Why This Program?
Mrinalini Joshi, M.D., M.P.H. and Amanda Gerber, M.D. give us their perspectives on why they chose CRMEF for their medical residency program.
Mrinalini Joshi, MD, MPH
Grant Medical College
Mumbai, India
Hometown: Mumbai, India
Class of 2011
Resilience, compassion and commitment to achieving the best in patient care, is how I would summarize the culture at CRMEF.
What attracted me to CRMEF was that it is the only residency program in the Cedar Rapids area and benefits from resources available at a major nearby university, the University of Iowa in Iowa City. The program also came highly recommended to me because of its excellent teaching faculty. As I began training, I found myself part of a cohesive unit of residents and faculty who worked with passion and excellent work ethic to address the varied medical needs of our demographically diverse patient population.
The year 2008 presented many challenges for the community of Cedar Rapids and CRMEF, not the least of those challenges a catastrophic flood. Thanks to our amazingly resilient residents, supported by a truly dedicated faculty and staff, we were able to effectively overcome these challenges. As I near the end of my intern year, I am proud to be part of such a dynamic and compassionate group of people.
Amanda Gerber, MD
St. Louis University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Class of 2011
I was born in Iowa, and even when I moved to St. Louis, Missouri for medical school, there was never any question that I would eventually return home to Cedar Rapids.
In the course of deciding where to finish my medical training, I focused on residency programs that would provide an excellent obstetrical experience and that would, at the same time, provide opportunities to hone the skills necessary to practice as a full-spectrum family physician. To its credit, CRMEF has chosen to pursue innovative second- and third-year curricula by forming teams that serve as small "private practices" and that function independently of each other. It is amazing to have a team of colleagues, including residents, faculty and support staff, whose primary goal is to collectively provide the best care for our patients and to tend to the needs of each team member.
In addition, our faculty is supportive of our independence, and each one of them encourages us to define our own educational goals so that we residents get the experiences that will best serve us in the future. Moreover, the faculty is there for us every step of the way when questions arise or when we need assistance with problem-solving. The best part of this program is that the people here truly understand the concept of Family Medicine, and we are encouraged to take time for our own families even as we care for the families we serve.
