University of Utah Family Medicine Residency

by Hendrik Stegall, MD Utahns can’t find a doctor. That was the highlight of a recent Salt Lake Tribune article, which suggested that many parts of Utah have fewer than one MD per 1,000 residents. For folks in rural Utah, it can take hours to get to and from the nearest doctor’s office, making even a simple visit for a medication check or a physical a whole-day event....

Reflections On Healthcare Access by Hendrik Stegall, MD Utahns can’t find a doctor. That was the highlight of a recent Salt Lake Tribune article, which suggested that many parts of Utah have fewer than one MD per 1,000 residents. …

by Siri Loken, MD Intern year is notorious for its steep learning curve. Although I had passed two out of the three major medical licensure exams and spent the better part of two years traversing hospitals and clinics everywhere from the OR to the radiology reading room, when I finished medical school I had only experienced a small fraction of the physician’s job....

Best Mistake I’ve Ever Made by Siri Loken, MD Intern year is notorious for its steep learning curve. Although I had passed two out of the three major medical licensure exams and spent the better part of two years traversing h…

by Katie Myrick, MD A compilation of ‘thank yous’ for a few of the things that got me through the last 3 years. To my husband, Wood: Thank you for everything you have done in and around our home. You worked hard in the background to keep our living space less cluttered than my brain, and you turned our first house into a home....

To All the Things that Got Me Through by Katie Myrick, MD A compilation of ‘thank yous’ for a few of the things that got me through the last 3 years. To my husband, Wood: Thank you for everything you have done in and around our home. Y…

by Caitlin Henry, MD As family doctors, we work hard to make sure their patients are well cared for. A single-payer healthcare system, which provides equally accessible care for everyone, could be a huge boost to this mission. It could lead to better access to care, more power in the hands of patients, and less inequality, which leads to better health outcomes all around....

Benefits of a Single-Payer System by Caitlin Henry, MD As family doctors, we work hard to make sure their patients are well cared for. A single-payer healthcare system, which provides equally accessible care for everyone, could be …

by Katie Myrick, MD Family medicine residency is hard. Turns out, learning how to be a good doctor for all types of patients and disease processes doesn’t come easy. Here are some notes on how to navigate some of the challenges I encountered in the process. Challenge #1: As a resident, you’ll often be an off-service learner. This is hard for two reasons....

Pep Talks for My Former Self by Katie Myrick, MD Family medicine residency is hard. Turns out, learning how to be a good doctor for all types of patients and disease processes doesn’t come easy. Here are some notes on how to n…

by Misha Fotoohi, MD Burnout is a growing concern among healthcare professionals, particularly those in primary care. Factors such as heavy workloads, excessive administrative tasks, and the emotional toll that accompanies caring for our patients can contribute to this issue. With the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), there is a rising interest—as well as some concerns—regarding its potential applications in healthcare, including Chat GPT....

Burn Out or Run Out? Considering the role of AI in Healthcare by Misha Fotoohi, MD Burnout is a growing concern among healthcare professionals, particularly those in primary care. Factors such as heavy workloads, excessive administrative tasks, and the emotio…

by Misha Fotoohi, MD I remember my first experience at Core Power Yoga (CPY) very distinctly. It was December 31st, and I had just finished a 28-hour shift in the Medical ICU at the University Hospital. I begrudgingly accompanied my senior resident, mostly out of a sense of duty rather than my own volition; after all, she did feed me my first nutritious meal in days and didn't punish me despite sleeping 6 straight hours through numerous pages, phone calls, and nurses banging on my call room door....

The Resident Physician’s Medicine by Misha Fotoohi, MD I remember my first experience at Core Power Yoga (CPY) very distinctly. It was December 31st, and I had just finished a 28-hour shift in the Medical ICU at the University Hosp…

by Matthew Demarco, MD As we come to the end of residency it is easy to immediately start looking forward to the next stage of life. It is so easy to be excited about what is to come including a new job, a new start, new opportunities. However, when we sprint into the next stage of life reflection is often missed out on, and valuable lessons from the past three years are lost....

The Value of Reflection by Matthew Demarco, MD As we come to the end of residency it is easy to immediately start looking forward to the next stage of life. It is so easy to be excited about what is to come including a ne…

by Daniel Brandley, MD As a new resident, I am often asked why I chose to specialize in Family Medicine. Typically, this question comes from pre-med or medical students. However, this question also comes from colleagues in other specialities, patients, and friends or family. I genuinely enjoy answering this question as it provides an opportunity to discuss what I believe are the most important parts of healthcare and wellness!...

Why Family Medicine? by Daniel Brandley, MD As a new resident, I am often asked why I chose to specialize in Family Medicine. Typically, this question comes from pre-med or medical students. However, this question also…

by Misha Fotoohi, MD With the recent end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11th, 2023, I have been reflecting on how this unprecedented experience has shaped my experiences as a resident physician. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, healthcare workers found themselves on the front lines of a battle against an invisible enemy. For new resident physicians--such as myself--this meant facing unique challenges and experiences while learning how to transition from the role of student to physician....

Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic as a New Resident Physician by Misha Fotoohi, MD With the recent end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11th, 2023, I have been reflecting on how this unprecedented experience has shaped my experiences as a resident …

by Robert Calvert, DO As family medicine residents and attending physicians, we are often faced with the challenging task of explaining conflicting guidelines regarding breast cancer screening to our patients. With various organizations and expert groups providing differing recommendations, it can be perplexing for both healthcare providers and patients alike. Breast cancer screening guidelines have evolved over time as new evidence emerges, leading to differences in recommendations from organizations such as the American Cancer Society (ACS), the U.S....

Navigating Conflicting Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines by Robert Calvert, DO As family medicine residents and attending physicians, we are often faced with the challenging task of explaining conflicting guidelines regarding breast cancer screening to o…

by Prashanth Fenn, MD After four years of rigorous studying and countless exams, likely the most devastating news for a medical student to hear is that they have not matched into their anticipated specialty. Thankfully, the somewhat chaotic yet efficient Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) can be a chance to land a residency position that was a better fit all along....

How to Use SOAP (For Future Scrubs) by Prashanth Fenn, MD After four years of rigorous studying and countless exams, likely the most devastating news for a medical student to hear is that they have not matched into their anticipated …