Residents of the Block
At NUEM, our year is broken up into 15 blocks - one for each of our residents.
We can’t wait for you to meet our people!
Class of 2024
Med school: University of Colorado School of Medicine
Undergrad: Stanford University
Hometown: Orange County, CA
Favorite restaurant: Cabra
Favorite thing outside work: play with my puppy, Josie
Last show binged: Ted Lasso
My favorite thing about NUEM: my co-ressies
Why did I choose NUEM? The people. I had so much fun when I came for my interview and dinner. I felt like I could be myself around everyone, including attendings. People don't take themselves too seriously, but know how to get to work and take care of sick people.
Med school- Michigan State
Undergrad- Central Michigan
Hometown- Williamston, MI
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Hang out with my roomie, Michael Tandlich
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it? Travel, don’t know where id go, but I ‘d go.
Last book you read or TV show you binged? Ted Lasso
Favorite thing about Chicago? There’s always something to do! The lakes, the parks.
Why did you choose NUEM? For the people, they’re just so great.
Med school: University of Pennsylvania. Undergrad: University of Pennsylvania. Hometown: Newtown Square, PA
Favorite restaurant: Obviously burrito beach has my heart. But when I'm enjoying time outside of work, Siena Tavern, Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba for their Monday 15 dollar pitchers of sangria and of course Sushi Taku for when I need to have all you can eat sushi
Favorite thing to do outside of work: steal people's dogs and/or hang out with coresidents and convince them to get dogs (@Adam Payne and @Megan Chenworth you're next!), staying active with running, weightlifting, bouldering, beach volleyball, hiking or doing the complete opposite and potato on my couch for 8 hours at a time
Last Book/TV show: Squid game (in 1 day!)
Favorite thing about Chicago: the balance of big city vibes with amazing food that's balanced with tons of outdoor space, parks and beaches!
#WhyNUEM: Everybody here, especially the other residents and the faculty, has your back. The faculty, chiefs, residents and coordinators go above and beyond to support you however they can!
Medical School - Baylor College of Medicine Undergrad - Indiana University Hometown - Naperville, Illinois
Favorite restaurant - BienMeSabe
Favorite Thing to do Outside of Work - Hang out with friends, family, and my dog
Favorite Thing about Chicago - Amazing restaurants, exploring different neighborhoods, getting outdoors during summertime
If you could have any super power, what would it be? - Super speed
Why NUEM? Great academic program with high quality clinical experience, supportive co-residents, love the city of Chicago
Med school - Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Undergrad - Haverford College Hometown - Schnecksville, PA
Favorite restaurant in the city? Purple Pig! Great wine, cheeses, and lots and lots of tapas.
If you could have any super power, what would it be? Teleportation. Imagine getting to travel wherever you want, whenever you have time off, even if it's just for the day! Also, I think of all the extra time I'd have if I didn't have a commute (even if mine's only 15 minutes). I can't imagine a better superpower.
Last book you read or TV show you binged? Only Murders in the Building. I came for the star-power and stayed for the story telling. A great mix of humor, intrigue and of course, unexpected twists. Highly recommend 🙂
Favorite thing about Chicago? All the green space! Coming from Philly, I was amazed with all the parks and courtyards around the city. Even if you're just walking home from work on a nice day, you can find people sitting on public benches around the city just enjoying the sunshine. And there's so much to do outside, from biking to running, to just sitting in a hammock under a tree (my personal favorite), going to the beach in the summer or ice skating and sledding in the winter.
Why NUEM? Like most people who ended up here, my answer has to be "the people". I was blown away by how nice everyone is and how close the residents are with each other and the faculty. I could see myself enjoying my time with these people, but also could see the people here helping me to succeed and find my niche. I thought it was a great balance of professional opportunities with a group of people with whom I could see myself becoming close friends.
Med school - University of Florida
Undergrad - Wake Forest University
Hometown - Jacksonville, Florida
Favorite restaurant in the city? So many! I love QXY, Ramen-san, and I'm working my way through the rest of the ramen restaurants in the city. Strong shoutout to Sushi Taku, Coda di Volpe, and Beatnik
Favorite thing to do outside of work? climbing followed by food and a beer. Or a relaxing morning reading, drinking tea, and going for a run on the lake front trail. For a vacation - hiking and camping, the emergency medicine classics.
If you could have any super power, what would it be? flying
Favorite thing about Chicago? the food, the people, the museums (love a good art museum - and Chicago has many)
Favorite thing about NUEM? the post-shift breakfast or the post-shift Timmy's. It's hard to beat a spicy chicken sandwich from Do-Rite after a long night
Why did you choose NUEM? The incredible training, strong leadership, amazing and genuine people, and the focus on career development after residency. I was looking for all of the above (and a big city vibe), and NUEM checked every box
Med school: Florida State University
Undergrad: University of Florida
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Havana Grill
Favorite thing about Chicago: Summer festivals
Favorite thing to do outside work: Travel! And of course hang out with my roomie, Gus Grace.
Any super power: Complete patient documentation by snapping my fingers
Why NUEM? Great people, great location, great program
Class of 2025
Med school: Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Undergrad: University of California at Santa Barbara
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
Exploring all the amazing parks, restaurants, museums, and beaches that Chicago has to offer.
Favorite restaurant in the city? Indian Garden because they have the best tikka masala.
Favorite thing about Chicago?Anything and everything is only a short walk or train ride away.
Share your favorite NUEM memory
Our entire intern class becoming best friends within 1 week of starting orientation.
Why did you choose NUEM" question.
Super well-rounded program that had it all--solid exposure to academics, county, and community medicine plus countless leadership opportunities and a strong clinical emphasis on critical care, trauma, and procedural competency.
-Med school: University of Chicago
-Undergrad: Dartmouth College
-Hometown: Orono, MN
-Favorite restaurant in the city? Juno Sushi
-Favorite thing to do outside of work? Picnics & swimming by the lake
-If you could have any super power, what would it be? Teleportation! No need to spend time traveling. Ever.
-If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it? Take a vacation around the world.
-Last book you read or TV show you binged? Trust Excercise by Susan Choi
-Favorite thing about Chicago? How many different neighborhoods there are to explore.
-What surprised you the most about NUEM? How social everyone is! People are always excited to hang out if you're not working.
-Favorite thing about NUEM: I've felt supported by all the co-residents and faculty from the moment I arrived.
"Why did you choose NUEM?"
I felt that NUEM would not only train me to be a skillful clinician but would also give me the extra skills and opportunities to become a leader in the field of EM.
Med school: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Undergrad: Goucher College
Hometown: Farmington Hills, Michigan
Favorite restaurant in the city? Pequod’s Pizza
Favorite thing to do outside of work? I love listening to podcasts while wandering around the city. Sometimes I Zillow my favorite homes while walking.
Last TV show I binged: I binged a lot during the pandemic, but most recently it was Schitt’s Creek (“Ew, David”).
Favorite thing about Chicago? There is so much to do in Chicago – endless restaurants, bike rides, walking trails, beaches, bars, dance classes, and 2 MLB teams! What’s not to love?
Why did you choose NUEM? Every time I interacted with the program, I felt that it was the right fit. Everyone I met was kind and down to earth, yet incredibly accomplished. The training was well rounded. Along the interview trail alumni were everywhere, doing incredible things. I knew that I wanted to have the opportunity to train here.
Med school: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Undergrad: University of Virginia
Hometown: Newport News, Virginia
Favorite restaurant: I love so many, but I can narrow it down to three! Ramen San, Robert's, Beatnik
Favorite thing to do outside of work: Swimming, running by the lake, hanging out with friends and trying new places to eat
Last TV show I binged: Binge watched vampire diaries between match day and starting residency; I love reality TV so am watching about 5 different shows on Bravo at once
Favorite thing about NUEM: How supportive everyone is including my co-interns, co-residents, and all the faculty
Why NUEM? I wanted excellent clinical training which I knew NUEM would provide, but beyond that NUEM provides incredible opportunities and mentorship to allow me to find and explore what I'm passionate about within Emergency Medicine. Also, the people!! Every one is hardworking, supportive, and always excited to hang out outside of work.
Med School: University of Texas Southwestern
Undergrad: Baylor University
Hometown: Boerne, TX
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Play piano, cook, and learn my way around the city with my wife!
If you could have any super power, what would it be? I gotta go with teleportation- travel wherever I want, whenever I want.
Last book you read or TV show you binged? The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin!
Favorite thing about Chicago? The summer weather for sure. oming from Texas, you really can't beat how nice it is here.
Why NUEM? On my interview day I remember feeling that classic gut feeling when you find the program that's right for you. The culture of the program was a big point for me- I could tell the residents were happy and enjoyed being here, and I could tell the faculty was genuinely supportive and will help you do whatever it is you're passionate about. The clinical training is excellent, and Chicago is a great city, but it was really the culture and the people here that made NUEM stand out to me.
Med school: New York Medical College
Undergrad: American University
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Favorite restaurant in the city?: Moti Cafe so far!
