Humanizing Geisel: The Podcast

  In this episode, we sit down with a group of 4th-year medical students at Geisel - Nicholas Fuller and Annie Dionne -  who share with us their experiences applying to internal medicine residency. They share valuable insights into what it’s really like to pursue a career in IM, from the challenges of the application process to the rewarding moments that reaffirm their passion for the field. Whether you’re a pre-med student contemplating IM and its subspecialties as a career or a medical student gearing up for your own residency applications, this episode offers practical advice, personal experiences, and tips for success.  

See part I for more details on Jerry's journey!

    Short Bio: Jerry Tullo was born and raised in New York and graduated from Harvard University with a concentration in Human Evolutionary Biology. During his undergraduate studies, he assisted in fMRI and PET neuroimaging research on Major Depressive Disorder and Alzheimer's Disease. His published research focuses on the usage of High-Frequency Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in treating Major Depressive Disorder, at Geisel he has been involved in ENT department conducting research including AI-generated 3D models of surgical target tissue. After college, he spent five years working as a high school biology teacher at Quest to Learn, an innovative public school in New York City. As part of the NYC Teaching Fellows, he followed his mission to bring exciting and high-quality science education to high-needs inner-city schools. Prior to his time as a teacher and medical student, he worked as a professional sailing coach, boat captain, and outdoor educator. In his spare time, Jerry enjoys sailing, scuba diving, and other outdoor activities.    Name (pronouns): Jerome (Jerry) Tullo Hometown: Staten Island NY Year at Geisel: M4 (Split) Career interest: Otolaryngology The best thing about Geisel is: The Cabins! Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Mascoma Lake Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Paddleboarding / River Floats Favorite book/poem: In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick Favorite song/piece of music: Bon Iver, Blood Bank Favorite quote: “Success is 90% pomp and 10% circumstance” - Anonymous Most treasured travel: Visiting Myanmar in 2014 Guilty pleasure: HBO’s Deadwood Unknown fact about you: Worked as a sailboat captain in Thailand. Anything else: Looking forward to getting to know my new class of 2026.   

In this episode, we sit down with a group of 4th-year medical students at Geisel - Christina Sierra, Connor Bridges, Evan Watkins -  who share with is their experiences navigating an interesting journey of applying to general surgery residency. They share valuable insights into what it’s really like to pursue a career in surgery, from the challenges of the application process to the rewarding moments that reaffirm their passion for the field. Whether you’re a pre-med student contemplating surgery as a career or a medical student gearing up for your own residency applications, this episode offers practical advice, personal experiences, and tips for success. Additional resources: DHMC General Surgery Program: https://gme.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/general-surgery https://www.facs.org/for-medical-professionals/education/programs/so-you-want-to-be-a-surgeon/ https://www.facs.org/for-medical-professionals/education/programs/so-you-want-to-be-a-surgeon/section-ii-how-to-find-a-surgery-residency/ https://careersinmedicine.aamc.org/explore-options/specialty-profiles/general-surgery   Contact information: Christina Sierra: [email protected] Connor Bridges: [email protected] Evan Watkins: [email protected]

What does road to family medicine residency look like? Hear from current 4th year medical students at Geisel, Micah Trautwein and Mary Harris as they discusse their journey to Family Medicine, application process, and everything in-between! Contact info: Micah Trautwein: [email protected] Mary Harris: [email protected]    Additional Resources:  Career options in Family Medicine: https://www.aafp.org/students-residents/medical-students/explore-career-in-family-medicine/career-practice-options.html https://careersinmedicine.aamc.org/explore-options/specialty-profiles/family-medicine/family-practice  

What is vascular surgery: in short, vascular surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on the treatment of disorders and diseases affecting the blood vessels, including arteries, veins, and lymphatic system.  Hear from current 4th year medical student at Geisel, Oraya Vesvoranan as she discusses her journey to vascular surgery, application process, and everything in-between! Contact info: [email protected] Resources From Oraya: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WSsZNkN-X4jlXgozh_f-A7tj2Bcs2ZjJ?usp=share_link    Additional resources: https://careersinmedicine.aamc.org/explore-options/specialty-profiles/vascular-surgery https://vascular.org/join/medical-student-membership https://vesurgery.org/vess-special-programs/ Podcasts: https://www.audiblebleeding.com/ Educational Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@DeBakeyCVEdu 

  Hear from current 4th year medical students at Geisel, John Emery and Francesco Emiliani, as they discuss their path to Pathology!  Contact info: John Emery: [email protected] Francesco Emiliani: [email protected]     To learn more: - https://careersinmedicine.aamc.org/explore-options/specialty-profiles/pathology - https://www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/pathology   

Name (pronouns): Titilayo Mabogunje Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria Year at Geisel: M3 Career interest: Pediatric gastroenterology The best thing about Geisel is: the PEOPLE! Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Putnam’s vineyard Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: summer hikes Favorite book/poem: *I’m too undecisive to answer this question and the next; is it okay to skip?” Favorite song/piece of music: Favorite quote: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together” – African proverb Most treasured travel: Family cycling trip to Ikogosi springs in Ekiti, Nigeria Guilty pleasure: I am a chocaholic!! (I love chocolate) Unknown fact about you: I used to run a poetry summer camp for teenagers Anything else: (feel free not to include) Overheard medical pun alert: What did medullary thyroid carcinoma say to pheochromocytoma? We’re MEN 2B!   Short Bio: Titilayo Mabogunje is a M.D. candidate at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She lived in England, Nigeria, and South Africa, before moving to the United States where she completed degrees in Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology and Theatre Studies at Yale University. She is interested in global health work and most recently, her research interests have taken her to Tanzania where she worked on a study looking at the differences in hearing test performance between people living with and without HIV/AIDS. In her free time, if she’s not working on her next baking challenge, telling punny dad jokes, or making plans to explore a new place, you’ll probably find her traversing the intersection of medicine and the performing arts.      

