Current Fellows

Undergraduate School: The College of Wooster
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine

Hobbies: Reading, running, hiking, skiing, and going for long walks with my husband, daughter, and dogs

Research/QI Interests: I am interested in the NeuroNICU, neurodevelopmental outcomes in NICU patients and NICU follow-up. 

Why NICU? 
I first realized that I wanted to pursue a career in neonatology during my residency intern year rotation in the NICU. During that time, I truly enjoyed working with the babies and learning from such a wide variety of pathophysiology. Babies are resilient, and getting to see some fantastic outcomes after some initially scary situations was so rewarding to me. I also enjoyed getting to know the families and develop relationships with them throughout their time in the NICU. 

Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital for Children? 
I got to experience the Riley Hospital NICUs during medical school and residency, and loved all the people who work there. I also appreciated the wide variety of pathologies that are seen at Riley Hospital and knew that continuing my training here would lead me to be a very well-rounded neonatologist. As for the fellowship program, I really appreciated how tailored it is to each individual fellow’s interests and career goals.

Undergraduate School: Adrian College
Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Residency: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Hobbies: I think my absolute favorite thing to do is read, preferably non-work-related books, and I tend to be reading multiple books at any one time. I love doing New York Times crosswords, taking care of my plants and spending time with my dog Milo. I also have two nephews and a niece that I enjoy visiting whenever I get the chance.

Research/QI Interests: I am interested in breastfeeding in the premature neonates. During residency, I obtained my International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) license and want to continue this avenue within fellowship. I am interested in exploring ways to get more premature infants breastfeeding and ways to support breastfeeding for these infants after discharge.

Why NICU?
Coming into medical school, I knew I wanted to do something with pediatrics. I ended up falling in love with surgery and anatomy so going into my clinical rotations, I was leading towards pediatric surgery. I spent a month on the pediatric surgery service and quickly got bored with the endless appendectomies and hernia repairs. My favorite patients during that month were the NICU surgical patients. I decided to do a NICU elective at the last minute before applying and new within the first week that this was it for me. I felt that NICU gave me a good mix of procedures and interesting congenital anomalies while also having a more long term relationship with my patients/families. 

Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital for Children?
Throughout my fellowship interviews, I knew I needed to go somewhere where my breastfeeding research could be supported, since it is not one of the more common focus areas in neonatology. My interview at IU School of Medicine made me feel supported in what I wanted to do and Jason Niehaus, MD, MBA, emphasized that the program would support me and my interests throughout fellowship. He talked about multiple directions I could take within breastfeeding and different ideas that he already had. This support and the ability to focus on my interests was what drove me to choose IU School of Medicine.

Undergraduate School: King University
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Carolinas
Residency: Medical College of Georgia

Hobbies: All things dogs, knitting, travel and board games

Research/QI Interests: Educational research, NRP, SIM

Why NICU?
I love caring for sick patients. I love the problem-solving that comes with critically sick patients and the rewarding feeling you get when you can heal them. I was drawn to how neonatologists get to see procedures and deliveries mixed with patient care that creates something new every single day.

Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital for Children?
It became exceedingly obvious even before my interview day that this program cared for their fellows, and everyone was so kind on my actual interview day. Moving far from home, I knew I wanted to be somewhere I would feel taken care of and felt that from this program. It also has the added benefit of being at a large academic hospital with multiple NICUs to train in.

Undergraduate School: University of Kentucky
Medical School:  Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton
Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine

Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, skiing

Research/QI Interests: Global health, neonatal resuscitation simulation and outreach

Why NICU?
I chose neonatology because I’m passionate about caring for newborns during a time when care can have a life-long lasting impact. The combination of complex physiology, high-acuity care, and the privilege of supporting families through critical moments makes the NICU the most meaningful and fulfilling place for me to practice.

Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital?
After completing my residency at IU School of Medicine, I couldn’t imagine a better place to continue my training. The fellowship offers exposure to a wide variety of neonatal pathology across multiple level NICUs, exceptional delivery room experience, global health exposure and a comprehensive NRP simulation program. Most importantly, the faculty and staff are not only kind and supportive, but also deeply committed to helping us grow into the best physicians we can be. This collaborative and high-acuity environment makes IU School of Medicine the ideal place for me to advance my training in neonatology!

