Meet your Interns 2026, part 2
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 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!
Tian Yuan (Tracy) Chen, MD
Hometown: Fullerton, California
Medical school: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: I went to medical school here and felt the training was absolutely stellar! I have met so many kind people here, and I’ll never forget the patients who told me that I would be a great physician when I was still a medical student. With their words and the support of so many great mentors who helped me along the way, I hope to be the best physician I can be.
What I like about Iowa City: Browsing the cute summer festivals, eating fancy baked goods at the farmer’s market, watching deer terrorize the neighbors’ yards, and picking flowers and berries at Wilson’s Orchard.
Jessalyn Hultz, MD
Hometown: Palmyra, Missouri
Medical school: University of Missouri – Columbia
“Why Iowa”: For me, choosing a residency came down to three things: the people, the training, and the place. Iowa offered a welcoming culture, outstanding academic training, and a Midwestern community where my spouse and I can see ourselves putting down roots. It simply felt like the right fit, both professionally and personally.
What I like about Iowa City: I really enjoy that Iowa City has the feel of a small town while still offering the amenities of a much larger city. I love being outdoors, and it’s been great to see people walking, biking, and spending time outside—it creates a strong sense of community that really appeals to me.
Apostolos Manolopoulos, MD, MSc
Hometown: Serres, Greece
Medical school: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: I was especially drawn to Iowa by the educational culture of the program and the people. Everyone I met since the interview was welcoming, approachable, and genuinely invested in helping residents grow, which made Iowa feel like the right place to begin my training in the United States.
What I like about Iowa City: I have really enjoyed how friendly and welcoming people are, both within the hospital and throughout Iowa City. I also appreciate how walkable and convenient the city is, making it easy to get to work, explore downtown, and feel connected to the community. The support I have received from my co-residents, faculty, and staff has made the transition much easier and has reassured me that I am in the right place.
Victoria von Saucken, MD, PhD
Hometown: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Medical school: Weill Cornell Medical College
“Why Iowa”: I chose Iowa because of the residents’ genuine excitement to be training at UIowa and the support I received from the residency program to continue my work as a physician-scientist.
What I like about Iowa City: I love the natural landscapes around me in my backyard and commute to the hospital on my bike, along with the more urban spaces to enjoy museums and cafes around when out of the hospital. These daily moments of living and working in Iowa City have made me feel at home here.
Andrew White, MD
Hometown: Big Horn, Wyoming
Medical school: University of Washington School of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: Iowa offers the education and training of an academic medical center with the benefits of living in a small college town that still has plenty of amenities. On interview day I could see that I’d be challenged in my training but also supported along the way. Meeting with the residents, I could tell the training here would prepare me very well for fellowship or practice.
What I like about Iowa City: Iowa City has the restaurants, events, and energy of a larger city without the traffic or the commute. There is always an event going on downtown, and the parks and trails around town make it easy to get outside after work.