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| Class of 2011 |
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Ashley Adamczyk is a graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine. She has participated in numerous volunteer activities including the American Red Cross, Healthfocus, Code Blue, Freedom House, and the World Health Student Organization. She has worked as a counselor, respite care provider and building supervisor. She enjoys water sports, snow skiing, snowboarding, hiking, canoeing, camping, tennis, intramural softball, travel, and spending time with family and friends.
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Jade Bringhurst is a graduate of the University of Utah School of Medicine where he served as President of the EMIG at UU and is AOA. He spent six years as a clinical social worker before starting medical school. Among other volunteer activities he is a youth soccer coach. He enjoys hiking, camping, reading & parenting.
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Kara Cardenas is a graduate of Michigan State University-CHM. She spent time as an Occupational Therapist prior to medical school. She has volunteered with Special Olympics and United Way; also with Crossroads in the DR and Global Volunteers in Ecuador. Kara served as Secretary for the AMA-MSU Student Chapter. Running, hiking, tennis, golf, and swimming are some of her favorite non-medical interests.
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Daniel Dallon is a graduate of the University of Iowa School of Medicine with a BS in Biology from Utah State University. He was the Vice-President of EMIG. Dan has been a Research Assistant with the University of Iowa. He has spent volunteer time at Camp Kostopulos, a summer camp for children with disabilities. He speaks Portuguese (spent two years in Brazil). Mountaineering, hiking, canoeing, fly fishing, top his list of fun activities.
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James Enderle, from the University of Illinois-Peoria, enjoys creative writing, automotive and motorcycle repair, reading, and listening to almost all genres of music. He has spent volunteer time with the student section AMA as Treasurer and President. Jim has worked as a health advisor for Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth and participated in research projects in the St. Francis EM department.
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Nick Kuhl is a graduate of Michigan State University-CHM. Nick worked as a teaching assistant at the MSU Department of Anatomy and has also been a research assistant in the Department of Epidemiology. Volunteer activities include being team captain of MSU Intramural Sports and president of the Christian Medical Association. Hobbies & interests include backpacking, travel, pets & philosophy. Soccer, baseball, and water sports are included in his recreational activities.
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Tammy Provatas is from Muskegon, MI. She was a registered nurse at Mercy General Hospital prior to attending medical school at Wayne State University. She understands some sign language; enjoys golf, reading and spending time with her husband and four children.
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A native of Chicago, Raymond Scurek, completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in Physics and Applied Physiology before applying to medical school. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Medicine. Work experience includes being an assistant instructor and research assistant at the University of Texas-Austin. Volunteer activities include the ED of Brackenridge Hospital, New Life Free Clinic and Joshua Free Clinic. Hobbies & interests include martial arts, traveling, spending time with his fiancé and playing with his new puppy.
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Eric Wiest is actually from Grand Rapids, MI and attended Hope College prior to going to medical school at the University of North Dakota. Eric has worked as the resident manager for Ronald McDonald House in Fargo, ND as well as being a mason’s tender for Bow Construction here in GR. Volunteer activities include being Treasurer & Vice-President for the EMIG at UND and Treasurer for AMSA, UND Chapter. Hobbies & interests include church activities, snorkeling & scuba, hiking and building projects.
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Aaron Ziegler was born in Pontiac, MI and worked as an ED tech at Butterworth (Spectrum Health) prior to attending medical school at Wayne State University. He completed a Transitional Year at Detroit Medical Center and was a member of the USAF at Grand Forks AFB, ND. He has been a research assistant at Wayne State and volunteers as a Sunday school teacher for junior & senior high students. Interests include aerovac, altitude medicine & wilderness medicine. Aaron is AOA.
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| Class of 2010 |
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Name: Katie Buch, MD
Email:
Hometown:
Undergraduate School and Location:
Undergraduate Major(s):
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
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Name: Steven Foster, MD
Email: sgfostermd@gmail.com
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
Undergraduate School and Location: Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana
Undergraduate Major(s): Chemistry
Medical School: Indiana University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? I chose GR EM Residency because I enjoyed the experiences that I had when I rotated here in October of 2006. I also felt good about how the attendings interacted with the medical students and residents. In addition, GR was an ideal location for my wife to live.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Play basketball and golf...and eat.
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Name: Beth Heppermann, MD
Email: bsmoker@siumed.edu
Hometown: Freeburg, IL
Undergraduate School and Location: McKendree College, Lebanon, IL
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology
Medical School: Southern Illinois University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Smaller, community hospital feel with huge patient volume.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Lake Michigan beaches
Interesting tidbits about me: I got married 2 days before beginning residency.
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Name: Kadon Hintz, MD
Email: khintz@medicine.nodak.edu
Hometown: Bismarck, ND
Undergraduate School and Location: University of North Dakota, Grand Forks
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology/Honors
Medical School: University of North Dakota
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? The excellent program history and reputation, diverse patient population, busy emergency department, and enjoyable interactions with the residents and faculty were key selling points. I also appreciated the program’s focus on ultrasound and evidence-based medicine. The city of Grand Rapids itself sealed the deal.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Mountain biking, going to the beach, strolling the city trails and parks with my wife and son, live music downtown, playing soccer, basketball, and golf with the other residents, West Michigan Whitecaps baseball, and I’m looking forward to hockey season.
