Get to know the Iowa Medical Partners officers! There are some great tips and advice in here, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed compiling this post.
Name: Lindsay Norvell
Position: President
From: Minden, Nevada (small town outside Lake Tahoe)
Partner’s Specialty: Anesthesia
Year of Training: 3/4 (home stretch starts July 1st!!)
Favorite Activity: Wilson’s Orchard or dinner and a drink on the Patio at Big Grove in Solon
Best Vacation Spot: Wisconsin Dells or the HUGE zoo in Omaha, NE
Advice: don’t wait to make friends! Your resident friends will become your family and the more you jump right in the deeper connections you can make. Some of our residency friends will be friends we will stay friends with for LIFE!
Position: President
From: Minden, Nevada (small town outside Lake Tahoe)
Partner’s Specialty: Anesthesia
Year of Training: 3/4 (home stretch starts July 1st!!)
Favorite Activity: Wilson’s Orchard or dinner and a drink on the Patio at Big Grove in Solon
Best Vacation Spot: Wisconsin Dells or the HUGE zoo in Omaha, NE
Advice: don’t wait to make friends! Your resident friends will become your family and the more you jump right in the deeper connections you can make. Some of our residency friends will be friends we will stay friends with for LIFE!
Name: Megan Pai
Position: Vice President
From: Texas
Partner’s Specialty: Cardiothoracic Surgery
Year of Training: 3/8
Favorite Activity: So many things! NewBo Market in Cedar Rapids, Lattes & Cinnamon rolls at The Encounter Cafe, Lattes & Almond Croissants at Cortado, McBride Raptor Center, Taste of Iowa City, Corn Maze at Colony Pumpkin Patch, Geyer’s Pizza Oven Farm, Downtown Hunting for Elves, Kites over Hoover Park.
Best Vacation Spot: Wisconsin Dells
Advice: Go to Rapid Creek Cidery for brunch on Sunday morning. It is a truly beautiful experience, especially when the weather is nice and you can sit on the patio overlooking Wilson’s apple orchard. Also take the kids to Red Vespa where they can build their own pizza. Maddie went on her birthday, and all her “training” at the Children’s Museum pizzeria made it a truly memorable experience for her.
Position: Vice President
From: Texas
Partner’s Specialty: Cardiothoracic Surgery
Year of Training: 3/8
Favorite Activity: So many things! NewBo Market in Cedar Rapids, Lattes & Cinnamon rolls at The Encounter Cafe, Lattes & Almond Croissants at Cortado, McBride Raptor Center, Taste of Iowa City, Corn Maze at Colony Pumpkin Patch, Geyer’s Pizza Oven Farm, Downtown Hunting for Elves, Kites over Hoover Park.
Best Vacation Spot: Wisconsin Dells
Advice: Go to Rapid Creek Cidery for brunch on Sunday morning. It is a truly beautiful experience, especially when the weather is nice and you can sit on the patio overlooking Wilson’s apple orchard. Also take the kids to Red Vespa where they can build their own pizza. Maddie went on her birthday, and all her “training” at the Children’s Museum pizzeria made it a truly memorable experience for her.
Name: Jaycee Chambers
Position: Treasurer
From: Wichita, KS
Partner’s Specialty: Hematology/Oncology Fellow
Year of Training: Year 2/3
Favorite Activity: Hiking at Wikiup Hill Nature Center or Indian Creek Nature Center, with a pit-stop in Ely on the way home for Dan and Debbie's ice cream.
Best Vacation Spot: Kansas City
Advice: Get out and explore. While Iowa City is great, we are surrounded by a lot of small towns that have much to offer. Explore and you'll find great restaurants, small town libraries and movie theaters, and unique shopping. My favorite small town is Mount Vernon - quaint downtown district, great splash pad for young kids, and the historic Bijou Theater. West Liberty also has a great movie theater with delicious, local popcorn. Enjoy exploring!
Position: Treasurer
From: Wichita, KS
Partner’s Specialty: Hematology/Oncology Fellow
Year of Training: Year 2/3
Favorite Activity: Hiking at Wikiup Hill Nature Center or Indian Creek Nature Center, with a pit-stop in Ely on the way home for Dan and Debbie's ice cream.
Best Vacation Spot: Kansas City
Advice: Get out and explore. While Iowa City is great, we are surrounded by a lot of small towns that have much to offer. Explore and you'll find great restaurants, small town libraries and movie theaters, and unique shopping. My favorite small town is Mount Vernon - quaint downtown district, great splash pad for young kids, and the historic Bijou Theater. West Liberty also has a great movie theater with delicious, local popcorn. Enjoy exploring!
