Current Residents

Anna Jolliffe, PL-1

My name is Anna Jolliffe and I am from Lewisburg, West Virginia. When I was growing up I thought I wanted to be a physician, but I can't really say I knew why. My mother was an adolescent social worker and was on the board of a local women's shelter.  The fulfillment she got from her work was inspiring to me. I experienced a life changing event in high school, losing a very close friend to suicide, and ended up deciding to study psychology and sociology in college; but, I couldn't quite shake the idea of medicine. After I graduated I could not decide whether to go to medical school or graduate school for clinical psychology and I happened upon this magic website, FRIEDA, and found out about the triple board residency and my decision was made for my future.  As far as ending up in Utah, I realized that no matter where I did my residency, the intern year was going to be a stressful time. The people here were so kind, relaxed and supportive that I thought that would help to balance the stress of this period (it has).  And, I can't imagine a more beautiful surrounding!

Meghan Edmundson, PL-1

I came for an away rotation and knew Utah was for me. The people are great to work with, and the outdoor opportunities are incredible. Seriously, Salt Lake is a hidden gem and an outdoor person's paradise. I came from Chicago and wasn't sure if Salt Lake could compete. It is like comparing apples and oranges, but Salt Lake has just as much to offer in different ways. I am pleased with the cultural opportunities and haven't felt deprived. Plus the weather here is way better :-), and I see the mountains from my living room window everyday. There are also so many transplanted people here from all over the country that it's been easy to find people that I have things in common with. Overall, the transition has been pretty smooth. The people are relaxed and the training opportunities are excellent. I am happy here and glad that I made the trip out West.

Jessica Stahl, PL-2

Having grown up on the east coast with my family in Raleigh, NC, a convenient 8 hour plane flight away, I was absolutely positive I wasn't going to Utah for residency.  When my interview rolled around at the end of the season, I thought about canceling, but, well, I had the plane ticket already, so figured I might as well just go.  Nobody was more shocked than I was to realize that this is where I wanted to be.  With a bit of residency under my belt, I now reside in a spunky little house of my own with my dog, Kayla and her cat, Torin, and when not working, manage to partake in many of the activities mentioned by my compatriots.  There's no excuse for being bored here unless you want to be, and good luck finding the time anyhow! My family in NC loves that they can come visit during the winter holiday, and that they're all better at winter sports than I am.   Career-wise, I'm headed for a fellowship in nephrology and ultimately plan to do chronic disease care with pediatric nephrology and child psychiatry focus, which I will discuss at great length with anyone who wants to engage in a very long, very nerdy discourse.  All in all, I feel very lucky to have found such a wonderful place to train with a group of people who buoy me to new heights daily in medicine and in life.

Mike Adelman, PL-2

Like my counterpart in the Utah triple board program, I also hail from North Carolina.  I was raised in Durham, went to North Carolina State University for undergrad where I majored in Microbiology and Sociology, then on to the University of North Carolina for Medical School.  My goal while growing up was to be the next John Stockton, so I guess Salt Lake City was destiny regardless of my career path.  I have a beautiful wife, Kelly, and a wonderful son named Bryson who has a ridiculously awesome birth story (just ask...)  I feel quite privileged to be part of a residency program that is characterized by exceptional leadership and academic rigor, and also by a true collegiality among the residents that makes for a fun and supportive residency experience.

Rachel State, PL-3

Having fallen in love with both pediatrics and child psychiatry during my third year clerkships, I was in a bind when it came time to choose. Fortunately, one of my attendings mentioned this "crazy triple board program" and the puzzle was complete. After I spent a month here doing an away rotation in their triple board program I knew I needed to be a part of the AMAZINGNESS! And Salt Lake truly is AMAZING . Between the program, the people, the weather, and the scenery, I was hooked from day one. Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, I've never been anywhere else in the world that feels more like home than Salt Lake. From the Dodo Restaurant with two for one desserts on Tuesdays to the quick 30-minute escape to Park City, my hubby, Dillon, and I absolutely love it here. We're expecting our first munchkin in December and I couldn't dream of being part of a more supportive, more encouraging program full of not only AMAZING opportunities to truly integrate pediatrics and psychiatry, but AMAZING people to share them with every step of the way.

Patrick Shea, PL-3

Hi! I'm Patrick Shea. I'm actually from Elko, Nevada about 200 miles down the I-80 West from the big SLC. Never heard of it? That's ok, no one else has either. I actually spent the last 8 years in Houston for college and med school and am super excited to finally be back out west! I think our program is great and one of my favorite things about it is the integration of Peds and Psych so that you truly have a foot in both worlds. Also, we have great faculty in all three departments who are supportive of the Triple Board residency. Both departments attract great residents with stellar credentials that are also nice people and fun to work with! Besides, it's truly awesome to live right up against the mountains in a city with literally hundreds of outdoor recreation opportunities within a 30 minute drive. There's nothing quite like post-call hiking! Salt Lake City also has a surprisingly large singles/nightlife scene so there truly is something here for everyone. It's a great program, and I feel very fortunate to have matched here!

Michelle Vo, PL-4

I'm so thrilled to have found my ideal match here at the University of Utah. Admittedly, growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, it never occurred to me that I would live out a wild west adventure for residency! I went to college and medical school at Case Western Reserve University, where I studied comparative literature and developed a very thick skin as a committed Steelers fan living within the Cleveland Browns fan-base! The unique and integrated training that the University of Utah Triple Board offers is a perfect foundation for my interest in caring for children with complex needs, and in early intervention for young children with behavioral and developmental problems. I have felt instantly at ease here. My husband Tim and I are having a wonderful time building a life in Salt Lake City, where there is always an abundance of warmth, welcome, and fun things to do (even for a "city mouse" like me!). Like my colleagues, I'm overwhelmingly impressed with all that the mountains, the city, the three departments, and my fellow residents have to offer!

Jennifer O'Donohoe, PL-5

I'm from a small town in Iowa. I went to undergrad at Carleton College in Minnesota, where I majored in English and played a lot of rugby! I came to medicine through volunteering in a hospital in Ghana. My interest in International Medicine led me to attend the Medical School for International Health in Beer Sheva, Israel. I was drawn to Triple Board training because of my previous work with children with developmental delays. The University of Utah was a great choice for me; the residents and faculty are amazing. I feel like I'm getting great training, and I really enjoy going to work.  Salt Lake City is a beautiful place with access to every outdoor activity you could imagine and don't worry, you can buy beer here!

Kyle Smith, PL-5

As someone who grew up near the beaches of southern California, I became accustomed to the sweet scent of salt water in the morning, so when I stepped off of the plane in Salt Lake City and detected the aroma of the nearby lake, I felt right at home. My experiences with the triple board program have only reinforced that feeling of comfort. Through the course of my undergraduate education at Northwestern University, where I met my lovely wife Kate, and medical school at Creighton University, I knew that I wanted to work with children in my professional career. When a psychiatry attending in my third year clerkship mentioned the triple board, I was quite intrigued. I studied psychology as an undergraduate, and the interface between the body and mind in the course of illness has always been an interest of mine. Needless to say, the triple board almost felt custom-built for my aspirations, and among all the programs, Utah was without a doubt the best fit for me. The pediatrics training is second to none, and I have been amazed by the diversity of experiences in psychiatry. Plus, my dogs really love having so many nearby mountains and streams to explore.