Did anything surprise you about Mayo Clinic's program?

"I was surprised about how down to earth the people and environment is. I was also surprised by the diversity of the patient population. I didn’t quite understand how many patients come in from across the country and world. I did residency in Chicago, Illinois, so coming to Rochester was a bit of an adjustment. One thing I love is the ease of parking! People coming from bigger cities will appreciate that!"

Current affiliation: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee

Did anything surprise you about Mayo Clinic's program?

"The way Mayo Clinic coordinates care is simply outstanding. Patients come for a second or third opinion and no matter how busy our colleagues are, it is easy to coordinate care and have them been seen by a multidisciplinary team with minimal waiting time. Communication among teams is spectacular and the added value of working and learning from experts in the field as well as PAs, NPs, and nurses, all of which are key in your education as a fellow, has been incredibly beneficial."

Current affiliation: University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California

What attracted you to pediatric hematology/oncology?

"I originally had no particular interest in pediatrics, but after shadowing a pediatric hematologist/oncologist, I was immediately astonished by how resilient the patients were, and I was captivated by the deep and meaningful relationships you make with each patient's family. As I progressed in my training, no other specialties seemed to compare in terms of the connection I could have with my patients. We often meet our patients and their families in a time of crisis and then have the privilege of following them through their journey every step of the way. There are few things in life that carry so much meaning, and I feel privileged to do this every day."

Current affiliation: Sanford Health, Fargo, North Dakota

What attracted you to Mayo Clinic for fellowship training?

"I was drawn by the size of the program and by the fact that the fellow's role was to learn and not to be the workhorse of the hospital. Also, there appeared to be tremendous opportunities in research and medical education. Lastly, I was impressed with the group's integrated, collaborative practice model. Everyone helps each other with the unifying goal of serving the needs of the patient."

 Current affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota