Patient to Professional

Patient to Professional
Podcast Description
Welcome to Patient to Professional! I’m Dr. Nicholas Despotidis, and in this podcast, I sit down with current and former patients — people I’ve known since childhood — to talk about their career paths, their challenges, and the choices that shaped their lives. If you’re a parent or student looking for real-world insight, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get started!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes related to career paths, personal challenges, and life choices. Episodes delve into topics such as unconventional career decisions, the impact of gap years, and the importance of aligning values with career aspirations, with specific episodes featuring guests like Anna Huang discussing healthcare leadership and Amanda Li sharing insights on corporate finance.

Welcome to Patient to Professional! I’m Dr. Nicholas Despotidis, and in this podcast, I sit down with current and former patients — people I’ve known since childhood — to talk about their career paths, their challenges, and the choices that shaped their lives. If you’re a parent or student looking for real-world insight, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get started!
In this episode, we talk with Caitlyn Lee, RN, about how she found her way into a high-stakes nursing role — and why her journey wasn’t a straight line. From dreams of becoming a veterinarian to working as a patient care technician after college, Caitlyn shares how real-world experience, reflection, and a gap year helped her uncover a true passion for bedside care.
She opens up about choosing an accelerated nursing program, navigating pressure from school and society, and making peace with not having it all figured out right away. Caitlyn also offers candid advice on protecting your emotional health, resisting the social media comparison trap, and embracing your own timeline.
If you’re questioning your next step or feeling overwhelmed by expectations, this conversation is a reminder that clarity comes with time — and that it’s okay to grow into your calling.

Disclaimer
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