By Ilakkiah Chandran, Sarah Topa, and Pam Plant 

Graphic design by Ravneet Jaura  

Graduate students are often asked to plan their next career steps, but many feel limited by what they believe is possible. Dr. Pamela Plant, Director of Graduate Professional Development (GPD) at the Institute of Medical Science (IMS), works closely with graduate students to   support their post-graduation plans, and she often hears the same refrain: “I’m not sure what my options really are.” 

Many students view medical school or staying in academia as tenure or teaching-stream faculty as the most viable pathway. Through conversations with biomedical science alumni from IMS and beyond, Dr. Plant was struck by their deep satisfaction with vibrant careers outside the traditional ones, including interesting and meaningful roles in public health, entrepreneurship, industry and even law.

Dr. Plant began to consider: What if alumni could share their professional journeys directly with all IMS students? And what if those stories could be preserved as an everlasting resource for generations of graduate students to come? 

From this idea, ChatGPD: A Graduate Professional Development Podcast was born. 

Dr. Plant began to assemble her team: she onboarded Emily Yeung and Ilakkiah Chandran to bring a student perspective, while Sarah Topa contributed a staff and institutional lens as the vision took shape. Within a few months, they were preparing to record their first episode featuring Dr. Michelle Dubinsky, an IMS PhD alumna and now Medical Science Liaison. The group wondered if students would engage with the podcast, would the technical aspects work and if there would be momentum to continue beyond the first few episodes.

Now, one year later, ChatGPD has released 14 episodes, surpassed 3000 views on YouTube, and proudly holds a 5-star rating on Spotify.

The podcast has highlighted a wide range of careers, including Regulatory Affairs, Scientific Visualization, Entrepreneurship, Public Health, Intellectual Property, Venture Capital, and Senior Administrative Leadership. The team has also expanded to include graduate student Christopher Zhang and IMS alumna Shaghayegh Foroozan.

The podcast provides structured, interview-style conversations focused on transitioning from graduate training to diverse careers both within but especially outside of academia. Each guest shares practical insights, real-world experiences, and clear guidance to listeners. Conversations emphasize transferable skills, decision-making strategies, and actionable advice. Guests walk listeners through their day-to-day roles, the skills required for success, and resources to support career development. ChatGPD aims to expand awareness of career options, while strengthening students’ confidence in their future and building connections between trainees and alumni.

Reflecting on this first year, the team has seen clear growth in both production quality and audience engagement. Viewership has increased within IMS and across the broader University of Toronto and graduate professional development community. “I learn something new with each podcast guest yet, overarching themes emerge: (1) that extra-curricular experiences or core competencies developed in grad school are the commodities most leveraged and (2) the vitality of a graduate degree in positioning students for life outside of schooling” says Dr. Plant. 

The creators’ goal of having ChatGPD act as a bridge between academic training and the professional workforce seems to be coming to fruition. A survey of student listeners showed they find the podcast to be a valuable resource for exploring diverse career paths, providing clear insight into different and unique roles, and supporting more informed decision-making. Hearing directly from professionals also helped them identify and build the skills needed to be competitive applicants. 

The ChatGPD team is excited about what’s ahead. They look forward to continuing to produce engaging episodes that reflect the full range of what’s possible in students’ professional lives after graduate school. They want to keep expanding how students see their options, and to make those paths feel clearer, desirable and achievable. 

If you are exploring your next steps or just curious about different careers, they invite you to listen to the stories shared. You’ll likely hear a word of wisdom to support your professional growth, or even discover a career path you had never considered!  

To be the first to hear about new episodes, join the ChatGPD mailing list: https://mailchi.mp/utoronto.ca/chatgpd-podcast