What is your hometown?
I was born and raised in Audubon, IA.
How or when did you become interested in science and medicine?
My interest in medicine began in junior high when I started seeing an Orthopedic Surgeon for some problems with my legs. His approachable nature and ability to clearly explain fairly complex medical issues piqued my interest in medicine.
How or why did you choose the UI to attend medical school?
I am proud to have such an excellent medical institution within my home state, and am very excited to be given the opportunity to study here.
Is there a teacher, mentor or Carver College of Medicine faculty member who has helped shape your education?
Drs. Jerrold Weiss and Theresa Gioannini have been mentors to me since I was an undergraduate. They have taught me countless lessons in critical thinking and have been extremely generous with their time and support.
What kinds of opportunities or advantages does being a medical student at Iowa provide? What about challenges?
Students at Iowa have the opportunity to work with truly caring and friendly faculty and staff. Their enthusiasm for education and willingness to work closely with students give us the opportunity to ask endless questions and learn from experienced clinicians.
Please describe your professional goals and interests?
I’m not sure what specialty I’d like to pursue, but I am looking forward to my clinical rotations, which should help me narrow down the options a bit. I was able to participate in the MECO program last summer, which allowed me to follow doctors in several disciplines at a smaller hospital. That was a great experience, and if anything, only increased the number of specialties I’m interested in. I’m not too worried at this point, however, because I have no doubt that I will find a career I love.
What are some of your outside interests?
I love being outdoors. Whether I’m camping, climbing, flying, or boating, I prefer to spend as much of my free time as I can out in the fresh air. And if I can have my family and friends with me, I’m even happier.
Do you participate in any community service/outreach projects?If so, what are they and what have your experiences been?
I haven’t had the opportunity to spend too much time with any one community service project, but I have been able to spend a little time with several of the projects in town. I’ve worked on a few Habitat for Humanity homes, which provided some great outdoor time with a group of amazing people and also provided the immense gratification of seeing the power of teamwork in action. I helped organize the Vintage Fashion Show and Tea this past spring, which was a fund-raiser for the Shelter House. We had a great time playing dress-up in some incredible vintage fashions, and the community was exceptionally supportive both in attendance and donations. I’ve also spent some time playing with the kiddos at the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, which is 100% fun. There are so many opportunities to help out others at the CCOM that it’s difficult to recall all the wonderful activities I’ve participated in over the past few years.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your work?
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?
Access. I think access to medicine is currently limited at all levels. Lack of insurance and lack of nearby facilities are just two issues on a long list that directly affect patients. Beyond these direct influences, I worry that access to our system of medical education is limited by socioeconomic factors, which in the end also affect patients by preventing great candidates from even applying for medical school. In an ideal world, everyone would be able to seek medical care when they need it, and no one would be prevented from attending medical school because they can’t afford the application process. In an ideal world, the practice of medicine wouldn’t be so overtly dependent upon money.
What one piece of advice you would give to students who are interested in applying to medical school?
Learn to manage your time well. The main challenge of medical school (at least up to this point) has been keeping up with the amount of information that we encounter. If you come into medical school without a good sense of how to keep yourself organized and efficient, you’ll be struggling to keep up from day one. In the end you’ll be happier, and most likely more successful, if you don’t feel like you’re chasing your tail all the time.
What do you see as "the future" of medicine?
The medical community has made amazing strides in the biotechnology arena over the past fifty years. We have, thankfully, become quite adept at treating many diseases and conditions. However, “stress” is a growing problem in our fast-paced society, and it seems to play a role in a variety of medical complaints. While it seems unlikely that the biotechnology arena will be able to find a “cure” for stress, it does seem plausible that we could prevent a number of common conditions if we could get people to slow down and take care of themselves from the start. I believe “the future” of medicine will be weighted heavily on preventative medicine and health maintenance, which will hopefully decrease the number of advanced medical procedures that are needed and contribute to a healthier and happier community overall.