      Name (pronouns): Steve Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako he/him Hometown: Edweso, Ghana and Columbus, Ohio Year at Geisel: MS4 Career interest: Plastic Surgery The best thing about Geisel is: Many diverse opportunities/rotations outside the Upper Valley. This gives students exposure to how different systems of care for their patient population and can be informative for specialty planning and patient population selection. Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Four Aces Diner Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Soccer at CCBA Favorite book/poem: The Wretched of the Earth – Frantz Fanon Favorite song/piece of music: Obaa Ben Ni – Daasebre Gyamenah Favorite quote: “Do not be too mesmerized by the beauty of your flowers that you forget your roots” -Steve Antwi-Boasiako, White Coat Ceremony circa 2021 Most treasured travel: Ghana December 2019, IYKYK! Guilty pleasure: My Instagram reel algorithm at 4am in the morning. Probably the funniest thing in the world. Unknown fact about you: I am a GREAT dancer. Unmatched and unchallenged on the dance floor. Anything else: Nope, Stay hydrated!   Short Bio: Steve Antwi-Boasiako is an MS4 at Geisel School of Medicine. He was born and raised in Edweso in the Ashanti region of Ghana. He is a part of the Asanteman tribe, a tribe of the Akan people. Interestingly, his fourth great grandmother fought in the Anglo-Ashanti wars in the early 1900s. He immigrated to Columbus, Ohio in 2007. Steve did his Undergrad at Vanderbilt University where he majored in Neuroscience and Medicine, health & society. The bulk of his research has been in exploring novel genetic causes of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Due to his curiosity for innovation and passion for serving his community, steve is pursuing a career in Plastic Surgery where he hopes to offer sustainable surgical care to  his communities both near and far.

Name (pronouns):  Liah D'sa (she/her/hers) Hometown: Gilbert, AZ Year at Geisel: MS3 Career interest: Don't know yet! The best thing about Geisel is: The community Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: To eat—Turmeric Kitchen. To get away for a minute—Mink Brook Nature Preserve. Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Finding new walking trails Favorite book/poem: This is so silly but I loved "The Phantom Tollbooth" growing up, and it holds a special place in my heart Favorite song/piece of music: "Time" by Hans Zimmer  Favorite quote: "Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion" - Rumi Most treasured travel: Nicaragua with college friends Guilty pleasure: Reading fantasy novels    Short Bio: Liah is from a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona. She went to Santa Clara University for college, where she studied psychology and political science. Prior to starting med school, she spent time working in the nonprofit world, in hospital administration, and as a 4th grade teacher.

Name (pronouns): Ian Lichtenstein (he/him) Hometown: Portsmouth, NH Year at Geisel: M4 Career interest: Emergency Medicine The best thing about Geisel is: The Community Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: The Norwich Inn’s Porch Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Skiing (uphill/downhill) Favorite book/poem: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Favorite song/piece of music: Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen Most treasured travel: Monhegan Island Guilty pleasure: Scream singing just about anything in the car   Short Bio: Ian Lichtenstein is originally from Portsmouth, NH and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of New Hampshire majoring in Microbiology. While at UNH he worked as an EMT, developed a passion for global health completing research abroad in the Ashanti region of Ghana studying transfusion transmitted malaria, and was a leader in the New Hampshire Outing Club. Upon graduating from UNH, he moved to Boston to work in an infectious disease lab at Boston Children’s Hospital researching invasive Group A Streptococcal infections. He has now been at Geisel since 2021 and is a fourth-year medical student applying into an Emergency Medicine residency. Looking towards residency he hopes to continue pursuing his passions in Global Health and Infectious Diseases while also exploring new interests such as those in Pediatric Emergency Medicine.

  Name (pronouns): Abby Marshall (She/Her) Hometown: Williston, VT Year at Geisel: 6th year Career interest: Probably oncology The best thing about Geisel is: The people Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Park Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Running Favorite book/poem: “Hope” is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson Favorite song/piece of music: This is too hard! I have too many favorites and it also depends on my mood/the vibe of the day Favorite quote: Live in the present (which has been said in many ways by many people so it’s not an exact quote) Most treasured travel: Acadia National Park with my husband for our honeymoon Guilty pleasure: Chocolate Unknown fact about you: I have an extra vertebra (an L6 or lumbosacral transitional body) but it doesn’t make me any taller   Short Bio:Abby was born and raised in Williston, VT. She attended Endicott College on the North Shore of Boston, where she double majored in Biology and Psychology. Outside of classes, she ran varsity Cross Country and Track and Field. After graduating in 2019, she joined the MD-PhD program at Dartmouth and started medical school at Geisel. Abby is currently working towards her PhD in Dr. Aaron McKenna’s lab in the Molecular and Cellular Biology program. Her thesis work focuses on creating genomic tools to trace cellular lineages in various cancer models. While she still has diverse interests, she’s leaning towards a future career in oncology (either radiation or medical) where she can intertwine research and clinical medicine. She enjoys exploring the Upper Valley with her husband (Zach), daughter (Everly), and their two dogs (Sadie and Chase).

