We are proud to present the incoming Intern Class of 2022. We wanted to take the opportunity to go a little past the names and faces and learn a couple things about them. We asked them each to tell us about why they chose Internal Medicine at Iowa for their residency. And, now that they have been here a month or so, what they like about living in Iowa City or working at University of Iowa Health Care. We will introduce them a few at a time each week for the next couple months. Welcome to Iowa!
Hunter Frederiksen, MD
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Medical school: University of Utah
“Why Iowa”: Top-quality training with opportunities to pursue various fields. I am additionally impressed with the dedication to academics and mentorship. The faculty are committed to resident education and have been an absolute pleasure to learn from.
What I like about Iowa City: I love having close access to various outdoor activities such as biking, kayaking, hiking, etc. My co-residents are some of the best people I know and are always planning outings to explore various restaurants, breweries, new trivia spots, game nights, downtown events, and disc golf.
Laurel Smeins, MD
Hometown: Cedar Falls, Iowa
Medical school: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: Having attended med school at Iowa, I got to experience the culture here first-hand before entering interview season, and I realized that the environment at Iowa is not something that should be taken for granted. Everyone is kind, collegial, and always willing to lend a helping hand—something that was just as important to me as attending a strong academic program.
What I like about Iowa City: The feeling of community is palpable—whether you’re attending one of the many city events or festivals or simply walking around your neighborhood. Additionally, it has all the necessary amenities of a city without the traffic, crowds, or high cost of living.
Mike Tabet, MD
Hometown: Colchester, Vermont
Medical school: Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
“Why Iowa”: I wanted to get excellent medical training surrounded by awesome people in an academic medical center with a wide catchment area so I could see a variety of pathologies, from bread-and-butter cases to more complex disease states. Commitment to resident education is very much the centerpoint of this program.
What I like about Iowa City: I have lived in smaller towns like Colchester, VT, and large cities like Montreal, Canada. Iowa City has so far felt like a great mix of the amenities and happenings of a bigger city with the peacefulness and natural beauty of a town.
Megan Vree, MD
Hometown: Alvord, Iowa
Medical school: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: An excellent program that will prepare me well while still providing good support and work-life balance for life outside of medicine.
What I like about Iowa City: Lots of beautiful places for outdoor activities and the downtown scene.
Alice Xu, MD
Hometown: Novi, Michigan
Medical school: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: In the short period of time I had on interview day, I already felt that the faculty and leadership at this program were passionate about training their residents to be exceptional. Since being here, I’m glad to say my hunch was correct. The learning environment influenced by attendings, co-residents, and patients is beyond what I could have hoped for.
What I like about Iowa City: The people! I’m consistently impressed with the humility and kindness of the people I have met, whether it’s in the hospital or at the gas station. With that and the abundance of nature surrounding the city, I’ve definitely found the perfect place for me. Oh, and that this is the birthplace of Pancheros.