GENERAL INFORMATION
AND PROGRAM PROFILES
(2010-2011)
SURVEY 1
A. General application/interviewing information
How many programs did you apply to? __15______
How many interviews did you do? ___8_____
How many programs did you rank? ___7_____
Any programs you would not recommend interviewing at? ___No_____
B. Specific program information
1. Name: Children’s Mercy, UMKC
2. Location: Kansas City, MO
3. Positives: It had the number of residents I was looking for (~25), a lot of patient diversity, busy
hospital with a busy ER, several electives, already had a night float system in place so transitioning to
the new schedule will be easy, and it has almost every fellowship. The staff/residents I met were
fantastic and seemed very happy. Also has great benefits with one of the highest salaries, and health
insurance is paid for. Kansas City is a fun city with a lot to do, but still very affordable.
4. Negatives: None
1. Name: University of Minnesota
2. Location: Minneapolis, MN
3. Positives: Also had ~25 residents, lots of diversity, brand new Children’s hospital on campus, great
staff and residents, global health track, every fellowship.
4. Negatives: No electives in the first year. At this program you rotate through 4 different sites. For
some this is a positive and some it is a negative.
1. Name: Medical College of Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
2. Location: Milwaukee, WI
3. Positives: There are a lot of very well-known physicians on staff here, 8 electives, great salary, very
busy ED, most fellowships, residents seemed very happy, beautiful children’s hospital, global health
track, very diverse patient population. Milwaukee is also a neat city with professional sports, located
right on Lake Michigan, and very affordable.
4. Negatives: None
1. Name: University of Iowa
2. Location: Iowa City, IA
3. Positives: Residents were all fantastic and very supportive of each other. Fantastic NICU and
PICU, 10 fellowships, great staff, fantastic program director, fully paid medical care. Iowa City is a
fun college town and would be a great place to raise a family.
4. Negatives: Smaller program (13 residents), not a free-standing children’s hospital although they are
starting construction on one soon, not as much patient diversity. Iowa City isn’t very big and not quite
as many things to do.
1. Name: Saint Louis University, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
2. Location: St. Louis, MO
3. Positives: Very friendly residents and staff who all really seemed to get along, very diverse pt
population, beautiful children’s hospital, busy ER, full paid medical plan.
4. Negatives: Smaller program (13), only 3 weeks vacation, no electives first year, not many
fellowships.
1. Name: Washington University, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
2. Location: St. Louis, MO
3. Positives: Fantastic children’s hospital which offers pretty much everything, has all fellowships,
very busy E.R. with opportunity to do transport service.
4. Negatives: Program was a little too big for me (~35 residents), not as “laid-back” as the other
programs, no electives first year, parking was far away.
1. Name: Creighton-UNMC Joint Program
2. Location: Omaha, NE
3. Positives: I know the program, very good “vibe”, everyone gets along very well, great staff, good
pay, a lot of hands-on experience, a lot of electives, good vacation time.
4. Negatives: Smaller program (13), not many fellowships, not as much ER time.
1. Name: Mayo Clinic
2. Location: Rochester, MN
3. Positives: Very well known program, a lot of emphasis on education and research, see a lot of
unique cases from all over the world, enthusiastic program director, A LOT of electives (10).
4. Negatives: Not a lot of local patient diversity, smaller program, not much ER experience, no freestanding children’s hospital. Rochester is a small city located about 1 hour from Minneapolis.
C. Externships
Did you do any externships? ___No_____ If so……
Where did you go and what rotation did you do there?
Where did you stay/how did you find housing?
Was the externship worth doing?
D. Additional advice
What months did you use for interviews? Nov (2), Dec (5), Jan (1)
Any travel tips: I was lucky in that I did all of my interviews in the Midwest and didn’t have much in
the way of travel expenses. Try to stack interviews together that are in close proximity to each other. I
did my two in St. Louis over three days, and did Mayo and Minnesota back to back.
What was most important for you to find out during the interview? The “vibe” of the program and
how well everyone seemed to get along. I know everyone says that, but it’s really true! You want to
be somewhere where you’ll feel comfortable and get along with everyone.
What would you change about the interview/matching process? I would cut down on the wait period
between submitting the rank order list and finding out where you’ve matched! I actually really
enjoyed most of my interviews and seeing all of the different programs and children’s hospitals.
Survey 2
A. General application/interviewing information
How many programs did you apply to? __11______
How many interviews did you do? ___7_____
How many programs did you rank? ___7_____
Any programs you would not recommend interviewing at? ___No_____
B. Specific program information
1. Name: Phoenix Children’s Hospital*
2. Location: Phoenix
3. Positives: New expansion, free food, Strong attending group, Good residency director
4. Negatives: Large-Medium program 32, 3 hospitals
Now combined with St Joe’s
1. Name: University of New Mexico
2. Location: Albuquerque
3. Positives: large patient base, focus on community advocacy, University affiliation
4. Negatives: Not free standing
1. Name: USC
2. Location: LA
3. Positives: new hospital, opportunity for advocacy, Good tings about LA
4. Negatives: not a good gut reaction, bad things about LA
1. Name: Kaiser Permanente
2. Location: Oakland
3. Positives: Enthusiastic/engaged residency director, higher salary, benefits, education based, new
building
4. Negatives: Smaller program, not free standing
1. Name: University of Utah
2. Location: Salt Lake City
3. Positives: free standing next to University hospital, Involved residency director
4. Negatives: None
1. Name: St Joe’s Hospital*
2. Location: Phoenix
3. Positives: Warm environment, Happiest residents
4. Negatives: 3 Attending groups
Now combined with Children’s
1. Name: University of Arizona
2. Location: Tucson
3. Positives:
4. Negatives: Nothing distinguishing about program
C. Externships
Did you do any externships? ___Yes_____ If so……
Where did you go and what rotation did you do there?
Phoenix Children’s Hospital- inpatient Sub-I
Where did you stay/how did you find housing?
Stayed with Relatives
Was the externship worth doing?
Yes, very good experience
D. Additional advice
What months did you use for interviews? Nov (1), Dec (6)
Any travel tips:
What was most important for you to find out during the interview?
What aspects of the program were emphasized by the residents and program director,
impression of the program director
What would you change about the interview/matching process?
SURVEY 3
A. General application/interviewing information
How many programs did you apply to? ____15____
How many interviews did you do? ___6_____
How many programs did you rank? __6______
Any programs you would not recommend interviewing at? ____no____
B. Specific program information
1. Name: University of Utah
2. Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
3. Positives: Great program, very happy residents, laid-back atmosphere, large area covered by the
hospital so you get to see a lot of “bread and butter” and zebras. 2 half days of continuity clinic so you
get a broader exposure to clinic than in other programs. A white water river rafting trip is part of
orientation. Really good perks like discounted public transportation, sports tickets, ski passes, and the
like.
4. Negatives: Somewhat lacking in diversity (ethnically), 22 interns so is bigger than some people like,
there are a lot of fellow so you may not work as closely to the attending as in other programs.
1. Name: Nationwide Children’s/The Ohio State University
2. Location: Columbus, OH
3. Positives: Beautiful new hospital, completely electronic records/charts, good exposure to all
specialties, seemed to really care about keeping the residents happy, are actively involved in helping
spouses find jobs, give an allowance for moving costs ($3400 for 2011 graduates).
4. Negatives: lots of fellows, 28 interns,
C. Externships
Did you do any externships? __no______ If so……
Where did you go and what rotation did you do there?
Where did you stay/how did you find housing?
Was the externship worth doing?
D. Additional advice
What months did you use for interviews? - Mostly December, but some had to be scheduled in
November and January.