In this episode, we take you back to some of our conversations with current medical students at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. We asked them to share a piece of advice and wisdom, as they reflect on their experience. Listen to:  1. Rob Sandhu 2. Michael Nguyen 3. John Emery 4. Nicholas Fuller 5. Matthew Goff  

  Short Bio: Rob Sandhu is a M2 Student at Dartmouth. He was born and raised in Los Angeles to two Panjabi parents. For college, he attended the University of California, Irvine, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Delta Omega honor societies. Upon graduation, Rob received the Chancellor’s Award of Distinction and Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research. In college, he served as first-author on one of the first studies in the nation to examine the e-cigarette use epidemic amongst young Latino college students. At Geisel, Rob is involved in student government as DICE Rep and serves as the president of several student interest groups. Outside of academics, Rob enjoys spending time with his family, practicing martial arts, and working with his MCAT students.

  Name (pronouns): Connor Bridges, he/him Hometown: London, UK Year at Geisel: 2025 Career interest: General surgery The best thing about Geisel is: The people! Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: The rail trail Favorite book/poem: Mountains Beyond Mountains Favorite quote: “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” Most treasured travel: Summer spent in China and Japan with high school friends Guilty pleasure: Cheesy rom-coms Unknown fact about you: I have a scuba diving license!   Short Bio: "Hello, everyone! My name is Connor Bridges, and I am originally from London, England. I came to the U.S. in 2015 for my undergraduate studies at Princeton University, where I studied Operations Research and Financial Engineering with a minor in computer science. I then spent two years working in D.C. for an educational nonprofit that helps underserved students access and persist in college. I am a current fourth year at Geisel and I am applying into general surgery. While here, I have served on the student government and the medical school admissions committee, led groups for first-generation and international students, and researched inequities in healthcare with a focus access to lung cancer screening. Outside of school, I love playing and watching soccer and taking advantage of the natural beauty the Upper Valley has to offer!"    

  Name (pronouns): Danette Flint (she/her) Hometown: Alexander, NY Year at Geisel/Dartmouth: 2009-2013 Career focus/interest: Cardiovascular Critical Care / Inpatient Cardiology The best thing about Geisel/Dartmouth is: An academic center located rurally! Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Anywhere I can sit in the sun and dip my feet in the water Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Spending time outside with close friends and family Favorite book/poem: Nowhere Else on Earth (Josephine Humphreys) Favorite song/piece of music: Ten Years Gone (Led Zeppelin) Favorite quote: “All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost” (kind of a poem, kind of a quote – Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien) Most treasured travel: I love national parks and have been to many. When I was 15 my family traveled around the US for 7 weeks (road trip/camping) visiting many of them. The last trip I took with my husband we flew into Salt Lake City, rented a car and drove through the Grand Tetons to Yellowstone, Big Sky, Snake River Plain, the Sawtooth Mountains, Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood and to Cannon Beach OR (where The Goonies was filmed) and then flew home from Portland OR. Guilty pleasure: Mani/Pedi   Short Bio: Originally from Alexandria, NY, Dannette Flint is currently a staff Cardiologist and Cardiac Intensivist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. She obtained her medical degree from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in 2013 and her bachelor’s degree from Colgate University in 2009, where she majored in chemistry. Following medical school, she remained at Dartmouth and completed her training in Internal Medicine (2016), Chief Resident (2017), Cardiology (2020) and Critical Care (2021). Additionally, she is currently a course director for cardiovascular medicine course taught to second year medical students at Geisel School of Medicine. 

  Name (pronouns): Maximillian Kutch, but I go by Max   Hometown: Born in Houston and raised in Dallas, TX but I call College Station, TX home   Year at Geisel: MS3   Career interest: Still undifferentiated but I most like Emergency Medicine   The best thing about Geisel is: The genuine goodness of everyone I meet here   Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: My little piece of land in Bradford VT   Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Spending time trudging through the woods with my kids   Favorite book/poem:  I can't narrow it down to just one favorite so I will give you a few.  Meditations -Marcus Aurelius, Gregory Hays translation  Blood Meridian -Cormac McCarthy The War of Art -Stephen Pressfield   Favorite song/piece of music:  "Atlantic City" Hank Willians III   Favorite quote: I also have to give more than one here “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” -Confucius “There are more things, Lucilius, likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” -Seneca; Letter 13: on groundless fears Most treasured travel: I can't narrow it down to just one because the act of traveling and the experiences gained is what is most treasured whether it's a small town in the midwest or an exotic tropical location. Everywhere is unique in its own right and everywhere can be amazing if you view it through that lens.   Guilty pleasure: raw cookie dough. It's one of the few places I can control myself and most of the time I will open the package in the store and start eating it before I check out.   Unknown fact about you: Most people don't know that I have had to relearn how to walk twice.    Short Bio: "My name is Maximillian and I go by Max. I am a 34-year-old father of two wild toddlers, and calling them a handful is an understatement. Cain is my five-year-old son and Scarlett is my four-year-old daughter. Elizabeth is not only the glue that keeps us together, but my best friend. We met at a Misfits concert in 2014 and married shortly thereafter. As a couple we love to travel, and I have visited 49 of the 50 states and 31 countries. I am originally from Texas, but our family now lives in Bradford, VT, about thirty minutes north of campus. Prior to my pursuit of medicine, I served over twelve years in the United States Marine Corps as a Special Operations Scout Sniper. I cross trained as a medic and enjoyed practicing both trauma and clinical medicine over the course of my six deployments. In 2018, I was medically retired from the military which opened the door for me to move to College Station, Texas and pursue my BS at Texas A&M where I studied Exercise Physiology and competed as member of the TAMU powerlifting team. I am a zealous gymgoer with powerlifting and strength sports being my passion outside of medicine. I am also an avid reader with a deep interest in both eastern and western philosophy."

