#HMP

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Brief Introduction for Career Center Podcast With Hari

What does it look like to go from a Lawrence classroom to shaping the future of medicine and even space research? In this career center podcast episode, we feature Harsimran Kalsi (Hari), a Lawrence Class of 2020 graduate who is now an M.D. student at the Medical College of Wisconsin, while also serving as a fellow with the International Space Station National Laboratory and founding his own biotech company, Otto Sciences.

Hari shares how he built his path through research, student organizations, and mentorship at Lawrence, and reflects on what it really takes to pursue big ideas, from curing diseases to advancing healthcare innovation in a rapidly changing world. If you’ve ever wondered how to make the most of your college experience or explore ambitious, interdisciplinary careers, this is a conversation worth listening to.

Listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5LC3ybYpBdlnKAw5VBXrtw

What Becoming a Physician Really Looks Like: Lessons from a Family Medicine Doctor

When students think about medicine, it’s easy to focus on the science,  the classes, the MCAT, and the long hours of studying. But in a recent conversation with a Lawrence alum and current family medicine physician, one theme came up again and again:

Medicine is just as much about people as it is about science.

From choosing a specialty to preparing for medical school, her journey offered practical advice,  but also a deeper reminder of what it actually means to work in healthcare.

There Isn’t Always a “Perfect” Path into Medicine

One of the most surprising things she shared was that choosing family medicine didn’t come from one defining moment. Instead, it was about fit.

During medical school, she explored different paths, pediatrics, obstetrics, and more, but ultimately chose family medicine because of the variety and the people. It allowed her to care for patients across different stages of life and build long-term relationships. That idea alone is important for pre-med students, that you don’t have to have everything figured out early.

In fact, many medical students enter school thinking they’ll pursue one specialty, only to discover something completely different along the way. Keeping an open mind isn’t just helpful,  it’s necessary.

The Skills That Matter Most Aren’t Always What You Expect

When asked what helped prepare her for medicine, the answer wasn’t a specific class or textbook.

It was tutoring.

Through tutoring, she learned how to explain concepts in different ways, adapt to different people, and communicate clearly, all of which translate directly into patient care.

In medicine, you are constantly teaching:

  • Explaining diagnoses
  • Walking patients through treatment plans
  • Helping people understand complex information during stressful moments

This reinforces something many students overlook:
being a strong communicator is just as important as understanding the science.

She also emphasized practical skills that students can start developing now:

  • Finding effective study methods that work for you
  • Learning how to take exams efficiently (especially multiple-choice tests)
  • Managing large amounts of information

Medical knowledge will come in medical school. But how you learn (and how you work with people) starts much earlier.

What Medical Training Actually Feels Like

Medical school is often described as “drinking from a fire hydrant,” and that description came up again. The volume of information is intense, especially at the beginning. But over time, students adjust and develop routines that help them manage the workload. One key piece of advice was to have something outside of medicine. Whether it’s relationships, hobbies, or simple routines like working out or trying new restaurants, having something that grounds you outside of school is essential. It helps you stay balanced and avoid burnout.

She also spoke honestly about work-life balance as a physician. It’s not always perfect, but it improves over time — especially as you learn to set boundaries. Early in her career, she was more flexible with her time. Now, with a family, she prioritizes being home at a certain time. That shift reflects something many students don’t realize:

Work-life balance in medicine is something you build, not something you start with.

Preparing for the MCAT and Gap Years the Right Way

For students preparing for medical school, her advice was very practical.

For the MCAT:

  • Take as many full-length practice tests as possible
  • Build stamina for long testing sessions
  • Review every question carefully, even the ones you guessed correctly

The goal isn’t just content knowledge, but also endurance and strategy.

On gap years, her perspective was very encouraging.

She took one herself and described it as a reset: a chance to study, gain experience, and enter medical school feeling more prepared. Working as a scribe helped her become familiar with medical terminology, documentation, and clinical environments, which made the transition into medical school smoother.

But she also emphasized that gap years don’t have to look one specific way.

