Kiyan Heybati

Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Anticipated specialty: Internal Medicine (Cardiology/Critical Care)

What led you to a career in medicine?
As a young child, I was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease which left my family wondering how to even pronounce the name of this condition. After seeing several physicians, I was finally diagnosed and treated and subsequently received close primary care and cardiology follow-up during my childhood. Given this experience, I was drawn to a career in medicine as it would provide me with the ability to contribute to and provide evidence-based care, form meaningful relationships with others, and mentor and learn from trainees.

Given my lived experience with Kawasaki disease, I was always drawn to cardiology. During my undergraduate degree at McMaster, I was able to work on research studies with the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group. This helped me better appreciate the complexity of and knowledge gaps in caring for adults who are critically ill. In medical school, I loved the comprehensive care offered by internal medicine and the prioritization of building partnerships with patients and their families. Therefore, I decided to pursue my passion for cardiology and critical care through residency training in internal medicine. In the future, I look towards serving as a clinician-scientist with a focus on health outcomes research among individuals with cardiac disease and critical illness.

How was your experience at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine?
Over the past 3.5 years, Mayo has become a place which I am proud to call my second home. Whether learning in the hospital or through research initiatives, my experiences here have allowed me to not only see but also play an active role in always placing the needs of the patient first through the integration of the three shields. As I look towards residency, I will carry forward the lessons I have learned in always prioritizing the needs of the patient through interdisciplinary and team-based care. Additionally, I am excited to build on my research training while also serving as a mentor for other students and trainees as I progress through my career.

I believe that the Mayo Clinic not only provided me with the necessary medical knowledge and training, but also offered the opportunity to build on my skills in teamwork, research, and mentorship. Above all, it instilled a value of always placing the needs of the patient first which I am confident will serve me well in the future. 

Guozhen (Gordon) Xie

Hometown: Dublin, OH
Anticipated specialty: Anesthesiology, Critical Care

What led you to a career in medicine?
I found my specialty thanks to the incredible mentors I had in the areas of anesthesia and critical care. They helped me develop a love for physiology and a taste for procedures, and I've contributed to several research studies in the field as well, but most importantly, I was inspired by the kinds of patient interactions that occur in the surgical suite and the ICU.

I've been a tutor at many points in my life, and I often think that teaching is an underappreciated aspect of clinical care. Only the most accomplished physicians are promoted to professorships in the medical schools, and yet, all physicians and residents are required to explain complex concepts like cardiac arrest or pulmonary embolisms to patients who may not have even graduated high school.

My mentors in anesthesiology and critical care are excellent teachers, who can discuss complex topics in simple and accessible terms. Not only is this effective for training students like myself, but it also dispels the sense of apprehension and disorientation that many patients experience in the ICU or before surgery. Improving patient understanding is the reason I came to medical school, and anesthesiologists and intensivists do this on a hourly basis. 

How was your experience at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine?
Mayo has provided me with great foundational knowledge, unmatched learning at the bedside, and endless opportunities for academic enrichment and research. Most importantly, I've been inspired by the history and spirit of Mayo Clinic and its institutional mission, and I've adopted some of the tenets for myself.

Casey Martinez

Hometown: Towson, MD
Anticipated specialty: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

What led you to a career in medicine?
Medicine caught my attention from a young age- whether it was hearing stories from my dad, an orthopedic PA, or being the go-to person in my family to remove a stubborn splinter. Initially, I saw my future in professional soccer, but a knee injury shifted my path to go into medicine much sooner than planned. I was able to find a new team- one where I could bring the same drive, grit, and commitment to excellence.

During my second year, I scrubbed into my first surgery — a microsurgical case on neurosurgery service. The high-level training, mental challenge, physical demand, and the tangible outcomes of surgery was reminiscent of my time spent training at the Olympic Training Center, or sharpening my skills as a Division I soccer player at Duke and ASU. I was planning on going into neurosurgery until one week in plastic surgery clinic changed everything for me. The breadth of plastic surgery surprised me. I witnessed the seamless collaboration across almost all other specialties, creating solutions for complex problems to care for patients from young to old and head to toe, treating anything from cancer to congenital malformation. The artistic nature of the field also resonates deeply with me. In 10 years I see myself as an academic microsurgeon, involved in research, mentorship and lots of complex reconstructive surgery!

How was your experience at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine?
I have been surrounded by true excellence here, from fellow classmates to professors, researchers, clinical staff, administrators, and mentors. The culture at Mayo Clinic is second to none, and I’ve learned what it truly means to put the needs of the patient first. I owe so much to those who have shaped me into who I am today. It has been incredible to rotate in Phoenix, Rochester, and Jacksonville, learning from experts on the cutting edge of each of the three shieldsclinical practice, education and research. 

Medical school has brought some of the most difficult, formative, and overall happy/exciting times of my life thus far. The past four years has really allowed me to grow into who I am as a person and I would not trade that journey for anything! 

Ning McKenzie

Hometown: Berkeley, CA
Anticipated specialty: Dermatology

What led you to a career in medicine?
I was always drawn to "helping" animals, which as a child meant picking ticks off of lizards in my dad's backyard. I eventually realized I found more fulfillment working with people, and while volunteering as an EMT, I found myself especially energized by conversations with patients.

I have always been a visual, hands-on person -- you can always find me working on a knitting, sewing, or painting project in my free time. I was drawn to the ability to diagnose patients just with a simple physical exam or at most a biopsy, and especially loved the variety of patients and conditions seen in dermatology. I love clinical practice and hope to build a diverse patient base with a special focus on sexual health involving the skin. I am from the West Coast, specifically the Bay Area, so I want to give back to the mixing pot that is that region in the future. 

How was your experience at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine?
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine gave me firsthand access to expert physicians who work in teams to really dive into patients' diagnoses. I have been fortunate to see rare clinical cases, complex medical patients, and extremely compassionate care provided at the Mayo Clinic. I hope to build on the skills of patient, detailed, and personalized care during my residency.

I am excited to start residency, and am prepared to enter this new phase with curiosity and humility. Medical student rotations have repeatedly instilled us to constantly learn, adapt, and build strong team relationships. I feel prepared to enter yet another unknown!

Anders Jenson

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Planned specialty: Pediatrics

What led you to a career in medicine?
Being born with congenital heart disease and having survived four open heart surgeries has given sense an understanding of the many challenges pediatrics patients may face growing up with any form of illness. My personal experiences drew me to medicine, as I hope to be able to support the next generation of patients and their families as a physician myself, recognize the wide-ranging impact illness can have on someone's life. 

The career I envision for myself has patient care at the forefront, but allows leaves space for research and medical education. I recognize that I am fortunate enough to be alive today thanks to the tremendous advances in the medical field made by prior generations, and would be honored to be able to continue to advance the field.

How was your experience at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine?
My time training at Mayo Clinic has been especially meaningful as a former patient of the institution. My family came to Mayo Clinic seeking expert counseling after my second open heart surgery was unsuccessful. Thankfully, the incredible team at Mayo Clinic was able to guide my family through difficult decisions, and after two successful surgeries my health has never been better. These experiences have given me a strong appreciation for the importance of the quality of care provided by Mayo Clinic, and is something I will always keep in mind in my career. 

It has been a privilege to train at a world-renowned institution like Mayo Clinic, where we have the opportunity to learn from the leading experts in many fields. I can only hope to be able to live up to such a strong legacy.