Interesting tidbits about me: I’m a big fan of wiffle ball and other lawn games, I play the guitar, and I’m a former ND state racquetball champion (Class C).
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Name: Omar Kolonda, MD
Email:
Hometown:
Undergraduate School and Location:
Undergraduate Major(s):
Medical School:Medical School: St. Louis University
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Name: Jackson Lanphear, MD
Email: jlanphea@med.wayne.edu
Hometown: Rockford, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: Albion College, Albion, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Chemistry
Medical School: Wayne State University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? I grew up in the area and worked in Spectrum’s ER as a technician during undergrad. So, GR is a familiar place to do my residency.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: I like northern Michigan a lot such as Traverse City, the Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Mackinac Island. I also enjoy the Grand Rapids nightlife.
Interesting tidbits about me: I’m a big Michigan State and Detroit Tigers fan.
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Name: Adam Oostema, MD
Email:
Hometown:
Undergraduate School and Location:
Undergraduate Major(s):
Medical School: Wayne State University
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Name: Crosby Rechtin, MD
Email: crosbyrechtin@hotmail.com
Hometown: Newport, KY
Undergraduate School and Location: Bellarmine College
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology
Medical School: University of Louisville
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? It’s a really good program. Grand Rapids is a nice city with friendly people and plenty to do.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Hang out with my wife and two kids, getting outside, going to the beach, biking around town and on the trails, and taking road trips around the rest of Michigan.
Interesting tidbits about me: I was a park ranger before I went to medical school, and I’m interested in Wilderness Medicine as a subspecialty. I bought a house in a great Historic neighborhood just three blocks from the ER and ride a used skateboard to work. For father’s day I got a beer brewing kit that I’m going to try out really soon.
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Name: Amery Robinson, MD
Email: robi0202@umn.edu
Hometown: Upper Minnesconsin
Undergraduate School and Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Undergraduate Major(s): English
Medical School: University of Minnesota, Duluth and Minneapolis, MN
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? I had no clue where Grand Rapids, Michigan was before I came here, but my advisor highly recommended checking it out as it is an old (for EM) and well established program at one of the 20 busiest ED’s in the country. I was quite impressed by both the commitment to evidence based clinical education as well as the friendliness and laid back attitude of the residents and attendings; after all you have to work together for three years.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: I try to get to the UP (Michigan’s other state) as much as possible. I spend a lot of time at the Lake Michigan beaches with my wife Tracy and daughter Edie. I also savor the four mornings a week we can walk over to the farmers market and buy local peaches and blueberries as well as miniature dog pizza treats for my lab Argo. I sincerely hope the Nordic skiing is good here.
Interesting tidbits about me: I have an undergraduate degree in English which really helped with the biochem and genetics in med school. I used to lead extensive wilderness canoe and backpacking trips in the northern U.S. and Canada, so it naturally seemed like a good idea to go on a five week canoe trip in the Canadian arctic for our honeymoon (it was). Hence my strong interest in Wilderness Medicine. Right now, though, I’m equally interested in Crosby’s homebrew kit (see above).
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Name: Mary Jo Van Ostenberg, MD
Email: mdubois@med.wayne.edu
Hometown: Stanwood, MI (about 45 minutes North of Grand Rapids)
Undergraduate School and Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Undergraduate Major(s): Spanish
Medical School: Wayne State University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Geographically, I wanted to be in Grand Rapids because it is the closest to home for me. However, I wasn't willing to go to a sub par residency just to be close to home. Things that I like about the residency are the huge number of ED visits per year, the number of ED months you do during residency (the most of any place I interviewed), the pediatrics being mixed in with adults vs. at a separate facility, and the amount of respect the ER residents seem to have among other specialties in the hospital. For example, the fact that ER residents work as seniors on the trauma service would be unheard of at some other programs. Finally, the people are fantastic to work with and, not that this should be the deciding factor for anyone, but the benefits are way above average, i.e. health and dental for your whole family.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: My husband and I are big sports fans and HUGE U of M football fans. Michigan and even Grand Rapids specifically, are great places for sports. I also enjoy eating out, and just hanging out with family and friends. We live in Rockford, which is about 20 minutes North of the hospital, and there is a great river walk path and lots of places to get ice-cream.
Interesting tidbits about me: My sister, who is a Freshman at Grand Valley, lives with us. She helps out with my son, Hudson, who was born in May, between medical school and the beginning of residency.
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| Class of 2009 |
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Name: Nicholas Abram
Email: nkabram@yahoo.com
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Biomedical Sciences
Medical School: Wayne State University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Grand Rapids is my home, the emergency medicine residency program is a great program, and the residents and faculty are awesome!
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Visit the parks and the beach in Grand Haven. Play hockey and basketball, and rollerblade.
Interesting tidbits about me: I love traveling and have a huge interest in international medicine. I'm currently working in South America in the country of Ecuador working to coordinate international medical student resident rotations.