You can:

  • Do research
  • Work in clinical settings
  • Volunteer
  • Or pursue experiences that build transferable skills

What matters most is being able to reflect on those experiences and explain how they’ve prepared you for medicine.

The Most Important Advice: Stay Open-Minded

If there was one piece of advice that stood out, it was this:

Don’t go into medicine with a fixed plan.

Your interests will evolve. Your experiences will shape your decisions. And the path you imagined at the beginning may not be the one you follow in the end, which is okay. Medicine is a demanding field. If you choose a path based only on expectations, prestige, or external pressure, it will be difficult to sustain. But if you find something you genuinely enjoy (whether that’s family medicine, research, surgery, or another field), that’s what will carry you through.

My Reflection

Just like many physicians in medical school, the act of choice is never straightforward. From choosing a medical school to answering questions on the MCAT to deciding what field to pursue, medicine is full of decisions.

But what stood out to me most is that physicians don’t just make choices for themselves; they make choices for others. Every day, they decide how to care for patients who may not fully understand their own condition. They consider not just physical health, but also mental and social well-being. Sometimes they work with clear information; other times, they have very little to go on.

Because of this, physicians must develop a unique skill, which is the ability to understand people. It reminds me of a teacher in a classroom. Even if they are teaching the same concept to every student, they must adapt how they present it based on how each student learns. In the same way, physicians must adjust how they communicate, listen, and respond to each patient.

In the end, medicine is not just about knowledge, it’s about connection.

Dennis Boakye ’26 is a senior with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Mathematics. Dennis is the current career peer educator for the Health and Medicinal Professions (HMP) and the Physical and Natural Sciences (PHN) career communities at Lawrence University. Connect with Dennis on LinkedIn.

Your First Job After Graduation Doesn’t Define Your Career

As graduation approaches, it’s easy to feel like everyone else has their future figured out. Some classmates already have job offers, others are announcing big corporate positions, and suddenly, the pressure to secure something immediately can feel overwhelming.

In a recent conversation with a Lawrence alum who now works closely with trauma surgery research teams and helps recruit research assistants, I heard a perspective that many students need to hear: your first job after graduation doesn’t define your career. In fact, especially in healthcare and research, the path after college is rarely linear.

Here are a few insights that stood out from our conversation.

 Why You Might Not See the Jobs You’re Looking For Yet

One thing that surprised me was learning how hiring timelines often work in hospitals and clinical research environments. Unlike many corporate positions that recruit months in advance, hospitals and research teams often don’t post job openings until they are ready to fill them immediately. That means students searching months ahead of graduation may not see many relevant listings yet.

Because of this, constantly refreshing job boards early in the year may not actually be the best use of your time. Instead, the advice was simple: focus on finishing your academic work well, enjoy your final months of college, and begin building connections. Informational interviews with alumni or professionals in your field can be far more helpful than sending out dozens of early applications.

Networking conversations also help you learn what different roles actually look like, which can make your job search much more focused when positions do start appearing.

 What Some Research Roles Actually Look Like

During our conversation, the alum described recruiting research assistants for a trauma surgery research program. The work environment was intense and fast-paced. Because trauma cases can happen at any time, research assistants had to be ready to respond quickly when patients arrived in the emergency department. Their responsibilities included collecting time-sensitive blood samples, transporting them to the lab, processing them, documenting the data, and returning to collect follow-up samples within strict time windows.

These kinds of roles require more than just lab skills. Recruiters look for candidates who can:

  •  Stay calm in high-pressure environments
  •  Communicate clearly with clinical teams
  •  Follow detailed protocols
  •  Work flexible or rotating schedules, including nights

While this example comes from trauma surgery research, it illustrates an important point: many healthcare research roles involve real-world clinical environments, not just traditional bench work. Understanding what these jobs actually require can help students prepare better and decide whether a particular role fits their interests and lifestyle.

 You Probably Have More Options Than You Think

One of the most reassuring parts of the conversation was hearing how flexible career paths in healthcare can be. Many students worry that if they don’t land the perfect job immediately after graduation, they’ve somehow fallen behind. But the reality is that people often move through several roles before finding the one that fits best.

