What is your hometown?
I was born and raised in Butler, PA (near Pittsburgh), although I lived in Ithaca, NY for six years prior to coming to Iowa City.
How or when did you become interested in science and medicine?
I knew in high school that I wanted to be in a human service field. I thought medicine would be a good way to combine my interests in science and helping people. At a summer program called the Pennsylvania Governor's School for Health Care, I learned more about environmental and public health. This opened up a new world for me, because I realized that public health and preventive medicine could combine my interests in biology, math, social sciences, and service.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa to attend medical school?
I planned on applying to medical schools where I could pursue a medical degree in conjunction with a master's degree in public health. While I was preparing for medical school, I worked with one of my professors who specialized in social science research and applied statistics. I was hooked and began to consider academic medicine as a viable option for me. When I compared medical schools through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), I realized that the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) had listed Preventive Medicine as a potential PhD field. I applied that year, which coincidentally was the year that the College of Public Health was formed from the previous Department of Preventive Medicine. During my interview, I was pleased to find out that two previous MSTP students completed their degrees in public health fields (epidemiology and biostatistics). There were certain characteristics of the MSTP that also made me very excited about the coming to the University of Iowa. Specifically, I enjoyed Grand Rounds (where we see some of the connections between interesting clinical cases and cutting edge research in that area) and Clinical Connections (where MSTP students spend a semester during graduate school working one-on-one with a faculty member who does both clinical work and research). The University of Iowa struck me as a school that encourages collaboration between disciplines, and I have come to appreciate this during my time here.
Is there a teacher, mentor or University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine faculty member who has helped shape your education?
Dr. Robert Wallace, who is a professor in both Epidemiology and Internal Medicine and also my research mentor, has stuck by me for literally years. He has always provided opportunities for me to take on a broad range of projects to expand my repertoire of research skills, and he continues to encourage me to be an independent and critical thinker. During my time with Dr. Wallace, we have tackled areas of mutual interest that are clinically important to individual patients, as well as areas of public health significance. He has always provided frank and supportive advice related to my career aspirations and life goals.
What kinds of opportunities or advantages does being a medical student at Iowa provide? What about challenges?
As one of the students who represents the University of Iowa through the AAMC's Organization of Student Representatives, I have had the chance to interact with medical students across the country. At AAMC conferences, I have come to realize how unique the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine is. Iowa seems to be an "early adopter" of new educational and student-focused initiatives, as it seems like we have been doing things that other schools are still talking about. There is no way I could comprise an exhaustive list here, but some of the areas that we do well include our learning communities, our international opportunities, our student-led community service efforts, our diverse clinical curriculum, and our humanities program. And this is not even mentioning the fact that our Office of Student Affairs and Curriculum includes active leaders in the AAMC. Our faculty and administration are very supportive of student-initiated projects, unlike the experiences that some of our peers report at other schools. Of course, this may also be a function of our exceptional student body. I have met many University of Iowa students with innovative ideas and the drive to turn those ideas into something tangible. I'm not trying to imply that our school is perfect, but I have found over the years that the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine community is responsive and forward-thinking.
Please describe your professional goals and interests?
I am applying to internal medicine residencies, with the intention of staying in academic medicine. My goal is to see patients, conduct clinical research, and teach medical and public health students. I also enjoy psychiatry and preventive medicine, and I hope that aspects of these disciplines will be incorporated into my clinical work. An advantage of being an internist is the range of opportunities, as one can be anything from a primary care provider to a very specialized physician. Personally, I hope to spend my final year of medical school and the beginning of residency deciding where I fall on this spectrum. I think that general internal medicine or geriatrics would be good options for me, as I would like to have long-standing relationships with patients so I can consider their needs holistically. On the other hand, I am fascinated by infectious diseases and rheumatologic conditions, and I believe that these areas present stimulating diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
What are some of your outside interests?
Well, I am somewhat of a kid at heart. I enjoy watching animation, and I look forward to finishing the Harry Potter series (no spoilers, please!). I like to relax with movies (anything from the classics to the ridiculous). And, as anyone who has visited our house can tell, we enjoy animals. We're currently down to an aquarium and 3 cats. Over the last few years, we've had some combination of cats, rats, ferrets, geckos, mice, gerbils, hamsters, veiled chameleons, and Chinese bearded dragons.
Do you participate in any community service/outreach projects? If so, what are they and what have your experiences been?
I was involved with the Mobile Clinic as a member of the executive board during its first three years of operation. Aside from trying my hand at clinic coordinator, I focused on issues related to technology and communications. Our volunteer pool seemed to increase exponentially, so it was a challenge to manage recruitment and training efforts. Luckily, there was (and still is) a great team of board members and committee leaders who helped pull this project off and who continue to expand its efforts.
Another opportunity for community service for medical students is the Free Medical Clinic in Iowa City. Many familiar faces from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine community volunteer there, as patient guides, examiners, lab techs, or translators. The staff is kind and appreciative of our service. The Free Medical Clinic is also an outstanding venue for students to learn outpatient medicine, improve their clinical skills, and see some of the health care needs in our own community. The physician volunteers are great mentors, and students can leave at the end of a shift feeling like they really made a difference for their patients.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your work?
My nature is to over-analyze decisions and to try to foresee all the possible outcomes, but I have come to realize that this is not practical in clinical medicine. Instead, the insight I gained on the wards is that it is important to understand the resources that are available and to know when to ask for the expertise of your colleagues. Always be forthright with your patients, including when that means admitting errors and weaknesses. And of course, it is important to listen to what clues the patient gives you. By empathizing with the patient, you come to understand what you would expect from a provider. By empathizing with your colleagues, you can find ways to improve your teamwork skills.
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?
I'm an idealist, but I believe that we are going to find a plan to cover our population's health care needs. According to the Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), a single-payer system would decrease the overhead in providing health care, as one-third of every dollar spent on health care goes directly to the paperwork required to bill so many different payers. I understand that change will not be instantaneous, nor do we have a model system that we can directly emulate. However, PNHP asserts that the reduction in costs would be more than sufficient to provide high quality care to all Americans for the same amount (or less) than we already spend per capita. Now, I'll be the first to admit that health care financing is not my forte, but I trust that we have some great minds working on this problem and a solution is on the nearby horizon.
What one piece of advice you would give to students who are interested in applying to medical school?
I think that medical education is more diverse than people realize and there are many options within the medical profession for people who may not be the "typical" pre-med. Although the core sciences are essential to prepare all pre-medical students, tomorrow's physicians need to be skilled communicators and savvy with technology. Clinical decision making and evidence-based medicine requires skill in analyzing data and interpreting statistics. Physicians will continue to be among the leaders in health policy, just as many will continue to manage the finances and economic principles of health care. My advice to pre-medical students is that you should follow your personal goals and strengths and avoid the mindset that there is an "ideal" applicant or some form of "cookie-cutter" physician-in-training. Follow your calling, whether you are a computer scientist, engineer, artist, author, teacher, business major, biophysicist, or biochemist.
What do you see as "the future" of medicine?
I do not think there is a single "future" of medicine. I see medicine as heading in many different directions simultaneously, although not all are beneficial. The relevant medical knowledge base will continue to expand, with strides being made every day in pharmaceuticals and other therapies. I think medicine will also be much more consumer-driven, as we already see "boutique clinics" and walk-in clinics at superstores. I would be remiss if I forgot to mention the importance of preventive medicine, particularly in areas were promoting wellness is much more cost effective than treatment of disabling chronic diseases. Furthermore, there will continue to be concerted efforts to improve the quality of care, mirrored by continued efforts to improve the health related quality of life for our patients.