In this episode of Step It Up with Dr A, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal sits down with Dr. Listy Thomas for an inspiring conversation about medicine, leadership, mentorship, and creating a career that reflects who you are and where you want to go.

Dr. Thomas shares lessons from her journey, including navigating career transitions, stepping into leadership, recognizing opportunities, overcoming self-doubt, and understanding the importance of mentorship. 

We also explore what it means to support the next generation of physicians and why success in medicine doesn't have to follow one predetermined path.

If you're a physician, medical student, trainee, healthcare professional, or anyone navigating the next chapter of your career, I hope this conversation encourages you to stay curious, remain open to opportunities, and keep moving forward.

Because sometimes, the sky really is the limit.

🎙️ Step It Up with Dr A
Conversations about medicine, leadership, personal growth, and the journeys that shape us.

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In this episode of Step It Up with Dr. A, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal sits down with Dr. Aziz Benbrahim, MD, FACS, FASMBS, for a deeply personal conversation about a journey that began in a small oasis town in Morocco and ultimately led through France, Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital, Yale, and a distinguished career in surgery and physician leadership.

Dr. Benbrahim shares how early encounters with illness and limited access to medical care helped shape his path toward medicine, and how persistence, hard work, unexpected opportunities, and mentorship repeatedly changed the direction of his life.

The conversation explores immigration, surgical training, leadership, mentorship, giving back, bariatric surgery, and the future of surgery in the age of robotics and AI. Through it all, Dr. Benbrahim emphasizes that medicine is ultimately about teamwork, humility, empathy, and caring for patients as people.

Above all, his story reminds us that where we begin does not determine how far we can go—and sometimes the moments of uncertainty that make us uncomfortable are the very ones that push us forward.

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Every week, I share practical insights, exclusive resources, and tools to help you keep learning, growing, and stepping it up.

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What does it really take to become a successful physician—and thrive throughout the journey?

In this episode of Step It Up with Dr. A, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal sits down with Dr. Adam Weinstein, Professor of Medical Sciences and Pediatrics at the Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, pediatric nephrologist, medical educator, and mentor to countless future physicians.

Together, they explore the road to medicine—from choosing a medical school and adapting to the demands of medical training to preparing for the USMLE exams and developing lifelong study habits. Dr. Weinstein shares what he's learned from years of advising medical students, revealing the qualities that truly predict success in medicine—far beyond grades and test scores.

The conversation also dives into choosing a specialty, the importance of communication, empathy, professionalism, and how future physicians can prepare for a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape shaped by artificial intelligence and innovation.

Whether you're a high school student, pre-med, medical student, resident, or early-career physician, this episode offers practical advice and timeless wisdom to help you navigate your own path with confidence, resilience, and purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• How to prepare for medical school and licensing exams
• The habits that help students succeed
• Why empathy and communication matter as much as knowledge
• Essential skills every future physician should develop

🎙️ Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep stepping it up.

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Every week, I share practical insights, exclusive resources, and tools to help you keep learning, growing, and stepping it up.

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No one becomes a physician alone.

Behind every successful doctor are mentors, teachers, colleagues, and friends who offered guidance along the way. In this episode of Step It Up with Dr. A, we explore why mentorship can be one of the most powerful influences on your journey into medicine.

Learn how to find mentors, build meaningful professional relationships, ask for help with confidence, and become the kind of student that mentors are excited to support. We'll also discuss the difference between mentors and sponsors, why peer relationships matter, and how one conversation can change the course of your career.

Whether you're a high school student, pre-med, medical trainee, or early-career physician, this episode offers practical insights to help you navigate the road to medicine with greater confidence and purpose.

🎯 Step It Up Challenge: Reach out to someone whose career you admire, learn from their journey, and take one step toward building a meaningful mentoring relationship.

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Every week, I share practical insights, exclusive resources, and tools to help you keep learning, growing, and stepping it up.

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What does it really take to stand out as a future physician?

Many students focus on grades, research, and extracurricular activities—but are those the things that matter most?

In this episode of Step It Up with Dr. A, we explore what medical schools are truly looking for, why curiosity may be your greatest strength, and how meaningful experiences can shape both your application and your future in medicine.

If you're a high school student, pre-med, or anyone considering a career in medicine, this episode will challenge the way you think about success—and help you focus on what truly matters. 