Name: Ceric Keck
Position: Secretary
From: Dubuque, Iowa
Partner’s Specialty: Surgery
Year of Training: 6/7 (if just counting residency), 6/10 (if counting fellowship, we matched to Iowa for plastic surgery, yay!), 6/11 (if counting second fellowship) 6/? (because he keeps adding on and at some point it's too depressing to keep counting, haha)
Favorite Activity: Enjoying all the parks in the area with my girls. Going to Geyer's Oven Pizza on the Farm in the summer.
Best Vacation Spot: Pikes Peak State Park, it has great camping, hiking and views.
Advice: The advice I give anyone new to residency is to not wait around for your partner to get home or be off to do stuff, or you will spend all the years they are in residency waiting. So, make plans, get out, explore the area! Also, Cortado has hands down the best coffee around!
Position: Secretary
From: Dubuque, Iowa
Partner’s Specialty: Surgery
Year of Training: 6/7 (if just counting residency), 6/10 (if counting fellowship, we matched to Iowa for plastic surgery, yay!), 6/11 (if counting second fellowship) 6/? (because he keeps adding on and at some point it's too depressing to keep counting, haha)
Favorite Activity: Enjoying all the parks in the area with my girls. Going to Geyer's Oven Pizza on the Farm in the summer.
Best Vacation Spot: Pikes Peak State Park, it has great camping, hiking and views.
Advice: The advice I give anyone new to residency is to not wait around for your partner to get home or be off to do stuff, or you will spend all the years they are in residency waiting. So, make plans, get out, explore the area! Also, Cortado has hands down the best coffee around!
Name: Katelyn Sexton - call me Kate!
Position: Book Club Chair
From: Kansas City, MO
Partner’s Specialty: Emergency Medicine
Year of Training: 3/3 !!!!! The end is in sight!
Favorite Activity: Wilson’s Orchard in the fall, Big Grove Brewery for food and drinks
Best Vacation Spot: I think Chicago is the obvious choice, but Kansas City and Des Moines are so worth the short drive! So much to do there. Minneapolis is also fun. My advice is to take advantage when you can of how central Iowa City is to so many great Midwest cities!
Advice: Do your grocery shopping at ALDI! Visit Kalona and go to Stringtown grocery - so fun and cheap! Remember that you only get out of something what you put into it, so in respect to IMP, go to things! It can feel intimidating, but everyone is so welcoming and nice. You’ll never regret making new friends - especially with people who, more than anyone in your normal life, understand your current lifestyle situation.
Position: Book Club Chair
From: Kansas City, MO
Partner’s Specialty: Emergency Medicine
Year of Training: 3/3 !!!!! The end is in sight!
Favorite Activity: Wilson’s Orchard in the fall, Big Grove Brewery for food and drinks
Best Vacation Spot: I think Chicago is the obvious choice, but Kansas City and Des Moines are so worth the short drive! So much to do there. Minneapolis is also fun. My advice is to take advantage when you can of how central Iowa City is to so many great Midwest cities!
Advice: Do your grocery shopping at ALDI! Visit Kalona and go to Stringtown grocery - so fun and cheap! Remember that you only get out of something what you put into it, so in respect to IMP, go to things! It can feel intimidating, but everyone is so welcoming and nice. You’ll never regret making new friends - especially with people who, more than anyone in your normal life, understand your current lifestyle situation.
Name: Lala (Lalana) Rogers
Position: Children's Activities Co-Chair
From: The Seattle area
Partner’s Specialty: Plan is Pathology
Year of Training: M3/G3- Basically we have 2.5 more years until residency!
Favorite Activity: I'll put a plug in for the Lisbon splash pad. 30 minutes away, but SO worth the drive!
Best Vacation Spot: We did Madison Wisconsin in 24 hours with the kids. It was the perfect size city with fun things to do!
Advice: The Children's Museum is most fun during nap time hours. Costco can be considered an activity. Walmart grocery pick up helps keep your sanity (the new drive up at Target is pretty great too)!
Position: Children's Activities Co-Chair
From: The Seattle area
Partner’s Specialty: Plan is Pathology
Year of Training: M3/G3- Basically we have 2.5 more years until residency!
Favorite Activity: I'll put a plug in for the Lisbon splash pad. 30 minutes away, but SO worth the drive!
Best Vacation Spot: We did Madison Wisconsin in 24 hours with the kids. It was the perfect size city with fun things to do!
Advice: The Children's Museum is most fun during nap time hours. Costco can be considered an activity. Walmart grocery pick up helps keep your sanity (the new drive up at Target is pretty great too)!
Name: Nicole Porter
Position: Children's Activities Co-Chair
From: Lyman, Utah
Partner’s Specialty: Oral Surgery
Year of training: We are in our 1st year out of 4
Favorite Activity: Iowa has many beautiful trails. Our favorite place to go is Linders trail.
Best Vacation Spot: We haven't been here for very long but we loved visiting Chicago!