  Ila is an MS3 at Dartmouth, and member of class of 2026. She is currently on a OB-GYN in California. Though Ila is unsure what she wants to specialize in she is passionate about incorporating health literacy and integrative medicine in her research and eventual practice. In this episode, we hear about her experience during Geisel Pediatric Rotation: - Inpatient service - 3 weeks at CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County) - Nursery - 1 week at DHMC (Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center)  - Outpatient service - 2 weeks South Royalton Health Center   You can see the overview of Pediatric Rotation here: https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/ed_programs/clerkshipdb/view_clerkship.php/?cid=13  

  Name (pronouns): Nena Mason She/Her Hometown: Melba, Idaho Year at Geisel: 2nd Career interest: currently in my dream career  The best thing about Geisel is: work/life balance Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: the white mountains Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: ice climbing Book/poem Recommendation: the stormlight archive series  Favorite piece of music/song: tough, changes often Favorite quote: to paraphrase from the above mentioned book series: the most important step you can take isnt the first step, where you align your efforts towards your goal, or the last one where you finally arrive where you endeavor to be, it's the “next one”.  Most treasured travel: canyoneering trips in the southwest  Guilty pleasure: video games     Nena Lundgreen Mason is an Assistant Professor of Medical Education, Longitudinal Physiology Curriculum Leader, ultrasound educator, and gross anatomist at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in Hanover New Hampshire. She earned her Ph.D. in Physiology and Developmental Biology from Brigham Young University. Dr. Mason spent 8 years prior to her appointment at Geisel teaching physiology and developing and directing clinical gross anatomy and ultrasound education programs at two newly opened medical schools. A celebrated educator, Dr. Mason has been honored with the “Faculty Member of the Year” award for excellence in teaching several times along with other teaching-related accolades throughout her career. She directs an innovative research program in medical education centered around the development of pedagogy in teaching clinical ultrasound skills to medical students using human cadaveric materials. Dr. Mason is also engaged in national service and currently sits on several committees with the American Association of Clinical Anatomists and the Point-of-Care Ultrasound Certification Academy.

  Name (pronouns):  Larry Myers Hometown: Waitsfield, Vermont (currently resident of Norwich, VT) Year at Geisel: 24th The best thing about Geisel is: The students! Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Teaching Book/poem Recommendation: Gather by Kenneth Cadow released in October 2023 (Ken Cadow is a Norwich resident and co-Principal of Oxbow High School just a few towns north of us in Bradford, VT) Piece of music/song Recommendation: Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons (as arranged and performed by violinist - Sayaka Shoji - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXxkiXi0T70)  Unknown fact about you: When I ‘accidentally’ took a year off from college, among other things I was the sound engineer for the largest Spanish language public radio daily news report (broadcast out of Fresno, CA) in the United States at the time.   Short Biography: Dr. Larry Myers received his undergraduate degree in physics, where he conducted research in low-frequency vibrational modes in DNA. He then earned a Ph.D. in biophysics doing research on the structural biology, and bio-inorganic chemistry of DNA repair mechanisms. His post-doctoral research was directed toward using biochemistry to reveal mechanisms of eukaryotic transcriptional regulation. When he joined the Department of Biochemistry at Dartmouth, his laboratory research extended this work and applied it to understanding the transcriptional mechanisms that underlie virulence and drug resistance in human fungal pathogens such as candida albicans. In 2015, he expanded his already well-developed interest in teaching by joining the newly created Department of Medical Education at Geisel. Since then, he has focused on creating, through research and teaching, a positive environment for medical and graduate students to learn biochemistry and genetics. He endeavors to keep his teaching up to date with the fast pace of development in these areas by continuing his laboratory research through collaborations.