Favorite thing to do outside of work?: Either doing something active (bouldering, jogging, etc) or binging Hulu depending on the day
If you could have any super power, what would it be?: Teleportation
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?: 1/2 save/invest, 1/4 to blow on fun stuff for my family, and 1/4 for meee (oops)
Last book you read or TV show you binged?: Way too many seasons of Survivor while I packed to move to Chicago
Favorite thing about Chicago?: The friendliness / kindness of total strangers here
What surprised you the most about NUEM?: How close the faculty and residents are! It really does feel like a family here :)
Share your favorite NUEM memory: The graduation speeches given for each senior by Dr. Fant and the APDs. For me it was really great to see the different kinds of futures we can have as grads from this program, and to get a glimpse of the deep relationships between the graduating residents and faculty. For my class, graduation was the literal first time we were meeting almost everyone in the program, but even then, it cemented the feeling that I couldn't have chosen a better pace to come to both personally and professionally.
Favorite thing about NUEM: People have really high expectations, but at the same time they give you an incredible amount of support & treat you with respect and kindness. It is a really rare combination.
"Why did you choose NUEM"? When making my rank list, from most to least important, my criteria were: 1. a program with top notch clinical training, 2. a program with robust research infrastructure and academics, 3. a location in a liberal, large city, and 4. a city with good public transit (I haaaaate traffic and quality of life is high yield). What broke the tie and put NUEM ahead of the pack was how I saw the residents and faculty interact. At Northwestern you have all types of people. People from all over the country. Super extroverted and super introverted people. People interested in all different facets of EM. Etc. Even over Zoom, I could see how each resident was valued and treated with respect in a way that stood out. The fact that I met so many different types of people at NUEM who are all thriving and doing their own super cool + unique things was a huge green flag for me, and made me feel that I would be both welcomed and successful here.
Med school - University of Michigan Medical School
Undergrad - Denison University
Hometown - Hopkins, MI
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Hike/run/beach/soccer ... basically anything active and outside!
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Fly!
Favorite thing about Chicago? Lake Michigan!
What surprised you the most about NUEM? Since day 1, it has felt like family!
Why did you choose NUEM? Emphasis on leadership development, A LOT of CC time, and the people!
Med School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Undergrad: Claremont McKenna College
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Last book you read or TV show you binged? GoT (I was very late to the game)
Favorite thing about Chicago? The amazing city skyline views on the backdrop of the lake and river!
Share your favorite NUEM memory: meeting 14 strangers during orientation and being so excited to be their friend
Favorite thing about NUEM: THE PEOPLE!
Why did you choose NUEM?
I wanted excellent clinical training, but also wanted the resources, time, and mentorship to find my niche within EM - all of which NUEM offers.
Chicago checked my “big city” box - plenty to do in 4 years without getting bored!
Last, but not least, is the people and the culture they have created. I wanted a supportive learning environment and the people at NUEM and Northwestern Medicine are committed to that.
Med school: University of Toledo
Undergrad: University of Toledo
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Favorite restaurant in the city? There are many rich and diverse food choices in Chicago, but I would have to go with Noon-O-Kabob! (also, Lou Malnati's for deep dish)
Favorite thing to do outside of work? I can't narrow it down to one - hanging out with fellow residents, exploring Chicago's unique neighborhoods, and working out at FFC
-Favorite thing about Chicago?: the presence of a soft-sandy beach along a city with such beautifully architectured towers
Favorite thing about NUEM: the supportive and brilliant NUEM family
Why did you choose NUEM?
I chose Northwestern for my training because of its robust 4-year experience that has the resources to enable me to become a great clinician and develop my niche.... and also the people and Chicago!
Med school: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Undergrad: The University of Texas at Austin
Hometown: Shrewsbury, NJ
Favorite things to do outside of work?When I'm not on shift, I love to try new restaurants, ride my Peloton (#XOXOCodyRigsby), grab drinks with friends, and binge reality TV.
Last book you read or TV show you binged? The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Favorite thing about Chicago? The summer! The weather is amazing and there are so many things to do. Where else can you hang out at the beach, see a Cubs game, and dance at a rooftop bar all in one day?
Share your favorite NUEM memory Singing (read: yelling) "Love On Top" at karaoke with my co-interns
Why did you choose NUEM? On my interview day, I was impressed by NUEM's diversity of patients and pathology, rigorous critical care training, abundance of leadership opportunities, and reputation for creating excellent clinicians. Above all this, though, I chose NUEM for the people. Our residents and faculty are exceptionally supportive, hardworking, well-rounded, and relatable. I am incredibly fortunate to be part of the NUEM family.
Med School: University of Miami-Miller School of Medicine
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Hometown: Miami, FL
-Favorite thing(s) about Chicago? Everything is walkable! Amazing food scene. Amazing outdoor activities (yes, haven't hit winter yet, but lots of snowball fights to come?. Wendella architecture tour (that good!).
-Favorite thing to do outside of work? Play with my little 6-month old munchkin #momlife
-Last book you read or TV show you binged? Love Island… so bad, but soo soo good
-Favorite thing about NUEM: The people! From the residents to the attendings to the nators, everyone is truly amazing.
"Why did you choose NUEM" :So many reasons! -Clinical training: 4 sites that cover aIl aspects of EM (Academic, Community, and County) -Resources!: Big into research, so very excited to be at a big Academic program with ample support -The culture: most supportive culture I came across on the trail and more than lives up to it in person-The people: really clicked with the vibe of the program and the people in it -Incredibly family friendly -Chicago!
Med school: George Washington University-Undergrad: George Washington University
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
Favorite restaurant in the city? Anne Sather's (BYOB brunch with the best cinnamon rolls in the city)
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Exploring and socializing (with friends and strangers)! My goal by the end of residency is to be able to give a self-guided tour of the city for my friends via land and via kayak (to rival the famed architecture boat tours).
Last book you read or TV show you binged? The West Wing (for the tenth time)
Favorite thing about Chicago? The lake, the parks, the food, the neighborhoods and how easy it is to get around this city
Share your favorite NUEM memory: the absolutely unforgettable birthday spent with my NUEM family at retreat (and the surprise I came home to)
Favorite thing about NUEM: 99% the people, 1% snacks
Why NUEM? I chose NUEM for the emphasis on EM leadership and policy/advocacy as well as the outstanding clinical training that includes a ton of critical care time. But above all, I chose it for the phenomenal people both within this program and across the city of Chicago that we have the opportunity to serve and learn from.
Med School - UConn
Undergrad - Fairfield University
Hometown - Trumbull, CT
Favorite restaurant in the city?
D4 Irish Pub - Because I love the corned beef. And because it happens to be next door.
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
Anything outside: running, biking, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding. You name it and I'll try it
Favorite thing about Chicago?
Lakefront Trail. Catch me out there everyday
Favorite thing about NUEM?
The people...NUEM is full of people I like hanging out with while I'm at the hospital and when I'm not at the hospital
Why did you choose NUEM?
I quickly learned that people graduating from Northwestern end up doing all sorts of amazing things all over the country. It really is the kind of place that pushes you to do whatever you want, wherever you want to do it.
NUEM Class of 2026
Med School: University of Louisville
Undergrad: Centre College
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Favorite Restaurant:? Torchio Pasta Bar
Last TV show I binged? Last of Us
Favorite thing about Chicago? The incredible food scene
What surprised you the most about NUEM? The high volume of incredibly medically complex patients in the NUEM Department and the level of autonomy starting on Day 1 of intern year.
Why NUEM? I wanted to train at a 4 year program that was known for producing exceptional and well-rounded, autonomous EM physicians while also supporting their career development in niche areas of interest.
Medical School: Rosalind Franklin University
Undergrad: Purdue University
Grad School: University of Illinois at Chicago
Hometown: Minooka, IL
Favorite restaurant in the city? I take my restaurant recommendations very seriously. Here are my top 5: Bungalow by middlebrow, Kasama, Red Light Chicken, Evette's, Beacon donuts.
Favorite thing to do outside work? Weather permitting, I'm running, cycling, SUPing, rowing, and hammocking around the lakefront. For the other 8 or so months of the Chicago year, I'm more likely cooking, eating, traveling, snuggling my foster cats, and bothering my husband.
Last book you read or TV show you binged? The original Unsolved Mysteries. If Robert Stack isn't narrating, I'm not watching.
Favorite thing about Chicago? Obviously Malort. But the grid system, lake, accent, neighborhoods, cultures, and occasional "ope" keep me around. Summer in Chicago goes without saying.
Why NUEM? While it has the resources of a purple palace, at NUEM, you will care for patients from all over the city and the world. Those obscure Step 1 diseases you never thought you'd see? You'll see them here. Want to take care of the sickest patients as an intern? Take whichever one you want (your supportive seniors are right behind you, if you need). With four years to hone your skills and build your resume, I knew I'd be ready for whichever career path I decided to pursue.
Med school: University of Edinburgh
Undergrad: University of St. Andrews
Hometown: Vancouver, Canada
Favorite restaurant in the city? Avec. Specifically the one in West Loop because it's cramped, communal seating and looks like a sauna.
If you could have any super power, what would it be? Not requiring sleep to live. Currently I require 8 hours which is kind of a downer and honestly a career impediment.
Favorite thing about Chicago? The people. I think it's a Midwestern thing. They are the "going out of their way" kind of friendly (and that's coming from a Canadian). Also, it's smaller than New York, bigger than Boston and cleaner than both.
Why NUEM? Everyone says this (so apologies for being unoriginal), but it's the people. They are inclusive, encouraging, down to earth and fun to be around at work and outside of it.