Any travel tips – try to geographically clump your interview and get a rental car to drive around
(cheaper than flying)
What was most important for you to find out during the interview? - Did it feel like “home”. Did I get
along with the other residents, were they happy, and overall the type of feeling I had when the day was
over. I knew the programs were basically equal academically so I really wanted to know how much I
liked the city and residents.
What would you change about the interview/matching process? - the whole process, but don’t get me
started…..
SURVEY 4
A. General application/interviewing information
How many programs did you apply to? 10
How many interviews did you do? 6
How many programs did you rank? 5
Any programs you would not recommend interviewing at? Nope, it all depends on what you’re looking
for.
B. Specific program information
1. Name: Seattle
2. Location: Seattle
3. Positives: know your schedule 1 year ahead of time, night float is 1 month at a time, trauma center,
global and rural tracts, alumni cover the hospital so everyone can go on retreats
4. Negatives: 3 weeks of vacation, older building, high cost of living, traffic
Class Size: 30-33
1. Name: UNMC
2. Location: Omaha, NE
3. Positives: 4 weeks of vacation, nice building, low cost of living, international and out of state
electives, online order entry, work at more than 1 hospital
4. Negatives: lots of snow
Class Size: 11
1. Name: UCLA-Harbor
2. Location: Los Angeles, CA
3. Positives: 4 weeks of vacation, alumni cover for retreats so all residents can go, sunny, BIG on
autonomy, Level 1 Trauma Center, separate pediatric ER in hospital, residents are couny employees
(has benefits, like certain holidays R1 year, discounts at certain theme parks nea LA), free meals, 80%
pass rate for boards, good be + or – but many patietnts are low income without insurance or PCP so
care is more difficult (this may be seen as more educational, or just frustrating)
4. Negatives: building feels like a prison, sheriffs round with loaded weapons, metal detectors and xrays at the door, no EMR yet, must do all rotations at County Hospital unless not offered there, lots of
stuff under construction and won’t be done for years, high cost of living for small space in noisy
crowded city
Class size: 10
1. Name: USCF Fresno
2. Location: Fresno, CA
3. Positives: 3 weeks of vacation, 1 week educational leave, lost of sun, nice building, children’s +
community hospital to work in, EMR that is accesible from home, affordable living, very friendly, lots
of free food (but not always), approachable faculty, know schedule for 1 year ahead of time, big on
autonomy, radiology rounds, close (2 hours) to ocean and mountains
4. Negatives: 75% pass rate for boards, not a lot of interesting stuff in the city itself
1. Name: Kaiser LA
2. Location: Los Angeles, CA
3. Positives: 4 weeks of vacation, awesome cafeteria, friendly people, unit for vacations days is “days”
(can take a couple days off at a time), “generous” meal cards, great EMR, get 2 electives intern year,
designated baby friendly (no formula unless requested, baby straight to chest after birth), no fellows
4. Negatives: only see kids with enough money to afford Kaiser insurance (was told by director that
yes, they have diversity, “We see the janitors’ children.”), overall I felt like I would get spoiled by the
Kaiser lifestyle and not learn as much as I would if I went somewhere else where I had more realistic
patients (not all covered by insurance).
1. Name: Orange-CHOC
2. Location: Orange, CA
3. Positives: friendly, good weather, nice hospitals (there are 2 that you would be at)
4. Negatives: relatively higher cost of living, traffic
1. Name: Blank Children’s
2. Location: Iowa
3. Positives: friendly
4. Negatives: rescheduled my interview 4 times, accientally oversheduled 1 day and decided to
reschedule me even though they had already done so 3 times, didn’t seem to have it together
C. Externships
Did you do any externships? yes If so……
Where did you go and what rotation did you do there?
UCSF Fresno, Pediatric Infectious Disease
Where did you stay/how did you find housing?
I stayed with family, but the program offers apartments that can be rented for one month.
Was the externship worth doing?
Yes, it was great to see how another program runs, and I saw several “zebras.”
D. Additional advice
What months did you use for interviews? December
Any travel tips: Book interviews in clusters based on location,. Don’t try to do more than 3 interviews
a week. Girls, get pants, not a skirt. I saw sore feet and runs in panty hose and girls re-adjusting. Pants
are more comfortable and you can wear more comfortable shoes.
What was most important for you to find out during the interview?
If there was a supportive learning environment and a good relationship between the residents, that they
know each other and care about each other.
What would you change about the interview/matching process?
Not make it take so long, the month of waiting after you submit your list is kind of annoying.
Survery 5
A. General application/interviewing information
How many programs did you apply to? 16
How many interviews did you do? Offered 14, went on 8
How many programs did you rank? 8
Any programs you would not recommend interviewing at?
B. Specific program information
1. Name: Children’s National Medical Center/George Washington University
2. Location: Washington DC
3. Positives: Large free-standing children’s hospital in DC, recently renovated with a peds-focused
feel. Good subspecialty representation. Diverse patient population, diverse resident backgrounds.
Great chance to live in a fun city with a lot going on.
4. Negatives: Quite large at 40 residents per class, no DC metro access, high cost of living
1. Name: University of Minnesota
2. Location: Twin Cities MN
3. Positives: Mid-sized (24 per class) program that rotates between 4 different hospitals in the twin
cities: new University peds subspecialty hospital, 2 community Children’s hospitals, and a county
hospital. Only program in the cities so no patient populations underrepresented. Diverse patients.
Friendly residents and faculty. Great global health track and opportunities to do electives abroad.
Twin Cities have a lot going on in terms of art, culture, sports, outdoor activities.
4. Negatives: Multi-site aspect may been seen as a negative, but I think it allows a chance to see
medicine practiced within different systems and learn from a variety of staff and patients.
1. Name: Medical College of Wisconsin
2. Location: Milwaukee WI
3. Positives: Mid-sized (24 per class), very nice hospital complex with an emphasis on peds located 15
min west of downtown Milwaukee (reasonably close for either city or suburb dwellers), friendly
faculty and residents, beer and cheese town, on Lake Michigan, Summerfest music festival is one of
the best in the nation
4. Negatives: Parking issues
1. Name: University of Wisconsin
2. Location: Madison WI
3. Positives: Small to mid-sized program (14-15?), very nice children’s hospital near the university
medical center, fun college town with a lot going on in terms of art, culture, athletics. Residents were
very friendly and cohesive.
4. Negatives: A lot of more complex stuff, particularly heart stuff, goes to Milwaukee instead.
1. Name: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
2. Location: Iowa City IA
3. Positives: Small to mid-sized, friendly faculty and staff, good subspecialty representation, on
University of Iowa campus, free babies (apparently they pay for just about everything if you have a kid
during residency)
4. Negatives: Iowa City is pretty small, part of greater university hospital complex, nearest airport is
half hour away, traffic is bad for Iowa football home games
1. Name: Georgetown University
2. Location: Washington DC
3. Positives: Great location in DC, some public transportation access via busses, lots of transplant and
heme/onc patients, diversity of faculty and residents (2 spots reserved for FMGs)
4. Negatives: Smaller sized (10 per class with 2 spots reserved for FMGs), not a free-standing
children’s hospital, emphasis on transplant and heme/onc means fewer general/other subspecialty
patients (most go to Children’s National)
1. Name: University of Nebraska/Creighton University
2. Location: Omaha NE
3. Positives: Children’s Hospital is pretty nice with new subspecialty clinic building, small to medium
sized class (15ish), multi-site, although mostly Children’s, lots of continuity clinic options, good docs
and friendly staff
4. Negatives: In Omaha (I’m just ready to get out for a bit)
1. Name: University of Maryland
2. Location: Baltimore MD
3. Positives: Hospital is located in Inner Harbor area which is pretty nice and continuing to develop,
friendly residents and staff, heavy emphasis on time spent in the ED (something like 6 months over
three years, as well as combo peds/ED residency), easy access to DC/Philadelphia/NYC
4. Negatives: Peds dept within hospital complex felt like a few narrow hallways, heavy emphasis on
ED experience, some areas of peds medicine go to other hospitals/programs (eg. all CF patients in
Baltimore go to Hopkins), very little male presence (1 out of 20+ senior residents next year)
C. Externships
Did you do any externships? No.
