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!
Mike Brown, MD
Hometown: Champaign, Illinois
Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: The interactions I had with faculty and other residents during my interview are what sold me on Iowa. Besides being a well-renowned academic institution, there was a clear sense of camaraderie and trust between the residents, and a premium placed on education throughout residency.
What I like about Iowa City: Iowa City is similar in size and feel to my hometown, Champaign. I love how easy it is to get around the area while still having all the offerings of a Big Ten community. There are also some pretty cool hiking trails in the area!
Anuradha Gore, MD, MPH, MS
Hometown: Ames, Iowa
Medical School: UI Carver College of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: I already knew how wonderful the people in the IM Department were from doing medical school here, but on the interview trail I kept comparing every program and found that no place could quite beat the combination of high quality education, truly welcoming people, plus family-friendliness that I found at Iowa!
What I like about Iowa City: Iowa City is great for outdoor activities! My husband and I love going on adventures around Iowa City with our 7-month-old and friends/family! Some of our autumn favorites include Wilson’s Orchard, Walker Homestead (winery and farm), hiking at Kepler State Park, and downtown Iowa City Farmers Market to name a few!
Caitlin Hackl, MD
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston
“Why Iowa”: I had heard amazing things about the Ophthalmology program at University of Iowa, so naturally, I applied. I had no connections to Iowa or the Midwest, so I was nervous about interviewing at and considering a program so far from home. All of my worries immediately dissipated as soon as I began my interview day. By the end of the interview day, I knew I needed to be here. The culture and people of the ophthalmology department, internal medicine department, and the strong relationship between them reassured me that I would be well supported here, despite being far from home and having no family or friends in the Midwest. As soon as my interview ended, I ran out of my room, down the stairs, and excitedly told all of my medical school roommates that I knew I was going to rank Iowa #1. Although I was only about halfway through interviews at that time, I knew there was no way any other interview experience could top mine at Iowa. Being here now, I can confidently say I made the right choice!
What I like about Iowa City: Iowa city has been incredible. It has a small-town feel in some ways but also has plenty to do. The people are also teaching me what “Midwest nice” is. (It’s a real thing.) There is very little traffic, the food is good, and there’s always something to do outside of work, which is a perfect environment to thrive in in residency.
Ethan Meeker, MD
Hometown: Galesburg, Illinois
Medical School: University of Illinois at Peoria
“Why Iowa”: I loved the smaller class size that allows for close relationships with co-residents/faculty and true mentorship. Also, I grew up an Iowa fan!
What I like about Iowa City: It’s a great place to raise a family, easy to navigate, and has great food.
Elena Sagues Sese, MD
Hometown: Malaga, Spain
Medical School: Universidad de Malaga
“Why Iowa”: I did a two-year research fellowship at UIowa, where I appreciated the academic environment and the diverse range of vascular disease cases we encountered.
What I like about Iowa City: Biking to work every morning.