What is your hometown?
St. Paul, MN
How or when did you become interested in science and medicine?
Erica: As the daughter of a physician and a nurse, I had a very early introduction to the medical profession. However, one of the initial factors that drew me to medicine is my passion for science. The human body is beyond comparison in its remarkable complexity and capabilities, but like any other area of science, there remains much to learn and discover. Visiting with skilled nursing residents suffering from dementia, seeing a college friend pass away from cancer, and having my father suffer a heart attack have demonstrated just how much knowledge we have yet to acquire. However new discoveries, are being made in the medical arena every day, and it is this dynamic nature of medicine that I find fascinating.
Aside from the wealth of scientific inquiry involved in medicine, I was also interested in its multifaceted nature, as physicians encompass a variety of roles. These include being a healer, an educator to both patients and colleagues, and an advocate for patients. In encompassing these roles, physicians succeed in integrating the human and scientific aspects of medicine.
Johanna: Since I was a child, medicine has always been a profession that I have been drawn to and aspired towards. Growing up in a household where my father is a physician and my mother an RN, I acquired an early appreciation for the practice of medicine and a life of service. From my parents’ example, I learned that medicine’s sacrifices and rewards provide one with a unique opportunity — an opportunity to offer many a second chance at life. Thus, from a very young age, my parents served as role models, illustrating that medicine is not only a profession, but also a way of life.
How or why did you choose the UI to attend medical school?
Erica: The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine is well regarded within the medical community and it draws successful students from around the nation. One of the reasons why I think that the college attracts such successful students, and the primary reason why I chose to attend the UI, is that it provides numerous opportunities for its students and fosters both individual interests as well as a collective community atmosphere.
In terms of fostering individual interests, the college encourages students interested in pursuing in-depth research to do so through a variety of fellowships. It encourages those who wish to obtain a global perspective to participate in one of the university’s academic exchange programs, and it allows students who want to provide extended care for the underprivileged to work in the student-run Mobile Clinic. The opportunities are endless and students are limited only by the number of hours in a day.
But while the college fosters individual interests, it also tries to bring students together and create a sense of community. One of the unique ways the college does this is through the learning communities Composed of equal numbers of M1, M2, M3, and M4 students as well as faculty members, the communities offer wonderful opportunities to study and interact with others and develop the skills necessary to communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Thus, the emphasis on both the individual student and the larger community was an important factor in my decision to come to Iowa. Aside from this, the medical education facilities and the hospital are exceptional, making Iowa a perfect fit.
Johanna: The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, with its focus on grounding students scientifically and clinically, offers me the breadth of medical education that I have been looking for. Known for its rich history of medical advances and strength of curriculum, the college stands out among the nation’s medical institutions in the quality of education it offers to medical students.
Alumni and current students indicate the success of an institution’s ability to achieve its mission. Current students and alumni of the UI Carver College of Medicine demonstrate the college’s mission in their dedication to their work and commitment to their communities. I am very proud to be a student here.
Is there a teacher, mentor or Carver College of Medicine faculty member who has helped shape your education?
Erica: As a first year medical student it is difficult to name one or two faculty members who have helped to shape my education. From my experiences thus far, I have found the professors to be not only passionate and knowledgeable about their subject matter, but also interested in the students both inside and outside the classroom setting. When professors are passionate about their subject and interested in the students, the learning experience is greatly enhanced and enjoyable.
Johanna: I firmly believe that who we are and who we become derives from the people we have met and the experiences we have had along the way. Throughout my educational career, I have been inspired by a number of teachers and mentors, each of whom has nurtured my passion for learning and knowledge. Great professors and mentors are not only excellent scholars but also admirable individuals. I hope that as I continue my education at Iowa and enter the medical profession that I will be inspired by many more.
What kinds of opportunities or advantages does being a medical student at Iowa provide? What about challenges?
Erica: One of the unique things about the program at the University of Iowa is the opportunity to become involved more extensively in research. The summer research program in conjunction with the research distinction tract enables students to become more acquainted with the science behind medicine even if they are not a part of the MSTP program.
Additionally, Iowa places a large emphasis on the patient-physician relationship and the humanism of medicine. While the basic sciences are important, the college of medicine continually reminds students about the “art of medicine” – interacting with patients.
The challenges of being a student of Iowa are the same as its advantages – the number of opportunities available. Since students are involved in numerous activities both inside and outside the classroom it can be challenging to try and balance it all without spreading oneself too thin.
Johanna: The University of Iowa provides its students with a number of opportunities and advantages. The medical facilities at Iowa are truly exceptional. Iowa’s learning communities, for example, provide a wonderful opportunity for medical students to interact with one another and provide students with a number of leadership opportunities. Additionally, during the third and fourth year, students at the University of Iowa benefit from our exceptional hospital facilities and staff. As one of the largest teaching hospitals in the nation, the University of Iowa exposes students to a wide variety of specialties overseen by renowned faculty.
Finally, the University of Iowa has a number of opportunities for students to volunteer in the community, perform research, travel abroad, and get hands on medical experience. The opportunities are endless for students who have a clear vision of what they would like to achieve.
Please describe your professional goals and interests?
Erica: Still in my first year of medical school I am trying to keep an open mind and not close any doors. From past shadowing experiences, however, I have both an interest in pediatrics and infectious diseases. In the coming months and years I hope to refine my interests, and ultimately go into a specialty that I enjoy.
Johanna: As a first year medical student, my interest in a medical specialty remains open. Through interest groups on campus and experiences with different disciplines, I hope to find an area that I am passionate about and one that will continue to challenge me in years to come.
What are some of your outside interests?
Erica: Tennis, golf, biking, water skiing, fishing, downhill skiing, and ice skating just to name a few. Although I try and stay physically active, I also enjoy reading, music, and international travel.
Johanna: I enjoy the outdoors and a variety of outdoor activities, including tennis, golf, swimming, skiing, skating, and fishing. In addition to physical activities, I also have a passion for the fine arts, music, and travel.
Do you participate in any community service/outreach projects? If so, what are they and what have your experiences been?
Erica: I am currently a member of the Mobile Clinic, a student run clinic aimed at providing medical and educational services to underserved populations within Iowa City and its surrounding communities. I have found that the Mobile Clinic is a wonderful way to get direct patient exposure, practice patient interviewing and education skills, work with other students in the health professions, and learn what resources are available to patients within the area.
Johanna: I am currently involved with the Mobile Clinic. The interdisciplinary aspect of this program has allowed me to interact with students from other colleges within the university in the delivery of patient care.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your work?
Erica: While I am at a loss as to the source, a saying that guides me on a daily basis goes like this: “Life is like a coin, you may spend it any way you wish, but you may only spend it once.” This saying encourages me to make the most of every day, engage in new opportunities, and step outside of my comfort zone.
Johanna: Since I was in high school, I have kept a quotation by Eleanor Roosevelt that my history professor used to display, which reads: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
In addition to this quotation, two others hold special meaning for me:
“To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!”—Emerson
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.”—Anonymous
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?"
Erica: In a phrase: “Take the time to listen.” In numerous areas throughout society, including medicine, we don’t really take the time to listen to each other. How many conflicts around the world could be solved if we took the time to listen to the other side? When we fail to listen to one another, misunderstandings and miscomprehensions arise. In the medical field we are often under time constraints and we don’t really take the time to listen to our patients and get to know them as individuals rather than as diseases and symptoms. We could learn so much about each other if we only took the time.
Johanna: If I could change one thing about the world, I would want to improve the political, cultural and religious dynamics that have and continue to cause warfare and conflict. I have been blessed by the opportunity to travel internationally and interact with a number of communities — each community has cultural “gems” that may enrich others. Too often, I think misunderstanding, ignorance, and prejudice mask the truth and harbor hatred. I hope that in the future we begin to develop respect for cultural, religious, and political differences and embrace a sense of understanding.
What one piece of advice you would give to students who are interested in applying to medical school?
Erica: Listen to yourself, and follow your heart. If that happens to be a career in medicine, that is wonderful, but you must go into medicine on you own accord, not because of the expectations of others. Medicine is a rewarding profession, but it is also demanding. If your heart tells you to go into medicine you will find that the rewards will far outweigh the demands and stresses. If your heart does not truly lie in medicine, however, the opposite will be true.
Johanna: My best piece of advice to aspiring students is to be true to yourself and follow your passions. If medicine is your passion, then it will come through in your application and you will find success. Above all, believe in yourself and follow your heart.
What do you see as "the future" of medicine?
Erica: Medicine is a rapidly changing field. With the growing population of uninsured patients the medical system will have to undergo some changes or frustration and anger will continue to build. The solution will not be an easy one, but it cannot be ignored either. Additionally, different disciplines within science and medicine are becoming more and more integrated. My guess is that in the future there will be much more collaboration between individuals in different departments and specialties with the ultimate result being better care and more knowledge of the basic science behind the medicine we practice.
Johanna: One of the reasons I chose to pursue medicine is that it is challenging and continually changing. As we face serious questions about healthcare financing and discover new medical technologies, the medical profession will undoubtedly change. I hope to be a part of that change.