D. Additional advice
What months did you use for interviews? December, with mop up in January during Radiology
Any travel tips? 1. Try to group together interviews in the same region of the country. I spent 10 days
interviewing in and around DC and got a great feel for the city. 2. Drive if you can. I drove between
Minneapolis, Madison, Milwaukee and Iowa City within 7 days (also Midwest programs often pay for
your hotel stay the night before the interview). 3. Schedule programs you’re really interested in during
the middle, as you’ll have your question and answering skills down but won’t be burnt out. 4. Schedule
programs you are not sure about later so you can cancel if change your mind on interviewing.
What was most important for you to find out during the interview? Did the residents get along with
each other and with the faculty and staff that they work with every day. Resident happiness is hard to
guage but is probably most important. Then, how broad will my exposure be to patient populations
and disease processes, and are there any areas that are underrepresented.
What would you change about the interview/matching process? I wish that I knew then and still wish I
knew now the best way to approach the post-interview gap of time before rank lists are due. I sent
thank you cards, but then what? I did second looks at my top two programs both to get a better feel for
them and to show continued interests, but I did not like the feeling that if I wasn’t in constant contact
with a program that it might somehow reflect poorly on me. Then there’s the case of receiving emails
or cards from some programs expressing their interest in you but not from others. I really do not like
all the games and the time to fret over what you should or should not be doing to go where you want to
go. In the end, rank the programs in the order you like them, and they will do the same for you. Don’t
get caught up in the games.
SURVEY 6
A. General application/interviewing information
How many programs did you apply to? ___24 (too many)_____
How many interviews did you do? ___12_____
How many programs did you rank? ____12____
Any programs you would not recommend interviewing at? ___no_____
B. Specific program information
So I look at places with a ton of fellowships as a positive because that is the type of program I wanted
since I know I want to do a fellowship-I wanted to go somewhere that I could easily get involved in
research in my field of choice and I realized during my externship that I really enjoy having fellows
that are able to still talk about the specialty medicine in normal people language. This may be a
negative for some.
1. Name: Boston Combined Residency Program (Children’s Hospital Boston and Boston Univ Med
Center) 43 per class
2. Location: Boston, MA
3. Positives: By far my favorite program. I had a great time at the happy hour-the residents were a ton
of fun, really nice and welcoming, and seemed really happy. Their morning report was the most
impressive as far as depth of exploring the problem and broadest differential diagnosis I have seen.
They take really good care of their residents and the resident’s families. Boston Children’s gives you
the huge tertiary and quaternary referral center with exposure to anything and everything. CHB has a
lot of really good fellowships. BUMC gives you exposure to more community pediatrics and does a
lot of work with the indigent population of Boston. This balance is something you don’t get at a lot of
the larger stand alone Children’s hospitals (such as CHOP, Children’s National, etc.)-this was one of
the things that really sold me on this program.
4. Negatives: This size class is too big for some-will definitely not know everyone in your class really
well. Boston is expensive.
1. Name: Children’s National Medical Center/George Washington University (38 per class)
2. Location: Washington, DC
3. Positives: Huge stand alone Children’s hospital, has every fellowship, Residents are really nice and
welcoming, DC could be a really fun place to live, specialty rotations almost all include outpatient
clinic so you can see what life in that field is like in both inpt. and outpt. settings.
4. Negatives: Not a ton of community hospital exposure, they seem to take the large majority of their
residents from the east coast, it is not accessible right off the metro, their clinics are somewhat spread
out.
1. Name: Duke (16-18 residents)
2. Location: Durham, NC
3. Positives: Young, energetic program director. You get an elective first year. Residents were really
welcoming and seem really happy. My interviewers spoke very highly of Duke.
4. Negatives: Pediatrics is a floor in part of the larger hospital (well supported, and planning on
building a children’s hospital in the next 5 years). My family in NC is particularly fond of Durham.
There seems to be a decent amount of outdoors stuff to do, but outside of this I wasn’t entirely sold on
the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area. Not the greatest benefits package.
1. Name: North Carolina (16-18 residents)
2. Location: Chapel Hill, NC
3. Positives: Awesome program leadership-program director is pretty young and really receptive to
resident feedback, really happy residents, very affordable cost of living, pretty new facilities, residents
place well into fellowships.
4. Negatives: Have to drive up to 30-60 minutes each way for 1/4 of rotations at 2 different
community hospitals. This is great for different experiences, I just didn’t want to do that much driving,
Chapel Hill is a fun college town, and there seems to be a decent amount of outdoors stuff to do, but
outside of this I wasn’t entirely sold on the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area. Not the greatest benefits
package.
1. Name: University of Michigan (35ish per class)
2. Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
3. Positives: New children’s hospital opens November, 2011. Residents love the program. Great cost
of living in Ann Arbor Area. Fellowships in every specialty. Get a 2nd half day during 2nd and 3rd
years to do more clinic or a research and/or advocacy project. Breakfast and lunch everyday as well as
great call allowances. Residents uniongreat benefits, 7-8% bonus every november. Michigan
football games. Great program.
4. Negatives: Continuity clinic sites are up to 30 minutes away-all are community sites. The residents
are really spread out around the greater Ann Arbor area. Ann Arbor is a great college town, but that is
what it is-not as much going on as in bigger cities. PICU fellows take a lot of the procedures in the
PICU. No electives first year.
1. Name: DuPont Children’s Hospital/Thomas Jefferson University (20 per class)
2. Location: Wilmington Delaware (about 40 minutes outside of Philly)
3. Positives: Some of the nicest residents I have ever met. They were laid back, had great seneses of
humor, seemed to get along really well and be great friends, cost of living is not horrible but still have
Philly close, great program leadership, awesome residency coordinator.
4. Negatives: Not very many fellowships (neg. for me, may be pos. for you), have to drive to Philly
(30-45 min) for several months of newborn nursery, Wilmington seems like an okay place but I didn’t
love it. Facilities are nice but a little bit older (with that being said, I did interview at a lot of places
that either are just about to open a new hospital or have within the past 10 years so I may have been a
little biased).
1. Name: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
2. Location: Philly
3. Positives: Great reputation, has every fellowship, beautiful facilities, Philly is a fun city.
4. Negatives: The residents didn’t seem that happy-they said they were happy because it is CHOP and
they will get great fellowships but I was pretty turned off by this. The interview was a lot different
than my other Peds interviews-way more intense, less open and welcoming, less of a lets get to know
you feel.
1. Name: Columbia (25 per class)
2. Location: New York City
3. Positives: Resident were really happy and really awesome (One of my favorite happy hours), NYC,
the hospital is new and they are about to open a brand new Peds ER, the faculty I interviewed with
insisted I call him by his first name because our relationship is as colleagues, has a ton of (if not all)
fellowships, the only Children’s hospital in Manhattan, everything except clinic is at the one location
and there are shuttles that go to all of the clinics, subway stop right at the hospital. I loved this
program.
4. Negatives: NYC is incredibly expensive and Columbia does not do any subsidized housing. The
residents seem to work really, really hard (I didn’t necessarily think of this as a negative but some
might-they definitely see a ton and a high volume of it). More back loaded than other programs (more
required tough stuff third year rather than second year)
1. Name: NYU (20/class)
2. Location: NYC
3. Positives: Residents seem happy, get to work in both a city hospital (the NYC city hospital from the
sound of it) and a private specialty hospital that are about 3 blocks away from each other, well known
for neuro and epilepsy, highest salary I saw ($58,000+), some subsidized housing (tough to get thoughhave to do a lottery), awesome program leadership that is very receptive to resident input
4. Negatives: No children’s hospital-just a floor in each hospital, NYC is expensive, this wasn’t as
easy for me to get too off of the subway (though that may have just been where I was staying), just
didn’t have the feel for me.
