PGY1

Where I am from: I grew up in Minneapolis, MN before heading off to middle-of-nowhere Iowa to attend undergrad at Grinnell College and major in Chemistry. I then moved to Northern California where I worked in higher education for a couple of years. Here, I learned I liked working with kids and their families as they navigate big life changes. I also realized I wanted to stay in the academic setting because I like working with other curious individuals who are similarly drawn to academic spaces. Ultimately, I had always wanted to become a doctor and so I left that job and California to return to Iowa for medical school where I discovered the field of child neurology and quickly realized it was exactly the medical specialty I was looking for.

Where I am going: I am so excited to be at WashU now for residency because of the opportunities to explore all aspects of child neurology as a resident. At this point I am not sure exactly where in child neurology I will end up, so I am grateful for opportunities during my intern year to become acclimated to general pediatric neurology clinic, inpatient neurology, and subspecialty neurology clinics to increase my exposure to the many different paths I can take as a child neurologist. In addition to clinical work, I am interested in medical education and plan to pursue a career in academic child neurology where I can work closely with medical students and residents.

Why I am here: I did an away rotation at St. Louis Children's Hospital as a fourth-year medical student and absolutely loved it here. Everyone was extremely welcoming and eager to teach. I knew I wanted to train at a tertiary care center where I would learn by doing and have exposure to a broad variety of pathology, which I've definitely found here. I've felt well-supported as a resident and am well-integrated into both the pediatric and child neurology departments. Before residency started, I was worried about feeling separated from the child neurology part of my training while completing my general pediatrics years, but that has not been the case here! I have had many opportunities to connect with the child neurology department whether through social events with other residents, one-on-one meetings with child neurology mentors, and weekly neuro clinic with my co-interns. I've also enjoyed living in St. Louis. This is a really fun city - there are many awesome bars and restaurants, I love going to the Tower Grove Farmer's Market on my Saturdays off, and there are free events going on all the time because of funding St. Louis has to support access to arts and culture. I live near the hospital which has been really convenient both for work and hanging out with my co-residents. Housing is affordable and the surrounding neighborhood has several good restaurants and nice areas to walk, including Forest Park!

Where I am from: I was born and raised in Thailand and graduated from Khon Kaen University Medical School. I have been drawn to pediatrics and neurology since my medical school days.

Why I am here: Washington University in St. Louis is renowned for its high-quality education, and its Child Neurology department is equally esteemed. I was warmly welcomed during my interviews with faculty and residents. St. Louis's blend of natural beauty and urban amenities is also appealing.

Where I am going: I am intrigued by the fields of epilepsy and genetics. I have always been fascinated by cutting-edge technology and knowledge in neurology, especially advancements in epilepsy treatment, and the progression of genetic diagnostics and treatment. However, I am still being openminded and would like to explore further subspecialties during my residency. Additionally, I am interested in global health, with a desire to connect with my homeland and a teaching pathway to pursue an academic career.

Where I am from: I grew up just outside of St. Louis in Edwardsville, Illinois. I went to college at the University of Kentucky, where I earned degrees in Biology and Chemistry. I also studied in French, Art Studio and Neuroscience in college. I came back to St. Louis for my two gap years doing research at WashU; the first year I worked in a genetics lab studying transcription factor binding, and the second year I worked at Mallinckrodt doing neuroimaging processing for a few large Alzheimer's studies, including the DIAN and ADNI projects. I then moved back to Kentucky for medical school at University of Kentucky.

Where am I going: I am interested in neonatal neurology and neurocritical care. I love that these fields offer the opportunity to build longitudinal relationships with my patients and their families. I also enjoy medical education and clinical research and would love to integrate both into my career.

Why I am here: My husband and I both grew up in Edwardsville (high school sweethearts), so the greater St. Louis area has always been home to us. After having 2 kids in medical school and moving for residency with a 3 year old and a 4 month old, we knew we wanted to move closer to our families for support. I was able to do two visiting rotations with the pediatric neurology team here as an M4 and I knew immediately that WashU was a good fit for me. I was so impressed and excited by the huge gamut of pathologies I was able to learn from, from "bread and butter" general neurology cases to incredibly rare and complex pathologies. Knowing that I wanted to pursue neonatal neurology, I was excited that WashU had a separate neonatal team and also had a fellowship, which very few programs have. Every faculty member I worked with during my visiting rotations was so welcoming, supportive (especially as I was pregnant on my rotations!) and eager to teach. Many of the faculty also have younger children, and they were incredibly supportive about me entering residency with two young children. All the residents were so kind and welcoming to me as a medical student and I could tell how close they all were, which is something I was looking for in residency. I was thrilled to open my letter on match day and learn I would get to be a part of this amazing group of people!