Current Pediatrics Residents

Hometown: Saint Augusta, MN
Medical School: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
Career/Research Interests: Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Medical Education
After Residency: Undecided
Hobbies/Interests: Baking, rec league sports, woodcutting
Top 3 Movies: Remember the Titans, Guardians of the Galaxy, Mulan
Top 3 TV Shows: Scrubs, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Rec
Favorite Color: Deep blue or green
Favorite Food: Tacos
Bio: I grew up in central Minnesota, then went to the University of North Dakota for college. In North Dakota I earned degrees in both Biology and Secondary Education and even had a brief side path as a high school teacher in chemistry before medical school back in Minnesota.

To me, medicine and education always go together—especially in pediatrics, where you’re often teaching parents, siblings, or other support systems just as much as (or more than) you’re teaching the patient, depending on age and understanding. I consider it both a privilege and a challenge to work in pediatrics, especially with adolescent populations where people are figuring out who they are, building independence, and deciding on the next steps of their lives.

I chose Mizzou because of its environment as a large academic center with a comfortable feel, the dedication to the Pediatrics program (demonstrated by everyone in the program and affirmed by the building of the new Children’s Hospital), and the excitement about my medical interests that was shared by everyone I interviewed with.

Hometown: Mansfield, IL
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, IL
After Residency: General Pediatrics
Bio: I grew up in the middle of a cornfield on my family farm in central Illinois and went to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign for my undergraduate education. I stuck with the University of Illinois for medical school and moved to the Rockford campus. I chose Mizzou because it has all of the opportunities you could want from a large academic center while still keeping a friendly, welcoming environment. When I’m not at the hospital, I like to fish with my fiancé and spend time with our two cats, Pumpkin and Scraggles.

Medical School: A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Medicine, Kirksville, MO
After Residency: Outpatient General Pediatrics
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, Netflix, naps
Bio: I grew up in St. Louis Missouri. I went to college at Bradley University in Peoria, IL where I majored in psychology and met my husband, Dallas. We went to medical school together at ATSU. I love kids so pediatrics was a natural fit, and Dallas chose family medicine. We knew we wanted to stay in Missouri and Mizzou offered the tight-knit program we were looking for. Along the way we adopted three fur babies. Ellie is a sassy but sweet Maltese I’ve had since college. Oscar is our loving, snuggly boy cat, and Luna is our big, playful German Shepherd Australian Cattle dog mix. They keep us on our toes but make our home so bright.

Hometown: Greenwood, Indiana
Undergrad: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Career/Research Interests: Adolescents, kiddos living with varying abilities, service dog assistance, mental health, SDOH, nutrition/exercise
After Residency: General Outpatient Pediatrics
Hobbies/Interests: Family, dogs, college basketball (go Hoosiers!), Cincinnati Reds, Indianapolis Colts
Bio: I grew up in Greenwood, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis, and completed my Biology BS and Psychology minor at Indiana University. As a medical student, I found a sense of peace when working with children. Their contagious laughter and incredible resilience are simply unparalleled. The field of pediatrics offers the special opportunity to build relationships with and provide education and empowerment to both children and their families. There is nothing more rewarding than sitting down with a family and developing a plan that meets their specific needs and goals. When I interviewed at Mizzou, I knew that they valued the physician-patient-family relationship in this same way. I felt the genuine interest that the staff and residents here have in helping both their patients and each other succeed. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to expand my pediatrics knowledge and get to know the Columbia community here at Mizzou.

Hometown: Green Bay, WI
Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health
Career/Research Interests: Primary Care, Rural Health
After Residency: Rural General Pediatrics
Hobbies/Interests: Baking bagels, reading, game nights, Lego, craft beer, the Packers, and spoiling my cat Robin
Bio: I grew up in Green Bay, WI (Go Pack!) and completed undergrad at Marquette University with a major in biomedical sciences and minors in chemistry and history. I went to UWSMPH for medical school where I was in the rural health and public health programs. As part of the rural health program, I completed my clinical rotations at a community hospital in Green Bay and several outlying clinics. As part of the public health program, I completed a public health field course in Thailand and worked on several community projects in Green Bay. I chose pediatrics because the rotations that involved child health were my favorite in med school. Children brighten any day and I enjoy the unique opportunity pediatrics provides to form impactful relationships with patients and their families. It is incredibly rewarding to watch patients grow up and support them and their families along the way. I chose Mizzou for residency because being a smaller-sized program at a large university creates a program with a family feel and plenty of learning opportunity. Columbia, as a smaller midwestern city with minimal traffic and lots of local restaurants and bars to explore, also felt a lot like home.

