Dermatology Residents

Bio: I grew up in Ojai, California, but have been in the Midwest for awhile now. I went to undergrad at Saint Louis University, and then medical school at the University of Missouri - Columbia (Mizzou). In my free time, I enjoy running, trying to keep my house plants alive, trying new recipes, traveling, and spending time with my friends and my husband.

Since my first year in medical school at Mizzou, the dermatology department instantly welcomed me and supported me in my goal of a career in dermatology. The faculty have been outstanding mentors and I'm excited to begin my journey of becoming a dermatologist here at Mizzou.

Bio: Growing up in Orange County, California, I went on to pursue a double major in biology and dance & performance studies at UC Berkeley for my undergraduate degree. Throughout my medical training, I've lived in various parts of the United States, including NYC, NJ, Arizona, Boston, and Northern California. However, Columbia holds a special place in my heart as I was a former neurosurgery resident at MU. During my transition from neurosurgery to dermatology, I found the dermatology program at MU to be incredibly welcoming and supportive. Additionally, I completed a fellowship in cutaneous oncology at Boston Medical Center between my neurosurgery and dermatology training. I am thrilled to have chosen to return to MU for my dermatology residency, where the collegial team has made me feel right at home. When not working, I enjoy cooking, taking pilates and barré classes, vintage shopping, and spending time with my husband, our daughter, and our two dogs.

Bio: I grew up all over the country, however, I spent the longest time living in Las Vegas, Nevada. I attended the University of Portland in Oregon for my undergraduate degree and the University of Nevada, Reno for my medical degree. I knew Mizzou was my dream dermatology program as soon as I stepped into my first clinic. The faculty and residents were warm, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about teaching and learning. However, what makes Mizzou particularly exciting is the opportunity to experience a well-rounded training program while also gaining extensive exposure to pediatric dermatology. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to learn and grow alongside my fellow residents at Mizzou Dermatology. In my free time, I enjoy watching documentaries, knitting, trying out new restaurants, and spending time with my friends and fiancé, Shane.

Bio: I am from rural western Kentucky.  I attended University of Kentucky for my undergraduate degree where I studied mathematics and then went on to the University of Louisville for medical school. In my free time, I enjoy painting with acrylic, watercolor, and chalk pastels, antiquing, walking, reading, and spending time and with family and friends. I chose to train at MU because it’s truly like a big family. The close-knit relationships among residents, attendings, students, and staff truly makes this an optimal learning and working environment. We enjoy spending time together in and outside of work and my co-residents have become some of my best friends. In addition to the amazing culture, this program provides comprehensive exposure to all aspects of dermatology with hands-on learning from day 1. One of my favorite aspects of our program is the strong emphasis on the underserved with intentional/strategic efforts to address deficits in access to dermatology care via the ECHO program and the MedZou free clinic.

Bio: I was born and raised in a small town (Festus, MO) just outside of St. Louis, MO. I attended Missouri State University for my bachelor’s degree and the University of Missouri – Columbia (MU) for my medical degree. During my medical school dermatology rotations, I felt instantly welcomed by all the MU dermatology faculty and residents. Each faculty and resident I worked with spent ample time teaching and mentoring. Everyone in the department was so approachable and friendly. There is certainly an atmosphere of camaraderie. Further, I knew MU dermatology would provide a breadth of dermatology training which included the Truman VA, Ellis Fischel Cancer center, the children’s hospital, Mohs procedural clinic, and several general dermatology clinics.  It was an easy decision to choose MU dermatology for my residency training.

I have also enjoyed my time in Columbia. It is a great college town with everything you need. I enjoy golfing, exercising, playing board games, making sushi, and trying new beers with my fiancé’ Shaye. It is also nestled just 1.5-2 hours from both St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri whenever I want to go to a KC Chiefs game or STL Cardinals game.

Columbia and MU dermatology are hidden gems of the Midwest. I am looking forward to the next three years of fun and training with an excellent group of faculty and residents.

Bio: I grew up in New York then spent more than a decade at the University of Chicago, whereas an undergraduate I studied geology and evolutionary biology before obtaining my MD and PhD through the University of Chicago Medical Scientist Training Program. For my PhD thesis, I developed a mouse model of gut bacterial inheritance to study the effects of early life exposures on immune homeostasis and disease susceptibility. As a dermatologist, I aim to understand the mechanisms of host-microbe interactions on the skin in order to prevent or modify the course of dermatologic disease. MU is a welcoming training program for this pursuit. My wife and I live in Columbia with our three kids and couldn't be happier to call it home.

Home town: St. Charles, Missouri

Undergraduate: St. Louis University

Medical school: University of Missouri - Columbia

Intern year: Providence Sacred Heart in Spokane, WA

Bio: I grew up in St. Louis with my three older siblings. Both my parents and siblings all work in health care. I was always drawn to the medical field and when shadowing various professions, my desire to become a physician was re-enforced. When I rotated in dermatology during medical school, it became clear I loved dermatology more than any of the other fields. I woke up excited to go into work every day, and that passion continues during residency. Mizzou Dermatology creates a welcoming and friendly environment allowing for growth as both a dermatologist and person. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing tennis, any water activities, reading, trivia nights, and playing board games.

Hometown: Carson City, NV

Undergraduate: Boston University

Medical School: University of Nevada

Bio: "I’m from Carson City, NV and I attended Boston University for undergrad and the University of Nevada in Reno for med school. I chose Mizzou because everyone here is so friendly, laid-back, and approachable. From residents to attendings, to even the chair and support staff, everyone here is just so darn welcoming! This is my first time living in the Midwest, and let me tell you, Midwestern hospitality is a real thing. Columbia itself is a gem of a college town that's right smack-dab in the middle of the country. My favorite part about the Derm residency program here is the breadth of hands-on experiences you can immediately delve right into from the outset of residency (derm surg, dermpath, cutaneous onc, peds derm, etc.) on such a kind, grateful, diverse patient population from across the state. Personally, I'm just interested in exploring all the field has to offer and am striving to be the best dermatologist I can be. In my spare time, I love being spontaneous and am always down to try something new, somewhere new, with fun people! Some of my hobbies include concerts, trivia, breweries, lifting, comics, and philosophy."

Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee

Undergraduate: University of Tennessee

Medical School: East Tennessee State University

Bio: I am originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, and attended the University of Tennessee for undergrad and East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine for medical school. I chose MU because of their renowned clinical training, close-knit relationships, and college-town atmosphere. My favorite part about the Dermatology residency program is the mutual respect and support among students, residents, faculty, and staff. We truly are a big family! In my spare time, I love to run, hike, travel, and frequent local sporting events and concerts. 

Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD

Undergraduate: University of St. Thomas

Medical School: University of Nebraska