Each academic year, we welcome new chief residents who will provide administrative, clinical and educational leadership for the residency program and help the new intern class integrate into residency and new environs. Leah Anderson, MD, Grace Carey, MD and Sam Wing, MD, MS, will serve as co-chief residents of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program for the 2024-25 academic year.
Read on for a Q&A with Drs. Anderson, Carey and Wing!
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Q: What are you most looking forward to in being a chief resident?
LA: As a chief resident, I am looking forward to several aspects of the role, particularly in education and mentorship. One of the most rewarding parts will be guiding and supporting junior residents and medical students in their clinical training and professional development. It’s a privilege to contribute to their growth, sharing insights and experiences that can shape their future careers.
GC: I’m most looking forward to working with and learning from my amazing co-residents, as well as all the residents in our program. I’m also excited to continue growing resident education and mentorship experiences by working closely with our faculty and residency leadership throughout the year!
SW: As the recruitment chief for the 2024-2025 application cycle, I am most excited about meeting the new prospective residency candidates. Having been involved in recruitment in the past, I strive to foster engagement of candidates from a variety of demographic locations, life stages, and cultural backgrounds. I hope to create more opportunities for the current residents to socialize, relax outside of work, and strengthen our already tight-knit community.
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Q: What are some ways that the chief residents support your co-residents?
LA: Above all, my primary goal in this position is to support my co-residents. I aim to be approachable and dependable, whether they need guidance, advice, or simply someone to listen. It’s important to me to advocate for their needs within residency leadership, ensuring that their concerns are heard and addressing any suggestions for enhancing our residency program.
GC: We already have such a close-knit residency group, and it is a goal for us to protect our incredible culture of peer support, particularly when welcoming interns and medical students into that fold as well! On the flip side, we as chiefs are also uniquely positioned to advocate for our co residents to our program leadership and faculty, and I’m excited to be one of the voices allotted such a privilege.
SW: Chief residents serve as a channel of communication between the residents, program leadership, and department leadership. Residents are encouraged to provide direct feedback to the chief residents about any concerns they have in residency education or clinical work. We meet weekly with the residency leadership and directly communicate these concerns to the program director. We also provide peer support for residents, for example, provide mental health resources and support when faced with life stressors or emotionally taxing patient cases or interpersonal interactions. Finally, we assist with building on established career and scholarly mentoring opportunities early on in residency.
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Q: What is one thing you hope your co-residents will learn from you?
LA: I hope my co-residents learn from me the importance of resilience and the value of seeking help when needed. In residency, we face demanding situations that are physically, emotionally, and intellectually challenging. I emphasize the significance of teamwork, supporting one another, and maintaining compassionate care despite obstacles. By demonstrating resilience, I aim to inspire my co-residents to develop their own perseverance and flourish in their medical careers.
SW: I hope other residents learn how to reach out to one another, build each other up, offer mentorship to more junior residents, treat all staff with respect, and make the ED a supportive environment for collaboration and patient care above all else.
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Q: Is there any advice you would give applicants for interviewing/ranking?
LA: I would advise trusting your instincts and prioritizing self-care. It is important to consider your life beyond medicine. Finding a balance that supports both your professional and personal life is essential for long-term well-being and success.
GC: Find a group of people who you feel like will support you through the ups and downs of residency in a place you can find fulfillment outside of work as well! Residency is hard enough without the added stresses of external life, so having co residents and faculty at the hospital who advocate for your education and overall wellness is crucial to not only good training and patient care, but also to developing life-balance.
SW: Not to over-simplify a very difficulty decision but for the most part, the foundational education that you receive in emergency medicine is very similar across residency programs. Try to find a location and community that resonates with you and prioritize your aspirations and life outside of residency. Whether that is being close to family, having the ability to afford a comfortable home and childcare, being surrounded by residents with similar hobbies, or one that has mentors in your prospective field that you look up to.
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Q: Do you have a faculty mentor(s) in EM or another department? Who, and what do you like about working with them?
LA: As I apply for an Ultrasound Fellowship, my primary mentors are Dr. Sara Damewood and Dr. Hani Kuttab. They are not only incredibly enjoyable to work with but have also been indispensable in my ultrasound training. I have the highest respect for these two incredible physicians and hope to continue learning from their expertise, gaining valuable insights that will enhance my career and patient care.
NG: I have had so many mentors it is hard to keep track. To highlight a few, my mentors Dr. Bernardoni and Dr. Glazer have been instrumental in my match to critical care fellowship and have taught me how to combine multiple passions into one fulfilling career. Dr. Joe-Ann Moser, along with our other amazing education faculty, has fostered my passion for resident learning while simultaneously being a friend and sounding board as I consider a career in academics myself.
SW: As a resident, my specific interests outside of the emergency department include education, clinical simulation, global health, and diversity, equity and inclusion. As such, I have received amazing mentorship from Dr. Michelle Hughes (Division Chief, Emergency Medicine Simulation), Dr. Jessica Schmidt (Division Chief, Global Health), and Dr. Ryan Tsuchida (Assistant Dean for Multicultural Affairs for Health Professions Learners).
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Q: Living in Madison: great or the greatest?
LA: Living in Madison is fantastic! There are so many awesome activities to do here. My favorite pastimes include visiting the weekend farmers’ market by the capitol, kayaking on Lake Monona, hiking at Devil’s Lake State Park with my dog, Indy, and any activity shared with my co-residents!
GC: As an ocean girl, Madison’s beautiful lakes and the Great Lakes come as close as you can get to the ocean in the Midwest! It is a tough place to consider leaving when it has nearly everything you could want in a small city. It is convenient yet busy, and feels like it grows with you as you explore it over the years. There is amazing food and even better people; I’ll miss it when I’m gone!
SW: Seriously, it’s the greatest! Amazing food, live music every week, and beautiful lakes! What more could you ask for?