Med school: Meharry Medical College
Undergraduate: Indiana State University
Hometown: Valparaiso, IN
Favorite restaurant in city? Soul and smoke
Favorite thing about Chicago? food, food, food!!!!😋
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Play piano and video games
Favorite thing about NUEM? How great, smart, and helpful the people are. I know it sounds cliche but it’s so true!!
Why NUEM? Excellent academic hospital that provides EM training and patient pathology to make you comfortable working in any environment after graduation!
Med school: UCSD School of Medicine
Undergrad: UCLA
Hometown: Folsom, CA
Favorite restaurant in the city? Girl and the Goat
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Hot yoga!
If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Teleportation, because I do not have time to sit in traffic
Favorite thing about Chicago? There is always something to do for whatever mood I'm in! The lakefront, music, comedy, etc
Why NUEM? When I was a rotating medical student, I was blown away by the supportive atmosphere of both the residents and the faculty. I knew I would get quality clinical training in academic medicine in an amazing new city, but also have the ability to pursue my interests and be supported by my co-residents, chiefs, attendings, and coordinators!
NUEM Class of 2027
Med School: Northwestern University
Undergrad: Northwestern University
Hometown: Highland Park, IL.
Favorite restaurant in the city? Planta Queen. I am vegetarian and they have amazing vegetarian sushi! They also do an all you can eat sushi deal on Mondays that is very reasonably priced.
Favorite thing about Chicago? the lakefront. It is so beautiful and accessible. A great way to be in the city but feel like you have a bit more space. Also, so many options for activities - walking, running, swimming, kayaking, sailing, picnics. Almost every time I am out on the lakefront, I run into somebody in our residency.
My favorite thing about NUEM:I I know it is cliche, but my favorite thing about NUEM is the people. The senior residents are amazing. I feel so supported as an intern. I feel encouraged to keep pushing myself and learning but also never feel like there isn't somebody around to help me. I feel so lucky to have my intern class. Everyone is so friendly, warm and smart. I learn so much from them, but we also have a lot of fun together.
The last TV show I binged was Only Murders in The Building. I love Selena Gomez and loved the story line. There's just enough comedy and mystery. I can't wait for season 3.
Why NUEM? I chose NUEM for a few reasons. First, the diversity of our patient population. I love that every day we have the opportunity to see patients from all walks of life. I was also excited by our ability to provide significant charity care and resources to our patients. I was also looking for a program that rotated at several different sites. Between NMH, Gary, Lake Forest, and Cook County we get exposed to all the different ways emergency medicine can be practied. I also love Chicago. It is a big city with a ton to do but with more space and reasonable prices. Finally, like I mentioned before it was so important to me to be at a program where my co-workers were my friends. I chose NUEM because of the strong community of residents and attendings that we have here.
Med school: Case Western Reserve Universtiy
Undergrad: Purdue University
Hometown: Westfield, IN
Favorite restaurant in the city? Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba!
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Explore the neighborhoods of Chicago...and eat all their food.
If you could have any super power, what would it be? Telekinesis
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it? Invest in a low-fee market index fund with a strong history of growth. Or blow it at the craps tables.
Last book you read or TV show you binged? East of Eden. Amazing.
Favorite thing about Chicago? Infinite things to do in a really friendly city that's so easy to get around.
What surprised you the most about NUEM? The whole hospital has a surprisingly family feel for being so large. Great interactions with consulting teams and other specialties.
Share your favorite NUEM memory? Retreat lived up to and exceeded all expectations.
Favorite thing about NUEM? I really value that our program intentionally makes time for intra-class get-togethers.
Why NUEM? A fantastic breadth and depth of medical exposure at our main and offsite rotations and tons of critical care time in an academic environment that will allow me to pursue any interest I might have.
Med School: Georgetown University
Undergrad: University of Michigan
Hometown: Kansas City, Mo
Last book I read: Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
My favorite thing About Chicago? Love the lakeside runs during the summertime, especially during sunrise!
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Would definitely choose teleportation and go on vacation daily after shift
Favorite Restaurant? Monteverde
Why NUEM? After doing my away here, I loved how close the residents were not only with each other, but also their relationships with the attendings and other staff in the ED. NUEM fulfilled all my requirements of being in a major city, having a strong academic backbone yet still serving a wide variety of patients with different backgrounds, and its dedication to resident wellness. I love my decision to come here and love the people I interact with daily. Love the city of Chicago and couldn't imagine living in another city.
NUEM Alumni
Adesuwa Akhetuamhen
Class of 2021
Medical school: Yale
Undergrad: University of Kentucky
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Favorite restaurant in the city? You mean top brunch place right because that's the only meal that matters? Batter and Berries of course!
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Dancing at afrobeats parties!
If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Flying so I could sleep in before work and take last minute vacations
What's the last book you read or TV show you binged?Educated by Tara Westover
Why did you choose NUEM?
There's so many reasons. One major factor are opportunities for mentorship in medical education. Also all of the graduates have amazing jobs in all over the country so I knew that I came here I'd be able to find my dream job as well.
Laurie Aluce
Class of 2021
Medical school: University of Chicago
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin - Madison
Hometown: Mequon, WI
Favorite restaurant in the city? Roister - you get to sit at tables around the kitchen and watch the chefs make your delicious food!
Favorite things to do outside of work? Try new restaurants in the West Loop, hang with Puddles (my dog) at the park, bike along the lakefront
Last book you read or TV show you binged? Parks and Rec
Favorite thing about NUEM? My fellow residents. They are amazingly fun and supportive friends as well as incredibly intelligent and compassionate physicians
Why did you choose NUEM?
1. The residents that I met on my interview day were such genuine, down-to-earth people that seemed truly happy to hang out with the applicants and tell us about why they loved the program. I could picture myself working with these residents, and I wanted to be part of a residency program that made me just as happy as they were.
2. I wanted a four year program that would help me become an excellent clinician as well as develop the skills necessary to lead an ED team. I was impressed by the program's model of graduated responsibility in which the senior residents take ownership over leading the ED team of physicians, PAs, medical students, nurses, techs, etc
Jon Andereck
Class of 2019
Medical school: Vanderbilt
Undergrad: Vanderbilt
Hometown: Dublin, OH
Favorite restaurant: Boka - who knew carrots could be SO delicious??
Favorite thing to do outside of work: Bouldering with my wife at one of the many amazing gyms across the city
Favorite thing about Chicago: Riding public transportation to work, which never ceases to remind me of how wonderfully diverse this city is in every aspect
Favorite thing about NUEM: The feeling that I am part of a family with my co-residents, particularly the most wonderfully unique class of 2019 which is filled with the most extraordinary individuals I've ever met
Why did you choose NUEM?
NUEM stood out among every other program at which I interviewed because of its commitment to developing leaders in healthcare. It promised (and has delivered) a rigorous clinical experience over many ICUs and a variety of EDs, which has left me feeling extremely comfortable with sick patients in any context (as evidence, I am writing this while moonlighting overnight in an ICU with no backup). Having also pursued my MBA while in medical school, the administrative opportunities at NUEM and with Dr. Adams were too good to pass up, and my experience here has proven my hopes were well founded. What I didn't know was how incredible my co-residents (especially 2019) would be, and they have made this program simply unforgettable.
Gabrielle Bunney
Class of 2022
Med school: Temple University
Undergrad: Yale University
Hometown: Northbrook, IL
Favorite restaurant in the city?
The Phoenix is a classic Chicago dim sum restaurant that I’ve been going to for years
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
Hiking through national parks, I’m trying to get to as many I can
Last book you read or TV show you binged?
Firefly
Favorite thing about Chicago?
Summer in Chicago, it is amazing how the city comes to life in the summer, taking advantage of the magnificent lakefront and all of the wonderful outdoor spaces
Why did you choose NUEM?
NUEM places a strong emphasis on developing leaders in emergency medicine. As a part of that leadership development, there is support to explore different areas of emergency medicine, ultimately allowing you to find your niche within the specialty.
Jason Chodakowski
Class of 2020
Medical School: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Undergrad and Grad school: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, graduate school at Loyola University Chicago
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Favorite thing outside of work? Playing with my dog, dates with my girlfriend, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Last TV show that I binged? Narcos
Favorite restaurant? There is no such thing, because there is just too much good food in this city.
Favorite thing about Chicago? The miles and miles of open public space/parks/trails along the beautiful lake.
Why did you choose NUEM?
As a medical student here I knew the program and faculty very well, and loved my EM rotation. Between the busy ED and the amazing off-service rotations (in particular the amount of critical care time) I felt the residency offered very broad and comprehensive emergency medicine training. The people you meet at a program end of up making up a big reason for why you choose it, and in short I simply felt that I would be part of a great family if I came to NUEM, and with every year the family gets bigger and better!
Steve Chukwulebe
Class of 2019
Medical school: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Undergrad: Loyola University Chicago
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Favorite thing outside of work? Like many of us, I value my time off-work. Some of my favorite pastimes include not only keeping active like going to the gym, biking, snowboarding (yearly when on vacation), but I also enjoy painting and drawing.
Favorite Books? When I actually find the time to read, I'm currently rotating between "The White Coat Investor: A Doctor's Guide To Personal Finance And Investing", "We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy", and "Bouncebacks! Emergency Department Cases: ED Returns". But honestly, most times I'd rather kickback to a quality TV show...GOT, Westworld, Black Mirror, Daredevil have been some of my more recent faves.