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Name: Kendra Atkinson
Email: kendra_atkinson@yahoo.com
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Biomedical Sciences
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? I like that this is a community based program with the additional benefits of having university affiliation. I also wanted to see a diverse patient population and large patient volume, both of which this program offers.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: I like to play tennis and rollerblade (when the weather allows)
Do you rent or own a home? Own
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Name: Amy Ann Bishop
Email: morris.bishop@gmail.com
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Undergraduate School and Location: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Undergraduate Major(s): B.A. Spanish, B.S. Biology
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Definitely the people! Best pre-interview dinner of the season (beer and pizza with the guys). Came back for a second look with my husband and became fast friends with one of the interns! Of course I already knew it was a great program, but I interviewed at 15 good programs...the people made the decision easy.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: I've never lived in Michigan before and I'm not a big outdoor enthusiast, but I hope that will change...especially with the lake so close. My husband and I love to eat out at ethnic restaurants (Indian, Thai, whatever) and have already enjoyed San Chez in downtown Grand Rapids. Plus, the bar/pub scene looks like it will be fun to check out with the residency!
Interesting tidbits about me: I spent my junior year of undergraduate living/studying in Madrid, Spain. Newly married in October 2005. Proud owner of a newly adopted beagle named "Duke."
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Name: Ryan Davis
Email: davisr4@slu.edu
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Undergraduate School and Location: Brigham Young University -- Provo, UT
Undergraduate Major(s): Biochemistry
Medical School: Saint Louis University
Interesting tidbits about me: I'm a tech geek; I speak Russian; and I like the outdoors and home remodeling.
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Name: Todd Heffern
Email: heffernt@yahoo.com
Hometown: Clinton, TN (outside of Knoxville)
Undergraduate School and Location: University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
Undergraduate Major(s): Biosystems Engineering
Medical School: East Tennessee State University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Location, Reputation, Working Environment
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: I enjoy fly-fishing the many scenic rivers, boating, hiking.
Interesting tidbits about me: I ended a (not-so) brilliant intramural career by breaking clavicle this April. I'm also into outdoor activities (fishing, kayaking) and sports. I married my high-school sweetheart.
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Name: DJ Goldberg
Email: dgoldberg@lumc.edu
Hometown: Orland Park, IL
Undergraduate School and Location: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Undergraduate Major(s): Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Medical School: Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? The High Census, Great Reputation, Nice Mid-Western City.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Looking forward to Golf, Boating, and Camping.
Interesting tidbits about me: I like to Golf, play guitar and drums, and travel. I have been to Greece twice. I have been married for almost 3 years. I am a huge Cubs/Bears Fan.
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Name: Shane Madsen
Email: smadsen@usd.edu
Hometown: White, South Dakota
Undergraduate School and Location: St. Cloud State University, MN
Undergraduate Major(s): Biomedical Science
Medical School: University of South Dakota
Interesting tidbits about me: I'm married, have two Rottweilers, and like
home improvement projects.
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Name: Leif Meyers
Email: meyersL4@msu.edu
Hometown: Eugene, Oregon
Undergraduate School and Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Undergraduate Major(s): Biochemistry/ Biophysics
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? The faculty. During my EM electives I found the best teaching in Grand Rapids. The faculty were all very up to date in there knowledge of EM and placed teaching as a top priority. I also like the town. GR has some advantages of a big city, such as night life, theater, summer festivals, parades...etc, without the disadvantages. There is never traffic, housing prices are very reasonable, and hiking/skiing is within 30 min of downtown.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Softball. Another to be intern and I hope to get a softball team together next spring. I also like spending time at the bars and pubs in GR.
Interesting tidbits about me: I Love climbing mountains... Currently trying to grow a mustache.
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Name: Summer Stears-Ellis
Email:
Hometown:
Undergraduate School and Location: Arizona State University
Undergraduate Major(s):
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine
Things I like to do:Mountain biking, rock climbing, volleyball, water sports, and listening to music.
Interesting tidbits about me:I worked as a patient technician at Maricopa's ED and as a volunteer at several Arizona hospitals. I speak Spanish.
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Name: Shawn Wade
Email: shwade99@yahoo.com
Hometown: Norfolk, Nebraska
Undergraduate School and Location: Wayne State College, Wayne, NE
Undergraduate Major(s): Chemistry
Medical School: University of Nebraska
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? I liked the residents and faculty that I met during my interview. The large volume of peds visits and the opportunity for aero-med were also appealing.
Interesting tidbits about me: I've been skydiving.
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| Recent Program Graduates |
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Name: Rebecca Andrews-Dickert
Email: eternalweight@yahoo.com
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: University of Chicago
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology
Medical School: Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Excellent clinical training, good resident quality-of-life, high volume ED, well-run traumas.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: I love going out to eat at ethnic restaurants, going to Lake Michigan, camping in northern Michigan, going to the ballet.
Interesting tidbits about me: I worked in a molecular biology research lab in Chicago. I also worked with an international missions organization and went to Montana, Nepal, and Ukraine.
Do you rent or own a home? I rent a townhouse about 10 minutes from the hospital - it's inexpensive and I have woods in my backyard.
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Name: Trevor Cummings
Email: ibleedgreen_msu@yahoo.com
Hometown: Charlotte, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Physiology
Medical School: Wayne State University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Location and quality of this residency.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Workout, night life, beach, sailing, and coffee shops.
Interesting tidbits about me: I worked as a phlebotomist in undergrad at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. I've also traveled to various tropical islands.
Do you rent or own a home? I own a 1600 sq. ft. home in Kentwood (~15 minutes from the hospital ~$160K..