  Name (pronouns): Michael Nguyen (he/him) Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio Year at Geisel: M2 Career interest: Undecided specialty The best thing about Geisel is: Our close-knit community Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: On the Connecticut in the summer Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Skiing at the Dartmouth Skiway Book/poem Recommendation: In Waves by A. J. Dungo Most treasured travel: Camping on a remote beach on Kauai Guilty pleasure: All dressed chips. Glad that Canadian treasure made it south of the border!   Originally from a suburb outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, Michael Nguyen graduated from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) with a degree in biology. As an undergraduate, he founded the Vietnamese Student Association, volunteered on an urban farm addressing Cleveland’s food deserts, and worked part time. After a year of working for a non-profit, he returned to CWRU to pursue a masters degree in bioethics and medical humanities. This program coincided with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which proved to be a timely reference for his interests in health equity, interdisciplinary healthcare, and research ethics. Michael further explored these while conducting research on the healthcare experiences of Southeast Asian Americans. His graduate studies helped him discern how, as a physician, he aspires to become a health change-maker for both individuals and the greater community. Now an M2 at Geisel, Michael continues his volunteer work addressing food disparities at the Upper Valley Haven and is a Global Health Scholar.    In his free time, he loves cooking, yoga, and spending time with friends. He also loves getting outside to surf, hike, and camp. Skiing has also become a new favorite pastime, which he picked up on the Skiway this past winter. Being from Ohio, he feels especially fortunate to have had the opportunities to pursue these hobbies while traveling, living in Southern California, and now calling the Upper Valley home.

  Name (pronouns): Kate Adams (she, her, hers) Hometown: Dennis, MA Year at Geisel: 4 Career interest: Mental Health, Wellbeing, Coaching, Live Performance, Music, Dance, Yoga, Movement Therapy The best thing about Geisel is: the small, tight-knit community Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Putnam’s Vineyard for an indoor spot, the white river branch near South Royalton for an outdoor spot Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Searching for good finds at Listen Book/poem Recommendation: Braiding Sweetgrass & anything by Mary Oliver Favorite piece of music/song: To many to list but right now I’m into the band Palace Favorite quote: “Precision is suffocating”. Also, anything uttered by Aldo Leopold or Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Most treasured travel: My 36 trips around the sun Guilty pleasure: Reality TV- Real Housewives, anything on Bravo really Unknown fact about you: I’m chainsaw certified, live in the woods for 8 months and can move big rocks with the correct mechanical advantage   Bio: Kate grew up in Dennis, MA a small beach town on Cape Cod. She earned her BA at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA (Berkshires) and pursued a career in performing arts and arts administration. She is also a registered yoga teacher, level III Reiki practitioner, Barre instructor, and will soon be a certified Health and Wellness Coach. After a few years in Manhattan and a year in Maine, she moved to New Hampshire to work at the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth College working on student engagement & marketing. She joined Geisel in February 2020 and is currently the Wellness Program Coordinator for the Office of Student Life. When she’s not in the office Kate enjoys traveling, hiking (ask her about the NH 48), tending to her garden, and watching the Great British Baking Show. She is a dog Mom of a mini–Australian Shepard named Lola who is currently living with her grandparents on the cape.

  Name (pronouns): Matthew Goff (he/him/his) Hometown: Plattsburgh, NY Year at Geisel: 2025 Career interest: Triple Board (Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) The best thing about Geisel is: My classmates (of all years)! Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Abracadabra Coffee in Woodstock, VT Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Trail running and cycling Book/poem Recommendation: Medical History by Nicole Sealey Favorite quote: I’m not sure I have a particular favorite quote, but one quote that has had an impact on me was when Yo-Yo Ma spoke at Dartmouth my senior year and said, “I am a human first, a musician second, and a cellist third.” I often rephrase this in the context of medicine to, “I am a human first, a doctor second, and a cellist third.” In medicine, we often put up barriers between ourselves and our patients, but I think it is important that in this physically, mentally, and emotionally grueling field we don’t let our job get in the way of our humanity. Most treasured travel: Any chance to adventure in the mountains, but I am especially fond of a backpacking trip in the French Pyrenees following a study abroad program in college, which is where my now fiancé and I trace the beginning of our relationship. Guilty pleasure: period/historical fiction movies and books Unknown fact about you: In college I got to play Yo-Yo Ma’s cello!   "I am originally from rural, upstate New York and did my undergraduate degree at Dartmouth where I majored in Neuroscience and minored in Anthropology of Global Health. While at Dartmouth I also studied French and studied abroad for a term in Toulouse, France. I also spent a term working for a community health non-profit organization in rural Alabama. After undergrad, I spent 2 years working as an Admissions Officer for Dartmouth College, where I was a member of the Visitor Relations team working on redesigning the visitor experience, as well as the Communications team working on developing institutional branding and messaging around affordability and accessibility. I am now an MD/MBA student, so for the three years prior to Tuck I have been attending medical school. I am planning to complete medical residency following Tuck in a combined program of Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. I am still exploring options for applying my MBA to healthcare, but I am especially interested in improving healthcare delivery, particularly in the area of pediatric mental health."  

  Name: Charles Hopley (He/Him) Hometown: Denver  Year at Geisel:  6th Career interest: Im an Internist and I take care of patients with Kidney Disease and bad blood pressure The best thing about Geisel is: Its setting. Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Sunrise over Whaleback Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Being outside and watching my kids sports events Book/poem Recommendation: The original Sherlock Holmes Stories. Holmes is a genius, and at the same time a deeply flawed character. There is method to his madness though, Holmes has an approach. I try to emulate that.  Favorite piece of music/song: Highway 61 Revisited   Dr. Hopley is from Denver, Colorado. He went to Colorado College, where he studied Biology, and Medical School at Ross. He received a Master of Public Health at Dartmouth (at the time, it was called the Center for Evaluative Clinical Sciences, but now it's The Dartmouth Institute or TDI). He did an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Illinois and a fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Colorado. He is in his 6th year on the faculty in the Department of Medicine, Section of Hypertension and Nephrology at Geisel/Dartmouth Hitchcock. He directs The Fluids, Electrolytes, and Renal Medicine at Geisel for the second year medical students. At Dartmouth Hitchcock (DH) he directs the Home Dialysis Clinics as well as the Advanced Hypertension Clinic. He is a husband and father of 3, and we like to be outside.

Name (pronouns): Shawn O’Leary (he, him, his) Hometown: Duluth, MN Year at Geisel: ~22 years Career interest: Health equity, student engagement with the underserved and wellness The best thing about Geisel is: Our student’s commitment to service Favorite book/poem: The Roundhouse by Louise Erdrich Most treasured travel: Anywhere with my family Guilty pleasure: Anything sweet        Unknown fact about you: I’ve run ten marathons   Shawn has been working to create innovative programs in the social justice field for thirty years. He is an enrolled member of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe in Northern Minnesota where his family has harvested wild rice for generations. For over twenty years, Shawn has been the Director of the Office for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Shawn is responsible for overseeing the Geisel School of Medicine's diversity programs and executing its mission of promoting a climate of unity, respect and belonging. He is the academic advisor to the Urban and Rural Health Scholars Programs. He also serves as an advisor to minority students and student affinity groups, and works to ensure the success and retention of all minority students, faculty, and staff. Shawn was selected by medical students for induction into the Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society for Outstanding Mentorship in 2006, 2021 and 2024. In 2017, Shawn received the Holly Fell Sateia Award, a Dartmouth College social justice award that pays tribute to a faculty or staff member who is an enthusiastic and effective leader in advancing diversity and community. Most recently he received the Jack H. Lyons Humanism in Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award in June 2022. Shawn came to Geisel from the University of Maine where he served as Assistant Director of the Native American Center. Prior to coming to New England, Shawn worked in his home state of Minnesota developing minority recruitment and retention strategies, based on an individualized student service philosophy, at the Center of American Indian and Minority Health, University of Minnesota Duluth School of Medicine. He chaired the Indians into Medicine advisory board and was the liaison between the medical school and the thirty-four reservation communities in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Shawn also worked for the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe's Educational Talent Search Program where he worked to promote the educational needs of first generation American Indian students. Wherever Shawn lives and works, he is actively engaged in the community. He served as a youth hockey coach and has coached over forty hockey teams the past nineteen years in Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire, and Canada. While in Minnesota, he was appointed by Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson to the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee for his work with high school and college dropouts in the correctional system. Shawn has an open door policy and is always willing to speak to prospective or current students. You may stop by his office in Remsen 315E, reach him by phone at (603) 339-2686, or email at [email protected].    

Name (pronouns): Nicholas Fuller (He/Him/His) Hometown: Centre Hall, PA Year at Geisel: 3rd Career interest: Palliative care The best thing about Geisel is: The amazing hospital with wonderful people Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Lucky’s Coffee Garage in Lebanon, NH Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Going to trivia at Salt Hill Pub on Sunday nights Book/poem Recommendation: Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson Favorite quote: “Truth is a locked room that we knock the lock off from time to time, and then board up again” - Donald Barthelme Most treasured travel: Going back home Guilty pleasure: Listening to podcasts probably more than is healthy Unknown fact about you: I used to drive a big red pick-up truck in high school At the time of this interview, Nicholas was a 3rd year medical student at Geisel. He is originally from Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, a small town in the Appalachian Mountains. He attended college at the University of Pittsburgh, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and a Bachelor of arts in Philosophy. Before medical school he worked as a nursing assistant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the medical ICU of a community hospital. He really enjoys reading, writing, playing music, watching movies, going for walks and drinking coffee.

Name (pronouns): Thomas Thesen (he, him, his) Hometown: Trier, Germany Year at Geisel: 1 ½ years Career interest: Medical Educator & Scientist The best thing about Geisel is: A resource-rich academic center surrounded by wilderness Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Skiway in the winter, Moosilauke and the Connecticut River in the summer Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Hiking, skiing and rowing Book/poem Recommendation: Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse, an aging academic in pursuit of self-discovery and trying to reconcile the contrasting aspects of one's nature, ambitions, and the pursuit of harmony within oneself. Strangely, I read it as a teenager and it was as relevant then as it is now. Favorite piece of music/song: Most recently, Noah Kahan’s Emmy award-winning songs about the challenges of living in rural NH resonate with me. Favorite quote: “To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge” – Confucius,  Memento mori - Stoic philosophers Most treasured travel: Skippering a small sailboat across the Atlantic Guilty pleasure: I have a sweet tooth that I have been unable to extract completely  Unknown fact about you: I probably have undiagnosed ADHD. I also spent one year in the military.  Anything else: My dog Sophie is Miss February 2024 in the ‘Dogs of Dartmouth’ calendar. At age 13, she still got it!   Thomas Thesen, Ph.D. - Associate Professor & Principal Investigator Dr. Thesen received his Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Oxford University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in brain imaging at the University of California, San Diego. He was a faculty member in the Department of Neurology at Grossman School of Medicine at New York University for over 10 years, where he was the director of NYU ECoG, a center for research in patients with brain implants. Most recently, he was a founding faculty member at the new College of Medicine at the University of Houston before coming to Dartmouth. He is a co-director of the Neuroscience & Neurology and Medical Learning Sciences courses in the MD program at Geisel, and a visiting scientist  at the Brain & Mind Institute in Nairobi. Thomas initially came to the US as an international student from Germany. He is an avid sailor and outdoor enthusiast, enjoying skiing, hiking, and freediving.   Host: Tamar Mosulishvili Co-Host: John Emery Editor: Willa Merrill