Favorite NUEM memory: Getting to play "I Just Can't Wait to be King" from the Lion King Soundtrack to help facilitate patient care.
Why did you choose NUEM?
When I got an opportunity to rotate through the Northwestern ED as a medical student, one of the greatest draws that I saw in this program was the strength that the senior residents exhibited at being a team leader. I believe that many programs will offer you training to become an outstanding emergency clinician. I was awed by how effectively the seniors here coordinated teams of junior residents, nurses, ED techs, respiratory therapists, and even attendings, all while knowing accurate details pertaining to specific patient medical history and their emergency care. I wanted to be part of that and learn from that. Not to mention learning by osmosis from the Jim Adams.
Michael Conrardy
Class of 2021
Medical school: Northwestern
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin - Madison
Hometown: De Pere, WI
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? Anything that gets me outdoors. This summer I have been learning how to sail on Lake Michigan and it's pretty amazing. It is so rejuvenating to have the skyline in the background while on the water with only the sound of the wind and waves.
What’s your favorite thing about Chicago? The neighborhoods! The lakefront is pretty great, but Chicago's diversity of neighborhoods, people, and experiences is definitely its best asset.
What’s your favorite NUEM memory? Surprisingly, working Thanksgiving in the department as an intern. While initially feeling incredibly bummed that I had to work on Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday), it was almost completely made up for by the sense of family I felt in the department on that shift. Everyone brought in A TON of food for a potluck. Since it was slower in the department that day, all of the staff (EDAs, nurses, APPs, secretaries, security, paramedics, etc) were celebrating together at work when we we weren't busy with patients. It was pretty cool to feel such a strong sense of community as a new intern.
What is your favorite thing about NUEM? The people. I feel so fortunate to have such an amazingly talented and diverse group of co-residents, and all the other staff in the department are truly wonderful to work with.
Why did you choose NUEM?
The people and the quality of the training.
Vidya Eswaran
Class of 2020
Medical school: Baylor College of Medicine
Undergrad: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Hometown: Houston, TX
Favorite thing to do outside of work: I love being outdoors and have a personal quest to visit all 60 national parks. I'm only 1/4 of the way there, so I use any long weekends or vacations I can to reach my goal!
If you could have any super power, what would it be? I'd love a time turner like Hermione Granger. There are so many cool things to do in life and it would be awesome to be able to make more time to be able to do them!
Favorite NUEM memory: It's so hard to choose just one - any time with my coresidents is a great time. One of my favorites was at one of our co-residents' wedding reception this past year. Our chiefs are FANTASTIC are were able to get our whole class off to go to Wisconsin for the weekend. The reception was beautiful, we got all dressed up, and had tons of fun together.
Favorite thing about NUEM: Hands down, it's the people. Not only the residents/faculty, but our nurses, techs and pharmacists in the ED and throughout the hospital as well. It feels like I'm working with family which makes for a really fun and caring work environment. At the end of night shift, the people you're with really makes a difference.
Why did you choose NUEM?
For the opportunities. NUEM is a place where no matter what it is you want to do, or where you want to end up, there are resources and people who care to help you achieve your goals. Be it research, quality improvement, social justice, or more - there are people here who can be your mentor. This translates to clinical practice as well - we have the opportunity to rotate at a variety of practice settings, to treat a wide range of patient populations and to learn from experts not only in EM but in other specialties as well. I feel so lucky to have all these opportunities available to me, and I can only hope to take advantage of as many as I can!
Andra Farcas
Class of 2021
Medical school: Baylor College of Medicine
Undergrad: University of Arizona
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work? Travel! I'm usually planning my upcoming trip or scoping out the next destination.
If you could have any super power, what would it be? Teleportation for sure. Airfare isn't cheap and I'd never be late for a class night out ever again.
Last book you read or TV show you binged? I'm currently binging The League (I'm a few years behind, I know), and I just read "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas - highly recommend her books.
Favorite thing about Chicago? Absolutely 100% summer in Chicago. After a challenging winter, the city really comes alive. So many festivals, so many excuses to be outside in the sunshine, and having the lake so close is a definite bonus.
Why did you choose NUEM?
I went with my gut feeling. My rank list was entirely based on this, and I got great vibes from the program. I really liked the people and could see myself fitting in with everyone and being happy here (which I am!). I also really liked the opportunities training at NUEM provided, both during and after residency. If there's something you're interested in or want to do, there is a way to do it here.
David Feiger
Class of 2022
Medical school: Duke University School of Medicine
Undergrad: Duke University
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Favorite restaurant in the city? Wow, this is hard to pick just one since my favorites are so different. If I'm going for Southeast Asian food, then Le Colonial without a doubt. Otherwise, if I'm seeking lighter Israeli/Middle Eastern cuisine, then Galit, hands down.
Favorite thing to do outside of work? This one is easy - travel! One of my rules of thumb is to have my next trip planned and booked before I finish the trip I'm currently taking - that way, I always have something to look forward to.
Last book you read or TV show you binged? Schitt's Creek.
The first show I've watched and cried :-D I finally feel seen!
Why did you choose NUEM?
I chose NUEM because of the amazing leadership, the diversity of training environments, but most importantly, my inner gut. On the interview trail, you might not remember the number of beds an ED has, the number of shifts you're working per block, or the many opportunities afforded to you, but what you will remember is the way you felt when meeting the residents and faculty. I knew that I would get great training at all of the places where I interviewed, but to reach my full potential, I knew that I had to find a place where I felt most at home. I would not have had this play out any other way!
Kumar Gandhi
Class of 2020
Medical school: UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Undergrad: University of California, Riverside
Hometown: Anaheim Hills, California
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Taking my dog Harper to all the best dog parks around the city.
Favorite thing about Chicago? The amazing food! You could explore the city for a new restaurant every week and find something new and amazing every time.
Last book you read or TV show you binged? The Ozarks, The Office, Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, the list goes on…
Favorite thing about NUEM: Knowing on your best day at NUEM you will have co-residents, nurses, and faculty that will celebrate your successes and on your toughest day those same people will be there to pick you up, pat you on the back, and help you become the best physician you can be.
Why did you choose NUEM?
NUEM I felt offered a “best of all worlds” training experience. We are fortunate enough to train at the premier academic center in the state at NMH, rotate at a busy, fast paced community ED in Lake Forest, and see unparalleled pathology while in Gary, Indiana and Cook County Trauma. Lastly, I wanted a program that would provide exposure to the administrative aspect of Emergency Medicine, and while at NUEM I have been fortunate enough to lead our NUEM administration college, partake in several QI projects, sit on several hospital-level committees as well as pursue an MBA at the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.
Maurice Hajjar
Class of 2022
Medical school: Brown University
Undergrad: University of Miami
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Favorite restaurant in the city? Le Colonial. Amazing Vietnamese food and the atmosphere instantly transports me to my totally uninformed image of what it would be like to be a French expat in Vietnam in the '70s.
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it? First, get it out of my system and splurge on a really nice guitar. Then pay off my student loans and pay for my wedding. Then very boringly invest the rest in various tax advantaged retirement accounts.
Last book you read or TV show you binged? Mr. Robot. Definitely in my top 5 of all time. It's mind-bending and bleak but it's some super inventive story telling and Rami Malek really knocks it out of the park.
What is your favorite thing about NUEM? It has to be the post-night shift breakfast. There is just no better bonding than that which occurs when commiserating with your co-residents over bacon, eggs, and a mimosa after a long night shift.
Why did you choose NUEM?
In short, the people! We have no shortage of opportunities to work with leaders in medical education, administration, and research. However, what really stood out to me was just how down to earth everybody was, from the residents to the faculty to our wonderful (and extremely hardworking) program coordinators, which left me smiling on my interview day. It was obvious that NUEM was a family and I'm pumped to be a part of it.
Alexandra Herndon
Class of 2021
Med school: University of Pennsylvania
Undergrad: University of Washington
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Favorite restaurant in the city? - Maybe not a restaurant per se but its Molly's Cupcakes
Favorite thing to do outside of work? - Get creative whether its food, art, or writing.
What surprised you the most about NUEM? - The strong team mentality when working in the ED between not only physicians, but the nurses, EDAs and techs.
Favorite thing about NUEM? - My fellow residents
Last book you read or TV show you binged? - American Vandal on Netflix
Favorite thing about Chicago? - Chicago Summers
Why did you choose NUEM?
I chose NUEM for two major reasons:
1. After coming to NUEM to interview and listening to Dr. Adams speak, I became a major supporter and follower of his ideology regarding why EM is so awesome and where we should be heading as a specialty, but furthermore he was the only person along the interview trail to directly address and ensure resident happiness not only during residency, but including helping align careers to where we can continue to feel fulfilled and happy with our careers, 10, 20 and 30 years down the road.
2. NUEM's reputation speaks for itself. I knew going into EM that I could practically go anywhere and receive strong training, however NUEM also provided security regarding career opportunities given the extensive network and strong reputation this program has established.
Jonathan Hung
Class of 2021
Medical school: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Undergrad: University of Michigan
Hometown: East Brunswick, NJ
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Exploring the city with my son
Favorite restaurant in the city? Little Goat for Brunch
If you could have any super power, what would it be? Not needing to sleep
Share your favorite NUEM memory: Aaron Quarles helping me place a central line at the start of my first shift
Why did you choose NUEM?