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Name: Matt Flannigan
Email: flanniganmatt@yahoo.com
Hometown: Cottage Grove, MN
Undergraduate School and Location: Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology and Spanish
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? The diversity that comes with doing a residency at a level one trauma/regional referral center with 120K visits a year was a tremendous selling point. I was impressed by the comprehensiveness of the residency program. The breadth of attending talent and interest in resident education and development was unparalleled. The curriculum's structure offers a well-rounded exposure to Emergency Medicine principles that are available at one facility. The atmosphere of the ED and Spectrum Health is bright and uplifting; there's a pervasive goal of innovation and performance excellence. The emergency department and hospital technology and physical plant are welcoming and advanced. The residents were outgoing and enthusiastic about their program. Since the Grand Rapid's metropolitan area has a huge Hispanic population, my goal to maintain fluency in Spanish and desire to care for the Hispanic community would be facilitated during residency.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: There is an abundance of running and biking trails throughout GR. Over the past 6 years, I've enjoyed preparing for the Riverbank Run, a 15 mile race around downtown GR in May each year. I also play forward on the residency affiliated hockey team with several attendings and former residents, which has been together for over 14 years! Michigan is also blessed with tremendous amount of camping, backpacking, and water-sport venues. My favorite place to camp is along Lake Michigan- I'd recommend South Manitou Island. My wife and I look forward to a backpacking trip to the Upper Peninsula this next fall. International travel is also one of my interests. I've been lucky to have visited Guayaquil, Ecuador several times since high school, and Chile and Peru since undergrad. I had the trip of a lifetime to Macchu Picchu after graduating medical school.
Interesting tidbits about me: I just got married during internship to a Canadian dairy-farm girl turned emergency nurse. I've run a few marathons and been just 5 minutes away from qualifying for the Boston marathon. I went to high school with the actor Seann Scott ("Stiffler" from American Pie).
Do you rent or own a home? I rent-Wyndham Hill Apartments. 2 bdrm/2bath with full garage/balcony/free cable for $770/mo that's a 7 minute drive from Spectrum. There's also a grocery store, movie theater, bank, and several restaurants less 1.5 miles.
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Name: Brad Laitinen
Email: brad_laitinen@hotmail.com
Hometown: Calumet, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: Grand Valley State University; Allendale, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Biomedical Science
Medical School: Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Location, Volume, Reputation
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Zoos/Parks/Beaches/Toy Stores/Chuck E. Cheese with my kids, Eating out/Movies with my wife, "Pimping my ride"/working out/watching sports and going out to bars/"get togethers" during my "bachelor months."
Interesting tidbits about me: I'm from da U.P. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan). I have 3 year old twins (boy/girl). I plan to practice in my hometown when I'm finished with residency.
Do you rent or own a home? Both! Rent: Greenridge Apts., 2 Bed/2 bath, laundry, patio, $712 incl. heat/cable/hot water. Own: house in U.P.- wife/kids spend 4-6 months/yr there, by choice to visit Grandparents, during "busy" months.
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Name: Jessica Stacey
Email: jessicastacey@yahoo.com
Hometown: Cheyenne, WY
Undergraduate School and Location: Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology
Medical School: Michigan State University- College of Human Medicine
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Great well-rounded program in a wonderful city. I loved the attending-resident relationships, the high volume, and the great experiences.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Bike, outdoor sports (basketball and football). I love the butterfly exhibit at Frederick Meijer Gardens. The beaches around here are a lot of fun, especially the man-made beach in Grand Rapids called Millenium Park.
Interesting tidbits about me: I love musicals and theatre. I have 2 children and a husband that I love spending time with. I enjoy biking and traveling. We're big MSU and Green Bay Packer fans.
Do you rent or own a home? We own a home in Kentwood- 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1900 sq. ft. It's a perfect starter home in a great neighborhood, which is less than 10 minutes from the hospital.
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Name: Janda Stevens
Email: jtforris@hotmail.com
Hometown: Princeton, IL
Undergraduate School and Location: Michigan Tech University, Houghton, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Chemical Engineering
Medical School: Southern Illinois University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? My husband (ortho resident) and I entered the couples match. There are many excellent programs at Spectrum. Location- good size city with many outdoor activities nearby. High volume of patients with a huge amount of learning with each shift.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Hiking, gardening, and going out to eat.
Interesting tidbits about me: I have had many manual labor jobs in steel mills, papermills, and multiple farms. My husband and I love to travel to tropical, jungle locations.
Do you rent or own a home? We bought a 3 bedroom, 2 bath 5 year-old house in a nice neighborhood on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, just 7 minutes from the hospital.
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Name: Joshua Vander Lugt
Email: joshvanderlugt-at-gmail.com
Hometown: Rockford, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI/Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Theatre, Physiology, Biomedical Science
Medical School: Saba University (Saba, Netherlands-Antilles)
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? From an academic and lifestyle perspective, being a resident in Grand Rapids provides the best of both worlds. West Michigan is a beautiful place in which to live, work, and raise a family. The faculty of the MSU/MERC program in emergency medicine is dedicated to teaching, and provides an excellent learning environment. They encourage us to pursue our interests while cultivating the unique strengths each of us brings to the program. The exceptional facilities and opportunities in training available at Butterworth Hospital are among the best in the region. The huge patient volume of our ED in combination with the exposure and responsibility residents are given in the department and on off-service rotations make our residents highly competitive and prepared for today's job market.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Pentwater and Ludington, Michigan are two of the most beautiful places on Earth, and just over an hour away on Lake Michigan's picturesque shore. Fishing, camping, and canoeing opportunities abound. Residency-owned boat is available to all residents. Grand Rapids has an abundance of great restaurants, theatres, unique communities, and a cool big-city/small town-combination feel to it.