1. Name: Northwestern/Children’s Memorial Hospital (36 or so per class)
2. Location: Chicago, IL
3. Positives: Large academic program with all fellowships, building a brand new Children’s hospital
downtown on the NW campus to open early in 2012 (currently in Lincoln Park). The program
director was absolutely wonderful and is very invested in resident education. Chicago is an awesome
city, great sports town, and would be a wonderful place to spend a few years.
4. Negatives: A lot of the clinic time is still going to be in Lincoln park so will have to do a bit of
commuting (though public transportation is great). Chicago is expensive (not NYC expensive). I
really can’t remember too many negatives-this is a great program and I ranked it pretty highly.
1. Name: Johns Hopkins (25 or so per class)
2. Location: Baltimore, MD
3. Positives: I loved this program. The residents were awesome, really laid back, and have a ton of
fun together-just got a great feeling that it would be really easy to fit in and be happy there. Building a
new Children’s hospital that is set to open in the next year or so. Beautiful facilities. Ton of research
opportunities. Affordable housing on the inner harbor with great running trails on the water.
4. Negatives: Baltimore doesn’t have the greatest reputation. The hospital is in a pretty rough area.
There are a ton of armed police in the hospital (though the residents I talked to all said they feel safe).
Baltimore is not a cheap city (though not nearly as expensive as DC-and can get to DC easily on the
MARC train to visit).
1. Name: Creighton/UNMC/Children’s Omaha
2. Location: Omaha, NE
3. Positives: You know the program, already familiar with a lot of the faculty
4. Negatives: No fellowships (+ or – depending on what you want), have to work at 3 different places,
seems to be some infighting b/t Children’s, UNMC, and Creighton.
C. Externships
Did you do any externships? ___yes_____ If so……
Where did you go and what rotation did you do there? I did a Pediatric cardiology month at Children’s
National in Washington, DC.
Where did you stay/how did you find housing? I stayed with another Creighton 4th year that was doing
an externship in DC. He found us an apartment through a rental agency his family has used before.
Was the externship worth doing? I really enjoyed it. It was a great opportunity to see what a huge
tertiary and quaternary care Children’s hospital was like. Also, it gave me the opportunity to see if I
liked living in a big city. The externship was not at all a good way to get a great feel for the residency
program-I had to go out of my way to do that. I got more of a feel for what the life of a fellow is like.
I would recommend doing it if you want to learn about Peds Cards and just want to be introduced to
the hospital and the area.
D. Additional advice
What months did you use for interviews? I did 9 of my 12 between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Any travel tips-Those 9 were all on the east coast, so I scheduled all of them within a 3 and a half week
period and never came back home. If you are somewhere that you can do this, travel by bus. I was
able to get a ticket from NYC to DC for $15 and DC to Philly for $11. Megabus, BoltBus, and the
China Town buses are all great options. Take advantage of free places to stay (people you know or
friends of friends, resident hosts, etc.). This cuts down on your costs a ton.
What was most important for you to find out during the interview? If the residents were happy. Come
right out and ask “Are you happy?” Also, I liked to ask if they had to do it all over again, would they
make the same choice. Ask about weaknesses-any program that says they don’t have any weaknesses
is full of you know what and is probably hiding something. I never received a negative reaction when
I asked about weaknesses. No program is perfect and pretty much everywhere I interviewed at was
very forthcoming about areas they needed to work on.
What would you change about the interview/matching process? I am not sure this is an answerable
question. I mean, ideally more places would pay for your hotel, flights would be covered, etc. I really
wish it was easier to gage a programs interest in you. A couple programs will come out and say they
are very interested and think you would be a great fit, and blah blah blah, but they are probably saying
that to 50% of the people they interview. It is just hard to get a read on that.
SAMPLE PERSONAL
STATEMENTS
#1 It is 1:00 in the morning, and I am just finishing an admission on one of my overnight calls during my third
year OB/GYN rotation. I make my way to the on-call room with the intention of getting some sleep and
proceed to lie down. The room is warm and still, and the smell of ramen lingers in the air. The mattress is hard,
the pillow is flat, and the old green hospital blanket is thin and scratchy. I have just managed to fall asleep when
the pager goes off; one of our patients is ready to push. I roll over to turn the light on and let out a big sigh as I
climb out of bed. My level of enthusiasm is low, and I just want to crawl back under the covers. Now fast
forward two months to my inpatient Pediatrics rotation. I am once again on call, but this time, the mattress does
not seem so hard nor the pillow so flat when I lay down at 2:00 AM to get some sleep. When the pager goes off
an hour later to inform me of a new admission, I am surprised to find how easy it is to get myself out of
bed. My attitude and level of enthusiasm are much improved, and I am looking forward to meeting this new
patient at 3:00 AM. This was the first of many moments I would have on my rotation that made me desire a
career in Pediatrics. Not only did I enjoy working with children, the types of diseases and problems they
presented with, and the professionals in the field of Pediatrics, but I actually enjoyed call!
Looking back, I have always enjoyed interacting with children whether it be as a nanny, tutor, coach,
mentor or just playing games and having fun. Through these experiences, I have learned many things about
working with this population, and I believe I have many skills and characteristics that will help me succeed in
the field of Pediatrics. As a tutor and a coach, I learned patience and how to relate to children of all
ages. Education is such a vital part of being a physician, and the best teachers are those who can relate to all
different types of personalities. It is so rewarding to be able to connect with a patient and make her feel
comfortable opening up and interacting with me for the duration of her hospitalization. Enthusiasm for learning
is another personal characteristic that will help me prosper. During my Pediatric sub-internship at Children's
Hospital, I was able to see patients of all ages and backgrounds with many different issues. I constantly found
myself wanting to learn more about my patients and researching diseases of which I did not have much previous
knowledge. Finally, I am a good communicator and enjoy interacting with patients and their families. When I
had extra time in the afternoon at Children's, I would check on my patients and make an effort to talk with them
and their families. Whether it was simply making small talk or answering any questions they may have had, I
felt that forming that physician-patient relationship improved the care I was able to provide. Patience,
enthusiasm for learning, and good communication are all qualities I possess that will aid me in being successful
in Pediatrics.
I am excited to move on to the next phase of my training, residency. My goal is to train at a program
where I will have exposure to a wide variety of patients with a wide variety of illnesses so that I can expand my
knowledge of Pediatric medicine as much as possible. Having the opportunity to work with patients from
different cultures and backgrounds would be rewarding as well. I love learning about new cultures and customs,
and I enjoy using my knowledge of the Spanish language to interact with Spanish-speaking patients. Also, I
want to train at a program that has a strong focus on community service. Service work is an important part of
my life, and I want to have the opportunity to continue that. Pursuing a fellowship in a sub-specialty after
residency is a possibility for me, but I am going to keep an open mind during my training and learn as much as
possible from each and every experience.
#2
I knew Pediatrics before I was sure about medicine. That is usually how I
begin to answer someone when asked why I chose my specialty.
I am not sure
exactly when it happened, but it was sometime during high school; possibly the
summer I tutored a group in my younger brother’s reading program, or when I
volunteered for a bike safety seminar. Whenever it was, I realized that for some
reason I was innately able to connect with kids and I was happiest when doing so.