NUEM checked off all the boxes I was looking for in a residency program and more. Some of those things included training in a large, urban city with a diverse patient population. NUEM showed me there was a lot more to just being a clinician and really emphasized becoming a leader in your field of interest. Furthermore, all the residents and faculty were so down-to-earth and personable. One thing that stood out was how the faculty regularly invites the entire residency into their homes for Adams' Club.
Abiye Ibiebele
Class of 2021
Medical school: Washington University in St. Louis
Undergrad: Washington University in St. Louis
Hometown: Boyds, MD
If you could have any super power, what would it be? Tough question because I'm a superhero nerd, but I would choose to use "Speedforce" energy like The Flash. Not only does he have superspeed, but can also run back/forward in time and throw lightning bolts among other things....like I said, huge nerd.
What is your favorite thing about Chicago? The summers. The climate here makes people really appreciative of the summer months and Chicago knows how to make the most of it. There is always some sort of festival going on and there is an endless number of patio/rooftop bars to try out to just enjoy the weather!
What's your favorite restaurant in the city? For fast casual, I really love Honey Butter Fried Chicken. Amazing combination! For a more sit down experience, I have to go with Duck Duck Goat, huge Top Chef fan and this restaurant has awesome fried rice and dumpling dishes.
What's your favorite NUEM memory? NUEM retreat! So many great memories, from hanging around a bonfire to trash talking on the basketball court. Just a great getaway from daily residency life.
Why did you choose NUEM?
Coming in, I knew I wanted to be an an urban institution for residency because in my mind, big city = greater number of patients and greater diversity in pathology which I thought was important for my training. What led me to pick NUEM was the amazing support that the EM program has (the CMO of Northwestern is the chief of the EM department) as well as the quality of jobs that our residents obtain right after residency. I knew this program was doing something right if our graduates were consistently getting great job placements and I knew that coming here I would be well trained to handle anything in my career. Also the residents on my interview day were open and down to earth! After my interview here and comparing so many other programs to what NUEM had to offer, I knew that this was the place for me.
Alex Ireland
Class of 2020
Medical school: Northwestern University
Undergrad: University of Pittsburgh
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Favorite restaurant in the city: Good drink is just as important as good food. Owen & Engine has both. Amazing whiskey selection and an incredible rotating beer selection. Sit at the bar, chat with the bartenders, and make sure you stay until 10:22.
Last show you binged: Currently working my way through The Great British Baking show. I don't bake. But I now have very strong opinions about how to make a good creme pat, and absolutely despise soggy bottoms.
Favorite thing to do outside of work: Spend as much time as possible at the lake and the lake shore trail. Whether it's going for a run along the trail, lounging in my hammock, swimming at the beach or off the barriers, or playing spike-ball with friends, spring and summer in Chicago is meant to be spent at the lake.
Favorite thing about Chicago: The music scene. Chicago is a destination for performers and there is no shortage of incredible live shows. I have about 4 or 5 favorite concert venues. The summer also brings in some great music festivals.
Why did you choose NUEM?
The diversity of training is unparalleled. At Northwestern alone, we see complete tertiary care center patients, bread and butter emergency medicine, and a large uninsured and underserved population. Beyond that, we also work at a typical suburban community emergency department and in another urban underserved area riddled with drugs and violence. I have been exposed to such a variety of practice environments that I feel well suited to choose the type of job that I want and excel in that role.
Cameron Jones
Class of 2023
Med school: Medical University of South Carolina
Undergrad: Clemson University
Hometown: Hendersonville, NC
Favorite restaurant?
HaiSous
Last book you read?
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfeg
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
In the before-times, exploring all of Chicago's delightful different neighborhoods. Now, I skateboard alone in a parking lot near my apartment.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Transmogrification (shout-out the legend K.A. Applegate)
Why did you choose NUEM?
The level of support and caring that's woven into the fabric of the program was something I could sense when I rotated and interviewed here, and I've only come to appreciate it more as a resident. A truly lovely workplace culture is difficult to create and not something to take lightly (but also I like riding the hospital's escalators).
Vytas Karalius
Class of 2022
Medical school: Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
Graduate School: Loyola University Chicago
Undergrad: Michigan State University
Hometown: Sweet Home Chicago!
Favorite restaurant in the city?
There’s too many to choose from… Steak? Bavette’s Bar & Beoff. Chicken? Roister. Korean? Parachute. Burger? Acadia. Brunch? Sommerset. Pizza? Lou Malnati’s. Take out in my pajamas? Butterfly Sushi & Thai. Brewery? The Mouse Trap. I could go on for days.
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
Travel, anything outdoors, skiing, cooking and trying new restaurants with friends.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Being able to travel through time would be pretty special.
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?
Save that money! I’d put it into diversified investment accounts and let it grow while I get to work. When I’m done… it’ll be there, looking better than ever.
Last book you read?
I always try and keep two books on my nightstand… one joy read and one intellectual or professional book. The last two I finished were a Black Hole by Charles Burns (a graphic novel) and Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well by Douglas Stone & Sheila Heen, respectively.
Last TV show you binged?
Lovecraft Country.
Favorite thing about Chicago?
If I have to pick just one… I would choose a long day of riding my bike on the Lake Front Trail and spending time at the beach, followed by great food and drink at one of Chicago’s amazing restaurants with my friends and family.
Favorite thing about NUEM?
Honestly, the people. They make the culture here at NUEM special. You find yourself amongst a family of amazingly talented, caring people. It makes you look forward to coming into work each day.
Why did you choose NUEM?
There’s a multitude of reasons, but two things that stood out to me on the interview trail were the attitude during interview day and the interview dinner. When I interviewed at NUEM, the discussion felt different – there was an expectation for us to be leaders, and the conversation was more about what that leadership role was going to be and how can they help me get there. They felt invested in us as applicants. I also loved that their interview dinners were part of a long-standing Adams’ Club tradition - where dinners are hosted at attendings homes. There, you saw residents and faculty coming together like family. That was important to me.
Saabir Kaskar
Class of 2023
Med School: Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine
Undergrad: University of Michigan
Hometown: Troy, MI
Favorite restaurant in Chicago?
Lao Sze Chuan
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
Play soccer
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Flight
Last TV show you binged?
The Mandalorian
Favorite thing about Chicago?
Summertime Chi
What surprised you the most about NUEM?
You get to take care of critically ill patients from day one which is awesome
Favorite NUEM Memory?
Yearly retreat
Favorite thing about NUEM?
The people (attendings, co-residents, nursing, techs and even consultants)
Why did you choose NUEM?
I chose NUEM because I thought it would be the best place for me to not only become an excellent clinician but also to develop the skills to become a leader within the field of Emergency Medicine.
Ben Kiesel
Class of 2023
Med school: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Undergrad: Northwestern University
Hometown: Hanover Park, IL
Favorite restaurant in the city?
Too many to choose from! If I’m really trying to indulge, Tango Sur for the best Argentinian steak in the city or Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co for an incredibly cheesy pizza pot pie
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
In the summer I love biking along the lakefront and hitting up new bars and breweries.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Flight
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?
Travel back to New Zealand and Australia with my family (after COVID ends)
Last book you read or TV show you binged?
The Stand by Stephen King
Favorite thing about Chicago?
The sense of community and pride for the city.
What surprised you the most about NUEM?
The incredibly diverse patient population and how close the faculty are with the residents.
Share your favorite NUEM memory
Winning the retreat dodgeball game two years in a row!
Favorite thing about NUEM?
The sense of community among all the residents and faculty.
Why did you choose NUEM?
The endless opportunities from having such a robust alumni network. NUEM leaves every door open regardless of what your career aspirations are.
Patrick King
Class of 2023
Med School: University of Kentucky
Undergrad: Vanderbilt University
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
Guitar, for sure. I picked it up as a 4th year med student when I wanted to keep developing as a person but not in a way that involved any medical textbooks whatsoever. I am self taught (~it may or may not show~).
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?
Invest it: poker bender in Indiana, fake moustache, stay incognito and win big (gotta spend money to make money!).
Last book you read or TV show you binged?
What We Do In the Shadows – I love Halloween season, so a vampire roommate mockumentary series just makes sense to me.
Share your favorite NUEM memory
As far as on shift? Too many… one of my favorites is night float medical ICU. The high level of autonomy we are afforded as EM residents taking care of critically ill patients is a reflection of the awesome training we receive. There is a reason that the only MICU resident team that isn’t IM led is run by EM.
Why did you choose NUEM?
The amount of critical care training we receive was huge for me – of the programs I interviewed, NUEM seemed to provide the most exposure. Furthermore, I don’t know whether I want to work academic or community, whether to go fellowship or straight into practice when I graduate. But I do know as an NUEM graduate, I will have the skills and background needed to succeed in any venue I ultimately settle on.
Justine Ko
Class of 2021
Medical school: Case Western Reserve University
Undergrad: Case Western Reserve University
Hometown: Marlboro, NJ
If you could have any super power, what would it be? Probably teleportation. I love to travel; teleportation would allow me to visit many more places without the need to waste time on the plane!
Last TV show you binged: Game of Thrones, Westworld, Friends.
Share your favorite NUEM memory: Hard to choose one. All of our residency-wide events…sitting around the firepit at retreat, post in-service hangouts, graduation night.
