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2nd year residents

Keli Beck, M.D. Budapest, Hungary  Wake Forest University   School of Medicine

My name is Keli and I am so excited to be a part of this awesome family of 30 amazing residents that I consider to be some of my best friends!  I grew up overseas in Poland and Hungary for most of my life.  I moved back to the USA when it came time to start college at a small school in Tennessee: Carson-Newman College. After finishing 4 years there, I then moved to the thriving metropolis that is Winston-Salem to go to medical school here at Wake Forest.  Family Medicine was a great fit for me because I love working with individuals in a partnership for their care.  Where else do you get to empower people to change and watch the results while never being bored since the diversity in our patient population is so great? I also have a large interest in international medicine and in adolescent care which both are readily accessible through family medicine and this residency in particular.

When it came time to apply for residency, I was pretty much convinced of two things: that I wanted a change and that I wanted to move out west.    Amazingly though, I found my interview journey to be more about self-discovery into my own goals and passions than I did anything else.  I also found that there are a whole lot of great schools out there that academically would have prepared me well.  When it came time for my Wake interview though, I had a huge change of heart as to how strong my two previous convictions were.  Academically, Wake was equal to the other great schools I visited, but absolutely nowhere did I mesh as well with the residents and faculty as I did here.  Everyone cares not just for your development as a physician, but also wants to help develop you into/encourage you to be a well-rounded individual.  And so, because of these things, I now have committed to living in Winston-Salem longer than I have ever lived anywhere in my entire life….gulp!  But that has its perks. When I'm not in the hospital, you can find me somewhere exploring the great outdoors- with hiking, camping, skiing, snowshoeing etc- or working with my dog Kahlua and visiting local nursing homes as a therapy team.  I can't wait to meet each of you as you come this way the check out your potential future home!

Rachel Bixler, M.D. Port St. Joe, FL Florida State University College of Medicine

Hi! Welcome to Wake! I’m Rachel. I’m from a small town in the panhandle of Florida called Port St. Joe. When I finish residency, I plan to return there and open my own practice. I went to Florida State University for both undergraduate and medical school. When I wasn’t studying hard to become a doctor, I volunteered with a variety of organizations including Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key International Honor Society, Christian Medical Association, and American Medical Women’s Association. I was a Founding Mother and served as the first president to Delta Alpha Chi, FSU’s first Christian sorority. I was also Miss Florida State University 2006. I am a true Seminole who bleeds garnet and gold. Besides science and medicine, I enjoy reading mystery novels, geocaching, and baking. Also, I was trained in classical ballet for 15 years and piano for 10, so I enjoy soaking up the arts when I get the chance. I have two very fluffy Maine Coon cats named Jesse James and Lexi. I also love spending time with my husband, Josh James, who is a second year ER resident at Wake. We are looking forward to getting involved with our local church. We couples matched to the program. We were drawn to Wake for a variety of reasons. I chose Wake because I have the opportunity to learn more about what I love in family medicine. We have numerous opportunities to pursue sports medicine by working with high school teams. We are also given training in a variety of procedures we will be able to perform in both the office and the hospital. Just in my short time already, I have been able learn more about women’s health and how I can better serve my female patients. The ultimate factor that drew me to Wake was the people. After meeting both the residents, faculty, and the support staff, I was certain this was the place I could call home for the next three years.

Please email me if you have any questions! Come visit us and fall in love with Wake! 

Garrett Hurst, M.D. West Columbia, SC    Medical University of South Carolina  College of Medicine

 

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Christina Jepson, M.D. Columbus, OH    University of Michigan Medical School