Since high school I have had no greater enjoyment than when working with
children-whether it be teaching, coaching, or just having fun. But the most
indelible experiences may be those that were not pleasant. After my M1 year the
attending I was shadowing was paged to the ER for a four-year old en route with an
accidental gunshot wound to the head. When the paramedics wheeled him in everyone
in the room, including me, knew from the size and location of the wound that it
was fatal. The team still worked furiously for 20 minutes to get a pulse, but
there was nothing they could do. During the code I maintained my composure, but
almost lost it afterwards when the mother was allowed to see her son. A feeling of
helplessness overwhelmed me. There is no way to entirely prevent similar tragedies
in the future where my own efforts will be futile, but I can absolutely work to
educate parents about prevention to make them as rare as possible.
While I have been edified by each of my various interactions with children,
they could not substitute for clinical exposure. My core pediatrics rotation as
well as prior shadowing experiences like the one above did nothing but reinforce
my conviction. My other rotations were interesting and productive academically,
but did not invigorate me in the same way. Every morning during Pediatrics I was
eager to begin and reluctant to go home at the end of the day.
All of these endeavors, clinical and otherwise, have revealed that in
addition to the enjoyment I get from working with children, I have an innate sense
of responsibility when it comes to kids that brings out the best in me. They make
me better than I otherwise am, exemplified by my dedication and determination to
go the extra mile and do whatever it takes to make their day even a little better.
That dedication is my greatest strength, and the foremost contribution I could
make to a residency program
With this in mind, I hope to work in a program where everyone works together
to provide the best care, accentuating each others’ strengths and building up
areas we are not as strong. The program should be good preparation for life after
residency, giving my fellow residents and me the tools to become great
pediatricians and reach our full potential. Beyond that, after eight years of
college and medical school I am ready for a place to call home; a place that is
connected to the community and is a community.
In that light and with consideration of my clinical experiences thus far, my
goal after residency, briefly, is becoming a faculty member at a teaching
hospital. This will allow me to be heavily involved in patient care and medical
education.
Involvement in medical education is an excellent way to stay at the
forefront as medicine advances, and also an opportunity to share my experiences
and insight.
When someone asks why I chose pediatrics, I begin with “pediatrics before
medicine,” and I end with an anonymous quote I discovered while volunteering:
“One hundred years from now, it won't matter what car I drove, what kind of
house I lived in, how much I had in my bank account, nor what my clothes looked
like, but, the world may be a little better because I was important in the life of
a child.”
Children bring out the best in me and I am dedicated to serving them; using
medicine to help them reach their great potential.
#3
Growing up with two pediatricians as parents, my rebellious side was inclined to avoid a career in
medicine. No matter how hard I tried to resist, however, I always found myself drawn to the biological
sciences. During my junior year at Creighton University, I took courses ranging from genetics to cell
structure to physiology. I was captivated by how our genetic code influences the miniature factories
encased in each of our cells, and, in turn, how those cells contribute to the complex interactions between
organ systems. My fascination with the workings of the human body grew as my fund of knowledge
deepened, and I realized that health sciences were where my talents and passions lie.
I have always loved working with children. As the oldest of three siblings and one of dozens of
grandchildren, I have been surrounded by kids my entire life. My roles of big brother, babysitter and
older cousin taught me patience and the importance of being a good role model. I have also had
numerous opportunities to work with children through volunteering. Locally, I have helped care for
toddlers with special needs and the children of low-income single mothers. I also participated in a
month-long service learning trip to Southeast Asia where I provided wound care to Manila’s poorest
populations and offered support to child victims of domestic and sexual abuse. These experiences taught
me humility and compassion for the children I cared for.
A good pediatrician can have an effect on a child that extends well beyond the first 18 years of life.
Pediatricians do not only treat acute concerns; they are at the front line in preventing chronic disease.
Their presence during the formative years of a child’s life opens doors for teaching about healthy
lifestyles and promoting smart life choices. As an advocate of preventative medicine, I am excited to
educate my patients and their families about being and staying healthy. Pediatrics also offers the unique
opportunity to work with the patients’ families using a team-oriented approach to addressing health care
and other needs. I have always excelled at communicating and working with a team, and I look forward to
working together with other health care providers and parents in providing the best possible futures for
their children.
In selecting a residency program, I am looking for a program that offers a wide variety of
experiences and interactions. I hope to encounter patients with different backgrounds and diagnoses
who will expose me to the full spectrum of pediatric medicine. I am also interested in programs that
feature diversity among the residents, showcasing a variety of backgrounds and world views. Most
importantly, I would like to be a part of a residency program that fosters cooperation and promotes
camaraderie between the residents, attending physicians and hospital staff.
My passion for health sciences, my love of working with children and my desire to promote
healthy living motivate me to pursue a career in pediatrics. My pediatric clerkship and rotations
through the neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric infectious disease services have further
affirmed my decision. I am looking forward to joining a residency program that will provide me
with opportunities to grow in my knowledge of pediatric medicine and develop the skills to
become a better pediatrician.
#4
From the time I was seven years old, I have wanted to care for children. When asked at the
beginning of medical school what kind of physician I wanted to become, I always answered that I wanted
to be a pediatrician. As I started my third year clerkships, I was surprised that I enjoyed taking care of
adults, especially the geriatric population. This was quite an unexpected discovery. With this newfound
knowledge that I could possibly care for adults, I considered many specialties I had never thought about in
the past. Every time I considered an adult specialty, I felt that I could handle doing it, but I was never
excited about it. I decided many years ago that I needed a career I loved and was passionate about, and I
am not willing to go back on that decision. After much thought I have come to the conclusion that there is
only one specialty I am excited about: pediatrics! I started medical school thinking pediatrics was the only
place I wanted to be, and I can say with complete confidence that now I know that pediatrics is for me.
When I work with children I look forward to seeing them every day, and I miss them on my days off. I
have found that I am happiest when working with children. I am so excited about my future because I
know without a doubt in my mind that I have found my calling in life.
I spent significant time as a teenager in the hospital receiving chemotherapy and a bone marrow
transplant for acute myelogenous leukemia. Through this experience, I learned many positive and negative
attributes of physicians. I had physicians who acted like I was an annoyance to them; and, conversely, I
had physicians who truly cared about me and treated me as a dear friend. I also had experiences with
physicians who acted as if I were stupid whenever I asked a question. There were others who spent long
periods of their time explaining my disease and treatments, and ensuring all my questions were answered. I
made the decision long before medical school what kind of physician I wanted to be. I committed to take
time with my patients and answer all of their questions in terminology they understand. I will do all I can
to show that I care for my patients and their parents. Most importantly, I will never make my patients or
their families feel inferior or intimidated to ask questions.
From my experiences as a teenager, I learned many positive characteristics I want to emulate as a physician.
I have worked hard to acquire those characteristics in my training. I am optimistic and attempt to find enjoyment in
any situation. I truly care for my patients and do all that is possible for them to have the best outcome. Several
physicians over the past year have stated that I have great interpersonal skills, and I am very easy to work with.
When given an assignment or project, I take initiative and require minimal oversight. I am detailed and accurate in
my work, yet I work efficiently so I have time to spend with my patients. I am reliable and will always take
responsibility for my actions. Most importantly, I am eager to learn and be taught.
As I plan my future training, I have come to several conclusions about what I would like in a
residency program. I would like to train in an urban setting so as to see a wide variety of patients and
further hone my ability to care for complex patients. I am unsure if I want to specialize or work as a
general pediatrician, so I would like to work with a variety of subspecialties in order to gain exposure to
many fields of pediatrics. I enjoy teaching and working with medical students and would like the
opportunity to continue that throughout my residency. Finally, I would like to train at a program that has a
long-standing record of producing excellent physicians.