Some graduates start as medical assistants. Others work as research assistants, scribes, or clinical coordinators. Some even take temporary jobs outside healthcare while continuing to apply for positions that better match their goals. And that’s completely normal.

The important thing is gaining experience, learning about different environments, and continuing to move toward the work that interests you. Careers in medicine and research develop over time, not through one single job decision. As the alum put it during our conversation: if you start somewhere and it turns out not to be the right fit, you can always move on and find something different.

 A Final Reminder for Seniors

If you’re a senior feeling uncertain about what comes next, you’re not alone. The transition out of college can feel intimidating, especially in fields like healthcare, where many students plan to take gap years or explore research roles. But the path forward doesn’t have to be perfect right away. Opportunities will appear, connections will grow, and experiences will build on each other. The first step after graduation is just that, it’s a first step, not a final destination.

Dennis Boakye ’26 is a senior with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Mathematics. Dennis is the current career peer educator for the Health and Medicinal Professions (HMP) and the Physical and Natural Sciences (PHN) career communities at Lawrence University. Connect with Dennis on LinkedIn.

My Experience as an Interviewer: Wardah Basil

Reviewing three Big Interview recordings as a Career Peer Educator gave me a different perspective on interviews. Watching the videos, I noticed that the strongest answers were the ones that followed a clear structure, especially the STAR method. The students who did well explained the situation quickly, talked about the task and the specific actions they took, and then ended with a clear result. Their answers felt easy to follow because they stayed focused on their own role and didn’t spend too much time on background details. One answer that stood out to me was when a student was asked what makes qualities make a good leader. Instead of just listing leadership traits, they said a good leader listens first and makes sure everyone on the team feels heard. They also talked about taking responsibility when things go wrong and giving credit to the team when things go right. It felt thoughtful and genuine, and it showed their perspective rather than just repeating common interview phrases.

Being a reviewer also helped me understand what makes an answer clear or confusing in recorded interviews. When someone jumps between ideas or forgets to explain the result, it becomes harder to follow, especially since there is no chance to ask follow-up questions in an asynchronous interview. The answers that worked best were the ones that clearly walked through what happened, what the student did, and what they learned from the experience. For students doing asynchronous interviews, I would suggest keeping answers structured, speaking a little slower, and looking at the camera so it feels more like a real conversation. It can also feel uncomfortable to watch yourself on video, but the goal isn’t to be perfect. Watching recordings and getting peer feedback is really just a way to notice what is working and what could be clearer next time. This experience reminded me that interviews are really about telling your story in a simple and honest way.

My Experience as an Interviewer: Nadika Sharma

Reviewing three recorded interviews helped me notice some clear patterns in the strongest answers. The best responses were structured and easy to follow, usually using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Students briefly explained the situation they were in, described what they did, and clearly shared the outcome. These answers were both concise and detailed, which made them easier to understand. As a reviewer, I also learned that interview answers are most convincing when they follow a clear flow. When someone explains what happened, what actions they took, and what the result was, the story becomes much clearer for the listener. If the order is mixed up, it can make the answer confusing. I also noticed that body language, eye contact, and enthusiasm in the voice make a big difference, especially in recorded interviews where the interviewer cannot interact in real time.

Thinking about asynchronous interviews from the interviewer’s perspective, it is important for students to stay engaged and energetic so the listener does not lose interest. Speaking clearly, keeping answers organized, and showing genuine interest in the question can make a big difference. Practicing beforehand, timing responses, and avoiding overly long answers can also help keep the interview engaging. For students who feel nervous watching their own recordings, I would encourage them to treat the video as a learning tool rather than something to judge themselves harshly for. Watching the recording can help identify small improvements in clarity, pacing, or body language. Peer feedback can also be very helpful because others may notice strengths you didn’t realize you had. Instead of focusing only on mistakes, students should look at what they did well and use feedback to gradually improve their interview skills.

What Recruiters Really Look for in Interviews (Insights from Emplify Health Career Services)

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with recruiters from Emplify Health’s Career Services team about what they actually look for in interviews, especially when working with early-career candidates and new graduates. Although Emplify Health hires heavily in patient-facing roles such as nursing, medical assistants, and clinical support, their insights apply far beyond healthcare. Whether you’re applying for a hospital position, research internship, corporate job, or nonprofit role, the fundamentals of interviewing remain the same.

