Current Fellows
Current Fellows
Originally from San Diego, Aaron studied chemistry at Whitman College before becoming a middle school and high school science teacher in Arizona. He then completed his medical degree and internship at UC San Diego where he was a member of the Healers Art and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Fortunately, he was able to escape the monotonously nice weather of Southern California to pursue residency in Anesthesiology at the University of Utah where he was a chief resident. He remains a board-certified Anesthesiologist at the University of Utah and is delighted to call Salt Lake City, with its incredible outdoor access, beautiful seasons, and lack of traffic, his home. Aaron is thrilled to continue his specialty training in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He is passionate about seeing the big picture of a patient's journey through the medical system, and strives to help individuals with serious illness and complex perioperative needs to achieve the best surgical experience and the best quality of life possible. Outside of work, Aaron is an avid bike commuter, sea kayaker, XC skier, potter, bread baker and can usually be found outdoors or at the pool with his family.
As a general surgery resident pursuing a career in trauma surgery, Dr. Monzon chose a palliative care fellowship because it will allow her to support patients and families through moments of crisis and uncertainty. Palliative care will equip her with the skills to address not only physical suffering but also the emotional and human needs that arise in critical illness, complementing the urgency of trauma care with compassion and communication. Dr. Monzon specifically applied to the University of Utah Palliative Care Program because this program has great educators all around, amazing wellness opportunities in the great outdoors, and it is close to home.
Dr. Braukmann is a pediatrician currently completing fellowship training in hospice and palliative medicine. He earned his medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and completed his pediatric residency at the University of Utah, where he also served as chief resident. This role deepened his engagement in clinical care, leadership and administration, medical education, and healthcare systems improvement. Throughout his training, Dr. Braukmann developed a strong interest in communication, teaching, conflict resolution, and holistic, person-centered care. These interests naturally led him to pediatric palliative medicine, a field that aligns with his commitment to improving quality of life for children and families facing serious illness. While conversations about end-of-life care are a part of this work, he is especially drawn to the field’s focus on helping patients live as comfortably and meaningfully as possible. He is supported by a loving family including his wife who inspires him with her selflessness and compassion as a middle school teacher, his son who motivates him to be the best person he can be and reminds him not to take life too seriously, and his corgi, Ernie, who is his adventure buddy and has helped him explore the natural beauty that Utah has to offer.
Dr. Kruse grew up in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, spending much of her childhood exploring the woods and lakes. She grew up Nordic skiing and eventually raced for the University of New Hampshire while earning a degree in Mathematics. After college, she moved to Colorado, where she completed a master’s in Bioengineering, coached skiing, learned to mountain bike—and coached that, too. Though Dr. Kruse initially pursued research, she eventually realized it was not the right path for her. She earned her EMT license and began working in a community emergency department, where she discovered her passion for medicine. This led her to medical school at the University of Vermont and ultimately back to the ER as an Emergency Medicine resident at the University of Utah. During residency, Dr. Kruse found herself wanting deeper connections with her patients and more time to support them through complex illnesses and life-altering diagnoses. She was fortunate to find mentorship at the intersection of Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care, and while she deeply valued her time in the ER, she’s thrilled to be starting the next chapter of her journey as a Palliative Care fellow at the University of Utah.