Meet the IMP Officers

We met some of our fellow IMP members at the welcome brunch and hope to meet each person at upcoming events this year. We hope you will think of IMP officers as a resource for any of your IMP- or community-related questions. We share something in common that brings us together and makes us feel like we know you already – we know the unique challenges of residency life, and we want you to know we are here to support you through this special but difficult phase of the medical journey. Now, you can get to know us too!
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​Megan Pai, President
Hometown: Arlington, TX (between Dallas and Fort Worth)
Moved here from: El Paso, TX
Partner’s specialty: Cardiothoracic surgery, year 5 of 8 (we are in the middle of his two research years)
Favorite local meal: Exotic India in Coralville
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: Every morning I make myself a latte with my Aeropress, and every evening I do a yoga class with Fightmaster Yoga 
Goals for officer position this year: I view the pandemic as an opportunity to re-evaluate the events and functions of IMP and consider what could be different to better meet the needs of the group. I am totally open to mixing traditions up and trying new activities that will allow us to stay connected while
staying safe. Do not hesitate to share your ideas!
Contact Megan or Facebook or at megan_sodowsky@yahoo.com

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Ceric Keck, Vice President
Hometown: La Motte, IA
Moved here from: My husband and I both went to undergrad and school here at Iowa, then he did his surgical residency here and now is starting his plastics fellowship, so we’ve both now lived in Iowa City longer than our hometowns.
Partner’s specialty: Fellowship, year 1 of 3, and year 8 of 11(+??) post-med school.
Favorite local meal: Tofu Bahn Mi and soft pretzel from Big Grove
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: We got a canoe this year and have been taking family canoe trips which has been really fun. We’ve also been going on lots of local hikes and bike rides. Staying active and being outside has always helped me keep my sanity.
Goals for officer position this year: Trying to keep some connections to local businesses for future sponsorships and collaborations post-pandemic. Also, trying to help out the other positions where I’m able.
Contact Ceric on Facebook or at cerichaas@gmail.com



Reem Almusa, Playgroup
Hometown: I was born in the states and moved to Amman Jordan when I was in fifth grade. I grew up there and got married, then moved back to the states.
Partner’s specialty: Just finished gastroenterology and started first year as staff
Favorite local meal: Masala (Indian restaurant downtown) lamb biryani and butter chicken
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: FaceTime with adults, walking on different paths, gardening.
Goals for officer position this year: Trying to keep up the fun and imagination with playgroup.
Contact Reem on Facebook




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​Katelyn Campbell, Children’s Activities
Hometown: Fruit Heights, UT
Moved here from: Richmond, VA
Partner’s specialty: Oral surgery, year 3 of 4
Favorite local meal: Anything from Oasis, wings with sweet potato fries from The Vine… and Arby’s!
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: Girlfriends to vent and talk to so I don’t feel like I’m a crazy person. Steam showers and face masks locked in the bathroom all by myself.
Goals for officer position this year: I hope I can create events that can give people something exciting to do for their kids.
Contact Katelyn on Facebook






Julia Allison (Alli) Cascio, Entertainment Club
Hometown: Lubbock, TX
Moved here from: Elmburst, IL
Partner’s specialty: Allergy/Immunology, year 1 of 2
Favorite local meal: 30Hop, or Big Grove’s poke bowl
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: Marco Polo! My garden (pulling weeds), sprinklers, cornhole, my bike, Coralville Lake
Goals for officer position this year: To be more inclusive and aware of what members value
Contact Alli on Facebook






Elizabeth Clute, Book Club
Hometown: Redwood Falls, MN
Moved here from: Sioux Falls, SD
Partner’s specialty: Anesthesiology, year 3 of 4
Favorite local meal: Red’s Alehouse prime rib dip and chorizo queso
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: Lots of long walks at night and more FaceTime calls with friends and family than before.
Goals for officer position this year: Picking fun reads with the help of other members and encouraging participation even if you don’t want to read the book!
Contact Elizabeth on Facebook or at eclute3@gmail.com




