Bryce Duchman
I have lived in the Hawkeye State my entire life, venturing a whole 90 minutes away from my hometown for medical school and residency at the University of Iowa. So, you could say Iowa and its citizens hold a special place in my heart. As an Iowa native, I am especially grateful for the opportunity to learn from the wonderful people of this state during my medical training.
My interest in science began way back in middle school, and my interest in medicine began shortly after my first patient contact as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at a local nursing home. There, I greatly enjoyed caring for and interacting with the nursing home residents & patients. This initial enthusiasm and commitment to patient care ultimately led to Biology and Doctor of Medicine degrees. I became interested in internal medicine during medical school, as I was attracted to the broad spectrum of diseases encountered in internal medicine, the emphasis on understanding the underlying pathophysiology, and the spirit of curiosity fostered in the field.
I chose to stay at the University of Iowa for internal medicine residency because patient care and resident education are unquestionably the two most important things to this program. Our residents are provided abundant research and mentorship opportunities, individualized trainee schedules, incredible support from program leadership and faculty, and a collegial atmosphere. Furthermore, the University of Iowa is a premier institution and a pioneer in many medical therapies, so training here keeps us at the forefront of medical knowledge and breakthroughs. As a resident, my most rewarding experiences included building strong relationships with my VA continuity of care clinic patients, spending long (but exciting!) nights in the medical intensive care unit, and hanging out with my fellow residents.
Outside of the hospital, I enjoy spending time with my wonderful wife, Emily. I also like to spend time reading fantasy/sci-fi, trying new places to eat, visiting family, playing board/card games with friends, and playing sports such as ultimate frisbee, soccer, and basketball.
I am excited to spend my year as chief resident working hard to promote the strong reputation of our program and to continue the upward trajectory of our resident education. After my chief year, I plan to continue my training as a Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine fellow.
Nicole Grogan
I was technically born in Chicago, Illinois, but I’m a Hawkeye through and through. Although I grew up in Dubuque, IA, I’ve called Iowa City home for the past 11 years. I pursued my undergraduate degree in Health and Human Physiology at the University of Iowa, where I first realized that black and gold are the best color combination around. I also worked as a certified nursing assistant while in college, which helped me understand two things: 1.) I love old people, and 2.) my future must include direct patient care.
After graduating from the University of Iowa, I went to medical school at the Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City. I was in awe of the talent of my classmates and grateful that I was training in a place where intelligence was matched only by kindness. I decided that I wanted to do Internal Medicine when I saw the complexity of cases that were managed during my first medicine inpatient rotation. It felt like the only time during rotations that I utilized all of the information taught to me during medical school–from physiology, to pharmacology, to the challenges and rewards of patient care.
I chose to continue my residency training in Iowa City because I would really miss Hawkeye tailgates if I left. Just kidding–I chose to stay because after interviewing across the country, I realized how lucky I was to have the caliber of Internal Medicine training that is available at UIHC in my own “backyard.” For the past three years I have been humbled by the knowledge and talent of my faculty and grateful for the generosity and warmth of my colleagues. I never thought I could learn how to be a doctor, take excellent care of patients, and still have fun while working 60-80 hours per week, but Iowa somehow made this possible.
I look forward to spending my chief year working to recruit new, talented resident-physicians to our program (who might even end up staying in Iowa like me!). Upon completion of chief residency, I plan to pursue fellowship training in Hematology and Oncology.
Carolyn Hilliard
I grew up in Saint Louis and was fascinated by science from a young age (possibly directly related to the movies I was allowed to watch, like Outbreak and Aliens, at the age of 9). After high school I attended college at Creighton University but secured a summer job as a research technician in Cancer Biology at Washington University in Saint Louis and soon transferred back to Saint Louis University so I could work year-round in basic science. It was during these years working in a lab that I was able to shadow a Pulmonary Critical Care collaborator of ours and fell in love with medicine.
I completed medical school at Saint Louis University and when I interviewed at the University of Iowa for Internal Medicine was impressed with the residents’ knowledge and camaraderie as well as the faculty I interviewed with for their openness and kindness. I have not been disappointed or disillusioned in my time here and am so grateful I’ve had the opportunity to train here. I am looking forward to my time as chief resident and the role I can play in continuing our tradition of excellence in patient care and resident education and hope to become more involved in physician leadership and health care policy/advocacy.
Outside the hospital I love to spend time with my husband, Thomas, and young daughter, Evelyn (8 months already! Time flies). We enjoy hiking and are looking forward to cooler weather to camp as a family this year. I also enjoy reading and writing and, when time allows, traveling.
Jennifer Langstengel
I grew up on Long Island, NY, which is just outside of New York City. I attended Stony Brook University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in biology from the Women in Science in Engineering (WISE) program. After graduation, I worked for three years conducting hematology/oncology research prior to medical school at Weill Cornell Medical College. This is where I found my love of clinical medicine and internal medicine. I then attended medical school at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton, PA.
In medical school, I realized that I was interested in managing complex patients, as well as being involved in the continuum of care from the clinic into the hospital, and throughout the patient’s stay. I enjoy the puzzle-solving in internal medicine. When I was applying for residency, I wanted a supportive academic environment that would challenge me educationally, but also support my growth as a physician and a person both in and out of work. Iowa has the strength of many other academic hospitals, but what sets Iowa apart is the incredible support from our program leadership, clinical faculty, and co-residents. Iowa personalizes the residency for each resident to provide the right support and mentoring opportunities. The community of the residency has made Iowa our home.
I am excited for the upcoming year as Chief Resident in Quality and Patient Safety at the VA hospital. Throughout medical school, and my three years of internal medicine residency, I have been involved in QI curriculum because improving care for patients in real time is something that I am passionate about.
When I’m not working I spend time with my husband, Eric, and our daughter, as well as our cat, Josie, and our fish. We love to relax by going to the local farmer’s markets, running on trails in the area, and cooking. Over the coming year, I look forward to improving the education and experience of internal medicine residents and medical students. Following this year, I plan to pursue a career as an academic hospitalist, where I can continue to be involved in undergraduate and graduate medical education.