Undergraduate School: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Medical School: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine

Hobbies: Hiking, rock climbing, paddleboarding, reading, travel

Research/QI Interests: Dialysis, prenatal counseling, global health

Why NICU?
I chose NICU because I love critical care medicine and the complex physiology of caring for newborn infants while also being able to see more healthy, stable infants preparing to go home. I enjoy the wide array of anomalies and conditions we care for on a daily basis. I also love getting to meet families and help them through challenging decisions that will impact their and their family’s lives.

Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital for Children?
After completing my residency at IU School of Medicine, I saw that Riley Hospital gives you exposure to everything. I wanted an education where I could be prepared to work at any facility I wanted after graduation. We get exposure to ECMO, CRRT and any high risk deliveries from across the state. Not to mention the expansive research opportunities that were available. I also loved all the fellows and staff here. The fellows loved their jobs and seemed well supported by faculty. I knew choosing Riley Hospital and IU School of Medicine would allow me to get everything I wanted from a program.

Undergraduate School: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Residency: Mayo Clinic Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Residency

Hobbies/Interests: I'm from Green Bay so I'm a huge Packers fan! I come from an artsy/musical family and in my free time enjoy painting, sketching, playing piano and writing music. I love anything outdoors (except the entire season of winter!). I ran cross country and track in college, but since have become a very leisurely fair-weather runner.

Research/QI Interests: I am very interested in the utility of genetic testing in the diagnosis and management of neonatal pathology, particularly novel therapeutic targets for currently untreatable conditions.

Why NICU? 
Apart from comprising the patient population with the highest prevalence of single gene disorders, I truly love the juxtaposition of critical care, unique and novel phenotypes of prematurity and the resilient, inspiring patients and families we get to meet and support during some of their most challenging life experiences. I don't think I will ever stop learning from, or feeling humbled by, the amazing things medicine and babies can achieve.

Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital for Children?
My primary goal in fellowship is to gain a varied and comprehensive education to become the best neonatal clinician I can be, and I have always found that I learn best by doing and seeing as much as I can. Riley Hospital is unique in being the primary Level IV NICU and referral center in the state, bringing a large and uniquely complex and acutely ill patient population to our unit. Riley Hospital is also a leading institution in the evidence-based integration of genetic testing to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal disease. The privilege of caring for such a diverse breadth of patient pathologies, combined with the opportunity to learn from faculty and staff who truly advocate for and passionately support fellow learning and development, made IU School of Medicine an easy top choice for fellowship. The program is a perfect size, allowing broad access to support any trainee's scholarly interests while being small enough to really get to know the people you work with throughout your training.

Medical School: Government Vellore Medical College
Residency: MetroHealth Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University

Hobbies: Outside of medicine, I enjoy playing chess, hiking and traveling. I like exploring new places, experiencing different cultures and finding good food along the way. Chess has been a longtime hobby, and I still try to fit in a game whenever I can.

Research/QI Interests: I am interested in bronchopulmonary dysplasia, neonatal respiratory support and ventilator management in critically ill infants, particularly the different clinical presentations and long-term outcomes associated with BPD. I am still working out my specific research direction and look forward to exploring this further during my fellowship.

Why NICU?
I was drawn to neonatology because it brings together the parts of medicine that I enjoy most: physiology, problem solving and caring for patients as part of a close, multidisciplinary team. I love the complexity and attention to detail required when caring for critically ill newborns, where small changes in physiology can have a significant impact. What makes neonatology especially rewarding to me is the opportunity to care not only for the infant, but also to support and partner with their family during an important and often challenging period of their lives.

Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital for Children?
My interview experience made a real difference. Everyone I met, from faculty to fellows, was warm and easy to talk to, and it was clear they enjoyed working together. I was drawn to the strong clinical training, the collaborative culture and the focus on developing fellows as both clinicians and educators. Since I am still narrowing down my research direction within BPD and neonatal respiratory support, I wanted a program where I could explore that interest with faculty who would genuinely invest in me.