I look forward to all that my future as a pediatrician has in store for me, and I am prepared to
pursue that future with optimism. I know that I have found a specialty that I love. I understand that my
training will require a lot of work, but I am prepared to work hard in order to become a lifelong advocate
for children. I am eager to begin my next step on the pathway to become a well-rounded, competent, and
caring pediatrician.
#5
Growing up on a farm instilled in me an appreciation for watching things grow. I waited for
the budding vines of spring to be the bearers of fruit in the fall. I watched chicks take hours to break
through a shell just to be excited all over again when they started to lay their own eggs. The
transformation from barely alive to fully mature fascinates me. It is humbling to observe as it goes on
without me and an honor when I can help it along.
Pediatrics drew me in immediately by allowing me to interact with people at such different
points on the spectrum of human existence over the course of a single day. I enjoy the variety of ages
and challenges. Every well-child check is different, even in the same age group, and every set of
parents has different stories and questions. Acute visits offer a mystery to be solved. These
interactions give me the feeling of usefulness and satisfaction that I was hoping to find when I chose
medicine as a profession.
Previous experiences have shown me how rewarding I find it to work with children and their
families. One such experience I’ve had was assisting occupational and physical therapists using hippotherapy to improve the quality of life of children with both mental and physical disabilities. We
worked closely with other health care professionals, parents, caretakers, and teachers of the children to
define our therapy goals. While some of the children had medical problems that we couldn’t fix and
their health steadily deteriorated, we found areas where we could help and focused on those. Together
we could make great improvements in their lives and this was one of my favorite volunteer
experiences.
My experiences have taught me what kind of person I am and what I can bring to the table. I
appreciate the importance of getting things done, whether it’s “my” job or not. I am flexible and
reliable and can do as much or as little as the team I’m working with needs me to do. I can take a
leadership role, instructing and delegating as appropriate, but I also recognize that my peers are just as
competent as I am and I’m interested in what they can teach me and am comfortable working under
their direction. I want to be part of an environment where we do not lose track of our goals and that is
pleasant and encouraging.
My goal in attending a residency program is to become a competent general pediatrician. I am
looking for a program that values teamwork and cooperation and where residents are encouraged to
know and help each other. I want a positive learning environment where an attitude of respect
amongst residents and attendings is the norm. As I am considering returning to a rural area where
farms and immigrant populations are common, I also value exposure to diverse cultures, and especially
to Spanish-speaking communities to maintain my fluency in this language.
When I picture myself in the future, I imagine myself as a general pediatrician practicing in a
setting similar to where I grew up. However, there are many fields within pediatrics, some of which I
probably don’t even know about yet, and I am curious to learn about them. I am committed to my goal
of being a competent general pediatrician, but will remain open to all the opportunities the field has to
offer after I have met this goal. I look forward to the process of finding the residency program where I
will fit the best.
#6
As I looked at the paper in my hand, my heart skipped a beat. On the first day of my inpatient
pediatrics clerkship, the next patient I was to see was a two month old with hypoplastic left heart
syndrome. I did not remember much about this from our pediatric cardiology lecture during second
year, but I knew that it was a severe form of congenital heart disease with a poor prognosis. I was not
sure I could handle taking care of such a sick child. I walked into the room and was taken aback. The
cutest baby I had ever seen was lying in his crib cooing and kicking his legs. As I examined him, he
looked up at me and smiled. Despite his serious illness, this child was still so full of life. Whatever
reservations I may have had, this was the moment that made my decision to enter pediatrics one of the
easiest I have ever made.
I have enjoyed spending time with children for as long as I can remember. My fondest memories
include playing with my younger cousins at family functions, coaching high school tennis, and leading
a youth group. It is this interest, as well as a strong work ethic, that has led me to participate in various
volunteer activities during medical school such as teaching anatomy to elementary school children,
providing physicals to underserved children, and doing crafts at the local children’s hospital.
Time and again my clinical rotations affirmed my decision to pursue a career in pediatrics. In my
interactions with children at the local children’s hospital, I was constantly amazed at how they are able
to find happiness in situations that most adults would be unable to do so. I am not so naïve to think
that every sick child and family I encounter will be a positive, heartwarming experience like my
patient above. I find, however, that children radiate such an innocent and pure love for life that is
infectious. The opportunity to be surrounded by that radiance every day is a privilege that I greatly
anticipate.
Another alluring aspect of pediatrics is the opportunity to introduce children to healthy lifestyles. As
we enter a new chapter in the health care field, preventative medicine and healthy lifestyles will be at
the forefront. I look forward to teaching patients and families about how they can take responsibility
for their own health. I also look forward to developing lasting relationships with children and their
families as the children grow up.
I hope to enter a pediatrics residency program that challenges and supports its residents, and places an
emphasis on community service and advocacy programs. I am drawn to academic medical centers as
they offer the opportunity to serve a diverse population. Also, they will allow me to develop a broad
knowledge base and clinical reasoning in general pediatrics while exploring fellowship opportunities.
I thoroughly enjoy the complex clinical reasoning found in inpatient pediatrics, as well as the
opportunity to take a difficult time for parents and their children and offer calming reassurance. At this
time, I am particularly interested in cardiology, but can see my future in any number of fields that
involve inpatient care as well as continuity.
As I look towards the next stage of my career, I know there are both challenges and rewards that await
me. My strong listening skills and ability to connect with people from many different backgrounds
will be assets as I work not only with my patients, but also their parents and a multidisciplinary care
team. I am confident that my strong work ethic, a good sense of humor, the ability to laugh at myself,
and the support of friends around me will help me through the challenges. In the end, I believe
strongly held values, an honest desire to further my clinical knowledge, and the opportunity to
positively impact children’s lives are what will continue to drive me. Pediatrics is where I belong.
SAMPLE CV’S
EDUCATION
Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska
 Doctor of Medicine, anticipated May 2011
Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
 Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, summa cum laude, conferred May 2007
Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
 Completed courses aimed at obtaining a Bachelor of Science, August 2003-May 2005
Atlantic High School, Atlantic, Iowa
 High School Diploma, conferred May 2003
HONORS AND AWARDS
Medical School
 Creighton Family Medical Scholarship Recipient (2007-present)
 AOA Nominee
 M3 Clerkship Honors in Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology (2009)
 Course Honors: Pharmacology, Molecular and Cell Biology II, Microbiology, Interviewing and Physical
Exam, Human Development and Medicine, Muscular/
Skeletal/Integument System, Gastrointestinal System, Behavioral Medicine III
Undergraduate
 Omicron Delta Kappa Society, inducted Spring 2006
 Dean’s List, eight semesters
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY INVOLVEMENT
American Medical Association, Student Member (Summer 2010-Present)
Omicron Delta Kappa Society (September 2006-Present)
Student National Medical Association (2007-2008)
UNIVERSITY SERVICE
M4 Physical Exam Instructor (Fall 2010-Spring 2011)
 Will teach physical exam skills to first year medical students
Vital Signs Mentoring Peer Advisor (Fall 2009-Present)
 Provide advice and guidance to underclassmen in medical school
 Organize group meetings and events with faculty mentors
Student National Medical Association Mentor (Fall 2008-Spring 2009)
 Mentored an undergraduate student interested in medicine
Interviewee Host (Spring 2008)
 Provided housing and support to individuals interviewing at Creighton University School of Medicine
Donor Relations (Spring 2008)
 Phoned financial donors to show gratitude for their continued investment in the students and program at
Creighton University School of Medicine
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Pediatrics Interest Group Member (Spring 2008-Present), Liaison (Summer 2010-Present)
 Volunteer at community wide service events for children
 Function as a liaison between upper and lower classmen interested in Pediatrics
 Shadowed pediatricians in clinical and hospital settings
Magis Clinic Volunteer (Spring 2008-Present)
 Provide health care to the homeless population in a free, student-run clinic
 Work with physicians to develop assessments and plans for patients
Institute for Latin American Concern, Summer Program Participant, Dominican Republic (June-July 2010)
 Used my knowledge of the Spanish language to provide healthcare to the rural, underserved population
 Educated the people on the importance of good nutrition, hygiene, and clean water
Medical School Blood Drive Coordinator (Fall 2008-Spring 2009)
 Worked with the American Red Cross to organize campus-wide blood drives in the spring and fall
 Recruited volunteers and donors
Perinatal Experience Participant (Fall 2008-Spring 2009)
 Followed and provided support to a female patient throughout her pregnancy which included attending all
prenatal visits
Project Homeless Connect Volunteer (Spring 2008, Spring 2009)
 Took health histories for homeless patients at the free healthcare clinic
Project CURA Participant, Peru (May 2008)
 Participated in improvement projects at an orphanage, worked with mentally ill men, and educated rural
populations about nutrition, hygiene, and clean water
Body Basics Volunteer (Spring 2008)
 Taught basic anatomy to children in Omaha schools
Medical Missions Participant, Mexico City (June 2004)
 Assisted nurses and physicians who were providing free healthcare to the underserved population in Mexico
City
RESEARCH, PRESENTATIONS, AND PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS
Creighton University, Department of Pharmacology (Summer 2008)
Supervisors: Shashank Dravid, Ph.D and Margaret Scofield, Ph.D.
