We are proud to present this year’s incoming interns. 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 couple months, 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!
Hometown: Solon, Iowa
Medical School: UI Carver College of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: Having grown up in the area, I have always enjoyed the sense of community and welcoming atmosphere of Iowa that makes it an incredibly special place to live. Beyond the warmth of the people, the strength of its residency program is evident at every level. Between the commitment to clinical excellence, education, and patient-centered care, Iowa offers the ideal environment to grow as both a physician and person. I can’t imagine a better place to continue my training.
What I like about Iowa City: There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy in the area. One of my favorite spots to go is Wilson’s Apple Orchard. I enjoy spending time with my family here picking apples and catching up over homemade goods from their bakery.
Hometown: Georgetown, Canada
Medical School: Medical University of the Americas
“Why Iowa”: From my first interview, I felt an immediate sense of comfort and enthusiasm. The warmth and authenticity of the faculty and residents left a lasting impression. During a second-look visit, Iowa’s welcoming atmosphere reminded me of the community where I grew up. That sense of belonging, coupled with the program’s reputation for excellence, affirmed that Iowa is the ideal place for me to grow and flourish as a physician.
What I like about Iowa City: Everyone has been incredibly friendly, neighbours (I still use Canadian spelling), strangers, and attendings alike!
Hometown: Ames, Iowa
Medical School: UI Carver College of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: I enjoyed my time rotating through various internal medicine services during medical school here at Iowa. What stood out to me most was the camaraderie between residents, coupled with a positive learning environment fostered by the staff physicians.
What I like about Iowa City: Iowa City has a wealth of offerings for residents with diverse interests. I enjoy running, so I frequent Terry Trueblood and various running trails available in Iowa City and Coralville. There are many great restaurants to explore here as well. My favorites are Dhaba Express, Paper Crane, and Taqueria Oaxaca.
Hometown: Irving, Texas
Medical School: Texas A&M College of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: I wanted to go to a major academic medical center with a large, diverse patient volume and abundant resources for career support such as research and teaching opportunities. I also really like the Midwest, so Iowa was an easy choice for me!
What I like about Iowa City: Exploring the many trails in Iowa City. I’ve been on foot because I don’t have a bike yet, but I’ll probably take up biking too when I get one!
Hometown: O’Fallon, Illinois
Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: The strong SIU-to-Iowa “pipeline” was definitely a deciding factor in coming to residency here. Having mentors in medical school that I look up to speak so highly of the internal medicine program here encouraged me to apply. I loved speaking to the residents on interview day and found it really impressive that the program director and APDs make time to speak to every single interviewee. Another plus to the program was how friendly they are to couples as I couples matched into IM with my fiance, Zach.
What I like about Iowa City: As an online reseller and someone who loves thrifting, Iowa City (and the surrounding areas) has a lot of thrift, consignment, and discount stores. I love finding new and unique pieces for myself, family, and friends. Currently, I’m scouring Facebook Marketplace for furniture for our new house!