Nicole J. Jackson, MD
Third Year PICU Fellow
Undergraduate School: Georgetown University
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
Residency: Nicklaus Children's Hospital
Hobbies: I enjoy running, paddleboard, kayaking, biking, and working out like I'm training for something. I like to travel, food/wine festivals, and reading.
Research/QI Interests: I'm interested in neurocritical care and social determinants of health and their relation to outcomes in PICU patients.
Why PICU?
I love the multidisciplinary approach-never ending learning about the whole patient. Also hits close to home and I would like to be a physician who can provide comfort and understanding to patients and families when they are going through difficult times.
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital?
I wanted to train in a program that was large enough that I would see a variety of patients and pathology but was also supportive. I felt supported by the staff at Riley Hospital during the interview process and throughout the match. Virtual interviews suck but I felt that Riley Hospital did an excellent job of providing information about the program, university, and area. First time living in the Midwest and I don't regret it.
Vanessa M. Monroig, MD
Third Year PICU Fellow
Undergraduate School: Florida International University
Medical School: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Residency: Emory University
Interests: cooking, cross-stitching, city walks, touring breweries/wineries. Recently interested in gardening (variable success).
Research: My research is focused on identifying predictors of acute shunt failure in cardiac patients with shunt-dependent physiology in our cardiac ICU. I am working on a QI project aimed at optimizing family communication for patients in the PICU.
Why PICU?: I am passionate about providing care to patients in a vulnerable physical and emotional state and find great meaning in navigating them and their families through that journey. I loved learning the basic sciences and enjoy thinking through complex pathophysiology and applying it daily in a fast-paced environment while learning to thrive through (organized) chaos.
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital?: From day one, everyone was so supportive. On my interview day, the program leadership demonstrated commitment to fellows achieving academic and professional success, our AMAZING program coordinator saved me through unforeseen technical catastrophe during my virtual interview, and everyone was empathetic to the intimidating nature of this field and provided comfort for my worries surrounding rigorous training. When making the final decision, I weighed these experiences heavily as I felt they'd be indicators of what to expect in the coming years. I wrote all of this entering my first year, and as I enter my third year (and update my bio): this has all remained true. I have received amazing support (even when I didn't seek it or know I needed it) through some of the most challenging experiences I have faced ranging from help with clinical reasoning to navigating emotional distress. PICU fellowship can be isolating, but I have never felt alone while at Riley.
Danielle M. Severns, MD
Third Year PICU Fellow
Undergraduate School: Missouri Southern State University
Medical School: University of Missouri - Columbia
Residency: University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis, TN
Hobbies: walking my rescue dog in Broad Ripple, watching Chiefs football, cheering for Indy Fever basketball and Indy Ignite volleyball teams, taking weekend trips to explore new cities
Research/QI interests: ARDS and respiratory failure; ICU management and outcomes in the adolescent and young adult population.
Why PICU?
I appreciate the fast pace of the ICU where you can intervene and witness the rapid change in a patient’s clinical condition. I enjoy the breadth and complexity of patients in the PICU, and love the environment of children’s hospitals where everyone on the team is passionately working toward the same goal. All of that made it an easy choice for me!
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital?
Despite it being all virtual interviews, I quickly realized that the staff, faculty and fellows are the type of people I would enjoy being around. I felt that I would be well-supported by everyone throughout my training here. Riley Hospital has a perfect combination of patient volume and complexity, so I knew I would be well-prepared for any career. As an added bonus, my husband and I really wanted to be back in the Midwest!
Maria Kooken, MD
Second Year PICU Fellow
Undergraduate School: Appalachian State University
Medical School: University of Alabama Birmingham
Residency: Carolinas Medical Center
Hobbies: Spending time outside with my husband, toddler, and dog, trying new breweries and craft beers, traveling, watching baseball and college football, and finding random community events and festivals then forcing my family to go with me.
Research/QI interests: Simulation in medical education and critical illness in the heme/onc patient
Why PICU?
