Current Residents

Patrick Shea, PL-1

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!

Rachel State, PL-1

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.

Jenny Makosky, PL-2

I am a native of Minnesota, went to St. Olaf for undergrad, and the University of Minnesota for medical school. I was drawn to Triple Board as a medical student, as I often found myself intrigued by the overlap between psychiatry and medicine in every day patient care. I also have an interest in International health and in working with immigrant and refugee communities in the US. I want to be able to use my training in pediatrics and psychiatry to provide integrative care to these populations. During the application process, Utah's Triple Board program quickly moved to the top of my list. One of the big reasons is Salt Lake is a refugee resettlement area (like Minneapolis where I went to medical school), which will allow me to work with refugee populations throughout my training. Another is that the program is flexible enough to allow for electives abroad. The canyons and the mountains were an added bonus for me and my husband as we both love to rock climb and backpack in our spare time. It's great to be here.

Michelle Vo, PL-2

Jennifer O'Donohoe, PL-3

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 enjoying going to work (as much as you can as an intern). 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-3

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.

Eric Spiegel, PL-4

I entered med school to become a pediatrician, then became interested in child neurology, and finally fell in love with child psychiatry. I stumbled across the idea of the Triple Board program through the FREIDA and I was hooked. Being able to train in pediatrics as well as psychiatry is perfect for my interests, and Utah was my favorite of the Triple Board programs out there. I have a wife and a new son, Alicia and Owen (respectively) who were gracious enough to move thousands of miles to let me train out here. I'm new to the area (I've never lived anywhere but in Missouri) so I'm excited to experience a whole new culture and lifestyle here, not to mention the numerous opportunities for outdoor activities. I'll still be rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals from a distance, though.

Mary Staaby, PL-4

Although I certainly miss the aroma of chocolate that fills the air of Hershey, Pennsylvania, Salt Lake City offers plenty to occupy my senses--from the feel of the powdery snow on my face during my first skiing attempt (and the residents didn't abandon me), to the sounds of free concerts downtown at the Gallivan Center, or the great restaurants through out the city; there's always something to do. I can always count on finding someone to explore the city with, especially since I made quick friends during the orientation rafting trip down by Moab.

Emily Grossell, PL-5

Having always lived in the eastern United States, I've been intrigued by the idea of the wild west and just knew that residency would be the perfect time to explore. I never would have dreamed of living in Salt Lake City, or even visiting, until I heard about the triple board program. The morning of my first interview, I sat in the children's hospital, enjoying the sunrise over the mountains that surround the city in all directions, and began to think that this would be a great place to call home. Now, over three years later, I have no doubt that the University of Utah Triple Board Program is the perfect place for me! While on the surface, nature may be Utah's most outstanding feature--from the fairy tale canyons of Moab to the aspen and powder snow of the Salt Lake City area--it's the people that make this place feel like home. I am continually impressed by the positivity, support and fun loving nature of both the peds and psychiatry departments and how natural it feels to flow between the two. I'm so happy here in Utah and question whether I will ever leave!

Brooks Keeshin, PL-5

Salt Lake City was two turns and 1300 miles from my house in Cincinnati, Ohio, and frankly I haven't looked back. I was first interested by what I read about the integration of three fields, but then when I finally came to Salt Lake City, I was awe struck by the mountains as well. Now that I am here, I get to experience on a weekly basis the best that both pediatrics and psychiatry have to offer, something I could not have experienced at any other triple board program. And best of all, I have found a small group of devoted Cincinnati Bengals fans with whom I can celebrate/commiserate with every Sunday. There is certainly something for everyone here in this city.