Advice: When you are sad just remember that you don't look the same as you did in 6th grade.
Position: Children's Activities Co-Chair
From: Lyman, Utah
Partner’s Specialty: Oral Surgery
Year of training: We are in our 1st year out of 4
Favorite Activity: Iowa has many beautiful trails. Our favorite place to go is Linders trail.
Best Vacation Spot: We haven't been here for very long but we loved visiting Chicago!
Advice: When you are sad just remember that you don't look the same as you did in 6th grade.
Name: Alli Cascio
Position: Entertainment Club
From: Lubbock, Texas
Partner’s Specialty: Internal Medicine
Year of Training: 2/3
Favorite Activity: I love driving the backroads to Kalona to take in the beautiful countryside and visit their Golden Delight Amish Bakery (cheesy bread, raspberry angel food cake and pecan caramel cinnamon rolls are personal favs), hitting up Central Discount or the Stringtown Grocery stores (in the summer you can walk from one to the other but watch out for the horse manure!), and visiting the Kalona coffeeshop which has a little play area for small kiddos.
Best Vacation Spot: Amana Colonies, Starved Rock State Park
Advice: For those new to the area: Parking downtown IC is mostly paid but a few parking garages offer the first hour free. Summer is full of free activities so take advantage because the free tends to go away when school starts up. If you don't like crowds, check out activities in the surrounding towns for fun but less crowded events (Solon, Kalona etc). Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City has an outdoor play area for kids which makes it our "go to" for a relaxing family meal. There is an app to track the city buses on there routes. Beware of traffic on home football game days!! Especially when the game let's out.
Position: Entertainment Club
From: Lubbock, Texas
Partner’s Specialty: Internal Medicine
Year of Training: 2/3
Favorite Activity: I love driving the backroads to Kalona to take in the beautiful countryside and visit their Golden Delight Amish Bakery (cheesy bread, raspberry angel food cake and pecan caramel cinnamon rolls are personal favs), hitting up Central Discount or the Stringtown Grocery stores (in the summer you can walk from one to the other but watch out for the horse manure!), and visiting the Kalona coffeeshop which has a little play area for small kiddos.
Best Vacation Spot: Amana Colonies, Starved Rock State Park
Advice: For those new to the area: Parking downtown IC is mostly paid but a few parking garages offer the first hour free. Summer is full of free activities so take advantage because the free tends to go away when school starts up. If you don't like crowds, check out activities in the surrounding towns for fun but less crowded events (Solon, Kalona etc). Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City has an outdoor play area for kids which makes it our "go to" for a relaxing family meal. There is an app to track the city buses on there routes. Beware of traffic on home football game days!! Especially when the game let's out.
Name: Molly Sherwood
Position: Philanthropy
From: Eldersburg, MD
Partner’s Specialty: Oral surgery
Year of Training: 2/4
Favorite Activity: Having a drink at Big Grove or the Clinton Street Social Club; bringing the kids to any of the awesome local parks
Best Vacation Spot: Pella, IA
Advice: Don't be afraid to throw yourself into your new friendships even though living here may only be temporary. Also, if you're debating whether or not to wear a hat and gloves with your coat... Wear the hat and gloves.
Position: Philanthropy
From: Eldersburg, MD
Partner’s Specialty: Oral surgery
Year of Training: 2/4
Favorite Activity: Having a drink at Big Grove or the Clinton Street Social Club; bringing the kids to any of the awesome local parks
Best Vacation Spot: Pella, IA
Advice: Don't be afraid to throw yourself into your new friendships even though living here may only be temporary. Also, if you're debating whether or not to wear a hat and gloves with your coat... Wear the hat and gloves.
Name: Ashlee Wheeler
Position: Playgroup Co-Chair
From: Mantua, Utah
Partner’s Specialty: Anesthesia
Year of Training: 1/4
Favorite Activity: Swimming at Lake McBride and going to the new trampoline park in Iowa city (Planet 3 Extreme Air)
Best Vacation Spot: Haven’t been yet but we’ve heard Sugar bottom campground is amazing, planning on going this summer.
Advice: Iowa City Mom’s blog is a great resource for things to do in the area!
Name: Reem Al-Musa
Position: Playgroup Co-Chair
From: Amman , Jordan but also half American
Partner’s Specialty: “GI” gastroenterology
Year of Training: 2/3
Favorite Activity: Exploring parks and areas in Iowa ; also going to north liberty recreation center outside pools in the summer
Best Vacation Spot: I just love everywhere we've traveled to in the Midwest. We are still discovering Iowa and it’s different areas , but I would say my favorite spot so far is Des Moines ( Adventureland and the zoo)
Advice:
No matter where you go or live make the best out of it . Life is short enjoy it to the max .