Hometown: Cleveland, MO
Medical School: Kansas City University, Joplin, MO
Career/Research Interests: General/Inpatient Pediatrics, NICU, Heme-Onc
After Residency: Undecided
Hobbies/Interests: Videogames, reading, boardgames, LEGOs, hiking
Top 3 TV Shows: Letterkenny, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Scrubs
Top 3 Movies: Twister, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Toy Story 2
Favorite Food: Chocolate Chip Cookies
Bio: My parents live in a small town just south of Kansas City, but I went to school in Lee’s Summit, MO where both of my parents worked. I attended the University of Kansas for undergrad, majoring in Biology and minoring in Business. After taking a gap year, I went on to earn my Masters Degree from Kansas City University, and eventually matriculated into their medical school in Joplin, MO. I knew I was going to be a pediatrician early on in medical school. My mom was a middle school principal (MY middle school principal actually), so I grew up seeing her work with both parents and kids for much of my early life. Coupled with a strong relationship with my pediatrician, the writing was on the wall! I love pediatrics because it is an incredible privilege to help guide and make a lasting impact on the long-term health of children. I chose Mizzou because I felt a strong sense of community amongst the residents and faculty I talked to during my interview day. I really liked that the cohort size was smaller than most programs, which I felt would offer me a better opportunity to get to know my coresidents and attendings, without the fear of being “lost in the crowd”. I also liked that there were ample opportunities to work with pediatric subspecialists without having to compete with fellows for procedures and learning opportunities. I’m still not 100% sure what my long-term career plan is, but having as much exposure to as many avenues of pediatrics as I could get was HUGE. I’m really looking forward to seeing where my adventure takes me from here, and all the amazing people I still have yet to meet along the way!

Hometown: Paris, AR
Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR
Career Interest and After Residency Plan: Interested in General Pediatrics and eventually becoming an IBCLC
Hobbies/Interests: Most of my free time is spent spending time with my 1-year-old daughter, husband, and our dog. Otherwise, I enjoy baking, painting, cross stich, doing puzzles. We love watching and supporting the Chiefs and LSU.
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite Food: Any kind of pasta or breakfast food
Significant Other/Children: I have a 1-year-old daughter named Charlotte and my husband's name is Austin
Pets: One dog named Ciri
Bio: I chose Mizzou for residency because I knew I wanted to do general outpatient pediatrics and this program offered me extensive outpatient and elective time. During my interview, I could feel how close-knit, supportive, and family friendly the residents and attendings were and I knew that that was a program that I wanted to be a part of.  My husband and I couples matched (he’s in family medicine) and we knew that Mizzou and Columbia would be the perfect place for our family to call home, and that has certainly been true for us!

Hometown: Florissant, MO
Medical School: University of Missouri-Columbia
After Residency: Outpatient General Pediatrics
Hobbies/Interests: Volleyball, softball, all things St. Louis sports
Bio: I grew up in Florissant, MO, a northern suburb of St. Louis. I went to Saint Louis University for undergrad before moving to Columbia for medical school. I absolutely loved Mizzou Med and am very excited to stay here for residency. I chose Pediatrics because I’ve always loved working with kids and helping families get off to the best start possible.

I am married to my high school sweetheart, Marissa, and we have an amazing daughter who helps make sure my diaper-changing skills are intact. We also have a small dachshund-mix named Hank that makes sure no visitor to our house goes un-licked.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy playing volleyball or really any sport, watching the Blues and Cardinals, walking on some of Columbia’s many trails, and taking my dog to the dog park.

Hometown: Liberty, MO
Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
Career interests/research: Heme/Onc, Survivorship Care, Hospitalist Medicine, Medical Education
After residency: Peds Heme/Onc Fellowship
Hobbies/Interests: Llamas, anything Disney, Running, Bible Study
Bio: I grew up in Liberty, a northern suburb of Kansas City. After graduating high school, I attended the combined BA/MD program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City earning a BA in Biology, a minor in Chemistry, and my MD.

I knew at a young age that I wanted to be a doctor and specifically a pediatrician. I originally fell in love with pediatrics because I am a child at heart but have also found myself drawn to the unique relationships that I get to make with my patients and their families. Pediatrics is special because I get to watch my patients grow up and get to celebrate milestone moments with them and their families.

I chose Mizzou because they offer the opportunities and resources of a large (and growing!) academic center, but still have a small and close-knit resident class. And being a short road trip away from my family and friends in KC is pretty cool too!

