Although our new trainees are almost two months into their time with us, it is the first week of classes for most of the rest of the state. For our K-12 students, for our undergraduate and graduate students across the state, this week is an exciting time. Sidewalks around campus are filled back up and the air is just a little more electrified with potential. Everyone engaged in the noble work of sharing and gaining new knowledge. It’s a beautiful thing. The approach of fall also means it is time for us to get serious about trainee recruitment. Our fellowship programs will start interviews soon and our residency program will be right on their heels a couple months after that. Recruitment is a labor-intensive process and really only gets the shortest of breaks, shifting gears quickly from onboarding a new class to actively finding the next one. If you have not participated in the past with interviewing or reading applications or sharing with others about what makes Iowa such a great place to train, I urge you to find a way to contribute.
Photo for Reflection
Summers really are beautiful in Iowa. There is so much color. My daughter and I have been steadily exploring the state when we have time, and we recently visited a sunflower farm near Belle Plaine northwest of Iowa City. Rows and rows of these bright yellow blasts of color all towering tall and stretching into the distance. On average a sunflower can grow to 16 feet, but it is only when it is still in its shorter stages that it tracks the sun across the sky with its face. I think it’s interesting that they do this when they are “younger,” soaking up as much of the sun’s energy during an important stage of development.
Because I’ve got education on my mind, you can probably already see the connection. The medical students and trainees we have the privilege of educating will soak up every ounce of instruction and example we provide, both directly and indirectly. There are things I do today, ways of thinking, research methods, that are exact mimics of what certain influential instructors modeled for me when I was just starting out. My face tracked those mentors’ movements across the sky and helped me grow tall, metaphorically.
A privilege I am also discovering is the relationship I get to develop with our Chief Residents. Rounding with them often feels like more of an education for me than anything I can provide them. Their energy, creativity, and deep compassion for the residents as well as the program itself spreads and is always aimed at improvement. This week, as they get close to recruitment season, I thought I would turn this page over to them to ask how they view their role now, just a couple months in.
Chiefs’ Updates
Adam Blaine, MD
Serving as Chief Resident has been a truly rewarding experience. Some of the most meaningful moments happen in the day to day, whether it’s a quick conversation in the Chiefs’ office over candy or staffing clinic with residents. In clinic, I’ve enjoyed watching interns refine their skills and seniors grow into confident physicians. Sharing in that development, while also building friendships through these interactions, has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of this role. I look forward to continuing that growth together on the wards, and as I move forward in my career I hope to always hold onto the joy of these clinical moments with learners at every stage.
Outside of the hospital, the Iowa camaraderie within our program has been my favorite part of residency and now Chief year. Saturday morning Run Club, capped off with lemon blueberry pancakes, has become a tradition that reflects the strong sense of community among our residents. Sand volleyball games and other social events have also been highlights, where the lines between colleagues and close friends blur in the best way. While events like our VA meet and greet remind us of the broader connections across the program, it is these everyday moments of friendship and fun that capture the signature Iowa environment and what being Chief has meant to me.
Tyler Maggio, MD
I believe our chief year is off to a terrific start, and I’m personally having a wonderful time. Our interns transitioned smoothly into residency, and our senior residents have ascended confidently into their new roles. My co-chiefs and I are excited to implement several initiatives for curriculum innovation, scholarship, and education throughout the year that we hope will elevate our training program even further.
Dr. Adam Blaine proposed that the four chiefs each present an example case in a friendly competition during our educational noon conference. We shared four exciting cases detailing an accidental “superwarfarin” ingestion, dysphagia lusoria, pseudohypoaldosteronism, and a spontaneous coronary artery dissection. The residents then voted for the best presentation, granting one chief bragging rights for the year. In addition, Dr. Katie Harris generously coached residents on the process of writing vignettes and clinical abstracts.
These efforts will culminate in our residency ACP Clinical Vignette competition on September 15th and 22nd, with the winner advancing to present at the Progress Conference in Des Moines this October. We are thrilled to support our residents’ growth as young physicians and look forward to a year filled with learning, scholarship, and continued success.
Marcus Osman, MD
As I reflect on my first three months as a Chief Resident at the University of Iowa, I am struck by the privilege of serving in this role. The opportunity to be seen as a leader in such a remarkable residency program is both humbling and energizing.
One initiative I have been especially excited to launch is Chief Chats. The idea is simple: each categorical resident will be invited to step away from the hospital with a chief resident for coffee and conversation. There will be no agenda or checklists; just space to connect outside the walls of the hospital and beyond the view of Boyd Tower. My hope is to foster relationships that extend beyond day-to-day schedules and create an environment where mentorship can grow naturally.
The relationship between residents and their chiefs has always felt sacred to me. If you ask our faculty, I would guess that many can still name their chief residents from intern year, regardless of how many years have passed. That impression speaks to the lasting impact these connections can have. Through Chief Chats, I want to provide a low-stakes, supportive setting where residents can share their experiences, talk about life in Iowa City, or simply pause amid the demands of training.
Ultimately, my goal is for these conversations to reinforce the sense of community that makes our program special. Being a chief resident is not just about scheduling and logistics; it is about people, mentorship, and legacy. I am honored to play a small part in shaping that tradition this year.
Mackenzie Walhof, MD
Serving as Chief Resident has been an incredibly rewarding experience, even though I’m only three months into the role. One of the most surprising discoveries has been how much I genuinely enjoy this leadership position. It has offered me the chance to build strong connections, not only with my fellow chief residents but also with the broader residency leadership team. These relationships have been invaluable, creating a collaborative environment where ideas can thrive and positive change can take root.
Together, we are working diligently on several exciting initiatives aimed at enhancing the residency program. A major focus is expanding and enriching our simulation curriculum, providing residents with more hands-on, practical learning opportunities to better prepare them for clinical challenges. In addition, we are actively refining our conference offerings and bolstering board review sessions to ensure our residents receive the most comprehensive and engaging educational experience possible.
Beyond these academic improvements, we are committed to nurturing a supportive and positive culture within the residency. We believe that fostering an environment where residents feel valued, motivated, and inspired is essential to their growth and well-being. Part of this effort includes highlighting the unique strengths of our program here at Iowa, showcasing to future residents what makes this learning environment so exceptional.
Overall, the chief resident role has been a fulfilling journey of growth, collaboration, and leadership. I am excited to continue contributing to initiatives that support both the educational mission and the vibrant community within our residency program.