601: Why I Put My PhD on Pause to Pursue Olympic Rowing (Then Became a Doctor)
The Premed Years
Ryan Gray
4.5 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 6 August 2025
⏱️ 47 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
(00:00) Rowing Into Medicine
(11:15) Preparing for Medical School Application Process
(19:02) Deciding on Medical School Location
(32:38) Navigating the Medical School Application Process
(36:03) Balancing Health and Medical School
(42:25) Exploring Radiology in Medical Training
Podcast Summary
Meredith's journey to medical school is anything but ordinary. Imagine dedicating years to elite rowing, even qualifying for the Olympic trials, only to pivot back to the academic world with the same determination and discipline. This episode captures Meredith's inspiring transition from the rigors of high-intensity athletics to the equally challenging demands of medical training. Her tale is one of resilience and adaptability, providing insights that resonate with anyone contemplating a non-traditional path in their career or education.
We dive into the nuances of applying to medical school as a non-traditional student, drawing from Meredith's experiences. Her story is filled with serendipitous moments, like reconnecting with a former advisor who guided her through both her biochemistry undergrad and now medical school. The conversation touches on the strategic maneuvers needed to tackle prerequisites, recommendation letters, and the MCAT, all while leveraging the persistence honed from rowing. Meredith's perspective is not only a testament to the power of pursuing one's passions but also a roadmap for navigating the complexities of medical school applications.
Choosing a medical school involves more than just academics; it's about finding the right fit in terms of location, community, and opportunities. Meredith shares her thoughtful decision-making process, which included staying close to family, focusing on MD programs, and valuing research prospects. Her journey at Carle Illinois College of Medicine is a reflection of her strategic planning and genuine passion for both medicine and maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Listen as she shares her insights on balancing health with the demands of medical school, all while exploring future opportunities in radiology and beyond.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hey, before we jump into our podcast today, I have a favor to ask of you. |
| 0:04.7 | If you can go to Medical School HQ.net slash survey, I would love to learn more about who you are so we can best serve you. |
| 0:12.1 | More content, more resources, more to help you on your journey. |
| 0:16.1 | Go to Medical Schoolhq.net slash survey. |
| 0:19.0 | Today, our survey runs through March 6 through march sixth the premed year session number |
| 0:24.0 | six hundred and one hello and welcome to the premed years where we believe that collaboration |
| 0:34.7 | not competition is key to your success. |
| 0:38.1 | I'm your host, Dr. Ryan Gray, and in this podcast, we share with you stories, |
| 0:42.0 | encouragement, and information that you need to know to help guide you on your path to becoming a physician. |
| 0:49.4 | Welcome to the pre-made years. Thank you so much for joining me today. |
| 0:53.4 | My name is Dr. Ryan Gray. If you haven't been here before, thank you for joining us. We are 600-plus episodes into the pre-med years, so you have a lot of catching up to do. We also have the med school years now as well, hosted by two of the awesome team members that I have at medical school headquarters. |
| 1:12.5 | Go check that out as you continue your journey to medical school and beyond. |
| 1:17.7 | Before we jump into today's guest, I want to talk about MCAT prep by Medical School headquarters. |
| 1:23.4 | Did you know that we now have MCAP prep led by an amazing person who has been in the test prep and pre-med world for 25 plus years, now leading a team of amazing tutors at medical school headquarters? |
| 1:37.4 | We have a great course coming in October. |
| 1:41.2 | So if you're taking the test January, February, March of next year, yes, there's going to be at least a February date in October. So if you're taking the test January, February, March of next year, yes, there's |
| 1:45.6 | going to be at least a February date in 2026. Come check out our course really soon. Medical |
| 1:53.1 | Schoolhq.net. We don't have any details yet, but check it out. You can go schedule a consult |
| 1:59.2 | call with our team, our MCAT team, |
| 2:01.6 | over at Medical School HQ.net as well. |
| 2:04.3 | Today we have an awesome guest who started off in the research world |
| 2:08.8 | and in the water as a rower. |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 24 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Ryan Gray, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Ryan Gray and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.