I assisted in research directed at discovering whether Glutamate Delta-1 receptors help control function in the inner
ear by acting as ionotropic receptors and thus play a role in high frequency hearing loss. My role was to introduce
mutations into the Glutamate Delta-1 receptors to see if these disruptions would cause the receptors to be nonconductive.


Yadav, R., Roenfeld, M., Scofield, M., and Dravid, S.: Structure-Function Study of Ionotropic Glutamate
Delta-1 Receptor. The FASEB Journal 2010, 24:770.10.
Presenter Rooopali Yadev. (2009, February). “Structure Function Study of Ionotropic Glutamate Delta-1
Receptor.” Paper presented at the Midwest Student Research Forum, Omaha, Nebraska.
Creighton University, Department of Biomedical Science (Summer 2006, Summer 2007)
Supervisors: David Petzel, Ph.D and Philip Brauer, Ph.D
I assisted on a research project testing the hypothesis that serum osmolality in Antarctic fish varies with
environmental water temperature and that fish osmoregulate by altering the expression of specific
Sodium/Potassium ATPase isoforms in their gills.
INTERESTS
Traveling, learning about new cultures, spending time with family, water and snow skiing
21 Jump Street  Omaha NE 68111  (402) 000-0000  me@creighton.edu
EDUCATION
2007-present
2003-2007
1999-2003
Creighton University School of Medicine
 Doctor of Medicine, anticipated May 2011
Creighton University
 Bachelor of Science in Biology, magna cum laude
Creighton Preparatory School
Omaha, NE
Omaha, NE
Omaha, NE
HONORS AND AWARDS
2009-2010
2009-2010
2009-2010
2003-2007
M3 Clerkship Honors
Creighton University School of Medicine
 Ambulatory Primary Care Clerkship
 Obstetrics/Gynecology Clerkship
M3 Clinical Honors
Creighton University School of Medicine
 Outpatient Pediatrics
 Family Medicine
 Outpatient Internal Medicine
 Neurosurgery
M2 Course Honors
Creighton University School of Medicine
 Applied Clinical Skills
 Behavioral Medicine
Dean’s List
Creighton University
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
2010-present
2010-present
American Medical Association
American Academy of Pediatrics
UNIVERSITY SERVICE
2010-present
2010-present
2008-2009
M4 Team Learning
 Assisted first year medical students with proper physical exam skills
Vital Signs Mentoring Program
 Offered group and one-on-one mentoring to medical students at all levels
M2 Buddy Program
 Provided one-on-one mentoring for a first year student
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Spring 2010
Spring 2009
Spring 2009
Summer 2008
Spring 2008
Spring 2006
Fall 2005, 2006
2002-2003
Fall 2001
Magis Clinic
 Offered psychiatric care to Omaha’s underserved community
Call or Be Called
 Screened individuals in Omaha for cardiovascular disease and risk factors
Project Homeless Connect
 Provided health screening for Omaha’s homeless population
Project CURA: Creighton Medical United in Relief Assistance
 Month-long service learning trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines
 Worked with Filipino nurses in providing wound care to Manila’s underserved
 Offered support to child victims of domestic and sexual abuse in Manila
 Took vital signs and distributed medications from mobile clinics in Cambodia
 Assisted Vietnamese workers in constructing a home for a single mother
Body Basics
 Taught local fourth graders fun and interactive lessons in anatomy
The Family Place at Nebraska Medical Center
 Worked with a group of three year olds on developing social skills
Nazareth Farm
 Assisted with home repair projects in rural West Virginia
St. Vincent de Paul Homeless Family Shelter
 Supervised children while their mothers searched for employment
Children’s Respite Care Center
 Worked with toddlers with special needs in a preschool/daycare setting
INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES
Music, Grilling, Travel, Tennis, Trivia, Board Games
Education
CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
2007-2011
Westminster College
2003-2007
Doctor of Medicine, anticipated May 2011, Omaha, NE
Bachelor of Science in Biology, Salt Lake City, UT
Graduated summa cum laude
South Summit High School
High School Diploma, Kamas, UT
1999-2003
Professional Experience
ACADEMIC TUTOR, Creighton University School of Medicine
Tutored students in anatomy and answered questions posted on the
course website.
Assistant Instructional Designer, Creighton University School of
Medicine
 Developed and designed online interactive study guides and quizzes for
anatomy, host defense, and molecular & cell biology courses.
Academic Tutor, Westminster College
 Tutored students in need of help in their biology classes.
Estimator, Wasatch Electric, a Division of Dynalectric, an Emcor Company
 Responsible for reviewing the blueprints and compiling bids for the
electrical portion of construction projects.
 Lead estimator on several multi-million dollar projects.
2008-2009

2008
2005-2007
2004-2007
Honors and Awards
BEIRNE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE SCHOLARSHIP
Given to students in good academic standing without significant
scholarship assistance.
Healer’s Art Course
 Selected to complete the Healer’s Art course, designed to find meaning
in medicine and maintain commitment to the field. Also emphasized
becoming an empathetic physician.
Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society, Phi Mu Chapter
Dean’s List, every semester of my undergraduate education
2010

2008
2005-2007
2003-2007
Leadership
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, CREIGHTON STUDENT
CHAPTER
Chapter Co-President
 Chapter Co-Vice President
 Chapter Recruiter
Pediatric Interest Group, Creighton Student Chapter
 Treasurer
 Tar Wars Coordinator
 M1 & M2 Liaison
Creighton University School of Medicine
 Peer Mentor
 M1 Physical Exam Skills Instructor
 Make-a-Wish Race Coordinator
Associated Students of Westminster College, Student Government
 Pure & Applied Sciences Senator
 Community Outreach Committee Chair

2009-2010
2008-2009
2008-2009
2010-2011
2009-2010
2008-2009
2010-Present
2010-Present
2008
2005-2007
2005-2006
Professional Memberships
American College of Physicians, Student Member
American Academy of Pediatrics, Student Member
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, STUDENT MEMBER
American Medical Women’s Association, Student Member
2009-Present
2008-Present
2007-Present
2007-Present
Activities & Volunteer Experience
Physical Exam Skills Instructor
 Taught teams of first year medical students physical exam skills.
Vital Signs Peer Mentor
 Mentored several M2’s and M1’s, this included team building
exercises and 1-on-1 meetings.
