Lane Heinlein
Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why Iowa: I chose Iowa because I knew without a doubt that I would graduate with the clinical competence and confidence to practice in any setting—whether that meant pursuing a fellowship, entering private practice, or working in an academic medical center. Every Iowa graduate I had worked with emphasized that the clinical exposure and training here were unmatched, and my experience has confirmed that firsthand. Beyond the strength of the clinical training, it is the people at Iowa who truly set it apart. Everyone is supportive, approachable, and genuinely invested in one another’s success. No matter what path you choose to pursue, you feel encouraged and supported every step of the way.
Jeffrey Jeltema
Medical School: Mayo Medical School
Why Iowa: In short, good training and good residents. I wanted to train somewhere with excellent clinical exposure, and Iowa delivers—we take care of sick patients, get early exposure to all the sub-specialties, have high case and procedural volume, and have some unique senior rotations that are highly valuable. Through all of this, we’re very well supported, both by administration and one another. We have a lounge that plays a huge role in resident camraderie and as a safe place to unwind, debrief, vent (etc., etc.,) during the course of the day. To receive excellent clinical training while surrounded by such a close-knit community is truly a blessing, and what makes Iowa special for me.
Alec James
Medical School: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Why Iowa: I chose Iowa for a couple of reasons. The first of which stemmed from seeing the residents in the lounge as a medical student. Everyone was coming and going with their breaks. The room was always filled with laughter and jokes. I saw nothing the aligned with what I was told about residency being this grueling endeavor you suffer through. As I have gone through training, this has been one of my favorite aspects of this residency. The learning and relationships built in the resident lounge have been invaluable to me as a developing anesthesiologist.
My second reason was a clear comfort I saw in the senior residents I worked with as a medical student. All of them showed a remarkably poised demeanor in intense and highly complex cases. They exemplified what I wanted to become as a future anesthesiologist, which ultimately solidified my decision to stay at Iowa for residency.