Reflection Challenge: Reflect on one experience that shaped you. What did it teach you, and how has it influenced the person you're becoming?

Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep stepping it up.

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Every week, I share practical insights, exclusive resources, and tools to help you keep learning, growing, and stepping it up.

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What separates a good physician from a truly exceptional one?

Medicine is about far more than diagnoses, medications, and medical knowledge. In this episode, we explore the human side of healthcare—why empathy, service, and genuine connection are at the heart of great medicine.

Through personal reflections and powerful lessons learned along the journey, discover why the patients you'll impact most may remember not what you knew, but how you made them feel.

Reflection Question:
Have a meaningful conversation with someone whose life experience is different from your own. Listen with curiosity, reflect on what you learn, and consider how that perspective might shape the kind of physician—and person—you hope to become.

Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep stepping it up.

Support the show

If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear your story.

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⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with a student, parent, mentor, or future healthcare professional who may benefit from this conversation and don't forget to subscribe to the channel and join our FREE newsletter! 📩

Every week, I share practical insights, exclusive resources, and tools to help you keep learning, growing, and stepping it up.

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What is life as a physician really like beyond the white coat?

In this episode of Step It Up with Dr. A, we go beyond the highlights seen on television and social media to explore the realities of a career in medicine. From the many paths physicians can take to the challenges, uncertainties, and meaningful moments that define the profession, this episode offers an honest look at what it truly means to care for patients.

Whether you're a high school student, pre-med, medical student, parent, or simply exploring a career in medicine, this conversation will help you see the profession through a more realistic—and inspiring—lens.

Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep stepping it up.

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If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear your story.

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Every week, I share practical insights, exclusive resources, and tools to help you keep learning, growing, and stepping it up.

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How do you know if medicine is truly the right path for you?

Many students focus on grades, test scores, and building the perfect résumé. But some of the most important lessons happen outside the classroom.

In this episode, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal shares insights on shadowing, volunteering, leadership, clinical exposure, and personal growth—and why these experiences are about far more than checking boxes for medical school applications.

Whether you're a high school student, college student, parent, or aspiring physician, this episode will challenge you to think differently about what it means to prepare for a career in medicine.

Key Takeaway: Don't focus on collecting hours. Focus on collecting experiences that help you learn, grow, and discover who you're becoming.

🎙️ Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep stepping it up.

Support the show

If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear your story.

Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with us on social media.

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⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with a student, parent, mentor, or future healthcare professional who may benefit from this conversation and don't forget to subscribe to the channel and join our FREE newsletter! 📩

Every week, I share practical insights, exclusive resources, and tools to help you keep learning, growing, and stepping it up.

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Do you have to be a genius to become a doctor?

Many students worry about whether they're smart enough, prepared enough, or taking the right path toward a career in medicine. In this episode, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal challenges some of the most common misconceptions about academic success and explores the qualities that truly matter on the journey to becoming a physician.

Through personal insights and practical guidance, you'll learn why success in medicine is about much more than grades, test scores, or natural intelligence.

Whether you're a high school student, college student, parent, or mentor, this episode will help you think differently about what it really takes to succeed in medicine.

Key Takeaway: Becoming a physician is not about being perfect—it's about being willing to learn, grow, and keep moving forward.

🎙️ Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep stepping it up.

Support the show

If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear your story.

Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with us on social media.

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⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with a student, parent, mentor, or future healthcare professional who may benefit from this conversation and don't forget to subscribe to the channel and join our FREE newsletter! 📩

Every week, I share practical insights, exclusive resources, and tools to help you keep learning, growing, and stepping it up.

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What inspires someone to become a physician?

In the first episode of The Road to Medicine: What No One Tells You, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal shares the personal story that first sparked her interest in medicine and explores one of the most important questions every aspiring physician should ask:

Why medicine?

Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep stepping it up. – Dr. A

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⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with a student, parent, mentor, or future healthcare professional who may benefit from this conversation and don't forget to subscribe to the channel and join our FREE newsletter! 📩

Every week, I share practical insights, exclusive resources, and tools to help you keep learning, growing, and stepping it up.

📥 Join the Step It Up Community: https://step-it-up-with-dr-a.kit.com/c07922e6fe