Vitals and Voices S1 EP 34 скачать в хорошем качестве

Vitals and Voices S1 EP 34

In the thirty-fourth episode of Vitals and Voices, we sit down with Anna Leyrer, a second-year medical student on the MD track, currently completing her final year of didactic training before stepping into clinical rotations. Anna’s path to medicine was shaped early on by her own experience as a patient—one that revealed both the profound impact of compassionate care and the harm that can come from dismissal and bias. At just 13 years old, Anna navigated a sports injury that took eight doctors to diagnose and treat. Along the way, she encountered physicians who inspired hope and others who minimized her pain. Those contrasting experiences sparked her commitment to becoming the kind of doctor who listens, believes patients, and stands beside them—especially when answers aren’t immediate. We talk about what keeps Anna motivated through the rigors of medical school, from remembering the patient she once was to reflecting on the challenges she’s already overcome, including the MCAT, the medical school admissions process, and personal hardships. Her resilience is deeply tied to her vision of practicing medicine with empathy and integrity. Anna is especially passionate about addressing bias and discrimination in healthcare, including bias related to gender, incarceration, substance use, and skin color. She believes that continued training and self-reflection are essential for clinicians to provide equitable, high-quality care—and that healthcare professionals must meet patients without judgment. Beyond advocacy, Anna is also dedicated to mentorship, supporting pre-meds and early medical students through her platform, @pagingswampgirl. We also highlight a project Anna is especially proud of: helping raise funds for Camp Tiger, her medical school’s free camp for children with disabilities. As a Donation Coordinator, she played a key role in ensuring families could access transportation, meals, and meaningful experiences—creating unforgettable memories for children at no cost to their parents. Anna’s story is a powerful reminder of how lived experience can shape compassionate physicians and how intentional care can restore hope when patients need it most.