Favorite thing about NUEM: Without a doubt, the people. We are a family and enjoy each other’s company. This not only includes my co-residents, but also the nurses, techs, APPs, and faculty.
Why did you choose NUEM?
NUEM turned out to be everything I wanted in a program (fun fact: I almost canceled my interview and I am SO glad I didn’t!).
1. NUEM has a well-rounded and unique curriculum. We see great pathology within our department and have a focus on critical care. We travel to various ICU units (no floor months!) within our hospital and also to several hospital sites, which aids in our development as clinicians and prepares us to take on any patient that enters the door.
2. The program helps us to become leaders within our field of interest. I was also incredibly impressed with the senior residents and how they managed the department.
3. I felt right at home with the people. This makes all the difference at the end of a busy and tiring night shift.
Maren Leibowitz
Class 2023
Med school: University of Virginia (Go Hoos!)
Undergrad: College of William & Mary
Hometown: Vienna, VA
Favorite restaurant in the city?
Cabra for a nice dinner, Cafecito for brunch/lunch. The Cafecito cortado is one of my favorite cups of coffee in the city.
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
Hanging out with friends by the River or in Lincoln Park!
Last book you read or TV show you binged?
Just finished the Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson, currently binging the 4th season of the Crown
Favorite thing about Chicago?
The neighborhoods! Each has it's own vibe and scene and it's so fun to explore them all
What surprised you the most about NUEM?
The relationships we have with our faculty - not many programs will have attendings join residents for post-shift drinks/brunch (and for the residents to want them to!)
Why did you choose NUEM?
I had such a sense of rightness after finishing my interview at NUEM. I was really struck by the collegiality between faculty and residents that I saw at Adam's Club and on my interview day and it is a collegiality that has definitely held true now that I'm here! My co-residents are my best friends here in Chicago. I also knew I wanted a place that would set me up for whatever job or career path I decided on, and NUEM is definitely a program that opens doors for you.
Daniel Levine
Class of 2023
Med school: University of Chicago
Undergrad: Williams College
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Favorite restaurant in Chicago?
Cho Sun Ok (hole in the wall Korean BBQ joint)
Last book you read or TV show you binged?
Schitt’s Creek
Favorite thing about Chicago?
Abundance of beautiful lakefront trail and parks
Favorite NUEM memory?
Playing salad bowl with my co-residents during class night out
Why did you choose NUEM?
So many reasons but top 3 for me would be:
1. Top notch clinical training with emphasis on critical care experience
2. Family of supportive, hard-working, brilliant co-residents and faculty
3. Opportunity to learn from and provide care for a diverse patient population in an amazing city
Rafael Lima
Class of 2023
Med School: Baylor College of Medicine
Undergrad: Rice University
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
Bouldering and climbing at the rock gym
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
The ability to talk to my dog and cats and find out what they think about
Last TV show you binged?
The Great British Baking Show
Favorite thing about NUEM?
The close relationships between the residents and faculty
Why did you choose NUEM?
I had an immediate positive gut feeling after interviewing here. I was heavily involved in sim education in med school so I was amazed by the sim center and program’s commit to medical education. I got the sense that the program would support their residents’ ideas and projects no matter how novel or ambitious they were. I also loved the camaraderie between the faculty and the residents. Everyone was treated as a peer and there was no sense of formal hierarchy like you see in so many other areas of medicine. It was truly unique to NUEM and unlike anywhere else I saw on the interview trail.
Dana Loke
Class of 2020
Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin - Madison
Hometown: Merton, WI
Favorite restaurant in the city? Quartino’s - it’s a cute little Italian tapas place
Share your favorite NUEM memory: Anything to do with retreat at Camp Beber, but my absolute favorite is canoeing on the lake at retreat
Last book you read or TV show you binged? Peaky Blinders
Favorite thing about Chicago? There’s so much to do! It’s been amazing exploring the city…I even have a Chicago bucket list of things to do!
Why did you choose NUEM?
I rotated at Northwestern as a medical student and really vibed with the residents and faculty. After the rotation was done I just felt like I belonged at Northwestern and wanted to continue my experience. I was amazed by the residents. To put it simply, they were all great doctors - intelligent and quick-thinking but caring and compassionate. I knew that if I came to Northwestern I would be on that track, and now that I’m here I can say it’s definitely lived up to my expectations.
Shawn Luo
Class of 2022
Medical school: University of Kentucky
Undergrad: University of Virginia
Hometown: Nanjing, China
Favorite restaurant in the city?
Wow too many to choose from, Chicago is surely a foodie's town. To list a few: Girl & Goat, Big Star, Angry Crab, Wiener Circle, Cho Sun Ok, Crisp, Taipei Cafe
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
Flying, camping/backpacking, riding bike or go on a run, snowboarding in winter
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Teleportation. If that's too hyperbolic, photographic memory then
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?
Buy an airplane :) Ever seen a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver? It's a beauty!
Favorite thing about Chicago?
Miles of lake front trail & beaches makes summer in Chicago a paradise. Also lots of beautiful open space/forest reserves that sometimes make you feel like out in the back country.
What surprised you the most about NUEM?
The feared transition as an intern was surprisingly smooth thanks to the all the support we got, from procedure labs during orientation, first-shift buddies to weekly EM foundation sessions. I was empowered to go see all types of patients including the critically ill, while having the guidance of my awesome attending and seniors. The residency has a "growth mindset", as interns we are encouraged to expose our knowledge gaps and ask any questions, so we get the most targeted and effective learning.
Share your favorite NUEM memory
Working MICU nights as an intern with my senior Jason Chodakowski, non-stop bantering mixed with awesome teachings and resuscitation.
Favorite thing about NUEM?
Extremely supportive environment. The faculty and residency leadership goes out of their way to make sure we are supported in both our medical training and personal life. It is especially heartwarming to know that they have our back during this difficult time.
Why did you choose NUEM?
NUEM sets a high standard for residents, achieved by 4 years of clinical training with a diverse patient population in different environment (NMH, Lake Forest and Gary). It also offers one of the most extensive critical care experiences in the nation. The program is filled with smart, motivated and compassionate people, many of whom I consider my role model. Last but not least, it is in the great city of Chicago.
Matt McCauley
Class of 2021
Medical school: Case Western Reserve University
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin
Hometown: Milwaukee
Favorite thing about Chicago? The lakefront: we have easily have one of the best coastlines of any city, who cares if it's not on an ocean.
Favorite NUEM memory: getting to see all of the residents outside of the ED at retreat
Favorite restaurant? Tango Sur: BYOB Argentinian steakhouse where you can shorten your life via irresponsible consumption of grilled meats
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Running, cycling, drastically over-thinking the cooking process of just about anything
Why did you choose NUEM?
I rotated here and found a residency program full awesome people that could manage an entire emergency department - all while still being excited to teach a try-hard visiting medical student
Danielle Miller
Class of 2019
Medical school: The Ohio State University
Undergrad: The Ohio State University
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Favorite restaurant in the city? Hoosier Mama Pies--where you can order a slice a pie and quiche and fit right in
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it? Everyone's dream: buy a Victorian home on 10 acres of land
Share your favorite NUEM memory: When the class of 2019 attended SAEM in Indianapolis, and held the murder mystery party of the century--1800s western costumes and all
Favorite thing about Chicago? One of my favorite weekends in Chicago is Open House Chicago, held by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, a free weekend where you can walk around Chicago neighborhoods and view anything from secret artist studios to Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in the city
Why did you choose NUEM?
This place trains excellent clinicians, and also gives you the foundations to find your niche in medicine
Luke Neill
Class of 2020
Medical school: The University of Vermont
Undergrad: The University of Vermont
Hometown: Saranac Lake, NY
What’s your favorite restaurant in the city? The Cherry Circle Room: It provides great atmosphere, exquisite food, and top notch service.
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?Enjoying Lake Michigan!
What’s the last TV show you binged? NETFLIX: Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates
What’s your favorite thing about Chicago? The architecture!
Why did you choose NUEM?
NUEM is the preeminent program for training healthcare leaders across the nation. Not only does it provide the best learning environment to become a master clinician, the program is unique in that it provides residents with the ability to pursue a Kellogg MBA during training. The Kellogg MBA Program For McGaw Residents elevates your leadership development and deepens your understanding of emerging topic and challenges facing the healthcare organizations. NUEM is truly incredible!
Patricia O’Connell
Class of 2022
Medical school: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Undergrad: University of Notre Dame
Hometown: Hellertown, PA
What’s your favorite restaurant in the city? The Purple Pig!! I love the small plates that are made for sharing, makes it so easy to try many different dishes! They make the best broccoli dish I have ever had and I don't even really like broccoli.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? My favorite thing to do outside of work is watch a movie or get dinner with my fiance Steve! He is a resident at Northwestern too and time together can be hard to come by. When he isn't around, my favorite thing to do is go to an Orangetheory class!
What's the last book you read or TV show you binged? Oh gosh, so many shows on my list right now, but I most recently binged my all time fave, Law & Order SVU.
What's your favorite NUEM memory? I am less than a year in to residency and honestly so many memories to choose from already. The welcome BBQ comes to mind, holiday Adams Clubs, class nights out, retreat! I really can't choose just one.
Why did you choose NUEM?