Home Town: Indore, India
Medical School: Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, India
Career interests/research: Exploring!
After residency: Fellowship (Maybe!)
Hobbies/Interests: Cooking, Art and Craft, and Dancing
Bio:  I was born in a small town in Central India, and have lived in various cities across India, Nepal, and Nigeria. I have always found medicine to be fascinating and beautifully intricate. Ever since I was a little kid, I knew that I wanted to be a Doctor. So it was only natural that I chose to pursue medicine at Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences in Jalandhar, India. During my time there I found my calling in Pediatrics. I enjoy working with children. It is so amazing to watch them thrive and to know that I could be a small part of it is so gratifying. Mizzou is the best place for me to pursue my residency because of the support and camaraderie between the attendings and residents. Mizzou being a large academic center with a large and varied patient base makes it the best place for me to learn and grow as a Pediatrician. The program ticks all the points in my checklist as a dream pediatric residency program. Moreover, Columbia is a fun and relaxed city to live in. It is a small town with everything that a big city has to offer! I could not have asked for a more perfect setting to begin my career as a Pediatrician.

Home Town: Winfield, IL
Undergrad: Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
Medical School: Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
|Career interests/research: kiddos with different abilities, nutrition, healthcare disparities
After residency: General Pediatrics all the way!
Hobbies/Interests: hiking, biking, rock climbing, anything music, ice cream, thrifting, cat photography
Bio: I grew up in the Western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, then spent some time in Wisconsin and Colorado searching for the best adventures (spoiler alert: it’s hard to beat the mountains of Colorado!). I moved back to the Midwest for medical school, then decided to split the difference by moving to Missouri for residency. I’ve always been a child at heart—full of questions, always moving, obsessed with ice cream—so maybe that’s why I’ve also always been drawn to the kiddos. My parents used to joke that I would excitedly point out “babies” in public when I was practically still a baby myself. I was drawn to Mizzou for the people: I felt so welcomed during my interview and knew I could find a home here. I also have a heart for kids with different abilities, and Mizzou has some awesome programs to work with this special population! When I’m not in the hospital, you’ll find me hanging out with my husband, Adam, and my three-legged cat, Caly. We’re equally likely to be having a jam session, backpacking in the middle of who-knows-where, or curled up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a good book.

Home Town: McKean, PA
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA
Career interests/research: Primary care, newborn nursery
After residency: Outpatient general pediatrics
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, cooking, hiking/exercising, spending time with my husband and our two cats Lilly and Rexy
Bio: I grew up in the small town of McKean, PA and went to undergrad a town over at Edinboro University. I attended medical school at LECOM, where I also received my master's degree in Medical Education during my last two years of medical school. My husband and I met in medical school. We were actually lab partners in the cadaver lab. It was love at first pass of the scalpel or something like that. We got married right after graduation and moved to Columbia the day after the wedding (he matched IM at Mizzou).
I chose pediatrics because working with children is what makes me the happiest. I enjoy the well checks, the sick visits, and everything in between. Perhaps the best part of pediatrics is the ability to form life-long relationships with the patients and their families. No matter what the day entails, I always leave with a full heart and a smile on my face because I am doing what I love.
Doing virtual interviews during a pandemic was an interesting experience, but from the beginning of my interview, I knew Mizzou was special. Everyone made me feel like apart of the family even though we had just met. I chose Mizzou for that reason, but also because I was looking for a smaller program at an academic center where I wouldn’t be lost in the crowd, where I could really get to know other residents and faculty within the program, and where I would have the most opportunities to learn.

Home Town: Columbia, MO
Medical School: University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
Career interests/research: General Pediatrics, Nutrition
After residency:  General Outpatient Pediatrics
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, cooking, exploring trails/parks in Columbia
Bio: I was raised here in Columbia, MO, and received my undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences from Mizzou. I have enjoyed living and learning in Columbia, which led me to complete my medical school training at Mizzou as well. I chose medicine, and more specifically pediatrics, because I am interested in working with and learning from patients and families. In my free time, I like to read, cook, and explore the trails and parks in Columbia. 

Home Town: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Career interests/research: Undecided
After residency: Undecided
Hobbies/Interests: Weight lifting, yoga, trying out new restaurants and bars
Bio: I grew up in Minnesota just outside the Twin Cities and went to college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with majors in Biology and Spanish. I married my medical school sweetheart, Jonah, who is a Mizzou ophthalmology resident. We have a tortoise shell cat named Moose who is the light of my life. I’ve always loved working with and advocating for kids and am so excited to be a part of the Mizzou pediatrics community!