Interesting tidbits about me: I am married to Danya. We have two kids aged 6 and 9. I enjoy hanging out with my family, playing and listening to music, road-tripping, cooking new recipes from all over the world, reading, school activities with my kids, politics, theology, and volunteering in the community. Having lived in the Dominican Republic as a child and spending additional time overseas in mission work in the Spanish-speaking world, I am interested in continuing this focus as I complete my training. An interesting tidbit about me is that I acted in many productions during undergrad at MSU, including starring on a sit-com that was taped before a live-studio audience in an actual TV studio.
Do you rent or own a home? I own three bedroom home, 8 minute drive from hospital, excellent school district, 2 acres, $150-200K range.
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Name: Brook Woolley
Email: woolleyb@msu.edu
Hometown: Lakeview, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Medical School: Michigan State University- College of Human Medicine
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Best residency in the state. Established program- since 1977. Great teaching faculty. Level one trauma center. High volume- 120k this past year!
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Visit Lake Michigan. I also enjoy playing basketball, camping, and bike trail riding.
Interesting tidbits about me: I built my own home theater in the basement of my house from the ground up; it's better than Celebration Cinema!
Do you rent or own a home? I own a house in Kentwood "Bailey Grove", a three bedroom and 2 ½ bath.
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Name: Christine Young
Email: cyoung0779@yahoo.edu
Hometown: Hudson, OH (Cleveland area)
Undergraduate School and Location: Miami University, Oxford, OH
Undergraduate Major(s): Chemistry and German
Medical School: Case Western Reserve
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? West Michigan. National forest. Size of the city. "Only game in town."
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: YMCA, biking, trail running, and owning a house.
Interesting tidbits about me: I'm married to another EM resident. I am a former cotton-candy girl at SeaWorld. I can speak German and play piano well.
Do you rent or own a home? I own a 2200 sq. feet home with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Our mortgage is just $165/mo! We're only 7 minutes from the hospital and live in a very nice neighborhood surrounded by other Spectrum residents.
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Name: Wes Young
Email: wyoung1278@comcast.com
Hometown: Kettering, OH
Undergraduate School and Location: Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Undergraduate Major(s): Biochemistry
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Location- it's close to hobbies I'm passionate about: wilderness, lakes, forest, mountain biking.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Mountain biking, camping, skate skiing, cooking, and yard work.
Interesting tidbits about me: I lived in France for 6 months and raced road bikes through Europe. I'm married to a fellow EM resident, Christine Young.
Do you rent or own a home? I own a 2000 sq ft house in Grand Rapids with 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. We bought it for just $165K
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Name: Scott Bentz
Email: bent0023@umn.edu
Hometown: Truman, MN
Undergraduate School and Location: University of Minnesota-Morris, Morris, MN
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology
Medical School: University of Minnesota-Duluth
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Large patient population. Good EMS and flight opportunities. Grand Rapids is a great town.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: I enjoy biking, camping, and going out to eat.
Do you rent or own a home? I own a home in northeast Grand Rapids.
My first job after residency will be: Emergency Physicians Professional Association – Edina, MN/Mercy Hospital – Coon Rapids, MN
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Name: Jason Bowman
Email:
Hometown:
Undergraduate School and Location:
Undergraduate Major(s):
Medical School: Indiana University
My first job after residency will be: Emergency Care Specialists – Grand Rapids, MI
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Name: Alex Eppert
Email: jaeppert@yahoo.com
Hometown: South Bend, IN
Undergraduate School and Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology, Classics
Medical School: Indiana University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Good location, good group of attendings and residents, relaxed but competent attitude.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Go out to the bars and restaurants downtown; go to Lake Michigan, lots of golf courses, hike, fish, and camp.
Interesting tidbits about me: I did 4 years of schistosome research.
Do you rent or own a home? I own a 3-bedroom home in Alger Heights (10-12 minute drive) decent size, $130,000.
My first job after residency will be: Team Health – Methodist Medical Center – Oakridge, TN
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Name: Jeremiah Johns
Email: johns _jeremiah@yahoo.com
Hometown: Lafayette, IN
Undergraduate School and Location: Purdue University, IN
Undergraduate Major(s): Biochemistry
Medical School: Indiana University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? I chose Grand Rapids for the location, the quality of the hospital, and the reputation of the residency.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: I enjoy off-road motorcycling; there are hundreds of miles of trails just north of Grand Rapids, as well as camping and going to the Lake Michigan beach which is also nearby.
Interesting tidbits about me: I am married and have two boys ages 3 and 1.
Do you rent or own a home? Rent - 4 bedroom house with a 2 car garage and fenced in yard for $800.00/month.
My first job after residency will be: Emergency Care Specialists – Grand Rapids, MI
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Name: Lucas Leete
Email: lrhleete@comcast.net
Hometown: Traverse City, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): B.S. in Zoology and Environmental Biology
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency?
The program is well established with abundant experience. It rivals the largest programs with respect to patient volume and pathology. The physicians and staff are great to work with, less abrasive, and academically/clinically encouraging.
