From "Dr. Kildare" to "St. Elsewhere" to "Grey's Anatomy," medical dramas have long been a TV staple. Now a new generation of medical drama, drawn from real life, will be transmitted via podcast in "Year One: Making an MD." It follows four students at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in Hempstead, N.Y., as they learn basic procedures and hone their bedside manner. Subscribe, and you can follow along as Nate, Shruti, Sam and Dillon work through their first year of medical training.
"Medical school always seemed like this unmarked door at the end of a long hall—difficult to find and get in and unclear about what lies on the other side," Sam Butensky, a first-year student who participated in the show, said in a news release. "I was so excited to participate in this podcast because I feel like it shows people the rigor and challenges of becoming a doctor as well as some of the really incredible things we get to do here. Overall, I hope that it humanizes the process for listeners as they go on this journey with us."
The show's initial run will be 10 episodes, each approximately 15 minutes and covering topics such as stress, learning how to introduce yourself to a patient and preliminary intake exam procedures. Currently, there are four episodes available on iTunes. The podcast is produced and narrated by NPR veteran Julie Subrin.
"Being involved in the making of this podcast has been a great experience," said Shruti Koti, another of the first-year students featured on the show. "Not only do I get to reflect on my own experiences, but I also get to share my passion with others and talk about what I really love: medicine."