Home Town: Joplin, Missouri
Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, Joplin, MO
Career interests/research: Primary Care, Infectious Diseases
After residency: Probably General Pediatrics
Hobbies/Interests: Board games, Running, Swing dancing
Bio:  I grew up in a small town just outside Joplin, Missouri, where from a young age I had a strong interest in science. My undergraduate degree in biology was completed at John Brown University, where I learned how much I enjoyed the application of science and personal interaction that happens in medicine. After spending a year scribing in an emergency department, I started my medical training at my hometown medical school, KCU-Joplin. While there I found my calling in pediatrics on third-year clerkships. Working with the kids was great and I loved how pediatricians get to be both an educational resource and a voice of reassurance for young families. During this time I also met and fell in love with my lovely wife. I chose Mizzou because I was impressed by the friendly culture and close-knit family feel of the program and staff. I love Columbia as a vibrant college town and because I get to live so close to great recreational opportunities like the MKT trail.

Hometown: Warner Robins, GA
Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine - Atlanta, GA
Career/Research Interests: Preventive Medicine, Primary Care
After residency: General Outpatient and Inpatient Pediatrics
Hobbies/Interests: Food, Family, Football (Patriots all day)
Bio: I grew up in a small town in Central Georgia called Warner Robins, GA. I attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA for undergrad where I majored in Biology. My interest in medicine came from a veterinary hospital that I worked at in my hometown. It was there that I realized that I enjoyed interacting and working with people rather than animals and decided that a career in medicine would suit me well. I chose Pediatrics because not every child has a father or positive male role model in their life. This deficiency has many adverse effects that can negatively impact the trajectory of a child’s life, so I want to be that role model/mentor for a child that may not have one. I chose Mizzou because it is a small program and I have an opportunity to get to know the other members of my program beyond the level of a co-worker. Columbia is great because it reminds me of my hometown: small city, minimal traffic, and a great place to raise a family.

Hometown: Ballwin, MO
Medical School: University of Medicine and Health Sciences - Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis
Career/Research Interests: Pediatric outpatient medicine, medical informatics
After Residency: Undecided
Hobbies/Interests: Basketball, cars
Bio: I was born in Columbia, MO, then moved to St. Louis when I was 12, and now back to Columbia again.  I have 5 siblings, all of whom were born within the University of Missouri healthcare system, so coming back to Mizzou was a no-brainer for me. I went to undergrad at the University of Missouri St. Louis, and have a BS and a BA in biology, with a minor in chemistry.  I chose pediatrics because of the continuity of care from beginning of life, and throughout the transition into adulthood.  You get to appreciate the different stages of life, and the change in medicine associated with different ages.  Also, being one of the older siblings, I've always had experience with kids, and proudfully and boastfully accept the title of "Favorite Uncle" from my nieces, and yes, that's both maternal and paternal sides of their families.  
On my spare time, I love playing competitive sports, especially basketball and soccer.  Spending time with family is always a great/eventful experience.  My favorite movies are The Count of Monte Cristo (the newer one), The Prestige, and of course everything Marvel related.  Favorite read was the entire Harry Potter collection. 

Hometown: Elk Grove, CA
Medical School: University of Missouri – Columbia, MO
After Residency: General pediatrics
Hobbies/Interests: Pets (2 dogs and 2 cats), podcasts, trying new hobbies
Bio: I am originally from Sacramento, California but I did my undergrad at William Woods in Fulton, Missouri and medical school here at Mizzzou, so at this point I feel like a real Midwesterner! I love Columbia and I'm so happy I got to stay here for residency! I want to stay in the mid- Missouri area as a general pediatrician when I graduate. I love animals and I have four at home- a german shepherd, a golden retriever, and two cats. I would have even more if I had enough space!

Hometown: Jingzhou, China / Calgary, Canada
Medical School: Wuhan University - Wuhan, China
Career/Research Interests: Primary care, childhood safety
After Residency: Both outpatient and inpatient pediatrics in a teaching/research institution in the mountains
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, traveling, roller coasters
Bio: Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to be a doctor. After medical school, I had four years dermatology training in Boston. During that period, I started to realize my passion for children. As a mother of three, the need of me enjoying a connection with the families during work prompted my route into pediatrics. I vision myself as a connection point of the community I serve. I chose Mizzou, because it is a university-based program with all the academic and research opportunities in a small town! It’s just a sweet spot for me and my family.