Position: Playgroup Co-Chair
From: Amman , Jordan but also half American
Partner’s Specialty: “GI” gastroenterology
Year of Training: 2/3
Favorite Activity: Exploring parks and areas in Iowa ; also going to north liberty recreation center outside pools in the summer
Best Vacation Spot: I just love everywhere we've traveled to in the Midwest. We are still discovering Iowa and it’s different areas , but I would say my favorite spot so far is Des Moines ( Adventureland and the zoo)
Advice:
No matter where you go or live make the best out of it . Life is short enjoy it to the max .
Name: Shannon Squires
Position: Social Media
From: North Pole, Alaska
Partner’s Specialty: Pediatrics
Year of Training: 1/3
Favorite Activity: I unashamedly love going to the North Liberty Free Lunch every day possible during the summer. It's so nice to not have to come up with lunch for my toddler! We also love Tot Lot at the Coralville Rec Center during the wintertime.
Best Vacation Spot: The Wisconsin Dells! I've had a blast every time I've gone, whether I was young and single or with a toddler while pregnant, and both summer and winter there are great.
Advice: Go to all the IMP activities you can when you first get here, you'll quickly make friends and have a good support network and people to help you when you need it! We have an amazing group of people here and they will make all the difference to you during this journey. We all have committed partners in the medical field, so we get it in ways that family and other friends might not.
Position: Social Media
From: North Pole, Alaska
Partner’s Specialty: Pediatrics
Year of Training: 1/3
Favorite Activity: I unashamedly love going to the North Liberty Free Lunch every day possible during the summer. It's so nice to not have to come up with lunch for my toddler! We also love Tot Lot at the Coralville Rec Center during the wintertime.
Best Vacation Spot: The Wisconsin Dells! I've had a blast every time I've gone, whether I was young and single or with a toddler while pregnant, and both summer and winter there are great.
Advice: Go to all the IMP activities you can when you first get here, you'll quickly make friends and have a good support network and people to help you when you need it! We have an amazing group of people here and they will make all the difference to you during this journey. We all have committed partners in the medical field, so we get it in ways that family and other friends might not.
Name: Bridget Campbell
Position: Spouses Out Socializing
From: Wichita, KS
Partner's Specialty: Interventional Radiology
Year of training: 2/6
Favorite Activity: Iowa Raptor Center, Kayaking at Lake Macbride, Dining at one of Iowa City's MANY restaurant patios.
Best Vacation Spot: Indiana Dunes State Park
Advice: I have never lived in an area that had metered parking, so I was highly confused when we first moved here. The parking meters are FREE any day after 6 pm and FREE all day Sunday and all National Holidays. The garages downtown are all FREE the first hour and only 1$ an hour after that!
Position: Spouses Out Socializing
From: Wichita, KS
Partner's Specialty: Interventional Radiology
Year of training: 2/6
Favorite Activity: Iowa Raptor Center, Kayaking at Lake Macbride, Dining at one of Iowa City's MANY restaurant patios.
Best Vacation Spot: Indiana Dunes State Park
Advice: I have never lived in an area that had metered parking, so I was highly confused when we first moved here. The parking meters are FREE any day after 6 pm and FREE all day Sunday and all National Holidays. The garages downtown are all FREE the first hour and only 1$ an hour after that!
Name: Eric Dugdale
Position: Web Editor
From: English, raised in Colombia, most recently from Minnesota (lived 17 years there!)
Partner’s Specialty: Emergency Medicine
Year of Training: 1/3
Favorite Activity: Camping at Sugar Bottom (great tent sites overlooking Coralville Lake)
Best Vacation Spot: Can't beat hanging out at a Minnesota lakeside resort (we like Arrowwood on Lake Darling)
Advice: I've enjoyed playdates and pancake brunches at IMP members' houses, for me a better way to get to know folks than at the large group events. Don't be disheartened if your spouse doesn't get to know your IMP friends; it is just a reality of their schedules that this is almost impossible to pull off. And men are as warmly welcomed in IMP as women, so if you're a guy thinking of joining us, just do it!
Position: Web Editor
From: English, raised in Colombia, most recently from Minnesota (lived 17 years there!)
Partner’s Specialty: Emergency Medicine
Year of Training: 1/3
Favorite Activity: Camping at Sugar Bottom (great tent sites overlooking Coralville Lake)
Best Vacation Spot: Can't beat hanging out at a Minnesota lakeside resort (we like Arrowwood on Lake Darling)
Advice: I've enjoyed playdates and pancake brunches at IMP members' houses, for me a better way to get to know folks than at the large group events. Don't be disheartened if your spouse doesn't get to know your IMP friends; it is just a reality of their schedules that this is almost impossible to pull off. And men are as warmly welcomed in IMP as women, so if you're a guy thinking of joining us, just do it!
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