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Specialty Café


Are you a medical student or resident choosing your path in healthcare? Grab a coffee and settle in… this café is for you! Our hosts (med students & residents) chat with Royal College specialists and residents about their day to day lives, the reasons behind their specialty choices, the joys, the challenges, and more!  Although conversations are full of specialty insights, you’ll gain invaluable life advice about being a fulfilled and excellent clinician (and human being).  Feedspot has voted Specialty Café as one of the 10 Best Canadian Medical Podcasts.  The Royal College produces a uniquely French version of this podcast - Café des spécialités: https://cafedesspecialites.libsyn.com/. 

Jun 23, 2026

As you begin residency - are you pondering on what it really meansto be a good doctor?

In this special Day 1 of Residency episode, guest host Dr. Harley Bray (PGY3, Obstetrics and Gynecology) sits down with anesthesiologist and intensive care physician Dr. Faisal Siddiqui, FRCPC to explore how their understanding of medicine has evolved from the first days of medical school to clinical practice.

Dr. Siddiqui reflects on the importance of teamwork, humility, and recognizing that no physician cares for patients alone. He shares the importance of navigating difficult conversations with families, supporting patients through life's hardest moments, learning from challenging outcomes, and why "MD" can also mean "make decisions."

From caring for patients as you would your own family to learning how to manage fatigue, find food at 3 a.m., and lean on your colleagues, this conversation offers lived advice for incoming residents as they prepare for the next stage of their journey.

Whether you're starting residency or reflecting on your own path in medicine, this episode is a reminder that being a good doctor isn't about knowing everything... It's about continually learning, making thoughtful choices and always keeping the patient at the centre of care.

If you're participating in a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It’s free, and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.