Hometown: Plain City, UT
Medical School: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine – Las Cruces, NM
Career/Research Interests: Childhood obesity and metabolic disorders
After Residency: Hopefully stay somewhere in the Midwest and practice rural pediatric medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Piano, cooking, birding, and family
Bio: I grew up in a small town with about a thousand people. Growing up I was interested in classical piano and football. After graduation, I lived in Brazil for a couple of years where I served a mission for my church. I loved working with the people there so much that after returning home, I decided to minor in Spanish and incorporated this into my major, Zoology, studying birds on the Great Salt Lake and along their migration routes in Central/South America. I am married with three BEAUTIFUL daughters (ages 5, 3, and 1) who are the best part of my life. Ultimately, family is what attracted me to pediatrics. Family is most central in pediatric medicine, and I love working with families to make our kiddos better. 

Hometown: Chicago, IL
Medical School: Loyola University – Chicago, IL
After Residency: Undecided
Hobbies/Interests: Learning new languages
Bio: I was born and raised in Ramallah, Palestine till age of 14 before I moved to Chicago, IL with my family. Moving to a new country during Freshman year of high school was quite the transition, yet it was a positive one! I met new people, practiced a new language, got introduced to new cultures, developed new hobbies, and discovered that my passion and strength lays in the sciences. By senior year, I received the POSSE scholarship to attend Denison University in Granville, OH where I chose to major in biochemistry. I recall that I have always been interested in either pediatrics or plastics (don’t ask me why…maybe because they rhyme) and therefore the next planned step was to attend medical school. Upon graduating from Denison, I went back to Chicago to attend Loyola Stritch school of medicine. After a challenging yet rewarding 4 years, I was meant to end up in pediatrics. Pediatrics is a rewarding and fun field, where else are you going to get a chance to interact with cute kids all day long and contribute to raising a healthy future generation. 
I chose Mizzou to complete my residency because I thrive in small and friendly environments. Medicine is a teamwork and having a close-knit group to complete this path with just makes residency more meaningful and enjoyable.
(P.S. I still put on the same face expression in my attached baby picture every time I enter a patient’s room) 

Hometown: Stanberry, MO
Medical School: University of Missouri - Columbia, MO
Career/Research Interests: Trauma Informed Care, Nutrition and Healthy Activity, ACEs
After Residency: General pediatrics at an FQHC
Hobbies/Interests: Running, biking, live music
Bio: I grew up on a farm in a small town in Northwest Missouri. My interest in medicine started in high school when I saw the need for physicians in rural areas. I received my undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Mizzou in 2016. When it came time to choose a medical school, staying at Mizzou was the ideal place for me to pursue a career in medicine because of the collaborative nature of the PBL program and the opportunities provided by the rural scholars program. From my first experience with pediatrics in med school, I couldn’t believe how excited I was to go to the hospital each morning and how much energy the kids gave me. The pediatrics program at Mizzou also offers the chance to serve a large geographic population, and I look forward to serving patients from all over the state. After residency, I hope to be a general pediatrician and an advocate for children in a rural community. Outside of medicine, I enjoy all things outdoors, cheering on Mizzou, the Chiefs, and the Royals, and enjoying all that Columbia has to offer! 

Hometown: Rapid City, SD
Medical School: Kansas City University - Joplin, MO
Career/Research Interests: Preventative medicine, primary care, rural medicine
After Residency: General pediatrics, probably in a rural setting
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, biking, playing with my cats, bowling, watch sports (football, basketball, hockey, baseball)
 

Hometown: Yukon, OK
Medical School: University of Oklahoma - Oklahoma City, OK
Career/Research Interests: General pediatrics, Reach out and Read
After Residency: Undecided
Hobbies/Interests: Huge OU football fan! Golfing, duck hunting, live music, exercise, charcuterie boards.  I’d say traveling but I’m not that world traveled.
Bio: I grew up in Yukon, OK a suburb just outside of Oklahoma City. I received my undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. As a kid and even through undergrad, I knew medicine was extremely interesting to me and a path I wanted to follow. Staying true to my Sooner roots, I went to medical school at the University of Oklahoma in OKC. As I volunteered at clinics and went through my rotations, I found myself enjoying the days and the interactions where I was treating and working with my younger patients. Children are so unpredictable and amazingly resilient but also very vulnerable and I knew I wanted to be a part of the care that advocates for them. During my interview at Mizzou, I loved how welcoming the residents and faculty were and I was drawn to the resident driven culture this program offers. Missouri prides itself on developing outstanding general pediatricians while offering strong exposure to specialty care, which were both huge pluses for me as I’m still clueless on my plan for after residency. Columbia, the city, is such an amazing place to live and has so much to offer. I’m a huge college football fan and being able to go to a Tigers ballgame, on a Saturday afternoon, is tough to beat. While in Columbia I’ve loved getting to experience all the local restaurants and music venues, as well as lose all my golf balls at most of the golf courses in town. I’m excited for the future at Missouri Peds and all the friendships I will make along the way!