Hey there!  I am so excited to be part of this incredible program and to be back in my old stompin' grounds… North Carolina. My husband, Tim, and I both graduated from Duke (Go Blue Devils!) and have desperately missed the warm weather, sweet tea, and southern hospitality. I’m originally from Columbus, Ohio and grew up a huge fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Sports have always been a huge part of my life. I can remember going to OSU Football games as early as 4 years old, falling asleep on my Dad’s lap during halftime, then cheering my team on to victory! Prior to coming to WFBMC, I studied Biology at Duke University where I met my husband and then moved north to attend the University of Michigan Medical School (but remained a loyal Buckeye). While at Michigan, I was very involved with MPower, an organization dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of obese kids and adolescents. I also thoroughly enjoyed my time volunteering for Girls On The Run, where I was able to work with and encourage pre-teen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. My participation in these two programs, in addition to my love for sports and experience with medical mission trips to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Tanzania have all played a role in my decision to pursue a career in Family Medicine. Given the wide diversity of patients and pathology within primary care and the continuity of our patient-physician relationships, I feel family medicine will allow me the best opportunity to empower others to establish sustainable, healthy lifestyle habits. Outside of the hospital, I enjoy spending time with my husband, running marathons, being active in our church, playing board games with friends, watching HGTV, and cooking new recipes. I remember when I was in your shoes and residents told me about their “hobbies” during small talk, but I was drawn to this program because Wake residents were actually walking the walk. After being here for a couple of months, I am still blown away by how supportive everyone is in helping me to maintain balance and pursue my interests outside of medicine! I couldn’t be happier with my choice of residency programs. It a great community feel, yet well respected within the larger academic hospital. Best of all, my colleagues and supporting staff in Family Medicine department are AMAZING (including my nurse, Barbara, who I get to work with all 3 years)!!! Winston-Salem is everything my husband and I hoped it would be!

 

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Erik Linn, M.D. Pocatello, ID University of Utah   School of Medicine

Greetings from Winston-Salem!  My name is Erik Linn and I am a second year family medicine resident.  I was born and raised in Chubbuck, Idaho and completed my bachelor’s degree in biology from Boise State University (go Broncos!).  I attended medical school at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, which is also where I met my beautiful wife Amy.  We are happily settled in North Carolina and have found Winston to be a wonderful place to live with numerous social and recreational opportunities. 

My wife and I couldn’t have been more excited to find out that I would be completing my residency training at Wake Forest.  The faculty, staff, and residents that make up this program were the factors that made Wake distinct from every other program I interviewed at.  A sense of community combined with an attitude of excellence not only meets the personal and professional goals of each resident, but also produces physicians equipped to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for all patients.  Additionally, this program offers broad spectrum training in a diverse patient population and opportunities to tailor your education towards specific interests (sports medicine, geriatrics, obstetrics, etc.).     

 I encourage you to come to Winston and visit our program!  The rapidly changing healthcare landscape requires physicians skilled in both traditional and contemporary methods, as well as an eye for ongoing innovation.  I think you’ll find that Wake Forest has the people, facilities, and resources necessary for you to become the physician you want to be and that our patients desire!  

Samantha Miller, M.D.       Albany, NY      Wake Forest University        School of Medicine

Hi! My name is Samantha Miller and I am currently a second year in our program and still loving every bit of residency. I grew up in Upstate New York and completed my undergraduate studies at Siena College in Loudonville, NY. I came to Wake Forest for medical school right out of college. A lot of people ask how I ended up in NC and although it truly was by chance, I knew it was where I belonged and honestly who wouldn't want to be here? But I am also fortunate that my sister and her family live down the road in Raleigh and my parents are retiring outside of Wilmington. Not only are you a couple hours from the ocean, but the mountains are even closer for a weekend of camping or a day of hiking! I have two amazing rescue dogs, Cinnamon and Pepper, who love walks around Ardmore and doggy play dates!

I can't say enough great things about this program! I truly feel that the people who are involved with this Family Medicine Program, both for medical students and residents, had a great influence on my decision not only in choosing Family Medicine as my specialty but also on my strong desire to stay at Wake and become part of this amazing family! This program is wonderful to their residents, staff and students. Everyone works to create a huge support network for each other and are always open to talk whether it is associated with medicine or not. I feel that they honestly go out of their way to be sure you're happy and are enjoying your time here. They have great opportunities for their residents depending on our personal interests. I love adolescent medicine and Women's Health and feel that I will be very successful in gaining a lot of experience in those areas and many more as I strive to become a well rounded physician. I interviewed all over (from the East Coast to the Midwest and Northeast) but found myself comparing every program to Wake as it set such a high standard. It really came down to the people though and where I felt at home and most comfortable. I couldn't be happier with my choice to stay at Wake! 