The pathophysiology seen in the ICU is fascinating and the complex cases provide a great intellectual challenge that I enjoy, but the most special part of working in the ICU setting is the deep relationships built with patient families and your coworkers.
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital?
My husband and I did a couples match for fellowships, so we were looking for a large academic center that was strong in both pediatrics and adult medicine, like IU School of Medicine. Even through a virtual interview, I could tell that the faculty and fellows are genuinely happy to work at Riley Hospital. It was also clear that the training program, with high patient volumes and a wide variety of illnesses and presentations, would prepare me well for my future career.
Jason T. Stemple, MD
Second Year PICU Fellow
Undergraduate School: Indiana University
Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine
Residency: West Virginia University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Any sporting event, exercising, trying new restaurants/breweries, a good Netflix series, reading biographies
Research interests: quality improvement in cardiac arrest prevention
Why PICU: I love the pace, pathophysiology, and complexity of the patient population in the PICU. I enjoy the minute-to-minute changes in patient status that require critical thinking and quick, yet evidence-based actions on a daily basis. It provides an opportunity to take someone's worst day, and hopefully play a small part in making it better.
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital: Starting at IU as an undergraduate allowed me to understand the passions they have for education. This remained evident to me in the interview process after being away from Indiana for eight years. The faculty at IU School of Medicine ensure that we will be prepared for life after fellowship both clinically and academically and ensure that we are competitive in an increasingly competitive job market post-fellowship. On top of that, the people here are great, and it was a great fit for me!
Marie Traylor, MD, MS
Second Year PICU Fellow
Undergraduate School: Texas Tech University
Medical School: Texas Tech El Paso Paul L. Foster SOM
Residency: Washington University in St. Louis/ St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Hobbies: spending time with my husband and our two weenie dogs, cooking out/ grilling, fishing, hiking
Research/QI interests: My research interest is medical education with a focus on resident psychosocial dysfunction and coping challenges during and after PICU rotations; curricula development, implementation, and continuous development; and simulation, especially rapid cycle deliberate practice.
Why PICU?
The pathophysiology of critically ill children is fascinating to me, and I want to learn as much as I can to assist in the care of these children. Being in the PICU could be the worst time in a kid’s or family’s life, and I love the opportunity to be a source of support and compassion in their journey. Above all, it the greatest honor to be involved in the children’s and families’ care.
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital?
I felt so welcomed during the interview day. The attitudes of everyone I met during the that day sold me on Riley Hospital very quickly. I could tell the PICU here would be a safe space for learning and growing. The excitement they shared in my research interests and the opportunities available in simulation were the deciding factors for me. I also love Indianapolis and all it has to offer!
Carine Abi Gerges, MD
First Year PICU Fellow
Undergraduate School: American University of Beirut
Medical School: American University of Beirut
Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine
Amber Brown, DO, MS
First Year PICU Fellow
Undergraduate School: Greenville College
Graduate School: Loma Linda University
Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Maine Medical Center
Hem/Onc Fellowship: Indiana University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Finding the best local coffee shops. Staying active and exercising (e.g. barre class, hiking). Exploring new cities.
Research/QI interests: Oncocritical care – specifically, decreasing treatment-related mortality by optimizing intensive supportive care for children with cancer
Why PICU: PICU training is the next step toward my goal of being optimally prepared to care for the critically ill child with cancer via dual-training in heme/onc and critical care medicine. The unique challenges and medical complexity in oncocritical care are fascinating, encourage me to better understand the physiology and sequalae of our interventions, and drive my clinical research. Moreso, the relationships with patients and caregivers are unparalleled – it’s an honor to journey with families through difficult diagnoses and critical illness.
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital: The Riley Hospital PICU team is lovely! I felt embraced, supported, and included in their team even before starting PICU fellowship. Further, IU School of Medicine offered everything I was looking for in critical care training – oncocritical care mentorship; breadth of exposure to critically ill patients; graduated autonomy in team leadership, medical decision-making, and procedures; and faculty investment in fellow education and professional development.
Whitney K. Phillips, MD
First Year PICU Fellow
Undergraduate School: Butler University
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine