What is your hometown?
I was born in Toledo, Ohio, but I moved just north of the border into Lambertville, Michigan when I was 14. I call Michigan home.
How or when did you become interested in science and medicine?
I'm not sure how I came to enjoy science; it was just something I liked and I was always pretty good at it. But I took an anatomy and physiology class in high school and fell in love, and that's when I knew that medicine was for me.
How or why did you choose the UI to attend medical school?
I went to the University of Michigan for undergrad, and I really wanted to stay in the Midwest and attend one of the Big Ten schools for medicine. They are all highly regarded and well known, and a degree from any of them is a great accomplishment. I came to choose Iowa, in particular, because I was really impressed with the facilities available to the students, and everyone I met was so kind. Additionally, I was a resident advisor in undergrad, so I loved the concept of communities for learning and activities.
Is there a teacher, mentor or Carver College of Medicine faculty member who has helped shape your education?
I can't really think of anyone in particular. It's obvious that everyone who teaches here is passionate about it, and if there is one way to enhance a student's learning, it is passion about the topic one teaches.
What kinds of opportunities or advantages does being a medical student at Iowa provide? What about challenges?
One thing that really seems to be emphasized here, above and beyond the science and medicine, is the doctor-patient relationship. I think the best way to gain a patient's trust is not by always being right, but by being human. This school does an amazing job of teaching us how to be excellent clinicians, and not just fountains of scientific knowledge.
Please describe your professional goals and interests?
Short term: To get through my M3 year without too much damage! Truthfully, I'm not exactly sure what I want to do yet, so I’m especially excited to get my feet wet this year and really give everything a try. I just want to find something that I will enjoy and feel good about at the end of each day. As a woman who wants to have children, I have to consider lifestyle as a part of my career choice. But one thing I remember Dean Mandel saying to our class was that choosing a career based on hours may afford a parent more time with his or her family, but what kind of parent and spouse will you be when you are miserable at the end of the day? You have to do what you love. I'm not sure what that is yet for me, but when I find it I'll know.
What are some of your outside interests?
I love singing and musical theatre, which is why I have been very involved in the med student vocal group, Major Grooves. I also have a passion for women's issues and organized this year's "Press Out Domestic Violence" bench press competition to benefit Iowa City's Domestic Violence Intervention Program. It was the most rewarding project I have ever participated in, and I can't wait to help out next year's planning committee.
What is the "Press Out Domestic Violence" competition?
This is a really fun event that brings the medical community together for a great cause. Last year we had over 300 participants, raising $3,300 for the Youth Services Program at the DVIP. Students, residents, faculty and staff donate $10 to the DVIP in exchange for a t-shirt. This t-shirt is a "ticket" into the event in the MERF atrium, where one can get free food, free massages, a chance to win awesome door prizes and, of course, the opportunity to show off his or her strength on the bench press. There are trophies awarded in many categories, one of which is "Strongest UIHC Department." Two years ago, Surgery was the winner, and last year the trophy went to Internal Medicine. I'm hoping to see an awesome competition when the event occurs again in March.
What makes this event so rewarding?
Domestic violence is an unfortunate reality, and it is happening right here in Iowa City. It's easy to overlook that or pretend it doesn't happen, so it's important to make people aware of these issues. For the last three years, the medical students have done that. This event raises money for the kids who live at the shelter, so they can go out for pizza, go to the movies, go swimming or just do the things that normal kids get to do. Who wouldn't feel good about helping to provide a more normal life for kids with a painful past?
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your work?
I love those little Dove Promises chocolates because the inside of each wrapper has a little quote on it. I've had one hanging on my refrigerator for over a year now that I look at every day and it keeps me grounded. It says "Go easy on yourself."
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?"
Apathy. There is so much going on in the world, and even within our own country, that people completely ignore because they think it doesn't affect them. There is a lot of hate, discrimination, pain, suffering and sadness everywhere, and it gets perpetuated when people pretend it doesn't exist. That's why I'm so proud to be involved with projects like the benefit for DVIP, to remind people that domestic violence does occur, right here in Iowa City, and these people deserve our help. I'm also excited to be a part of the Class of 2007 project that has reminded people of the need for medical assistance in Southeast Asia. Even though the tsunami occurred more than six months ago and it's not in the news anymore, the need for relief is still there and we can't forget about that.
What was your role in the tsunami relief project held last summer, and how do you feel about the results?
It was more successful than most of us imagined! We were able to raise $8,000 for the tsunami victims, and we are all thrilled about that. Like everyone in my class, I helped the cause by selling tickets to the silent art auction and benefit show. During the art auction, the medical students performed their various talents in order to create an amazing atmosphere and entice more people to attend. I performed with Major Grooves to provide about 30 minutes of a cappella music for the occasion.
Have you, or your fellow medical students, been involved in activities to aid the Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans and the Gulf region?
I am constantly impressed by the medical student body’s enthusiasm for helping those less fortunate. The College of Medicine was able to arrange a fundraiser the week after the disaster, and in one day collected about $1,000 in donations for the relief effort. We were happy to be able to help in any way we could.
I'm just glad that the medical students have found ways to help those in need, and make the public aware of the need for assistance. We have benefited the local community with the Bench Press Competition to raise money for the victims of domestic violence, and we have benefited the global community by providing funding for medical relief for the victims of last December's tsunami and last month's Hurricane Katrina. I am so proud to be a member of this philanthropic group of citizens.
What one piece of advice you would give to students who are interested in applying to medical school?
Keep yourself well rounded. You don't always have to have perfect grades or the highest test scores to get in to medical school. It's actually a good thing to be involved in activities outside of science and medicine, because it's those experiences that separate you from the rest. Highlight the qualities that are unique to you, and show the admissions committee that you know how to balance your life outside of academics and stay involved in the other things you love. They will know that medical school will be an important part of your life but it won't be your whole life, and that is a huge part of being a professional.
What do you see as "the future" of medicine?
Who knows? I am so amazed by the medical advances made daily, and I can only imagine what new treatments and procedures will be available in the future. I know it is a bit cliché, but the one thing I really hope is that we are able to somehow find a way to make these treatments available to everyone who needs them.