Haley Neal, M.D.        Greensboro, NC        Wake Forest University        School of Medicine

Hi, my name is Haley Neal, and I'm a very excited member of the second year class.  I'm originally from Greensboro (right down the road) and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill (go Heels!) with a BA in psychology.  Eventually, I found my way to Wake Forest School of Medicine, here in Winston-Salem, where I met my husband.  We married at the end of third year and then began the terrifying process of couples matching.  With a little luck and a little grace, we have found ourselves exactly where we want to be: in a beautiful place we love calling "home," gearing up to work alongside physicians so wonderful that it is truly humbling to have been given a place among them.

When I started medical school, I had no idea that I would pursue family medicine.  After spending time with the department during my third year rotations, it became quite obvious to me that it was the qualities of the family medicine attendings and residents that I daily sought to emulate, no matter what service I was on.  It always seemed to me that medicine, as it is practiced by the family docs I have come to know and admire, has managed to preserve a greater degree of personal connection, which I believe is absolutely vital to medicine.  And I don't think there is a better program out there for a person who seeks not just the knowledge piece, but the art piece of medicine, as well. 

And as for my days off?  You might find me in a yoga class, hiking Stone Mountain, trying out a new recipe (or watching someone on food network trying one out!), digging in the dirt, checking out some live music (esp if there's a fiddle player) or spending time with family and friends.  Oh, and some days, naps are pretty good, too.       

Blake Perry, M.D.      Andalusia, AL      University of Alabama        School of Medicine

Hi all.  I am Blake Perry and I am one of the second year residents.  I grew up in Daphne, Alabama, about 45 minutes from the Gulf Coast and then attended Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where I majored in Biochemistry.  I stayed in Birmingham and explored the working world for a year before I attended University of Alabama – Birmingham School of Medicine.  I spent most of my clinical years at a branch campus in Tuscaloosa, where the University of Alabama undergraduate campus is, and watched the Crimson Tide roll to a national football championship during my third year.  As much as I loved growing up and living in Alabama, I decided residency would be a great time to explore a new area even if still in the south.  I looked broadly across the southeast and was fortunate to find and match at Wake Forest Family and Community Medicine.

My time here has proven to be great.  It really is a supportive environment that feels like family.  The outpatient practice has everything you want from a community-feel standpoint while having the backing of a large academic institution.  My wife, Emily, and I have enjoyed the Winston-Salem area thus far.  It is big enough that there is plenty to do but never overwhelming or too busy, and it’s nicely located in between the mountains and the beach, whether you enjoy one, the other, or both.  We have already had time to make it to the Carolina Beach area for a weekend and had a great time. Personally, I enjoy everything sports, whether spectating or competing, spending time outdoors, hanging out with friends and family, traveling when possible, and going to movies.  I hope you will come to Winston-Salem and check out all Wake Forest Family Medicine has to offer!

Craig Yarbrough, M.D.   Atlanta, GA   Wake Forest University     School of Medicine

Hey Everyone! My name is Craig and I am one of the second year residents.  I am extremely excited to be a part of Wake Forest Family Medicine.  A few things about myself, I am originally from Atlanta, Georgia.  I went to undergrad in Athens at the University of Georgia, GO DAWGS!!!  I then came to Winston-Salem for medical school. 

Throughout school I had a great deal of contact and interaction with many of the Family Medicine Faculty.  The Department is very involved in the medical school and the teaching of medical students.  I was very impressed with not only the faculty but also all of the residents I worked with, they were always extremely helpful and made the medical students feel very much a part of the team.  This was one of the major reasons why I picked this program, it was obvious that everyone felt like they were part of team.  I also wanted a program that was strong in Sports Medicine, and since Wake Forest has an outstanding Sports Medicine Fellowship, we as residents get hands on experience throughout residency.

I am so grateful because while in school I met the love of my life Sarah, and we are getting married this fall.  We recently adopted an extremely loving dog named Maizey, who keeps us busy.  There are so many fun things to do in Winston-Salem.  We especially enjoy going to the minor league baseball games, our team is the DASH.  Downtown always seems to have something going on, but for those who like something different, the Fine Arts council of NC was founded in Winston-Salem, so there is always some neat play/performance/Art show or musical act coming through!  I personally like going to see the Winston-Salem Symphony, playing golf, ultimate frisbee, and hiking.  Here ACC basketball is king, and is the typical topic of sports conversation, but for me I am much more of a college football guy.  I hope this has been helpful and if you are interested in a great learning environment, great staff and faculty, and of course a nice place to live for 3 years, then Wake Forest Family Medicine is the right place for you! 

2nd year House Officer Composite

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