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!
Hometown: Decatur, Illinois
Medical school: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: I had heard a lot of great things about the program, but my interview day really sold me. The faculty and residents were incredibly welcoming, and it was clear they were passionate about teaching and creating a supportive learning environment.
What I like about Iowa City: I like that Iowa City is easy to get around but still has plenty of things to do. There are great local restaurants and coffee shops that I’ve enjoyed discovering with my co-residents. I also appreciate having easy access to parks and trails when I want to spend time outside.
Hometown: Springfield, Missouri
Medical school: University of Missouri – Columbia
“Why Iowa”: I chose the University of Iowa because it offers a great balance of academic rigor while still being a close-knit and supportive program. From my interview day onward, everyone has gone out of their way to make me feel right at home. The program is truly invested in the well-being of all their residents and genuinely wants us to thrive during our training. After coming up for a second look visit with my best friend to meet the people and see the hospital in person (and to eat copious amounts of food at Bluebird Cafe before a marathon afternoon thrifting at Artifacts), I couldn’t imagine going to residency anywhere else!
What I like about Iowa City: Iowa City is the perfect size community. It is big enough to have a ton of great restaurants and a full schedule of community events while still having a small-town feel. Everyone here is incredibly nice. With family in both Missouri and Minnesota, Iowa is a great central location for my husband, me, and our dog. We are also enjoying living down the road from Trader Joe’s and close to lots of trails and parks.
Hometown: Naperville, Illinois
Medical school: Creighton University School of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: I immediately felt at home during my interview, especially in my conversations with Dr. Suneja and Dr. Bryant. Their kindness and genuine interest in getting to know me told me just how invested this program is in each of its residents. The University of Iowa also offered the unique balance of training at a large academic center, with exposure to research and subspecialty opportunities to prepare me for fellowship, while simultaneously getting to live in a smaller, tight-knit Midwestern community. I also loved caring for veterans at the VA during medical school, so the chance to keep doing that here, alongside the complex cases at the University hospital, made the program even more appealing to me.
What I like about Iowa City: I’ve loved running along the Iowa River, where there are many trails with beautiful surrounding scenery. As far as restaurants go, Big Grove Brewery stands out as a fantastic spot to sit outside and have a cold one. I’m also so happy to have found an incredible Catholic community here that has been so welcoming to me. More than anything, it’s the people of Iowa City that have made me feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Both inside the hospital and outside, I have encountered some of the most friendly and down-to-earth people, and I could not be more thankful for how they’ve welcomed me here.
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Medical school: Carle Illinois College of Medicine
“Why Iowa”: I love how friendly people are in Iowa, which is reflected in the supportive culture, excellent training, and just generally being surrounded by people with such genuine passion for patient care.
What I like about Iowa City: The trail system here is incredible: I feel like I’ve just barely scratched the surface on running here and every mile around the river has been phenomenal!
Hometown: Maple Grove, Minnesota
Medical school: University of North Dakota
“Why Iowa”: From my interview day, everyone was genuinely kind and welcoming, and it was clear the leadership really cares about supporting residents. I also appreciated the positive learning environment and the resident-focused atmosphere.
What I like about Iowa City: Iowa City has a great small-town feel with the energy of a big university. The parks, walking and biking trails, and affordable cost of living make it an easy place to enjoy life outside of residency.