About the Authors

Allicen Waxlax is completing her fourth year of medical school and celebrating her nineteenth year as a registered nurse.  She is looking forward to starting family medicine residency to pursue her passions for rural health and diabetes care.  When away from her studies Allicen enjoys time spent in her faith community and time camping, hiking, and cooking with her husband and their four children.

Alycia Chmielewski is a fourth year medical student who recently matched into pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. She is passionate about rural health and research regarding adverse childhood experiences. Outside of medical school, she enjoys exploring new breweries and tending to her ever-growing collection of indoor plants.

Baila Elkin a third year medical student, interested in gastroenterology, infectious disease, and all things microbial.  In her almost non-existent spare time, Baila enjoys beading, fantasy fiction, and books about parasites.  Although she has written Shakespearean sonnets before, this is her first Petrarchan sonnet.

Catherine “Cat” Bledsoe is a fourth year medical student hoping to pursue a career in family medicine and public health. She is interested in the power of stories in the health of individuals and communities.  In Cat’s spare time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, baking, and quilting.

Christina Gu is a third year medical student hoping to pursue a career in internal medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, outdoor hikes and runs, or staying in bed with a good book.

Christy Atkinson is a fourth year medical student who will be attending the University of Minnesota Medical Center (Smiley’s) Family Medicine Residency Program following graduation this spring. She is passionate about patient advocacy, community-based anti-racist medicine, reproductive health, LGBTQ care, and opioid use disorder treatment. In her spare time she can be found kayaking with her partner, lounging around a bonfire with family and friends, or admiring her very cute cats.

Connor Dedeker is a third year medical student hoping to pursue a career in ENT surgery to care for patients with facial trauma, head and neck cancer, and other otolaryngologic issues. In Connor’s spare time, he enjoys learning about the history and art of craft coffee-making, playing golf, and cooking authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. He feels honored to be a soon-to-be physician and looks forward to the many years of patient care that lie ahead of him.

Curtis Bashore is a fourth year medical student heading for pediatric residency at Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin, Texas, hoping to pursue a career as a hospitalist, PICU, PEM or NICU attending. He is passionate about medical education and vaccine advocacy. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking and trying new foods, and hopelessly watching the Vikings miss out on the Super Bowl year after year.

Danielle Aase is a fourth year medical student who will be pursuing a career in Ob/Gyn and completing her residency training at the Mayo Clinic Ob/Gyn residency program. In addition to women’s health, she is passionate about medical education and nutrition. In Danielle’s spare time, she enjoys cycling and watercoloring.

Diana Rubio is a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, fitness aficionado, and aspiring family medicine doctor. Throughout her undergraduate and professional career, Diana engaged in community-based research and outreach with the hope of uplifting low-income communities. She revels in knowing that she will contribute to health equity and advocacy efforts throughout her career in medicine.

Dwayne Gibbs is a third year medical student hoping to pursue a career in general surgery. He enjoys running, playing tennis with his fiance, weight-training, trying new beers, and spending time with family and friends. He hopes that sharing his experiences will facilitate more conversations about race and racism in medicine.

Elle Maureen Newcome is a former cycling tour leader and current fourth year medical student heading to Phoenix, AZ for internal medicine residency. Elle is passionate about addressing health disparities through medicine. In her free time, she enjoys painting, cross country skiing, and spending time dancing or adventuring with friends and family

Eric W. Leppink is a fourth year medical student going into psychiatry with an interest in community mental health and research. Outside of medicine, Eric has a penchant for surrealist fiction and fantasy, fountain pens, and ultimate frisbee.

Germán L. Vélez Reyes is a fourth year medical student in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Minnesota, Medical School. He is passionate about medicine, surgery, and basic science research that uses genetic tools to discover new cancer genes. In Germán’s free time he enjoys reading, running, weightlifting, spending time with family and friends, and talking about international politics.

Hannah Thiry is a third year medical student hoping to pursue a career in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is passionate about accompanying patients to their desired and most optimal health, and sees herself as a trusted resource, confidant, and guide along their personal journeys. In Hannah’s spare time, she can be found exploring the outdoors, her favorite being the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

Himal Purani is a third year medical student hoping to pursue a career in Medicine/Pediatrics and is passionate about delivering holistic, patient-centered care. She is particularly interested in helping patients and their families navigate unexpected, difficult diagnoses and improving access to preventive care and resources. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and experimenting with new, healthy recipes, hiking, travelling, and spending time with her family & friends.

Jacob Krogstad is a third year medical student hoping to pursue a career in general surgery, and is passionate about access to care and health equity. In Jake’s spare time, he enjoys cooking, fitness, and Minnesota sports.

Jacob Reshetar is a third year medical student planning to pursue a career in emergency medicine. He is passionate about issues of global health in developing countries, tropical medicine, and humanitarian aid. In Jacob’s spare time, he can be found exercising at the gym, trying out new recipes in the kitchen, or socializing with friends and family at breweries around the Twin Cities.

Jena Velji-Ibrahim is a third year medical student hoping to pursue a career in Internal Medicine. In Jena’s spare time, she enjoys hiking, baking and spending time with her cat.

Jessica Flakne is a fourth year medical student pursuing a career in orthopedic surgery. In her spare time, she enjoys sketching, cooking and gardening.

John McGrory  is a fourth year medical student pursuing a career in emergency medicine. In John’s spare time, he enjoys reading, biking, running, camping, napping, baking, writing poorly, and sewing.

