Ask Iya Blog Posts

Rotating at a new hospital, at a new clinic, in a new city, surrounded by people who already seem to know each other, can feel a lot like being the new kid in middle school.

“I love to travel and I am so worried I am going to have to give that up when I start medical school. How did you make time for the things that you love?”

“I just started medical school and I am in a relationship that I really want to work. He doesn’t have anything to do with medicine and I am scared it wont work out because of how hard it already is.”

“I am 35 years old. I always wanted to be a physician but I never felt I could do it. Now I am in my second career and I have decided that I do want to be a doctor. Is it too late?”

“I really want to apply ophthalmology but everyone I am talking to says it’s impossible. I can’t help but let that get to me. Any tips?”

For my match year, only 40 DOs matched into dermatology, 36 of whom were graduating. So yes, the numbers are sobering. That being said, if you want this, you need to believe that you will become a dermatologist. Self-doubt doesn’t serve you.

I’m an M1 and I like one of my classmates in my lab group. Do you think it’s a bad idea to pursue him? We’ve been flirty, and I think the feelings are mutual.

I networked like my life depended on it, because in a way, the life I imagined for myself did. I went to smaller dermatology conferences, introduced myself to everyone I could, and leaned into my natural personality.

This might be the most common and stress-inducing question I get from med students. And I get it. It’s a high-stakes, competitive process. But let me start with a little honesty: I’ve always hated research.

You can be remembered as the person who was kind, who tried their best, and who made others feel seen. Or you can be remembered as someone distant, rushed, or who didn’t seem like they wanted to be there.

If you land a leadership spot in your school’s derm org, that is amazing! If you don’t, please believe me when I say it’s not the end of the world. 

Your personal statement does not need to be a masterpiece. It just needs to sound like YOU. Tell your story. Explain your "why." As soon as I cut the fluff and made it more digestible, mine got so much better. Clarity over cleverness.

For my class, the average number of publications was well into the twenties. That number can feel out of reach, especially without a strong home dermatology program. And if your program isn’t very active in research, it may feel like you're starting from behind before you even begin. 

I can’t even count the number of times that I felt my focus wane during medical school for the very same reasons. Let’s start by normalizing these feelings and then get into some actionable steps that you can take to feel your best while also doing a really hard thing.

Have you ever wondered why people are so afraid to talk about the things that make them nervous in medicine? I’ve never understood the need to “gatekeep” our fears. Our fears are the very thing that propel us forward. A healthy fear has always kept me going. Fear helps me see the way forward, towards my goals in medicine.