  Name: Amy Rose (she/hers) Hometown: Farmington CT Primary role at Geisel: Staff, Program Manager  Career interest: If I exceled in science, I would have gone into nursing 😊 The best thing about Geisel is: the small community feel, I have really enjoyed getting to know my colleagues and involved in different projects/programs with students, such as the KNN student chapter and the peer mentoring program. Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: the hiking trails behind my house Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: I don’t go anymore because I live too far away now, but I used to go to this bootcamp classes in North Haverhill. I love any activity that involves being outside Book/poem Recommendation: The Guest List by Lucy Foley Guilty pleasure: currently – eating my kids’ Halloween candy Unknown fact about you: I was a whitewater raft guide for a couple of summers in Maine.   Short Bio: Supports Medical Education Committee (MEC)​ Coordinates policy and curriculum review​ Manages Geisel Coaching Program​ Manages Kern National Network (KNN) Grant​ Advisor to KNN Student Chapter​ Supports UME projects & UME Newsletter​ Amy joined the UME team in November 2021. She previously worked as a first-grade teacher and reading interventionist. She has a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Amy lives in New London, NH with her husband Andy and children Morgan (4), Marlee (2), and Bode (3 months). ​   Host: Tamar Mosulishvili Editor: Willa Merrill

  Name (pronouns): she/her/hers Hometown: Lebanon, NH Year at Geisel: I am now in my 30th year at Dartmouth College, 20 years at Geisel, 18 in the Department of Student Affairs.   Career interest: planning events to make others happy The best thing about Geisel is: the relationships I have Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: my home Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: spending time with my family Favorite quote: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” Favorite piece of music/song: Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw Most treasured travel: Anytime I visit Tennessee and spend time in the mountains Unknown fact about you: I was born in the original Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and have never lived outside of the Upper Valley.   Tina is a native of Lebanon, NH, born in the original Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, NH. She has lived in the upper Valley her entire life. As an employee of Dartmouth College of 30 years which includes18 at Geisel School of Medicine, she sits on several committees within the medical school, as well as with Dartmouth College. Tina plans and executes all major events at Geisel, including 1st year orientation, White Coat Ceremony, Transition Ceremony, Class Day Ceremony, and many others. Along with planning events, most of Tina’s work is directly with the medical and MPH students. She is part of the many facets of student life, from saying “good morning” as they arrive, working with various interest groups, all the way to the Student Government executive board, she is part of their daily life. Tina also works with several national and local organizations (AOA, AMSA, Gold, Physician for Human Rights ((PHR)), Schwartz Foundation, Schweitzer, etc.) to facilitate the collaboration between Geisel students and the outside organizations. Outside of the office, Tina enjoys being with her husband, children, grandchildren, and participating in all four seasons of outdoor activities such as, swimming, indoor and outdoor gardening, walking, camping, and snowshoeing.   Host: Tamar Mosulishvili Editor: Willa Merrill

  Name: John Emery Hometown: Mexico, NY Year at Geisel: 3 Career interest: Undecided at the moment The best thing about Geisel is: The People Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: 4 Aces (best pancakes I’ve ever had) Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Skiing, both downhill and XC Book/poem Recommendation: The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (Gotta be in it for the long haul though, it’s 14 books) Most treasured travel: Any and all, I’ve had too many great experiences to pick just one! Guilty pleasure: UFOs, or UAPs as I guess they’re called now. I want to believe! John Emery was born and raised in a small, two-stop-light, town in Central New York called Mexico. He did his undergraduate at the University of Rochester where he majored in microbiology and graduated in 2013. Between graduating from undergrad and starting medical school, he served as a nuclear-trained submarine officer in the US Navy. His Navy experience took him from Charleston SC to Groton CT to Honolulu HI and finally Saratoga Springs NY where, he shares, he had the privilege of serving with some of the hardest working and smartest Sailors the Navy had to offer. He has been at Geisel since 2021 and he loves it here! At the time of this interview, he is 4 rotations into the 3rd year and still has no idea what he wants to do when he grows up but he is loving the ride!   Host: Tamar Mosulishvili Editor: Willa Merrill

