The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
What is your hometown?
Urbandale, IA
How or when did you become interested in science and medicine?
I distinctly remember my obsession in the third grade with the movie “The Land Before Time”, a tragic tale of a group of young dinosaurs who were separated from their parents, but risked everything to reunite with those that they loved. Between the movie and the National Geographic subscription my grandmother bought me for my 9th birthday, I really wanted to be a paleontologist. This obsession faded over time, but paved the way for an interest in science. My interest in medicine was sparked by my pediatrician, Dr. Jack Spevak (39BSCH, 44MD), who I will never forget as the white haired, white coated doctor with black bow ties and a pen in his mouth. He seemed to know everything, and as a child, I aspired to be like him one day.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa to attend medical school?
I have a long family history of Hawkeyes and I knew eventually I too would be struck by a case of the Hawkeye.
Is there a teacher, mentor or University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine faculty member who has helped shape your education?
My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Rosonke, was the first teacher I ever had who truly challenged me and allowed me to be an “outside the box” student. I began writing poetry that year and she allowed me to write and write and write, even during other courses. She believed in what I was doing and helped me to grow as a young writer and a person. We remain close to this day. My uncle, Dr. Victor Sandler, is one of my biggest mentors in the medical field and has supported me through my entire journey of deciding that medicine is for me.
What kinds of opportunities or advantages does being a medical student at Iowa provide? What about challenges?
I am constantly impressed by how receptive the faculty and staff are to student feedback. I think this shows how supportive they are for us and our education. One opportunity that I was excited to take advantage of upon entering medical school at Iowa was the opportunity to participate in global medicine during the summer after my first year. I thought this was a great opportunity to learn and study medicine in a clinic in another country.
I do think going to medical school at Iowa can be challenging because of the examination schedule. Testing week after week is a marathon, but it has definitely taught me how I learn and to be efficient with my studying.
Please describe your professional goals and interests?
At this point, I am set on being the best doctor I can be though I am not exactly sure what kind that is. I think I would like to pursue a career in primary care and public health. I like the idea of forming close relationships with my patients. I am also interested in environmental health because the air people breath, water people drink, and food people eat are integral to their health.
What are some of your outside interests?
I love to travel and enjoy seeing the world and all of its wonder. Traveling has opened my eyes to the cultures and ideas of so many different people and it keeps me mindful of my own way of life. I also cook and love spending time in the kitchen, and I like to garden. I like getting outside and playing in the dirt when the weather is nice.
Do you participate in any community service/outreach projects? If so, what are they and what have your experiences been?
Community service and outreach have been activities that have kept me grounded during my pre-clinical medical school years. I try to spend two evenings a month volunteering at the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic as a patient guide. As a patient guide, I have the opportunity to practice taking vitals and to interact with real patients. I have also volunteered with Proteus, Inc., an organization that works to provide health care for migrant workers across the state of Iowa. In addition, I have worked to create an organization called Future Physicians for the Environment, which aims to bring aspects of environmental health to the medical school. Last year we held a week long event surrounding Earth Week and are planning to do the same this year in an attempt to raise awareness about how our actions as physicians and citizens of the planet impact our patients’ health.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your work?
Life is not worth living if you don’t have stories to tell. I think challenging myself to try new things and push myself beyond my comfort zone has given me lots of stories to tell. Some of these stories involve situations I would never want to be in again, some of which are unique moments that I can never relive, but all of which have shaped who I am today and my personal evolution.
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?
Greed. The human desire to have more and to take from others leads to many of the injustices we face in the world. With regards to health care, the desire of a few people in power to gain profit off of people’s illnesses has led to an expensive health care system that allows some people to have complete access, some people to have limited access, and some people to have no access.
What one piece of advice would you give to students who are interested in applying to medical school?
There is no one way to get into medical school. The whole medical school process is full of solicited and unsolicited advice about what choices you need to make in order to get to where you want to be. In my experience, you are the only person who can know whether making any of those suggested choices are right for you. MCATs, good grades, community service, research, and a good interview are all important keys to getting into medical school, but virtually everyone applying to medical school has those. Experiencing life in a way that sets you apart will not only make you a stronger applicant, but a better-rounded person, which will take you well beyond the interview trail.
What do you see as "the future" of medicine?
In the ideal future world, I see a medical system that effectively tries to put itself out of business with an emphasis on preventative medicine and public health. This “system” would be incorporated into society taking medicine and health care out of the doctor’s office and hospitals and making them a way of life. But, barring these dramatic changes, I would settle for now for a “pay for performance” type system that puts an emphasis on patient outcomes and not procedures performed. I see this as a way to promote better patient outcomes by primary care practitioners and specialists, not just rewarding procedure heavy specialties.