I have traveled the U.S. and abroad, I love what West Michigan has to offer....Some of the most beautiful lakes, beaches, rivers, and sand dunes in the world. This area suits the outdoorsman and the city lovers.
My first choice, would not change a thing.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Sail, windsurf, snowboard/ski, kayak, mountain bike, music, art
Interesting tidbits about me: I Custom Paint Harley Davidson motorcycles in the free time.
Do you rent or own a home? Own, Alger heights area, (Alger/College). $125-200 thousand range. Wonderful area.....highly recommend it.....it was a goldmine for me. Nice blend of age groups, but increased concentration of younger singles and couples, kids. A great park with in two blocks of the area, with a wilderness area for the dogs. 27 miles to a great beach on Lake Michigan, takes about 20-30 minutes (amazing). Less than 5 minutes to smaller lakes. 10 minutes to the hospital.
My first job after residency will be: Hackley Hospital – Muskegon, MI
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Name: Travis Lien
Email: tlien@medicine.nodak.edu
Hometown: Grand Forks, ND
Undergraduate School and Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Undergraduate Major(s): Spanish
Medical School: University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency?
Very busy Emergency Department with a diverse patient population
Attending physicians who are eager to teach and always available
Efficient Emergency Department with generally short wait times, good electronic charting system, and pleasant nursing staff
Excellent camaraderie among the EM residents and faculty
Great location, close to Lake Michigan and national forests
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: -Camping and hiking in the many campgrounds in western Michigan, especially the Sleeping Bear Dunes area.
Skiing and snowboarding when I get a chance. I learned to snowboard at Boyne Mountain during my intern year. It's a great place to learn to ski/snowboard or brush up on your mad skills before a big mountain vacation.
Golfing with the other residents at one of the many cheap local courses.
Running on the White Pine Trail and at local races.
My favorite Grand Rapids nightlife establishments include Mojo's Piano Bar, Billy's Lounge, the Black Rose, Duke's, and of course Yesterdog at 2am for some Cheddardogs
Interesting tidbits about me:
I'm a North Dakota native, and yes I talk like the people in the movie Fargo
My family is featured in the book Red River Rising by Ashley Shelby, a chronicle of the events surrounding the flooding of Grand Forks, ND in 1997
I am a University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and Minnesota Vikings fan
I can ride a unicycle
Do you rent or own a home? I rent a 1 bedroom apartment at Green Ridge Apartments for $600/mo. About a 10 minute drive to work regardless of traffic. Washer and dryer in apt. Outdoor pool. Definitely would recommend if you're looking to rent.
My first job after residency will be: Emergency Physicians Professional Association – Edina, MN/Mercy Hospital – Coon Rapids, MN
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Name: Sean McGavin
Email: med1776@aol.com
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? I worked at this hospital before medical school and I knew I wanted to come back. With large patient numbers including pediatrics and being a level I trauma center, I knew it would provide every-day opportunities to see critical patients. The E.D. group that staffs this hospital is large, so you get to know several ways of handling emergency cases when you staff your patients with different docs. I genuinely feel like I can trust them to take care of my family members, and in fact they have. My grandma fell (later diagnosed with Alzheimer's) my dad had flank pain (diagnosed with a kidney stone) and my 2 year-old son had abdominal pain (diagnosed and treated non-invasively for an intussusception) in our emergency department. I feel the education is excellent and prepares me for handling critical cases when I'm out on my own. The emphasis on staying cutting edge is evident in the journal clubs we attend monthly. We are all proficient at researching common clinical questions that affect our practice in the E.D. We have interesting rotations that are required like hand surgery and toxicology during our second year. Finally, we are given the responsibility to take care of our patients and have backup help whenever we have questions or need a hand. This place is an enriching place to learn and work; I'm proud to contribute to the excellent care our E.D. provides.
I grew up here so I know the town well. A ton of new development downtown has occurred here within the past 10 years with refurbished historic buildings made into restaurants or bars. There are some really unique hangouts downtown. There is a popular arena with big concerts in a relatively smaller venue. And they do pull in a big-name shows like U2, Elton John and others. Hockey games are a blast. What's great is that you can park your car and walk across the street into the arena without wondering if your car's going to be there when you get back. You can enjoy a great game and be home in 15 minutes when it's over. No hassle.
Grand Rapids is a nice community to live with little crime and good schools if you're into that kind of thing--like me, I have a wife and two small children. It's close to outdoor stuff too, like hiking trails, mountain biking and of course, Lake Michigan in Grand Haven or Holland.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Meijer Gardens inside and out is pretty phenomenal. In addition to walking trails outside, huge sculptures and outdoor shows, there are indoor exhibits showcasing butterflies. It's inside a huge glassed-in atrium with trees, exotic plants and a waterfall. We did this at night with flashlights with our two-year-old and had a riot. The exhibits and shows change all the time so it's worth while to buy a year-long membership for $50.
There are new movie theatres, malls and restaurants too.
My favorite place to eat is Yesterdog, in Eastown (a subsection of G.R.) These are the most exquisite hot-dogs you'll ever encounter, really. It's a hangout of people of all ages because the setting is the 1940's. They play old music through old speakers, there are old booths with old wooden floors throughout. They have old newspapers to read on the walls. And they have pictures of people on the wall visiting famous places in the world with Yesterdog T-shirts on. This place was featured in "American Pie" as the restaurant "Dog Years". And by the way, the whole movie is centered in and around East Grand Rapids.
