The STEAM Success Blueprint

In this episode of The STEAM Success Blueprint, host David Ferguson( a fourth-year pharmacy student) sits down with Romeo Mays, a fourth-year medical student at PCOM in Philadelphia applying to residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Romeo opens up about growing up in the Bay Area balancing competitive basketball with a science-driven environment shaped by nearby institutions like Stanford and Cal, choosing a Master's in Organizational Leadership over a direct path to medical school, and the imposter syndrome that he encountered. The conversation moves through what "intelligence" really means once memorization stops being enough, how one conversation with a friend turned into a medical-school content platform followed by thousands, and why Romeo believes the biggest thing holding people back is rarely ability , it's exposure. David also previews an early build of his own Bahamian-set chemistry textbook and gets Romeo's live, on-the-spot reaction to it.
In this episode:
Growing up in the Bay Area near Stanford and Cal, and how that environment shaped Romeo's dual pursuit of basketball and academic excellence
Choosing Dominican University of California for biology, and why chemistry and psychology became his minors
The COVID-year decision to pursue a Master's in Organizational Leadership at the University of Redlands instead of heading straight to med school
Confronting imposter syndrome in his first two years at PCOM, and redefining what "intelligence" actually means
The third-year rotations — OB, family medicine, radiology, surgery — that reconnected him with his reason for pursuing medicine
The origin story of his content platform, @romeomaysjr, and the first-generation students it was built for
His current focus on sports medicine, adaptive sports, and pediatrics as he applies to PM&R residency
A live look at David's in-progress chemistry textbook and Romeo's real-time feedback on it
Why "comparison is the thief of joy" and "why not you?" have become two of Romeo's guiding principles
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🔗 Connect with Romeo Mays on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/romeo.mays.71 or Instagram @romeomaysjr

Guest Biography: Romeo Mays, a great young leader, who is a fourth-year medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), currently applying to residency programs in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Raised in the Bay Area of Northern California, Romeo earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Dominican University of California, with double minors in Chemistry and Psychology, while playing collegiate basketball throughout his undergraduate career. After an extra year of NCAA eligibility granted during the COVID-19 pandemic, he continued playing basketball at the graduate level while earning his Master's degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Redlands.
A first-generation college graduate now finishing his medical training, Romeo's clinical interests include sports medicine, adaptive sports, and pediatrics, fields that let him draw on his own background as an athlete to help patients regain function, mobility, and confidence. He is also the creator of a widely followed medical school content platform (@romeomaysjr), where he documents his journey through the pre-med and medical school process to demystify it for students , particularly first-generation and underrepresented students , who don't typically have a canonical roadmap of their own to follow.
Outside of medicine, Romeo recharges by hiking near water, playing pickleball, and staying active around his neighborhood , chasing the same discipline outdoors that carried him through his hardest semesters.
Please note: The views of this podcast represent those of my guest and I.

In this 2023 remixed podcast interview episode with Simar, a former Senior at Harvard University, now Harvard graduate and Stanford MD Candidate, we discuss Simar's achievements in science communication, his perseverance, and the hard work required to produce good work, science communication, and good journalism. Furthermore, Simar provides insights as he is a developing and achieving young leader in the science and journalism arenas. Definitely an episode worth listening to!

Here are the links to his website and LinkedIn Page:
1. Simar's website: https://www.simarbajaj.com/
2. Simar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simar-bajaj/

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In this episode, we discuss, Dr. Emery Brown's phenomenal career at Harvard University and MIT , his research and ,his journey to becoming a successful Physician-Scientist at Harvard University. Link to Dr. Brown's Biography: https://imes.mit.edu/people/faculty/brown-emery/
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Disclaimer: Please note the views of this podcast represent those of my guests and I, and do not constitute medical or professional advice or consultation. Please see the relevant healthcare professionals for any needed advice.

In this interview we discuss with Gabriel, his successful career thus far, and how to achieve those "5%" moments that complement to success, through networking and working hard. He is a former colleague of mine from GT, and a young leader in the making achieving things in the office and in the community. Definitely a good interview.

Recorded in : 2022

[Re-Aired] Mastering Science Communication with Simar Bajaj, Multi-Award-Winning Science Journalist
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In this remixed fireside chat from 2023, we sit down with Simar Bajaj then a Harvard undergraduate student and now: a Stanford medical student, Knight-Hennessy Scholar, Oxford Marshall Scholar, and Harvard University graduate. Join us as we discuss Simar's incredible achievements in science communication, the perseverance his field demands, and the sheer hard work behind producing top-tier journalism. As a current award-winning former New York Times reporter and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Simar shares invaluable insights from his experiences writing for major outlets like NPR, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post, as well as publishing first-author research in premier medical journals. This is truly a must-listen episode!
Connect with Simar:
Website: https://www.simarbajaj.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simar-bajaj/

Disclaimer:The views expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guest(s). This episode is designed to provide educational and intellectually stimulating support for peer pharmacists in training. It is not intended to serve as medical advice or recommendations. For personalized medical guidance, please consult your local board-certified physician, PA, NP, or pharmacist.

An Interview with A Mentor- Dr. Robert Langer, Sc.D. (MIT Institute Professor) on aspects of the Future of Diabetes Medicine Research
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Diabetes therapy is entering a new phase. For decades, the central challenge was how to deliver insulin more safely, more intelligently, and more responsively.
The research work by Dr. Langer has produced a generation of technologies aimed at making therapy more autonomous: glucose-responsive insulin systems, microneedle patches, implantable rescue devices, lipid nanoparticles, and mRNA-based approaches to protein replacement.
At the same time, a separate revolution emerged from pharmacology. GLP-1 receptor agonists, dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists, and now triple GIP/GLP-1/glucagon agonists have changed expectations for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

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Music by ANDRII KORNIEV from Pixabay
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Views of this interview reflect those of my guest and I. They don't constitute medical or professional advice. We disclaim any loss in any way.