We are proud to present the incoming Intern Class of 2023. 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!
Nicholas Coffey MD, MSc
Hometown: Russell Springs, Kentucky
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine-Bowling Green
“Why Iowa”: The internal medicine-psychiatry residency program is one of the premier programs of its kind in the nation. However, the people really sold me on the program with the kindness and humility they had during the whole application process!
What I like about Iowa City: I grew up in a town with 4 stop lights and one was recently shut down because it wasn’t needed. I was looking for that type of feel in the place I would do my next 5 years of training. Iowa City has that small-town feel I wanted, with a hospital that you would expect to only find in an urban epicenter.
Trey Duit, MD
Hometown: Bondurant, Iowa
Medical School: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: I went to medical school here and had nothing but positive experiences with people across the healthcare system.
What I like about Iowa City: Iowa is home for my wife so we are very familiar with Iowa City. It is a very livable city with lots to do, yet isn’t overwhelming like many larger cities.
Zachary Lang, MD
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Medical school: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University
“Why Iowa”: The excellent clinical training combined with a supportive atmosphere and wonderful people. I truly feel that everyone here is helping me achieve my career goals. Plus, I visited Iowa City last fall with my wife and daughter … we fell in love with the area!
What I like about Iowa City: Besides the cost of living, the amenities! We love visiting the Children’s Museum of Iowa and the North Liberty Aquatic Center. It’s also tough to beat the beverages at Big Grove!
Zachary Skopec, MD
Hometown: Okoboji, Iowa
Medical school: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: As an Iowa native, I knew that Iowa City is an amazing place to live with incredible learning opportunities. It is amazing to get to treat fellow Iowans, and the support residents receive here is amazing.
What I like about Iowa City: The passion everyone has for the Hawkeyes! I’m a huge sports fan, so I love to see the entire city get excited for football season, basketball games, and wrestling matches!
Frida Teran-Garza, MD, PhD
Hometown: Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Medical school: UI Carver College of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: As a medical student here in Iowa, I was able to witness the strong clinical training and dynamic learning environment the program offers to its residents. There is a culture of camaraderie and mentorship among the faculty, which was important for me.
What I like about Iowa City: Iowa City has lots of outdoor activities, low cost of living, no traffic, and is very family-friendly, which make it a wonderful place to live.