Alumni
Interviews:
Nicholas Von Bergen, M.D.
Looks forward to developing strong, long-lasting relationships with families
"I knew the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine was the place for me because of their strong primary care emphasis, excellent teachers, and profound representation of the Midwest."
Growing up in Wisconsin, Nick Van Bergen knew that he did not want to leave the Midwest or the Big Ten. He also knew that the prestigious University of Iowa was the place for him for his undergraduate education and beyond.
Nick graduated from the UI Carver College of Medicine in 2002 with a high interest in Pediatrics. He is currently in his third year of Residency in the Department of Pediatrics and has been interviewing to conduct his fellowship with the department since his second year of residency. He feels that a fellowship brings a good mix of insight and continuity that he desires in his professional practice.
Three things really appealed to Nick when he set out in search of a specialty. One was that he feels pediatricians are able to have a broad spectrum of influence on their patients, from routine maintenance with first time parents, to highly specialized care with some of the sickest children. Another attraction was the fact that most childhood disease was not brought on by patients and most of these patients wish to make a change to maximize their health. Lastly, there are few fields in medicine outside of pediatrics where developing strong, long-lasting relationships with families is the norm.
When it was time to look for medical schools , Nick was impressed with the good representation that the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine offered throughout the Midwest. He quickly discovered that if the UI Carver College of Medicine did not have a specific resource, although rare, they knew exactly where to find it or who to contact. This is based on the respect that the UI has throughout the country. He was also drawn to the strong primary care emphasis, which appealed to his interest in Pediatrics.
Nick first discovered his passion for pediatrics during his time in medical school, when he began to work on his research and publications that will be helpful in getting his fellowship. So not only did medical school help to build his learning foundation, it also helped him with the next steps in developing his medical career .
Nick chose to become a part of the Medicine Alumni Board of Advisors because he wants all medical students to enjoy the same opportunities he has encountered. He feels that the alumni now do a great job of advocating for the college and promoting all the great things that are done here at UI Carver College of Medicine. He would like to see alumni board of advisors support student scholarship to help cut down on the always-increasing medical school tuition.
Along with becoming a member of this board, Nick is also the Resident Council President. He feels that this leadership role allows him to bring up relevant issues, such as the impact of loan debt on a resident's salary and ideas for effective use of scholarship money in areas other than tuition. These and other critical issues are of primary importance to residents, and Nick believes that alumni can help to address many of the challenges residents face.
For
more information:
 Support our Faculty, Staff, and Students
|
view
read
alumni interviews
view
photo albums
Back
to Alumni Interviews Page