Tar Wars

Presented Tar Wars, an anti-tobacco program, to 4 th and 5 th grade classes in the
Omaha area.
Magis Clinic
A student developed and run walk-in clinic located in the homeless shelter in
Omaha. Under the supervision of a volunteer physician, students interview,
examine, and treat patients.
Exercise is Medicine
 In conjunction with the UNMC AMA Chapter and the Nebraska
Physical Therapy Association, our AMA chapter went to the
Nebraska state capital and presented the Exercise is Medicine
program to the state senators. We emphasized the importance of
exercise throughout a person’s lifetime to maintain health.
Creighton Cardiac Center’s Call or Be Called
 Provided free cardiac health screenings throughout the Omaha
area.
2010-Present
2010-Present
2009-Present
2007-Present

2010
2009
2007-2009
Activities Committee

Helped to plan and carry out monthly activities for a local church congregation.
Project CURA Pine Ridge

Service oriented trip to Pine Ridge, a Native American Reservation in South
Dakota.
Project Homeless Omaha

2008
2008
Volunteered providing healthcare screening and exams for the homeless
population in Omaha.
Make-a-Wish Foundation of Utah , Wish Magician and Wish
Ambassador
 Helped to plan and carry out fundraising events for the Make-aWish Foundation of Utah.
2005-2007
Presentations & Research
Larsen C, Svetanoff WJ, Khandalavala B, Fernandez C. Pediatric
Obesity: A Study Examining BMI Trends, Co-morbidities and Clinical
Intervention in an Inner-City Pediatric Out Patient Clinic. Poster
Presentation. 8th Annual Pediatric Research Forum at Children’s Hospital
and Medical Center. May 2010. Omaha, Nebraska.
th
 Also presented at the 8 Annual AMA Medical Student Section Research
Symposium, November 5, 2010
LARSEN C, JEFFRIES WB, HARPER J, HURTUBISE L.
MAKING SENSE OF STUDENT-GENERATED COCURRICULAR MATERIALS: TALES FROM THE TRENCHES.
Oral Presentation. AAMC’s Central Group on Educational Affairs Annual
Meeting. March 2009. Rochester, Minnesota.
Ware A, Sorenson C, Perez D, Anderson L. Adherence and Gene Expression
of Enterococcus faecalis. Poster Presentation. AAAS National Meeting.
February 2006. St. Louis, Missouri.
Interests

Watching sports, spending time with my husband, traveling, hiking,
backpacking, and embroidery.
Education
Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE
Doctor of Medicine, to be conferred May 2011
August 2007 – May 2011
Whittier College, Whittier, CA
Bachelor of Arts
Major: Chemistry
Minor: Spanish
August 2003 – May 2007
University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
Studied Abroad
Fall Semester 2005
San Joaquin Memorial H.S., Fresno, CA
1999 – 2003
San Lázaro, Cumana, Sucre, Venezuela
Studied Spanish
2001 – 2002
Publications
Rathore G, Renn, C, Fernandez C. Index of Suspicion, Case
Report: 15 year old Girl with DRESS presenting in Shock.
Pediatrics: Review.
Accepted for publication in
May 2012
Community Service
Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy
2008 – Present
HETRA offers hippo-therapy for children with both mental
and physical disabilities.
Tar Wars
2008, 2010
This is an educational program targeting 4th and 5th graders
with the goal of reducing tobacco use.
Magis Clinic
2007, 2008, 2009
This clinic is run by Creighton students at a local homeless
shelter and offers free medical care.
Sight Savers
2008, 2009
This project offers free vision screenings in the community.
Project CURA Ghana
2007
This is a student-run summer service opportunity that goes to
multiple countries.
Professional Memberships
American Medical Association Student Member
American Medical Women’s Association Member
American Academy of Family Physicians Member
2007 – Present
2007 – Present
2007 – Present
Extra-curricular Activities
Pediatric Interest Group
Member
Family Medicine Interest Group
Executive Officer, 2009
Vice President, 2008
Admissions Committee
Member
Medical Spanish Club
Member, 2007
President, 2008
Prospective Students Overnight Host
Humanities in Medicine
Member
Language
Spanish
Fluent in written and spoken
Hobbies and Outside Interests
Local Food Movements
Sustainable Food
Camping
I am currently restoring a 22’ 1966 Airstream Safari.
Travel
Languages
2007 – Present
2007 – Present
2009 – Present
2007 – 2009
2007 – 2009
2007 – 2008
EDUCATION
Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE
 M.D., anticipated May 2011
August 2007—Present
Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
 B.S., Biomedical Sciences, conferred April 2006
September 2002—April 2007
Coopersville High School, Coopersville, MI
 High School Diploma, conferred June 2002
September 1998—June 2002
ACADEMIC AWARDS AND HONORS
Medical School Clerkship Honors- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics,
Internal Medicine, Pediatric Pulmonary Elective
Medical School Course Honors- Principles of Microbiology, Cardiovascular
System, Renal-Urinary System, Gastrointestinal System, Behavioral Medicine III
GVSU Honor’s Program, Presidential Scholarship
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor
Society
2009-2010
2007-2009
2002-2006
2006
PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH
Romans, Ryan, Reinke, Sara MD, Snyder, Sheila MD: “2 Year Old Boy with Diarrhea, Edema, and
Petechiae.” Accepted for publication in April 2012 issue of Pediatrics in Review “Index of
Suspicion.”
Romans, Ryan, Reinke, Sara MD, Snyder, Sheila MD: “2 Year Old Boy with Diarrhea, Edema, and
Petechiae.” Poster presentation. Pediatrics Research Symposium, Children’s Hospital Omaha. May
2010.
Neuroscience research under the direction of Dr. J. Capodilupo using 2 dimensional gel electrophoresis
comparing GAP-43 levels in rats with alcohol exposure in utero and those not exposed, 2006-2007,
attended 2006 Michigan Neurological Conference.
“Standardizing the Protean IEF System for 2-D Gel Electrophoresis with Immobilized pH Gradients.”
Presented at GVSU Student Scholarship Day 2006.
EMPLOYMENT
Nursing Assistant- Orthopedics and Trauma
Amstore Corporation- Metal Fabrication and Assembly
Resident Assistant- GVSU Honor’s Housing
2006—2007
2003—2007
2004—2005
UNIVERSITY SERVICE
Admissions Committee, School of Medicine
2009—Present
Vital Signs Mentoring Program M3/M4 Mentor
Interview Host Program
Class of 2011 Intramural Sports Chair
2009—Present
2009
2007—2008
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Magis Free Clinic- Student organized and run free acute care, sexual
2007—Present
health, and psychiatry clinics at an Omaha homeless shelter
Magis Pediatric Vaccination Clinic- provides school physicals and
2010
vaccinations to area children
Kids Explore Omaha- Educational and recreational fair for children
2010
Body Basics- program to teach elementary school kids anatomy and physiology
2009
Children’s Hospital Craft Day
2009
Project CURA Peru- Student organized volunteer work at an orphanage
2008
and men’s home in Lima, health and preventative medicine teaching in rural areas
Project
Homeless Connect- Provides free physicals, vision screening, dental
2008
care, and access to local resources for area homeless
Health Fair Volunteer- provide school physical’s to area children
2007
Assistant Tennis Coach, Coopersville (MI) high school, boys and girls
2005—2006
TEACHING
Genetics Lectures- Burke Senior High Freshmen Biology, Omaha, NE
Tutor- Individual tutoring in chemistry and statistics, GVSU
Life Teen Youth Group Leader- Taught a middle school and high school
youth group
2010
2003—2006
2003—2006
HOBBIES, INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES
Spending free time with family and friends
Athletics, including running, biking, triathlons, tennis, volleyball, softball, hiking, skiing
Reading
Traveling