What is your hometown?
Sioux City, Iowa
How or when did you become interested in science and medicine?
I had never wanted to be anything but a medical doctor for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t until I came to the University of Iowa that my interests broadened. As an undergraduate I was exposed to my first independent research experience. Before then I had no desire to work in a lab, but that experience completely changed my mind. I found out how exciting it can be to discover something unknown and share it with the world. It then occurred to me that by playing both roles of doctor and scientist I could not only heal people in my care, but also have the potential to make contributions to science that may have a broader impact of improving care for many people. I am very grateful that I have the opportunity to train to accomplish both of these goals.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa to attend medical school?
It was my experiences as an undergraduate at the University of Iowa that sparked my interest in the medical school at Iowa. During that time I was afforded many opportunities to volunteer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and interact with both patients and health care providers. The level of care I witnessed was phenomenal. Doctors didn't just care for their patients, they genuinely cared about their patients. In addition I was surprised at how eager doctors and residents were to share their knowledge with me when I told them about my interest in becoming a doctor. It allowed me to experience first-hand that Iowa's dedication to education was exceptional. I also discovered that Iowa had top-notch facilities, outstanding research opportunities and a spirit of collaboration that would be difficult to find elsewhere. These remarkable features made the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine a clear choice for me.
Is there a teacher, mentor or University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine faculty member who has helped shape your education?
I've found that faculty members here have immense enthusiasm for educating the next generation of doctors. They also sincerely care about students and their success. Several educators stand out in my mind that especially embody these principles including Geordie Lawry, Peter Rubenstein, Donald Brown (62BA, 65MS, 66MD) and Joel Gordon just to name a few.
What kinds of opportunities or advantages does being a MD/PhD student at Iowa provide? What about challenges?
The greatest opportunity that being an MD/PhD student provides is being surrounded by experts in nearly every field of science and medicine. The research opportunities are amazingly diverse. I've been able to meet and develop relationships with many interesting, exciting and incredibly smart people that have enhanced the richness of my medical education. The real challenge to being an MD/PhD student is that you are faced with many difficult decisions. Choosing the right mentor, lab and research project are all important decisions that need to be weighed very carefully.
Please describe your professional goals and interests?
Scientifically my interests have been behavioral science, gene therapy and cell signaling. Soon I will begin my graduate training in Free Radical and Radiation Biology. I'm drawn to this research field because it has such a wide range of potential applications to a number of different diseases. Medically I've been attracted to several specialties. So my plan is to keep an open mind during my third year rotations to find out which area is right for me.
What are some of your outside interests?
Outside of school my favorite thing to do is spend time with my family. My daughter and I love to go on trips to see relatives. In the summer we go camping and go to the beach (on Kent Lake) as often as possible.
Do you participate in any community service/outreach projects? If so, what are they and what have your experiences been?
I've had the opportunity to get involved with several great organizations while serving as a community service coordinator for my student community, Boulware. We've worked hard to raise money for our favorite charities, but we've also really enjoyed participating in events held by these organizations. My favorite has been the Chili Dog Fair. This annual event raises money for kidney disease research by having a chili cook-off and dog show. Boulware also showed their support for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by walking in their annual event, Light the Night. We've also been able to work closely with the wonderful people at the Nest of Johnson County, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County and Table to Table. It has been extremely rewarding to work with these and many other organizations throughout my first two years in medical school.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your work?
If you do something that you love, then the work itself is its own reward.
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?
I would like to see people taking better care of themselves. Sometimes it seems as though people don't make healthy choices because they believe their doctor can 'fix' whatever problem may arise in the future as a result of their poor choices. It is amazing how much more health and medical information people have access to now than ever before. I would like to see people take that knowledge and apply it to ensure that they live long, healthy lives.
What one piece of advice would you give to students who are interested in applying to medical school?
My advice for interested students is essentially the same as my philosophy. You should really love what you're getting into because it's that love that will drive you to work hard, learn more and keep studying when you're up to your eyeballs in lecture notes.
What do you see as "the future" of medicine?
I see improved patient/physician collaboration as the future of medicine. There has already been great progress in this area. Medicine has moved from a more paternalistic mentality where doctors were the preeminent decision makers to an era of improved respect for patient autonomy. This has led to patients getting more involved in their own care and becoming more responsible for their own health monitoring and maintenance. There is a school of thought in medicine that proposes that patient autonomy is an essential factor in motivating patients to change unhealthy behaviors. I believe more doctors will adopt this perspective and begin to empower their patients with the information and tools necessary to reach their health care goals.