Roshini Pinto-Powell, MD, FACP Professor of Medicine and Medical Education Associate Dean of Admissions Co-Director of On Doctoring Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth   Name (pronouns): Roshini Pinto-Powell, she/her/hers Hometown: Hanover, NH Year at Geisel: 28 Career interest: Medical Education The best thing about Geisel is: The small and warm community. Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Mount Cardigan and the Rail Trails Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Hiking and Biking Book/poem Recommendation: Too many! The Great Influenza, The Elegance of the Hedgehog and any of Mary Oliver’s poems Favorite quote: “Ars longa, vitae brevis..” Favorite piece of music/song: Ode to Joy Most treasured travel: any trip with my whole family Guilty pleasure: Chips! Kettle cooked. Saltier the better. Unknown fact about you: I am an open book, can’t think of an unknown!   She is an internist and infectious disease specialist who practices primary care medicine and geriatrics. She and her family have been at Dartmouth since 1992. Her husband is a vascular surgeon, and together they have 3 grown sons who all enjoy the great outdoors that they are lucky to have in their backyard here in New Hampshire. As a medical educator over the past several decades, she has taught at the UME and GME levels and has led faculty development sessions locally and nationally. Teaching is something she loves – the opportunity to help curious, bright, and engaged learners find joy in the science and the art of medicine, is a gift she is lucky to have. She had the privilege of being the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for six years before transitioning to the role of Associate Dean of Admissions at the Geisel School of Medicine five years ago. In addition to her educational and administrative roles, her other greatest joy is patient care. She can honestly say that her patients have taught her more about medicine, life, and herself than she could have predicted.   Host: Tamar Mosulishvili Editor: Willa Merrill

Hear from third year medical students at Geisel as they reflect on their experiences during preclinical years, Step 1, transitioning to clinical phase, what they like to do outside of medicine, and more!   Name (pronouns): Jewelia Durant (she/her) Hometown: Madbury, NH Year at Geisel: MS3 Career interest: General Surgery  The best thing about Geisel is: Location! You have the pleasure of living where so many people travel for vacation and sightseeing. Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: ooooh this is a tough one. Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Sunday night trivia at Salt Hill! Such a lively and fun way to end the week with friends and good food/brews. Favorite quote: “How you do anything is how you do everything” Most treasured travel: THREE WAY TIE- trip to the UK with my family for a lacrosse tournament OR trip with college friends to the outer banks OR ski trip with med school friends to Mont Tremblant <3 Guilty pleasure: Buying too much fancy cheese from the co-op  Jewelia was born on base in Nebraska where both of her parents were serving in the Air Force at the time, but shortly moved to the NH seacoast, which she now calls home. She attended Plymouth State University where she graduated with a BS in Biochemistry from their atmospheric sciences and chemistry department. While at PSU, she was a member and senior co-captain of the NCAA women’s lacrosse team. She enjoys skiing with friends, playing intramural soccer at Geisel and continuing to explore and appreciate all that the beautiful Northeast has to offer. On weekends that she is able to escape home to the seacoast, she looks forward to year-round beach trips with her family and two dogs, Winston and Stella.   Name (pronouns): Constance Fontanet (she/her)  Hometown: Paris, France  Year at Geisel: 2025  Career interest: Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine  The best thing about Geisel is: amazing clinical opportunities  Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Brightside Brewing inside the Lebanon Municipal Airport  Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: Swimming in the Connecticut River  Constance Fontanet is a 3rd year medical student who is originally from France but has been living in New England for a little over 10 years. She is interested in any specialty that will allow her to remain a generalist, as well as health policy and healthcare delivery.   Name (pronouns): Shahin Shahsavari (he/him) Hometown: Tehran, Iran Year at Geisel: 3rd Career interest: professorship at an academic institute The best thing about Geisel is: the people (classmates and faculty) Favorite spot in the Upper Valley: Ice Cream Fore-U Favorite activity in the Upper Valley: cycling over the summer. Swimming at CCBA Favorite song/piece of music: adagio for strings - Samuel barber Most treasured travel: visiting family in California and in Iran Guilty pleasure: ice cream   Shahin was born and raised in Iran. He came to the US for college and received his bachelor's in physics. He worked for 3 years as a clinical data analyst and bioinformatician. Host: Tamar Mosulishvili Editor: Willa Merrill

Name (pronouns): Joelle Worm, she/her Hometown: Milwaukee, WI At KNN since: July 2021 Career interest: Program development and facilitation, MVP - meaning, values, purpose The best thing about KNN is: Frolleagues! I consider my KNN colleagues - inside the Program Office and out - friends, so I coined the phrase Frolleagues, which is a blend of “friend” and “colleague” Book/Author Recommendation:  Fiction: Matt Haig & Octavia Butler Non-fiction: Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides by Geoffrey L. Cohen Favorite quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead Guilty pleasure: Dessert, it’s an everyday requirement in our house   Short Bio: Joelle Worm serves as the Administrator for the Kern National Network for Flourishing in Medicine, or the “KNN.” She is also the Director of the KNN Student Network and is delighted to work with medical students exploring flourishing across the United States. She comes to the KNN with 20+ years of experience in the administration of programs in educational settings, from arts education programs in public schools to teaching and administration in higher education. Joelle holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, a Masters in Public Administration from Baruch College - City University of New York and is currently working on a Masters of Arts in Character Education at the University of Birmingham. To learn more about KNN visit  KNN Framework for Flourishing.   Host: Tamar Mosulishvili Editor: Willa Merrill