Jordan Wolf is part of the UMN Medical School 2022 class. Jordan is passionate about anesthesia and rural health. In her free time, she enjoys fly fishing, backpacking, and exploring her public lands.

Kevin Butcher is a fourth year medical student who will be starting psychiatry residency in Madison, WI in the summer of 2021. Kevin was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and is passionate about the way physicians and health care providers communicate with patients. Outside of medicine, you can find Kevin at the local record shop, laughing with friends, or spending time out in nature.

Kim Lundeen is a fourth year medical student pursuing a career in family medicine, recently matched at the UMN St. John’s program. In Kim’s spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 2-year-old daughter, Josie, and being outdoors as much as possible.

Kristine Nachbor is a fourth year medical student who is passionate about creating change in medical education. In Kristine’s spare time, she enjoys sculpting and being outside. She believes that each of us has the ability to change the world.

Lauren Summers is a third year medical student hoping to pursue a career in orthopedic surgery. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, kayaking, and hiking.

Lucas Zellmer is a fourth year medical student who will be completing a residency in internal medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center. Lucas is passionate about equitable access to care and addressing social needs in medicine. In Lucas’ spare time, he enjoys mountain biking, wood working, and playing with his dog, Asha.

Madison Duppenthaler is finishing her third year of medical school and hoping to pursue a career in primary care with a women’s health focus where she can share her passion for advocacy and education with her patients. She and her husband, Trent, are looking forward to welcoming their baby girl in June and are busy preparing for her! In Madison’s (limited) spare time she enjoys puzzling, reading fiction, and cuddling her two adorable kitties.

Madison Ernst is a third year medical student who is passionate about patient care, cell biology, cats, and cooking. In her spare time, she can be found eating Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate Bars, running, or meal prepping.

Marissa Wheeler is a fourth year medical student who is passionate about rural health care. She is pursuing a career in family medicine. In Marissa’s spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, fishing, and camping with her husband and dog.

Marvin So is eager to cultivate health and flourishing by supporting whole family ecologies. He believes the practice of medicine is primarily an act of mending wounds visited upon human bodies by social injustice, working in concert with the many ways we come to heal and build resilience.

Maya Sayarath is a fourth year medical student pursuing Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s in Boston, MA next year. Her clinical interests include women’s health, refugee and immigrant health literacy, as well as, community involvement and service. In Maya’s spare time, she enjoys playing tennis on clay courts, hiking and biking with friends and family.

Megan Crowe (she/her) is a fourth year medical student going into internal medicine. She has a masters in public health and is passionate about social determinants of health and health justice. In her spare time she enjoys running, hiking, and biking.

Michael Burgdorf is a fourth year medical student preparing for residency in family practice. Outside of medicine, he loves bike-commuting in the expansive temperatures of MN, watching Rotten Tomatoes approved movies with his wife (Kiki) and puppy (Chester), and viewing the many textures of life through his camera lens.

Molly Lindstrom is a fourth year medical student hoping to pursue a residency in Internal Medicine and eventually a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology. In Molly’s spare time, she enjoys indulging in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese novels, music, TV dramas, and cooking. She lives with her twin sister, who is pursuing a residency in Pathology, and their two adopted rescue dogs.

Monica Ngo is a fourth year medical student who will soon be starting neurology residency at the University of Minnesota. She is passionate about learning all things related to the central nervous system and improving the ways we serve our communities. In Monica’s spare time, she enjoys trying new foods, jogging, and watching anime.

Monica Olivier is a fourth year medical student who will be beginning her pediatric residency at the University of Minnesota in June of 2021. In her spare time, she enjoys drawing in the hyper-realistic style, cross stitch, knitting, puzzles, cooking and creating recipes, and visiting family in Spain.

Namrata Damle is a third year medical student passionate about primary care issues. In Namrata’s spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Nikki Janssen is a third year medical student interested in OB/GYN. Outside of medical school, she can usually be found in the kitchen cooking and baking or at a craft store browsing for supplies for her next project.

Paulina Marell is a fourth year medical student excited to pursue a career in internal medicine. Paulina has had the wonderful opportunity to pursue research in medical school, as well as unique curricular experiences that grew her passion for health equity. In her spare time, Paulina enjoys gardening, running, and hiking.

Rachel Oldfather is a fourth year medical student at the University of Minnesota. She is Kansas City-bound for residency training in combined Medicine and Pediatrics. Her big sister is her greatest role model in this world. In her free time, Rachel is an avid hiker, canoer, and lover of all things outdoors.

Rebecca Grove is a fourth year medical student who will be starting her general surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic this summer. She enjoys finding small ways to bring joy into the lives of those around her. In her spare time, she loves to read, dance, organize spaces, and propagate plants.

Richard C. Campbell is a fourth year medical student pursuing a career in Emergency Medicine. Inspired by his own experiences in healthcare, he is passionate about providing and promoting equitable healthcare to underserved populations. In Richard’s spare time, he enjoys cooking, hiking, playing football (soccer) and volleyball.

Sam Lorentz is a fourth year medical student preparing to begin residency at St. Joseph’s Family Medicine program. She is passionate about lifestyle medicine, mental health, LGBTQ care, environmental justice, and increasing access to wellbeing. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, hiking and campfires with friends, and cooking with her partner.

Sowda Ahmed is a fourth year medical student hoping to pursue a career in internal medicine with a focus on global health and health equity research. In Sowda’s spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, traveling and cooking Somali food. Her favorite travel destination is Zanzibar, Tanzania.