Rachel Cole, Spouses Out Socializing
Hometown: Newton, IA
Moved here from: Galesburg, IL at Knox College, but I’ve been in Iowa city since 2012 doing a graduate program in neuroscience.
Partner’s specialty: Pediatric neurology, year 4 of 5
Favorite local meal: The brussels sprouts appetizer dish from 30Hop, or Maestro’s Empanadas
Places or items that have restored her sanity during this challenging time: Our kitties! We adopted 2 kittens in December and they have been great company while I’ve been working from home.
Goals for officer position this year: I’m aiming to encourage members to join us even if their spouses aren’t available, and to make it a welcoming, comfortable experience
Contact Rachel on Facebook or at rachel.clark1@gmail.com



Megan Deere, Playgroup
Hometown: Winthrop, WA
Moved here from: Dallas, TX
Partner’s specialty: ENT, year 2 of 5
Favorite local meal: We don’t eat out very much, but I’ve had some delicious almond croissants from two different IC bakeries and would gladly eat those more frequently (edit to add: check out Deluxe bakery or Tip Top Cakes!)
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: Walks at Squire Point – it’s so helpful for me and my toddler to be out in nature! Also library book pickup (Coralville and NL) have totally saved our sanity – we get 1-2 book hauls per week from both libraries!
Goals for officer position this year: My goal is to create fun activities for children and ways to connect with other families during this challenging time.
Contact Megan on Facebook





Nicole Porter, Social Media
Hometown: Lyman, UT
Moved here from: Mesa, AZ
Partner’s specialty: Oral surgery, year 3 of 4
Favorite local meal: La Regia and Red Ginger
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: Reading books, hanging out with friends and spending as much time outside as we can
Goals for officer position this year: My goal is to help you get excited to come to activities through social media.
Contact Nicole on Facebook








Lalana (Lala) Rogers, Treasurer
Hometown: Greater Seattle, WA
Partner’s specialty: 7 th year of MSTP, LAST year before residency!
Favorite local meal: The Vietnamese BBQ pork noodle bowl from the Ma and Pop restaurant Sun Cafe
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: I just became a Marco Polo fiend! Amazing to keep in touch with people. It’s hard for me to text now!
Goals for officer position this year: Get checks out on time, and help when I can.
Contact Lala on Facebook






Molly Sherwood, Philanthropy
Hometown: Eldersburg, MD (outside of Baltimore)
Moved here from: Richmond, VA
Partner’s specialty: Oral surgery, year 4 of 4
Favorite local meal: The falafel pita sandwich at Oasis, and any cocktails and apps from the Clinton Street Social Club
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: Group video chats with friends (thanks to the Marco Polo app), gardening with my kids even though my littlest picks all the green tomatoes, frequent trips to Terry Trueblood and Fossil Gorge, our favorite areas to explore.
Goals for officer position this year: Make philanthropy opportunities accessible and rewarding to all members.
Contact Molly on Facebook or at mbr.sherwood@gmail.com




Kelsey Sprowell, Member Outreach
Hometown: Fort Collins, CO
Moved here from: Denver, CO
Partner’s specialty: Anesthesia, year 3 of 4. He might do a fellowship afterwards, in which case we’ll be
here for a year or two longer.
Favorite local meal: Bread Garden veggie pizza – it’s unbelievably good, and only six bucks!
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: Exercise, gardening, girlfriend group chats, wine!
Goals for officer position this year: This is the first year we’re experimenting with this position, and I’m nervous but very excited to take it on! If two people become friends because of something that I helped plan, it’ll be enough.
Contact Kelsey on Facebook




Shannon Squires, Secretary
Hometown: North Pole, AK
Moved here from: Tuscon, AZ
Partner’s specialty: Pediatrics, year 3 of 3
Favorite local meal: Thai Spice and China Garden
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: Our bikes! We love to go biking, there are a ton of great places for it around here.
Goals for officer position this year: Consistency (the most important aspect of being a good secretary!Thank you, Shannon!)
Contact Shannon on Facebook







Ashlee Wheeler, Children’s Activities
Hometown: Mantua, UT
Moved here from: Grand Junction, CO
Partner’s specialty: Anesthesia, year 2 of 4
Favorite local meal: La Fiesta in North Liberty, La Tequila in Tiffin. Great shrimp fajitas at both places.
Places or items that have restored your sanity during this challenging time: Camping (Sugar Bottom was a fun spot), the garden, North Ridge Park
Goals for officer position this year: I want moms to get a little break from the norm, and have fun things for the kids to look forward to, and to socialize when we can (try to fill our always low tank for adult conversation), something we all really need this year!
Contact Ashlee on Facebook