In this episode of Curing Curiosity, host Sneha Nair sits down with Ola Elsharif, a Canadian medical school graduate and pediatric resident, to unpack the journey to becoming a doctor—without the intimidating jargon and unrealistic expectations.

Ola shares how she discovered her path through genuine interests in science, meaningful volunteer experiences, and a deep passion for working with people from diverse backgrounds. She breaks down what the medical journey actually looks like: choosing the right undergraduate program, preparing for the MCAT, navigating rotations, and the realities of residency.

If you’re a high school student, a pre-med, or simply curious about how someone becomes a physician, this conversation will give you clarity, honesty, and encouragement. Ola emphasizes quality over resume-padding, building strong habits early, and remembering that you don’t need to “have it all figured out” in Grade 10 to succeed.

You’ll learn:

• How to choose an undergrad program that aligns with your strengths
• When to take the MCAT (and why timing matters)
• What clerkship and electives are actually like
• How to manage stress and study without burning out
• Why pursuing what you’re truly interested in is more powerful than doing things “for the resume”

If you enjoy this episode, make sure to follow, leave a rating, and share it with a friend who’s thinking about medicine.