Residents,
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye as your Chief Residents for the 20-21 academic year. Although this year has been very different than we ever expected (thanks COVID), we have enjoyed working with every single one of you.
When we interviewed for the role of Chief Resident in Spring 2019, we did not know we were signing up to be the program’s “COVID Chiefs.” This year has provided us with unique challenges and required us to think on our toes and become innovative. Despite this, we were still able to keep the Iowa tradition alive and thriving. This year, Roger advanced our online presence with a brand-new residency website (IMIowa.com) and social media with Instagram Takeovers and Twitter memes. Amanda expanded our board review prep by creating a Board Review Noon Conference Series. Matt was able to take our QI projects to a national level and continues to expand QI education. Nick championed improvements to the call schedule and to lactation rooms, and he helped arrange new VA rotations for palliative care and neurology. Additionally, we continued to provide high-quality lectures, hosted socially distanced social events through the Humanities and Wellness Committee, and recruited an outstanding incoming intern class. And of course, we all learned how to be technologically savvy for those Zoom recruitment lectures.
Every day, we were always in awe of our residents. Even though you have worked longer hours in a pandemic, your passion, positivity, and empathy still amaze us. Every time we pulled jeopardy for the dreaded 28-hour MICU shift, we were met with no opposition. The resilience shown by the interns this year is something we will never forget. You all have helped us grow as mentors, leaders, educators, and problem solvers.
Lastly, to the Internal Medicine Residency program leadership, we thank you for your support and mentoring this year. Thank you for believing in us and allowing us to be a part of the residents’ journeys and experiences. It has been a privilege and honor to serve as your Chief Residents.
Thank you,
Chief Residents 2020-2021
Nick Arnold, Amanda Heuszel, Matt Soltys, Roger Struble
Nicholas Arnold, MD, will begin his fellowship in Cardiology at Washington University in St. Louis. Amanda Heuszel, MD, will begin her fellowship in Cardiology at University of Missouri- Kansas City/Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institution. Roger Struble, MD, will begin his fellowship in Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Medicine at University of Iowa Health Care. Matthew Soltys, MD, will begin his fellowship in the VA Quality Scholars program while working at UI Health Care as an academic hospitalist.