I walked out of the interview day with a huge smile on my face. At some interviews I was worried about travel, or I was tired, or I just couldn't wait to get my suit off, but all I could think about after interviewing at Northwestern was calling my significant other to tell him all about how much I loved this program. The people I met that day, both residents and faculty, were SO incredibly accomplished and yet still so easy to connect with in friendly conversation. It was clear that this program is producing not only great clinicians and future leaders, but also just really wonderful people who have each other's backs, celebrate each other's successes, and who truly care for the people we serve every day.
Niki Patel
Class of 2022
Medical school: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Undergrad: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Tarheel born and bred!)
Hometown: Cary, North Carolina
Favorite restaurant in the city? IMPOSSIBLE to pick just one, so I have my favorites for all different vibes! A quick breakfast after an overnight shift - The ‘Vera Cruz’ at Do-Rite Donuts. Craving sushi? Sushi Taku - all you can eat of some of the best Sushi in the city (and it’s BYOB!). Happy hour at Bar Ramone - wine specials and a fully loaded FREE Spanish tapas bar for snacking. Lou Malnati’s for deep dish - no question. La Scarola for the best Italian food and ambience (feels like you’re stepping into an Italian family’s home!). Anything on Devon for a quick Indian bite!
If you could have any super power, what would it be? A supernatural ability to clean my apartment without ever getting up from my couch - my family and fiancee would definitely appreciate this.
Favorite thing about Chicago?
How can you pick just one?! Being a Southerner born and raised, I never thought I would be able to adapt to the cold weather but I’ve been so surprised at how easily I’ve grown to love everything about Chicago, including the climate! Biking up and down Lake Shore Drive, running along the River Walk (even for someone who’s not much of a jogger…), and exploring the MANY bars and restaurants this city has to offer (and from personal experience- no one ever scoffs if you’re showing up in sweats or scrubs)
Favorite thing about NUEM: Women’s Night! We have such strong and powerful women in our program, including faculty, alumni, and residents, and all make it a point to meet for wine and food (not a hard sell) for multiple nights throughout the year. I love hearing my colleagues share their experience and truly have learned so much from these nights.
Why did you choose NUEM?
For so many reasons, but one of the most important to me as a medical student looking for a training site was close mentorship, and NUEM has that in abundance. Mentorship not only when it comes to scholarly and professional interests, but also with faculty and co-resident support when it comes to the challenges of being a resident on the daily. There is nothing more important than debriefing and having such strong support after a tough case or a long week, and everyone at NUEM is a family willing to support each other. I was also drawn to the ‘Attending-Senior-Junior’ shift structure, and I’ve loved learning from my senior residents on shift and having their support through everything from first time procedures to resuscitations to delivering bad news to families. I am so lucky to be a part of this family!
Nery Porras
Class of 2021
Medical school: Alpert Medical School at Brown University
Undergrad: Harvard College
Hometown: Hyde Park, MA
Favorite restaurant in the city? Given the number of times I've been there and the size of the wings, Crisp in Lake View. Because who can say no to fried chicken?
Favorite thing to do outside of work? I am not gonna lie, but naps are always a favorite. But I am also a big fan of running along the lake, grabbing drinks or a meal with friends or just going out and walking around the city.
What's the last book you read or TV show you binged?I am in the middle of binging "Happy Endings" for the second time because it was that good. Plus it takes place in Chicago!
What surprised you the most about NUEM? I knew the residents and attendings would be great, but I have really enjoyed working with nurses, techs, secretaries and other staff in the Emergency Department.
Why did you choose NUEM?
I was lucky enough to rotate here as medical student so I got an extended view of the program and it did not disappoint. I was constantly amazed by the senior residents I met here and connected with some of attendings as a rotator so I knew that this would be a great place for me. The program has so many resources and connections so that you can do a wide range of things. Its location in Chicago was another great plus, as they city has so much to offer and the summers are great!
Aaron Quarles
Class of 2019
Medical school: Harvard Medical School
Grad school: Harvard Kennedy School (Masters of Public Policy)
Undergrad: University of Notre Dame
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Favorite restaurant: Easy. Au Cheval. Incredible atmosphere, best burger you've ever had, great drinks, and even the potentially long wait for a table is awesome because you get to explore my favorite neighborhood, West Loop!
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it? I would pay of my loans, set up college funds for my nieces and nephew, give some to charity, buy a puppy, and throw and incredible party for NUEM. I would then immediately seek Dr. Pirotte's counsel on what to do with rest of it.
Favorite thing about NUEM: Easiest answer of all... My class, 2019. Having the chance to grow with and learn from such intelligent, hard working, and downright hilarious colleagues has been the greatest joy of this residency journey.
What surprised you the most about NUEM? I am continuously surprised and truly grateful for the incredible support our program and co-residents lend each other, especially during challenging moments. We have a really strong culture of stepping in and stepping up. Honored to be part of this team.
Why did you choose NUEM?
I chose NUEM because I wanted to be challenged with a rigorous and demanding clinical environment designed to produce expert emergency clinicians; an equally supportive and inspiring academic environment that produces leaders in research, administration and education; and a diverse patient population that demands and deserves the exceptional care this program trains us to provide. In choosing NUEM, I entered a family overflowing with mentorship from peers and faculty who have indelibly impacted my career development. NUEM is the only place on my interview trail where I was challenged to dream about what I could become 5-10 years after graduation, and has continued to push me toward those goals throughout training. And did I mention 2019?
Kaitlin Ray
Class of 2020
Medical school: University of Tennessee
Undergrad: Duke University
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Favorite restaurant in the city? Small Cheval
If you could have any super power, what would it be? Anosmia
Last book you read or TV show you binged? Shameless, Fixer Upper, Devil in the White City. Currently reading Thinking Fast and Slow!
Favorite thing about NUEM? The family vibe--you know someone always has your back. Someone is always there for you--whether it's to vent about a tough shift, try out a new restaurant, or just hang out on someone's patio.
Why did you choose NUEM?
I fell in love with NUEM during my away rotation here my 4th year of medical school. I immediately realized I wanted to be a part of this amazing, fun-loving group of people who both inspire and exemplify clinical excellence in a supportive environment.
Sarah Sanders
Class of 2019
Medical School: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Undergrad and Grad school: University of Wisconsin - Madison
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Favorite restaurant in the city? Low Country - seafood boil spot in Wrigleyville. Tasty food. Picnic tables. Eating with your hands. Freshly fried beignets and deep fried oreos. What could be better?
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Cooking, or at least attempting to cook.
What surprised you the most about NUEM? How much the residency has become my second family.
Favorite thing about Chicago? The food scene is phenomenal. From the hole in the wall taco shops to Michelin starred restaurants, there is a never-ending list of must-visit restaurants/bars throughout the city, keeping a foodie like me always excited for the next spot.
Why did you choose NUEM?
I knew I wanted a training environment where I'd have the opportunity to be the most well-rounded emergency medicine provider as possible. The NUEM training environment provides that such opportunity. From the training at a tertiary care academic hospital to being the lone physician in Gary, Indiana - each rotation and experience at NUEM serves a purpose to better provide you with the tools to be the best clinician possible. Additionally, the graduated senior role of supervising junior providers and focusing on ED thorough-put was an attractive aspect of the residency as I wanted an opportunity to not only exponentially increase my clinical exposure, but to gain skills outside of clinical medicine.
Plus, Chicago is a fantastic city that has an unlimited opportunities to socialize and be a regular person outside of work, so it's truly a win-win.
Pete Serina
Class of 2022
Medical school: University of Washington
Undergrad: Colby College
Hometown: Denver, CO
Favorite restaurant in the city? Ella Elli. They just reopened with outdoor seating during COVID times. The food is so good and it's a block from our apartment... to make it sustainable we go during happy hour
Favorite thing to do outside of work? I love being outside with Maggie (my fiance) and Trudy (our dog). We have been exploring the surrounding state parks and forest preserves. Wolf Prairie dog park and Wigleyville are Trudy's favorite spots and Maggie loves the Dunes down in Indiana.
Last book you read or TV show you binged? I just watched all of Dave. Highly enjoyable.
What surprised you the most about NUEM? I was worried I wasn't going to fit in with my love of flannel, lack of manners and poor sense of fashion. I won't ever be as refined as the David Feigers of the world (see last NUEM resident of the block), but I was really wowed by how welcoming and lovely everyone in the residency has been.
Why did you choose NUEM?
1) I liked the other residents and faculty I met, and it was a place where I felt like I would be supported. I wasn't wrong!
2) NUEM has a proven track record over the past 30+ years of producing clinically strong doctors who have become leaders in academic, administrative and purely clinical roles.
3) I was excited about the PSTP program and getting the mentorship and funding to continue to explore my interest in research
Zach Schmitz
Class of 2021
Medical school: St. Louis University School of Medicine
Undergrad: Washington University in St. Louis
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Favorite restaurant in the city?
First Draft in the south loop. It is a fairly small, neighborhood place down just a block from me with tons of TVs, great food, and the best list of IPAs in the city.
Favorite thing about Chicago?
Chicago is a vertical city with a ton of rooftops, each of which has a unique and often awesome view of the city and lake. Hanging out on one on a sunny, 76 degree July afternoon with a drink and a few friends really can't be be beat.
What is your favorite NUEM memory?
