocate

In this episode of Our Voices, Our Future, we welcome Dr. Rodrigues Armijo, a Latina physician-scientist and educator dedicated to advancing health equity through culturally responsive care, expanded language access, and healthcare workforce development. During this episode, we discuss the importance of language access in healthcare and its impact on quality and safety of care. We explore the current state of language access in the U.S., the gaps that remain, and what high-quality interpretation services should look like beyond simply having an interpreter available. We also talk about the role of culturally competent care and how medical education and health systems can better prepare physicians to care for patients with limited English proficiency. To learn more about Dr. Rodrigues Arijo you can visit: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prirarmijo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/prirarmijo/] You can find more information about the work AMWA’s Advocacy Committee has done and how to join their efforts here: https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/advocacy/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/advocacy/] You can find more information about AMWA’s Gender Equity Task Force here: https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/initiatives/gender-equity-task-force/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/initiatives/gender-equity-task-force/] If you are interested in joining the group, reach out to getf@amwa-doc.org [getf@amwa-doc.org] If you are interested in learning more about the podcast or being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to our team at getf@amwa-doc.org [getf@amwa-doc.org] If you are interested in joining the incredible network of women in medicine - join AMWA today at https://www.amwa-doc.org/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/] Thank you for tuning in to Our Voices, Our Future, we will see you next time!

Doctor and Leadership Renewer

In this episode of Our Voices, Our Future, we welcome Dr. Denee Choice, a physician executive and leadership strategist who empowers women to step into leadership with confidence, clarity, and authenticity. Through her work integrating neuroscience, leadership identity, and executive presence, she helps women make aligned decisions and lead with intention. During this episode, we talk about the internal identity shifts required for women to rise in leadership, the deeper realities behind imposter syndrome, and why high-achieving women may hesitate to step into visible roles. We also explore how traditionally valued strengths like collaboration can become barriers, the systemic challenges women face in healthcare leadership, and practical strategies to build executive presence without compromising authenticity. Dr. Choice also shares powerful insights for medical students and early-career physicians on accelerating their leadership journey and redefining what leadership can look like for women in medicine. To learn more about Dr. Choice and her work, you can visit: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DeneeChoice [https://www.youtube.com/@DeneeChoice] Website: https://choiceleadershipconsulting.com/ [https://choiceleadershipconsulting.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deneechoice/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deneechoice/] You can also reach out to Dr. Choice via email: denee@choiceleadershipconsulting.com [denee@choiceleadershipconsulting.com] You can find more information about the work AMWA’s Advocacy Committee has done and how to join their efforts here: https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/advocacy/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/advocacy/] You can find more information about AMWA’s Gender Equity Task Force here: https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/initiatives/gender-equity-task-force/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/initiatives/gender-equity-task-force/] If you are interested in joining the group, reach out to getf@amwa-doc.org [getf@amwa-doc.org] If you are interested in learning more about the podcast or being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to our team at getf@amwa-doc.org [getf@amwa-doc.org] If you are interested in joining the incredible network of women in medicine - join AMWA today at https://www.amwa-doc.org/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/] Thank you for tuning in to Our Voices, Our Future, we will see you next time!

Student Doctor and First Generation Trailblazer

In this episode of Our Voices, Our Future, we welcome Vanessa Ibimina Batubo, a medical student at St. George’s University and founder of FirstGenMedJourney, as she shares her journey as a first-generation student and her passion for advancing health equity for women across diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. During this episode, we talk about her path into medicine, the challenges and opportunities of being a first-generation medical student, her research and advocacy in women’s health equity, the creation and impact of her online community supporting first-generation students, and how her gap year experiences are shaping her perspective on patient care and her future as a physician. You can find more information about the work AMWA’s Advocacy Committee has done and how to join their efforts here: https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/advocacy/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/advocacy/] You can find more information about AMWA’s Gender Equity Task Force here: https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/initiatives/gender-equity-task-force/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/our-work/initiatives/gender-equity-task-force/] If you are interested in joining the group, reach out to getf@amwa-doc.org [getf@amwa-doc.org] If you are interested in learning more about the podcast or being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to our team at getf@amwa-doc.org [getf@amwa-doc.org] If you are interested in joining the incredible network of women in medicine - join AMWA today at https://www.amwa-doc.org/ [https://www.amwa-doc.org/] Thank you for tuning in to Our Voices, Our Future, we will see you next time!