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Learning Paths Podcast

Conversations with students, teachers, and professionals on the importance of continuous learning in health care and beyond.


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Learning can take many forms, from traditional academic environments to on-the-job training to self-paced online education. But what makes for truly effective learning? How do you persist through inevitable challenges? What does success actually look like?

The Learning Paths podcast from Harvard Medical School’s HMX online learning team features conversations with students, teachers, and professionals about their diverse educational motivations and experiences, and how they’ve used their knowledge to have real impact in health care and related fields.

In each episode, you’ll get a unique perspective on the importance of continuous learning, with lessons you can apply to your own career – wherever you are on your path.

Episodes

Suraj Samtani

Suraj Samtani

“I feel lucky enough that my patients give me their trust to be able to treat them and always, I always hope not to let them down.”

Learn about Suraj’s work on improving oncology treatments and patient outcomes in Latin America.


Richard Schwartzstein

Richard Schwartzstein

“I’m always looking for another way to get that light bulb to go on.”

Hear how Dr. Schwartzstein’s work as a physician and educator has been inspired by his father, his local school committee, and Apollo 13.


Siyan Xu

Siyan Xu

“At the beginning, you find a mentor for you; it’s also important to be a mentor for other people.”

Hear what lessons Siyan has learned about the most effective ways to work with others and grow her career at Novartis.


Briah Barksdale

Briah Barksdale

“People can give you advice and they’re free to do that, but they can’t define you, because that’s your job.”

Learn how Briah has mapped out a plan for achieving her goal of becoming a physician-scientist.


Ana Castillo Orozco

Ana Castillo Orozco

“I think we will never stop learning new things every day – and for me, I think that there is no better way for learning than teaching.”

Hear about Ana’s journey to a PhD in human genetics – and the advice she has for others pursuing similar paths.


Nathan Magtoto

Nathan Magtoto

“It’s alright to explore and slow down, look around and observe your surroundings with the intention of looking for connections and how things interact regardless of how different they may initially seem to be.”

Find out about Nathan’s experiences as a student, teacher, and athletic coach – and how it all comes together to help him take on new challenges.


Mark Silcock

Mark Silcock

“I love to expose myself to things that perhaps I might not know about, or something that just is going to really challenge me intellectually and perhaps even morally or philosophically.”

Hear about Mark’s approach to making big career – and life – decisions.


Angie Sorensen

Angie Sorensen

“You just never know where [further education] leads you to. And I think if you want to do it, just do it.”

Follow Angie’s journey from aspiring actress to a career in health and wellness – with a lot of learning along the way.


Kate McDonnell-Dowling

Kate McDonnell-Dowling

“Something I always think about is, take a step back, think about the student perspective. How are they receiving this? How are they learning from this? And then designing my courses and my content around that.”

Learn about Kate’s strategies for teaching effectively both in-person and online – and how her experiences as a student have helped to shape her approach.


Lena Levin with podcast image

Lena Levin

“I use [what I learn] in order to communicate more efficiently with surgeons or with physicians, so they understand what I’m talking about. And I understand what they’re saying. And I can build my question more precisely.”

Hear how Lena has built a successful career in medical devices through a focus on continuous learning.


Lina Scroggins with podcast image

Lina Scroggins

“I really enjoyed roles that required me to learn about something new upfront. And at Google, it’s really exciting to have that opportunity to do that.”

Listen to Lina’s professional development journey – and learn how she’s focused on helping colleagues along the way.


Francisco Borja with podcast image

Francisco Borja

“I discovered that every time I learn something new, that leads me to many other things that make me feel the joy of experiencing new professional and personal possibilities.”

Find out what keeps Dr. Borja motivated to pursue – and complete – learning opportunities across medicine, public health, law, and more.