What is your hometown?
Centerville, Iowa
How or when did you become interested in science and medicine?
Growing up in a farming community, I spent much of my childhood outdoors with animals and spent a lot of time thinking about being a veterinarian. As I progressed through high school I realized that despite my love for animals, my passion was with people.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa to attend medical school?
I volunteered at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics throughout my four years of undergraduate school here at University of Iowa. During my experiences volunteering in places like the medical intensive care unit, I was able to interact with a diverse group of health care professionals and found myself continually impressed with the quality of care and passion for teaching that this institution maintained.
Is there a teacher, mentor or University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine faculty member who has helped shape your education?
As an undergraduate at the University of Iowa, I was lucky enough to be able to shadow Dr. Chris Cooper (87BA, 91MD, 97R- Urology) through the pre-medical club, Medicus. Dr. Cooper’s willingness to teach students in all stages of medical training and his devotion to his patients demonstrated an attitude of service that I hope to emulate in my career. Also, I have developed a true love for research thanks to my work with Dr. Natalie Denburg in the Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. She has not only provided me with the opportunity to learn solid research methodology but to engage with a wide variety of health care professionals as a result of my research with her.
What kinds of opportunities or advantages does being a medical student at Iowa provide? What about challenges?
Medical education at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine is filled with opportunities that one is hard-pressed to find elsewhere. The challenge lies in balancing the time needed to study with the many research, community service, and educational opportunities here. I find that one of the biggest advantages Iowa offers is the early emphasis on improving physician-patient interactions by providing numerous patient encounters during the first two years of medical school. Secondly, there are countless opportunities to engage in research with top-notch faculty. This has been a highlight of my medical experience so far as I am continually amazed by the daily interface between active research and improvement in patient outcomes here at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Please describe your professional goals and interests.
At this point in my medical career, I find myself gravitating towards a future in surgery. No matter what field I end up pursuing, I know that I would like to make research a strong component of my career.
What are some of your outside interests?
I love spending time with my husband, watching college football, drinking coffee and sleeping! I also enjoy being able to play piano for church.
Do you participate in any community service/outreach projects? If so, what are they and what have your experiences been?
I have been very active in the community service projects sponsored by Boulware Community as the Co-Mayer of Boulware. Our community takes pride in its involvement with several local charities including The Nest of Johnson County and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Boulware also sponsors a trivia event in the spring to raise money for mental health awareness groups in the community.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your work?
Perhaps the musical, “Rent,” says it best: no day but today. Although the daily grind of school can be overwhelming at times, it is important to me to remember that I can only live one day at a time. All too often we get caught up in upcoming exams and events and fail to recognize the blessings of each day.
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?
I would love for our society to fully realize the power of prevention. In our constantly busy lives, we fail to realize that there are countless daily ways we can embrace personal responsibility for our health. One of the biggest challenges physicians face today is helping patients adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle as a way to both prevent and treat common diseases.
What one piece of advice would you give to students who are interested in applying to medical school?
Apply with passion. Make sure you have passion for this field as that passion will be imperative to your ability to enjoy medical school during the long hours of studying. Take time to shadow health care professionals and gain personal experience working with patients by volunteering or working as a certified nursing assistant or phlebotomist, etc. As I look back on my experiences as a phlebotomist in my hometown hospital, I realize just how much can be learned from all aspects of health care, if one is willing to embrace those opportunities.
What do you see as "the future" of medicine?
With cutting-edge research and technology, our university draws patients from around the world. Our drive to compete with other top-notch institutions and provide the best patient care possible has brought the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to the forefront of progressive medical education and health care. Although we see many concepts in our current health care system that need to change, it is important to realize that only with desire to compete and advance in our local, national, and international markets does patient care excel.