The following is a statement from Vice Chair for Education and Internal Medicine Residency Program Director Manish Suneja, MD.
It is with great pride that I announce the 2027–28 Chief Residents for the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
The Chief Residents are chosen for their leadership skills, moral integrity, and clinical acumen and are the most representative faces of the Internal Medicine Residency Program for the year. The Chief Residency represents the largest investment in leadership made by the Department, but the return on this investment is immeasurable.
Last year we introduced the new Ambulatory Chief Resident position, underscoring our commitment to excellence in outpatient education. The inaugural Ambulatory Chief Resident will be Amanda Chang, MD. Next year, the Ambulatory Chief will be Kirsten Fiestan, MD. They both will work very closely with Krista Johnson, MD, MME, the Ambulatory Associate Program Director, to develop and implement ambulatory educational initiatives for the residency program, serve as a mentor in outpatient clinic setting, and help lead the primary care pathway.
We look forward to our Chief Residents serving as teachers, role models, and colleagues to our residents. Please join us in congratulating Emily, Kirsten, Trevor, Grant, and Juno on their success! We look forward to their leadership.
I am honored to serve as Chief Resident for the 2027–2028 academic year, a role I have aspired to since the start of intern year, and I look forward to working alongside my co-Chief Residents. The University of Iowa Internal Medicine Residency has provided exceptional training and a supportive, collaborative environment that have shaped my growth as a clinician and future educator. I am grateful for the mentorship of past Chiefs and look forward to partnering with our faculty, staff, and residents to sustain the strong culture of our program. As Chief Resident, I hope to build strong teams, create an approachable environment, and support residents as they grow into confident, compassionate, and capable physicians.
I will forever be grateful to the University of Iowa for shaping me into the clinician and person I aspire to be. Our Internal Medicine Residency Program is truly special in that support for personal wellbeing and focus on culture are held in equal regard to clinical excellence and a rigorous education. I am honored and humbled to have been selected as a Chief Resident for the 2027–2028 academic year. I look forward to serving this program that I love so dearly and to working alongside my co-Chiefs to build upon the legacy of our outstanding past and current Chiefs.
My experience since becoming a resident at the University of Iowa has been shaped by Chief Residents who I feel are excellent educators, leaders, and clinicians. I’m grateful and excited for the opportunity to act in this role, and to work with the program leadership and my co-residents to foster an atmosphere of growth and community. Participating in the quality and safety curriculum has expanded my vision to new ways I can make a positive impact on people in the hospital and in my neighborhood. As Chief of Quality and Safety, I hope to provide opportunities for other residents to have a similar fulfilling experience.
I’m incredibly grateful and excited to have been selected as a Chief Resident for the 2027–2028 academic year. Iowa has been much more than a fantastic training program; it’s where I’ve grown as a clinician, found mentors who have invested in me, and formed friendships that will last well beyond residency. I hope to be the same kind of amazing, supportive Chief Resident I’ve looked up to, who has helped shape me into the physician I am today. It’s an honor to serve in this role, and I’m looking forward to the year ahead.
I am honored to serve as a Chief Resident for the University of Iowa Internal Medicine Residency, a program that has profoundly shaped my growth as both a physician and member of this community. Throughout my training, I have valued the culture of collaboration, resilience, and commitment to patient care that defines Iowa. In this role, I hope to support and advocate for my co-residents while fostering an environment that encourages both clinical excellence and personal growth. I look forward to giving back to a program and community that has given me so much.