Here are three major takeaways that stood out:

What Recruiters Notice Before You Even Start Answering Questions

Before technical skills, before GPA, before experience, recruiters are already observing something else.

They notice your nonverbal communication.

Do you seem present?
Are you making natural eye contact?
Are you engaged and listening?

Interestingly, they expect candidates to be nervous. Nerves are normal. What matters more is whether you can still communicate interest and professionalism despite that nervousness.

Simple behaviors make a difference:

Making consistent eye contact
Smiling naturally
Nodding while listening
Using comfortable hand gestures
Sitting in an open and engaged posture

These cues signal confidence and interest, even if you’re internally anxious.

For pre-health students, especially, this matters. Healthcare roles are rooted in patient interaction, teamwork, and communication. If you appear disengaged or closed off during an interview, recruiters may question how you would show up in patient-facing environments. The key isn’t to eliminate nerves. It’s to practice enough that your professionalism shows through them.

Why Most Candidates Struggle with Behavioral Questions

One of the most consistent themes recruiters emphasized was behavioral interviewing. If you’ve heard of the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or BAR (Background, Action, Result), you already know the structure. What recruiters shared is that many candidates know the format, but don’t fully execute it.

These were the common pitfalls they emphasized:

Rambling through too much background
Not clearly explaining what you did
Leaving out the result
Speaking in “we” instead of “I”

This last one is especially common. Many students, particularly in collaborative fields like healthcare or research, describe what the team accomplished but never clarify their individual contributions.

Recruiters are not asking behavioral questions to hear about your team. They are assessing your competencies.

When answering, focus on:

One specific example
A clear description of your action
The skill you demonstrated
The outcome

Even when asked something broad like “What are your strengths?”, stories stand out more than lists. Anyone can say, “I’m a strong communicator.” Fewer people can briefly describe a moment when their communication improved a patient interaction, resolved a lab issue, or helped a team move forward. Stories are memorable. Bullet-point answers are not.

How to Stand Out (Without Feeling Like You’re Bragging)

A surprising insight from the conversation was this: many candidates are simply too hard on themselves. They assume they don’t have enough experience. They assume their answers aren’t strong enough. They assume perfection is required. For early-career candidates, especially students, that’s rarely true. Recruiters understand that new graduates will not have years of professional experience.

What they are looking for are transferable skills:

Teamwork
Initiative
Problem-solving
Compassion
Communication
Integrity and accountability

And these can come from anywhere:

Lab research
Volunteering
Student organizations
Sports
Leadership roles
Campus jobs

You do not need a hospital title to demonstrate compassion, nor do you need a corporate internship to demonstrate problem-solving. You just need a clear story that shows how you applied those skills.

Another area where candidates stand out is at the end of the interview. Thoughtful questions signal genuine interest. Instead of defaulting to “What does a day in this role look like?”, consider questions that help you assess fit and growth:

What qualities make someone successful on this team?
How does collaboration work within this department?
What does growth look like in this role?

These questions not only show curiosity, they also give you insight into whether the environment aligns with your goals.

One important note: salary conversations are usually best reserved for after an offer is extended. Early discussions about compensation can unintentionally limit negotiation flexibility.

 A Quick Word on AI and Preparation

The recruiters also shared a balanced perspective on AI tools. AI can be a powerful way to:

Generate practice behavioral questions from a job description
Simulate mock interview conversations
Refine resumes and cover letters

But it should support your preparation and not replace your thinking. If AI writes something for you, you must still be able to confidently explain it. Interviewers will quickly notice if you cannot speak naturally about your own experiences. Use AI as a rehearsal partner, not a scriptwriter.

Dennis Boakye ’26 is a senior with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Mathematics. Dennis is the current career peer educator for the Health and Medicinal Professions (HMP) and the Physical and Natural Sciences (PHN) career communities at Lawrence University. Connect with Dennis on LinkedIn.