Seper Ekhtiari, an orthopaedic surgery resident at McMaster, is the first-author on the first paper to report a case of osteosarcoma in dinosaurs.  Seper earned a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology at the University of Toronto before attending McMaster for medical school. On today's episode, he speaks to the ins and outs of residency, how he figured out that medicine was for him, what you don't know about medical school until you're there, making strategic gap year decisions, and what's next in orthopaedics and palaeontology research. 

This episode was made possible by the generous support of the University Students' Council at Western University. 

Producer: Jay

Timestamps:

(1:26); Educational background and undergrad experience

(7:06); How to decide what to do if you don't get into medical school the first time around

(10:59); What residency is like

(14:31); What you don't know about medicine and orthopaedics until you're there

(18:07); How Seper knew medicine was for him

(23:56); Dinosaur cancer

(32:19); How Seper got involved with palaeontology research

(35:10); Research in residency

(37:59); Taking a year off from residency to get a Master's degree

(40:30); Cool new research in orthopaedics and palaeontology

(43:48); Finding a balance in medical school

(49:48); Advice for undergrads

Link to the video referenced at (49:48); https://bit.ly/2WaREt0