Michael Yao is a 1st-year MD-PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania and is interested in combining software engineering and medicine. He graduated from CalTech with a degree in Applied Physics. On YouTube, he publishes videos covering his medical school journey, premed advice, and student life on the channel DotMD. Today’s conversation discusses why he started a Youtube channel, his lessons from CalTech, and how his failures shaped him. As always, if you like the episode, like the post, and consider sharing it with friends.
Find his Youtube Channel here.
Show Notes:
[1:20] Why Start A Youtube Channel?
[3:00] Growing pains of YouTube channel
[5:10] Balance between audience feedback and personal direction
[7:40] Biggest thing holding students back based on Michael’s experience as a tutor and advisor
[13:05] Michael’s Caltech background
[16:50] Finding a community of like-minded people
[20:50] Planning for the Randomness of Life
[26:38] What made Michael begin to “trust the process”?
[28:10] Dynamic tension between deadlines and dead space in scheduling
[36:30] Michael’s Youtube video about his failures
[40:00] How Michael tries to avoid picking on himself when engaging in self-reflection and how his community helps him
[48:30] Advice that Michael would give to his 20-year-old self
Share this post