Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine, 2017
Residency: WashU Medicine, 2021
Fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesiology: WashU Medicine, 2022
What have you done since residency?
Since residency, I completed a pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and then stayed on as faculty. I work on multiple clinical teams at SLCH including fetal, liver transplant, regional, and cardiac cath lab. My nonclinical responsibilities are primarily education-focused: co-director of the pediatric anesthesia medical student rotation, curriculum research and design, and planning for the Pediatric Anesthesiology Bootcamp. I am also excited to be joining the PSQI initiative on ICU handoff at SLCH!
How did WashU’s residency program prepare you for your practice?
A primary reason I chose WashU for residency was the depth and breadth of cases I’d perform in training. While I did subspecialize in pediatrics, there’s no doubt that I regularly use my wide knowledge base from four years of high-acuity cases in all types of patients. The independence and clinical decision-making I established as a resident, especially as a senior resident on trauma, allowed me to confidently transition to the fellow and attending roles. Outside of the OR, I had incredible opportunities for leadership and nonclinical work starting as a CA1. Ultimately I am confident these opportunities set me up for success as a chief resident, a fellow, and now as an attending, where work outside the OR continues to be a highly motivating component of my career.
What advice would you give to applicants?
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of finding a program where peers and mentors are considered a fundamentally positive part of the experience. I never felt I faced a challenging scenario (clinical, mental/emotional, or otherwise) without the support of so many around me; the first time I transported a patient from the ICU to the OR, three senior residents showed up to help me. My former co-chief residents remain two of my closest friends with whom I talk almost daily. I still regularly seek advice and perspective from the same mentors I have been lucky enough to know for six years – a role I hope to take on for the next generations of trainees.