Ben Brakke, D.O.

Medical school: A.T. Still University, AZ

Residency: University of Missouri, MO

About me: I'm a native of Rochester who has come back full circle after training in Arizona and Kansas City. Prior to medical school, I worked as a firefighter and EMT. Outside of medicine, I love spending time with my wife and two young kids, bowling, attempting my own car repairs, and creatively using Gorgonzola in my cooking.

Why Mayo Clinic: This is tough to narrow down to a concise answer. If I had to pick one aspect that I like the most, I would have to say the people. And by people, I mean the faculty, other trainees, APPs, nurses, respiratory therapists, other specialties that we interact with. Everyone is top-notch, motivated, and passionate about patient care. I have learned a tremendous amount from all of the aforementioned groups throughout my training. Our fearless leader, Dr. Daxon, is also incredible. He works hard to harness the resources available within the Mayo system to make the most out of our education.

Best Part about Rochester: Rochester is a fantastic place to live and raise a family. It has small-town conveniences like a short commute with many amenities of a bigger city — nice restaurants, indoor and outdoor events, and cultural diversity.

Social media: Twitter: @ben_brakke

Ryan Craner, M.D.

Medical school: University of Utah, UT

Residency: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, AZ

Fellowship: University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital, FL

About me:  I grew up in a small town in Idaho, did my residency and then a fellowship in CVA. I worked at Mayo Clinic in Arizona for eight years as a CV anesthesiologist and then, as the story goes, decided to do another fellowship instead of buying a Porche for my midlife crisis. I’m married with four children whom I love to spend time with.

Social media: Twitter: @RyanCranerMD

Best part about training at Mayo Clinic: So many specialists all under one roof. All are easy to approach and interact with. Through my residency and first fellowship, often the most stressful part of the day was working with the consultant. Here, everyone I have worked with has been “Minnesota nice” and extremely competent both as teachers and clinicians.

Best part about living in Rochester: Cost of living and good schools. Proximity to Mayo as well. If you’re going to work long hours, you may as well not have to commute for hours as well.

Sabreena Kammo, D.O.

Medical school: Lincoln Memorial University, TN

Residency: Wayne State University, MI

About me: I grew up just outside of Detroit. I am a first-generation Chaldean-American from Iraq. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, traveling, and spending time with my family. 

Best part about training at Mayo Clinic: The way in which education is carried out. The Mayo Clinic system encourages faculty members to engage with all levels of trainees in medical discussions that I believe are vital for our education. The dedication to quality patient care is something unique to the institution that is an honor to be a part of. 

Best part about living in Rochester: The best part about living in Rochester would have to be the beautiful outdoor scenery. There are some of the best state parks and outdoor activities within a short distance of Mayo Clinic. The people of Rochester would have to be a close second; everyone is extremely helpful and kind.

Christine Orser, M.D.

Medical school: The Ohio State University College of Medicine, OH

Internship: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, OH

Residency: University of Virginia Health System, VA

About me: I'm originally from Louisiana and Illinois. I received a Master of Architecture in 2008 and worked as a structural engineer in Chicago before changing my career to medicine. When I'm not working, I like to hike, read, knit, and pamper my cat. When I have more time and money after fellowship, I plan to travel, play tennis, take ceramics classes, and indulge in architectural model building (it's not weird, some people build model trains).

Best part about training at Mayo: The opportunity to rotate through the Scottsdale and Jacksonville campuses plus many other hospitals in the Mayo Enterprise. And there is lots of experience with taking care of very complex ICU patients.

Best part about living in Rochester: It's very easy to live here and to get around town. It's even possible to live within walking distance of either the Downtown or the St. Marys campus. Lots of hiking spots nearby in Minnesota and Wisconsin. And it's less than 90 minutes to the Twin Cities, which is great for weekend day trips.

Angela Thomas, M.D.

Medical school: Baylor College of Medicine, TX

Residency: Baylor College of Medicine, TX

About me: I was born and raised in New Delhi, India, and moved to McAllen, Texas, as a teenager. My Indian and Tex-Mex backgrounds have exposed me to a rich variety of flavors and cuisines, so I am just as passionate about surveying local restaurants and coffee shops as I am about medicine. For leisure, I love hiking, dancing, and hosting game nights for friends and family. 

Why Mayo Clinic: There is so much potential to grow both professionally and personally at Mayo Clinic. Easily the biggest highlight of training here is the access to a wealth of knowledge and resources at Mayo. It is only made better by the most amazing and inspiring consultants, co-fellows, and healthcare staff. 

Best part about Rochester: Getting to enjoy the beautiful summer weather and activities around town, such as the night markets, Thursdays on First, and various events hosted by local shops and restaurants. Coming from Houston, the general commute of five minutes and lack of traffic is a definite bonus!  

Social media: Twitter: @Angmt15