Interesting tidbits about me: I worked as a phlebotomist and ER tech before med school. Married to a veterinarian. I have two great kids (ages 2 years old and 6 months old)--wouldn't necessarily recommend having two DURING residency. So, I don't have much down-time. But when time allows, I enjoy brewing beer and hanging with family and friends from my residency class and from our neighborhood..
My first job after residency will be: Hackley Hospital – Muskegon, MI
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Name: Dan Mercier
Email: djmercier@yahoo.com
Hometown: Troy, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: University of Michigan
Undergraduate Major(s): Psychology
Medical School: Wayne State University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Program reputation. Resident and faculty relationships. Grand Rapids is terrific city for going out, buying a home, etc.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Kayaking. Biking. Watching sports, drinking home-brewed beer with friends, and going out to clubs.
Interesting tidbits about me: I'm notorious for instigating wrestling matches at the retreat. I enjoy Japanese culture and have been to Japan. University of Michigan sporting events. My alter ego is Johnny Bravo.
Do you rent or own a home? I own a nice home in East Grand Rapids, less than 10 minutes from the hospital with hardwood floors, a nice backyard, and two fireplaces. It's been great venue for several of our residency parties too!
My first job after residency will be: Independent Emergency Physicians – Royal Oak, MI
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Name: Ben Perschau
Email: bperschau@mac.com
Hometown: Austin, TX
Undergraduate School and Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Undergraduate Major(s): Genetics
Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Location, Volume, City Size, People
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Fly fishing the am/pm hatch on the Rouge, Biking around town, and on the White Pines Trail, Drive up to the UP for some truly unbelievable beaches (fishing isn't too bad either...), Go to the dunes on Lake Michigan for sunset I enjoy backpacking, hiking, fishing, and photography.
Interesting tidbits about me: I have very loose scapulae. Hablo Espanol.
Do you rent or own a home? I own a historical home with 3 bedrooms upstairs and a big basement that has great views of the city and is within a 5 minute walk to Spectrum Butterworth, that I purchased for just $120,000.
My first job after residency will be: Coeur d’Alene, ID
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Name: Steve Ten Elshof
Email: tenelsh1@msu.edu
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology
Medical School: Wayne State University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Up-to-date faculty that are eager to teach.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Brew beer and play basketball.
Interesting tidbits about me: I taught middle school math in Atlanta, Georgia.
Do you rent or own a home? I own a house that is 2 blocks away from the hospital and I am able to walk to work in less than 5 minutes.
My first job after residency will be: Undecided
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Name: Alan Bean
Email: abeanmd@yahoo.com
Hometown: Boise, ID
Undergraduate School and Location: Utah State University, Logan, UT
Undergraduate Major(s): Chemistry
Medical School: University of Utah
Other degrees: Public Health emphasizing industrial Hygiene
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? This is a very good program with awesome resident camaraderie and relationships with attending staff. Grand Rapids is a very family-friendly town that offers a great deal of recreational opportunities.
Hobbies/things that i love to do in GR/Mi: i enjoy going to the lakeshore, pictured rocks, dune hikes by Lake Michigan, mountain biking at Yankee Springs, and winter hikes on the ice at Lake Michigan. My family and i enjoy going to the Children's Museum and to Blandford Nature Center.
interesting tidbits about me: i worked as an industrial hygienist (chemical health and safety) at Micron technology prior to medical school. i've had a chance to swim in all the lakes 10,000 feet or higher in idaho and climbed all the idaho and Colorado's mountain peaks that are higher than 14,000 feet. i have 3 children- the oldest is in 1st grade.
Do you rent or own a home? i own. i have a 4 bedroom which cost $125K. We added an additional room and office. The home is 2000 sq. ft.
My first job after residency will be: Logan Regional Hospital and Brigham City Community Hospital, Logan and Brigham City, UT
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Name: Kathy Blazek
Email: blazekmd@yahoo.com
Hometown: My Dad was in the Air Force, I don't really have one.
Undergraduate School and Location: University of Texas at Dallas
Undergraduate Major(s): Chemistry
Medical School: University of Utah
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? i was willing to move anywhere and this seemed to be the best residency and the nicest people.
Hobbies/things that i love to do in GR/Mi: Hiking or just driving around the national forest just north of here. The rest of my hobbies are indoor (mostly with computers).
interesting tidbits about me: i was in computer tech support.
Do you rent or own a home? i rent an apartment off 3-mile and Fuller
My first job after residency will be: here at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids and Zeeland Hospital in Zeeland, Mi.
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Name: Rob Evans
Email: rkevans23@yahoo.com
Hometown: Evansville, IN
Undergraduate School and Location: Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana
Undergraduate Major(s): Chemistry
Medical School: indiana University
Other degrees: M.S. Biology IUPUI (Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis)
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Great national reputation. Opportunity to moonlight on Aeromed (helicopter flight program). Excellent clinical experience.
Hobbies/things that i love to do in GR/Mi: i love going to Lake Michigan.
interesting tidbits about me: i was born with a sixth finger on my left hand.
Do you rent or own a home? i own a downtown loft.
My first job after residency will be: St. Joseph Hospital in South Bend, indiana
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Name: Christian Feinhauer
Email: christianfeinhauer@hotmail.com
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Undergraduate School and Location: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Undergraduate Major(s): French
Medical School: University of Utah
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Great program. Well- established alumni network all over the country. Not malignant. Nice town (not too big or small).