When I was a MICU senior early in my 2nd year, I taught my intern to do her first LP, and she nailed it on the first pass (on kind of a tough patient). It was great for the patient and also so much more satisfying than doing it myself. The experience really sparked my interest in education.
What surprised you the most about NUEM?
The patient population. I thought having the main ED in a pretty nice part of town would lead to just a bunch of wealthy, health literate patients. However, Northwestern sits in a unique spot where they certainly see that type of patient, but also provide care to the 2nd most medicaid patients in the state. Additionally, their extensive network of subspecialists means we see everything from bread-and-butter emergency medicine to incredibly rare diseases. You really see everything here and every shift feels unique.
Why did you choose NUEM?
I chose NM because of the people. I was fortunate to be able to rotate here as a student, and I met a ton of smart, fun, motivated, and interesting residents and attendings. It was a group of role models that I knew could show me how to be a great clinician and professional.
Justin Seltzer
Class of 2021
Medical school: Keck School of Medicine of USC
Undergrad: University of Southern California
Hometown: San Diego, CA
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work? I exercise almost daily, even after shifts. In medical school I started buying my own equipment to make my work outs more time efficient and now my apartment is full of equipment I have accumulated over the years. Finding new additions is itself a favorite hobby.
If you could have any super power, what would it be? Remembering all of my online usernames and passwords
Last book you read or TV show you binged? Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead by General Jim Mattis.
Why did you choose NUEM?
The residency culture. Impressive mutual and institutional support across multiple domains maintained by nationally recognized program leadership and coordinators. We are very fortunate.
Jake Stelter
Class of 2019
Medical school: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Undergrad: Elmhurst College
Hometown: Lombard, IL
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it? Pay off my student loans, buy a new car and give the rest to Doctors Without Borders
What is your favorite thing about Chicago? The food. Hands down the food. There are innumerable options of amazing cuisine, coffee, breweries, etc.
Favorite NUEM memory: My favorite NUEM memories revolve around the social time spent with co-residents outside of work, whether that be playing volleyball in a beach volleyball league, going for boat rides (before it sank) and living life with an amazing group of people.
What surprised you the most about NUEM? I knew when I interviewed here that NUEM was a well run program. I was shocked at how well that actually plays out day to day. Our leadership, especially our residency coordinators, are passionate, responsive and are always there to aid in any way they can. Even from home at all hours, our coordinators are answering our questions and intervening on our behalf, not to mention keeping us organized.
Why did you choose NUEM?
NUEM provides amazing clinical training, gives numerous opportunities to expand extracurricularly and offers numerous mentors in almost every subspecialty within emergency medicine to help guide you in your career path. Also, our critical care training is robust and really makes us great clinicians.
Paul Trinquero
Class of 2019
Medical school: Northwestern
Undergrad: University of Georgia
Hometown: Peachtree City, Georgia
Favorite restaurant in the city? This is a bit of a loaded question because one of my favorite things about Chicago is the world class food scene and variety of high quality restaurants. But if I was to select a favorite based on number of meals/calories consumed, then I would choose Ceres Table, an Italian spot on my block. They do a rotating menu of handmade pastas and wood fired pizzas paired with an expansive Italian wine list and delicious cocktails. It’s reasonably priced, has a trendy vibe, and the food is excellent.
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it? Pay off my co-residents under the table to cover the rest of my shifts and then spend the next 3-4 months traveling the world with my wife. Then I would use whatever is left to settle some debts, lock down a nice house, and beef up my 2 month-old son’s college fund.
Favorite thing about NUEM: The people. There are a lot of great NUEM people, past and present, but special shoutout to the class of 2019 for being particularly fun and providing me with innumerable great memories over the past 4 years. And it’s not just residents who are looking to unwind outside the department. We have a great relationship with our nurses, APPs, and entire staff, both on and off the clock.
Why did you choose NUEM?
Coming from medical school at Northwestern, NUEM was my first interview before flying across the country and seeing a bunch of other great programs. But as I was putting together my rank list, I kept comparing everything back to NUEM and a couple of things really stood out. First, I really liked the curriculum, specifically the focus on critical care and the absence of inpatient floor months. I also liked the variety of training environments, including a busy urban academic ED (Northwestern Memorial), a busy, efficient community ED (Lake Forest), a very high acuity community ED in Gary, IN (Methodist), as well as rotations at Cook County for Tox and Trauma. This exposure is not only great for training, but it helps us to make educated career decisions down the road.
Kishan Ughreja
Class of 2023
Med school: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Undergrad: Dartmouth College
Hometown: Burlington, MA
Favorite restaurant in the city?
Opart Thai
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
Walking/biking on the Lake Shore Trail
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Telekinesis
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?
Go on the most luxurious vacation conceivable and pay for family and friends to do the same
Last book you read or TV show you binged?
Sherlock, a little late, but did not have to wait for years between seasons like the original watchers
Favorite thing about Chicago?
The summers
What surprised you the most about NUEM?
How tight-knit everyone is
Share your favorite NUEM memory
Winning the retreat dodgeball tournament intern year by getting Chelsea out, only to have her avenge her death and get me out the next year with a spectacular spin-throw haha
Favorite thing about NUEM:
The supportive atmosphere
Why did you choose NUEM?
I chose NUEM because I love Northwestern, Chicago, and the family feel to our ED department. Everyone works as a team and wants to help you succeed and grow in an environment that can foster that.
Logan Wedel
Class of 2022
Med school: University of Kansas School of Medicine
Undergrad: University of Kansas
Hometown: Minneapolis, Kansas
Favorite Restaurant in the city?
Quartino
Favorite activity outside of work?
Going out with friends and play golf
Favorite thing about Chicago?
The summers and river walk bars
Last TV show you binged?
Narcos
Why did you choose NUEM?
Because the leadership and clinical opportunities give you the ability to excel within any realm of EM, whether that be practicing in a community or academic setting. In addition to training top notch physicians, Northwestern equips you with the skills necessary to be a leader in key administrative roles and truly understand the "business side" of medicine.
Emily Wessling
Class of 2022
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Cornell University
Hometown: Pleasantville, NY
Favorite restaurant in the city?
Hmm… it depends... Brunch? Hand’s down Cindy’s! The food is delicious and you have a perfect view of millennium park. Dinner? Avec. Take out during a pandemic? Green Street Meats or the Smith!
Last book you read or TV show you binged?
I just finished The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith. It’s a murder mystery written by JK Rowling under a different pen name. One of the APN’s at Gary recommended it, and it was fantastic!
Favorite thing about Chicago?
All the neighborhoods! Chicago has many small neighborhoods within it that each have great restaurants and small parks to explore. My favorite neighborhood adventure so far has been taking the water taxi down to china town for dim sum!
What surprised you the most about NUEM?
The level of support and advising. From day one, you have multiple people you can go to for any questions you could possibly have (trust me,.. I did). Before you arrive, you’ll be matched with a PGY-2 buddy you can ask anything from “where should I live?” before you even come to Chicago to questions about shifts, schedules, etc. once you’re here. On your first day in the ED, you meet your first shift buddy, who is a PGY-3 or PGY-4 resident, not working that shift, just there to help you out. As the year goes on, you get to select a faculty coach, who will act as your mentor for the next four years and as the head of your coaching family (upper level residents with similar interests to you).
Share your favorite NUEM memory
After retreat my second year, the weather was perfect and a bunch of my classmates and I took kayaks out and went around the lake for a few hours, just chatting and paddling.
Why did you choose NUEM?
NUEM initially appealed to me because of its wide range of practice sites. I wanted as much experience in different possible settings for EM so as to be able to make an informed decision about my future career path; between NMH, Gary and Lake Forrest, NUEM offered that! Ultimately, however, what made my decision was the feeling I had leaving the interview day. Most interview days I walk away with a feeling of, “I hope I match somewhere!” or completely drained from the day’s events. At NUEM, I left feeling like I could do anything here! With their focus on administration, and ED faculty so entwined in the hospital administration, NUEM gave a unique opportunity to work closely with those making the big decisions. The research faculty were so approachable: you could talk to them about anything you were curious about! I left with a feeling that any passion I developed during residency, I would have the support at NUEM to pursue it to the utmost degree.
Nick Wleklinski
Class of 2022
Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Hometown: Sheboygan, WI
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work? Playing computer/Nintendo Switch games, running, swimming, rock climbing, and taking my dog for a walk along the Lakeshore path. There is also the occasional Cubs and Bear games if there is time left over.
If you could have any super power, what would it be? Flight, no question. Not only would it provide a great way to get some amazing views, but it would also make commuting in this busy city much easier.
What's the last book you read or TV show you binged?Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine, hands down one of the best page turners I have read to date. But in reality I'm more of a TV guy; Friend’s from College, Shameless, The Bodyguard, and Community.
What's your favorite thing about NUEM? The people. We are close as a residency and everyone is looking out for each other, which made my transition here as an intern so much easier. Not only that, but the ancillary staff in the ER are also amazing to work with.
Why did you choose NUEM?
The opportunities and education provided during our 4 years. The ability to practice in a variety of environments (i.e. Gary, Lake Forrest, Cook county) was a huge draw for me. Doing so will expose us to a large myriad of patients and allow you to find what environment you like best, helping decide your future as an EM doc. We also get a lot of critical care time, allowing us to become very comfortable with sick patients. Plus, Chicago is an amazing city with a lot to offer without completely bankrupting you.