Hometown: Winterset, Iowa  
Matched: Emergency medicine 
University of Iowa Health Care

Tell me about where you grew up. How did it affect your path to medicine?

I grew up on a crop farm just outside of Winterset, Iowa. Growing up on a farm with my older brother, parents, and many pets taught me a lot about responsibility, empathy, and community long before I knew I wanted to pursue medicine. One of the aspects I cherished most about growing up in Winterset was the close-knit nature of the community – everyone knew and supported one another.  

At the same time, growing up in a rural area gave me early insight into the health care disparities that frequently affect communities like my own. In high school, I tore my ACL playing soccer, and the local hospital had only one orthopedic surgeon who held a clinic one day each month. I had to carefully plan my schedule around that single day, and if no appointment was available, my only option was to miss school and travel 45 minutes to Des Moines for an appointment. This experience allowed me to recognize that many people in rural communities face similar challenges with access to care and may not have the flexibility, resources, or means to travel to a larger city for care. My personal experiences growing up in Winterset have strengthened my understanding of the urgent need for accessible health care in rural communities in Iowa.

How did you first decide that you wanted to become a doctor?

My path to medicine began in high school. I had this excellent AP biology and anatomy and physiology teacher, Annette Purdy, who inspired my curiosity about human physiology and human health and disease. This led me to study human physiology at The University of Iowa.  

While in undergrad, I began working as a nursing assistant at the hospital, and I quickly recognized how much I enjoyed spending time with patients. At the same time, I felt a growing curiosity to understand the science behind the medical conditions that I encountered while caring for patients. Watching physicians engage with patients, their families, and the rest of the health care team highlighted the blend of medical knowledge, critical thinking, teamwork, and compassion that come together in patient care, and it was those interactions that inspired me to pursue medicine.

You worked as a nursing assistant during COVID. What stands out to you from that time?

When COVID-19 arrived in Iowa, the unit of the hospital that I worked on as a nursing assistant became the designated COVID unit. Wearing masks, face shields, gowns, and gloves, we navigated an environment filled with uncertainty, fear, and many sick patients. With visitor restrictions in place, many patients were extremely ill and isolated from their families. I was able to witness firsthand as the health care team stepped up and provided patients with comfort, support, conversation, and human connection in addition to excellent care.  

I learned a lot about humanity in medicine. This experience highlighted not only the critical role that each team member plays, but also the remarkable way that health care professionals can come together as human beings to support each other and provide the best possible care for patients.

Your father had an accident just before you started medical school. How did that shape your perspective?

Prior to starting medical school, I lost my father in my hometown emergency department following an accident on our farm. For the first time, I experienced health care from the perspective of a patient’s family member rather than as part of the health care team. Through my experiences with my father’s death, I developed a profound appreciation for the compassion and empathy required to care not only for critically ill patients, but also for their families that are frequently by their side in the emergency department. My father’s death continues to shape my approach to patients and their families during moments of uncertainty, vulnerability, and loss, and motivates me to become the most compassion-driven, empathetic, and resilient emergency medicine physician that I can be.

Why did you decide on emergency medicine?

Several factors have drawn me to emergency medicine and reinforced that it is the specialty that I can contribute to most meaningfully. Throughout my rotations in the emergency department, I felt comfortable and calm in the chaos.  

My prior experiences as a nursing assistant working in the COVID unit at the hospital throughout the pandemic – and  also working as a server in college –  taught me to think quickly, anticipate needs, and persist under pressure, all of which translate well into the dynamic pace of emergency medicine. I also think my background in athletics was a contributing factor as well; emergency medicine requires a strong culture of teamwork between nurses, students, techs, physicians, and other support staff.  

Additionally, I really appreciate the emergency department’s role as a safety net for the community. At any hour, emergency departments are seeing patients of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles, and insurance statuses, ensuring access to care when it is needed most.

Tell me why you decided to be part of the Carver Rural Iowa Scholars Program (CRISP).

Growing up in rural Iowa played a significant role in shaping my desire to learn more about rural medicine with the hope to one day return to a rural community like the one I grew up in and help make a difference there.  

In recent years, emergency departments throughout the state have seen an increase in patients presenting with needs that would ideally be addressed in a primary care setting. A lot of these visits stem from an ongoing shortage of physicians and primary care providers in many of the rural communities throughout Iowa. My firsthand experiences as a child that grew up in a rural community and my experiences rotating in rural hospitals as a medical student have reinforced my desire and commitment to advocate for patients in rural communities and help improve access to care throughout the state.

What advice would you give to a new medical student?

Throughout medical school, I think it is important to remember that while developing a strong foundation of medical knowledge is extremely important, cultivating your humanistic qualities are equally important as a future physician. You might get an additional point or two on an exam if you spend a couple extra hours studying, but it may not always be worth sacrificing meaningful moments in your life such as a family member’s birthday party, a celebration of a friend, or the opportunity to be present for someone you care about.