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: I like to go to the lake, mountain biking, waterskiing, and taking trips to Chicago
Interesting tidbits about me: I've had a lot of travel experience (France, Italy, England, Germany, Africa (Ivory Coast/Ghana) and Haiti
Do you rent or own a home? I rent a large 2 bedroom apartment in Heritage Hill, a few minute from the hospital that has a pool table and game room. It rents for $800/mo.
My first job after residency will be: Sutter General Hospital. Sacramento, CA.
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Name: Steffen D. Genthe
Email: steffengenthe@yahoo.com
Hometown: East Grand Rapids, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
Undergraduate Major(s): Biomedical Sciences
Medical School: Michigan State University- College of Human Medicine
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Location, excellent reputation, and I planned to practice in the Midwest.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Outdoor activities. Beach. Family. Camping.
Interesting tidbits about me: I am a former ER tech at Butterworth (Spectrum). Wine collector. I have a 3 ½ year old son. I enjoy home repair/improvement projects. Movie trivia: The movie "American Pie" was written by a kid in the class ahead of me at high school. The school in the movie was called "East Great Falls". There actually is a LaCrosse team at my school and I knew the kids that the American Pie characters were based off.
Do you rent or own a home? I own a house in East Grand Rapids- $143,000.
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Name: Jim McGrogan
Email: jcmcgrogan@yahoo.com
Hometown: Chesterton, IN
Undergraduate School and Location: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology
Medical School: Indiana University
Other degrees: Medical Technology at IUPUI (Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis)
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Established program. I enjoyed rotating here and it's relatively close to home.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Home improvement, gardening, camping, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and going to the beach (Lake Michigan), which is just 30 minutes away.
Interesting tidbits about me: I spent 2 months in Kenya in my 4th year of medical school at Moi University in Elderet, Kenya as a part of an exchange program with IU.
Do you rent or own a home? I own a house at 2437 Madison Avenue, SE, a 15 minute drive to the hospital. It's a 4 bedroom, 2 baths, basement, landscaped front/backyard with an herb garden. It has an updated kitchen/bathrooms, refinished hardwood floors throughout. For sale by owner- call 616-822-2412, if interested.
My first job after residency will be: Stoughton Hospital in Stoughton, WI and Beloit Memorial Hospital in Beloit, WI.
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Name: Steve Phelps
Email: phelpssb@yahoo.com
Hometown: Ludington, MI
Undergraduate School and Location: University of Oregon
Undergraduate Major(s): Biochemistry
Medical School: St. Louis University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? It's an excellent, established, high-volume program.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Fly fish.
Interesting tidbits about me: Many prior careers.
Do you rent or own a home? I own a 3 ½ bed- 2 bath house near Aquinas College (Near Plymouth and Fulton Roads) about 5 minutes to the hospital.
My first job after residency will be: in Kanath Falls, OR
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Name: Andrew Rusk
Email: med1776@aol.com
Hometown: Galveston, IN
Undergraduate School and Location: ORU, Tulsa, OK
Undergraduate Major(s): Chemistry
Medical School: Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
Other degrees I have my J.D. as well.
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? Location, Reputation, Working Environment
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: I enjoy fly-fishing the many scenic rivers, boating, hiking.
Interesting tidbits about me: I practiced law in Indiana for 8 years. I'm planning to incorporate my legal training into my medical practice--though not as a defendant.
Do you rent or own a home? I rent an apartment in Hudsonville. Quiet, affordable, and convenient.
My first job after residency will be: Zeeland Hospital in Zeeland, Michigan
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Name: Chad VanderLinden
Email: chadnkari@yahoo.com
Hometown: Knoxville, IA
Undergraduate School and Location: University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology
Medical School: U of Iowa College of Medicine (Iowa City, IA)
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? I found it to be a very professional and well established program with high volume and acuity in the ED.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Fredrick Meijer Gardens, Great parks for kids, Decent Zoo, DeVos performance hall has national ballet, opera, etc.
Interesting tidbits about me: Cleaned more than my share of toilets and cleared mountains of trash working at my hometown park during my college summers.
Do you rent or own a home? I own small 1200 sq/ft home on SE side of town (near Plymouth/Boston), 125K
My first job after residency will be: I'm moving to Iowa City, Iowa to work at Genesis Hospital Illini Campus, Sylvis, IL (Quad Cities)
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Name: Jeremy Wood
Email: woodzy123@yahoo.com
Hometown: Woodland Park, Colorado
Undergraduate School and Location: New Mexico State University-Las Cruces, NM
Undergraduate Major(s): Biology
Medical School: St. George's University
Why I chose Grand Rapids Emergency Medicine Residency? High volume of diverse and acutely ill patients, residents in program seemed genuinely happy, well established program.
Hobbies/things that I love to do in GR/MI: Spending time with my wife and kids, going to Lake Michigan in the summer, windsurfing, biking.
Interesting tidbits about me: I've lived in seven different states and three different countries.
Do you rent or own a home? I own---3 bedroom, 1.5 bath in Rockford (great small town) newer home, monthly payment including tax and insurance $1,100.
My first job after residency will be: Emergency Resources Group, 4 hospital group in Jacksonville, Florida
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