What is your hometown?
Excelsior, MN
How or when did you become interested in science and medicine?
During my undergraduate years as a Biomedical Engineering major at University of Wisconsin-Madison, I became interested in medicine. After my freshman year I decided to work at a private hospital in my hometown for the summer. Toward the end of that summer, I was able to shadow a neurologist in his clinic for a few weeks. I left that experience with a better idea of what it meant to practice medicine as a career. My junior year, I applied to an undergraduate research program and was connected with a great group of radiologists and biomedical engineers working on improving imaging techniques. After working there for three years, I decided I wanted to pursue a career in clinical medicine and medical research and began applying to MD/PhD programs.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa to attend medical school?
Initially, I wasn’t familiar with the University of Iowa or the medical school. However, after interviewing and spending a couple of days here I was very impressed with the curriculum, the research being done, and the resources and programs available to the students at the medical school. All of the doctors and faculty I met were very dedicated and involved.
Is there a teacher, mentor or University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine faculty member who has helped shape your education?
Over the last year I have been working with Dr. Tom Scholz in Pediatric Cardiology. Through a Medical Scientist Training Program course, Clinical Connections, I have been able to work closely with him in his clinic seeing patients and accompanying him to the operating room, where he performs pre- and post-surgical echocardiograms. He has been a great mentor; teaching me not only about the heart and caring for children, but also how to balance a successful practice, research and personal life.
What kinds of opportunities or advantages does being a medical student at Iowa provide? What about challenges?
One of the greatest assets here at Iowa is a very involved and talented group of faculty. Most faculty I have met or approached have gone out of their way to help out, whether that is coming to talk about a residency program or joining them in their clinic.
Please describe your professional goals and interests.
I would like to pursue a career in academic medicine, splitting my time between clinical practice and medical research. I am interested in continuing to work in translational research or being involved in clinical trials. Currently, I am still deciding on a specialty and have been considering pediatric cardiology, adult cardiology or radiology.
What are some of your outside interests?
I love to spend time outdoors. I just got back from backpacking with my younger sister in northern Minnesota. I also bike, hike, disc golf, and am currently learning to sail. Whenever I can, I enjoy traveling. I’ve been to France, New Zealand and Japan. I spent almost two weeks traveling around Spain last winter.
Do you participate in any community service/outreach projects? If so, what are they and what have your experiences been?
This last year I volunteered at the Free Medical Clinic. It is an excellent resource in our community. The team of volunteers I worked with are great and very dedicated to the clinic and its patients. Throughout my time there, I saw how complex practicing medicine can be. Not only are you concerned with diagnosing and treating their medical problems, you are also helping them find affordable ways to get the tests and medications they need.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your work?
I think finding a balance with your professional and personal life is important. I work hard and put everything into my job and research when I am at the hospital. I’ve also found that it is just as important to make time for family and friends and pursue hobbies outside of work.
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?"
I would like to change the disparity in the medical resources throughout the world. In the United States, we are very fortunate to have state-of-the-art facilities and access to vaccines, medications and a highly trained community of medical professionals. Diseases which have been eradicated, or are easily treated in the US, continue to be major causes of morbidity and death in third-world countries.
What one piece of advice would you give to students who are interested in applying to medical school?
One of the most important things I discovered early on was how I needed to study. There are many different ways you and your classmates can go about learning the material. Find out what works best for you and stick with it.
What do you see as "the future" of medicine?
I think that as we continue to learn about the genetic basis of disease, we will see a shift toward a more tailored treatment approach. Physicians will know what medications work best for specific subgroups of disease and be able to provide a better, more targeted treatment for their patients.