Start Year: 2021
Basics
Hometown
Lexington, MA
Where did you attend college/university?
Cornell University
Where did you attend medical school?
Duke University School of Medicine
What are your career goals?
Take care of individuals across the age spectrum while conducting community-engaged research to address social determinants of health that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
"Since starting my work in the hospital, my co-residents have approached the wards with a team based approach to making sure we are surviving, thriving, and getting out at a reasonable time."
-Karen Lin
Reflections on the Duke Program
What were you looking for in a residency program?
As a medical student at Duke, I loved working with the Med-Peds residents and wanted to be just like them! I was also looking for a city that was easy to live in, and I've loved it so much these last four years, I wanted to stay another four.
What are the strengths of the Duke program?
Duke has excellent MedPeds faculty that have so much enthusiasm for caring for individuals across the life spectrum. I loved that the culture of MedPeds included prioritizing joy and fun on both Pediatrics and Adult medicine.
What are your observations about the relationships between faculty and house staff?
It's a team based approach! Faculty are always asking house staff how they can assist with patient care for the day. House staff always had great things to say about the faculty here as well.
Tell us about your co-residents. What has helped you connect, support each other, and form friendships?
My co-residents are awesome. With MedPeds being a smaller cohort, we arranged to meet before orientation. I remember being so relieved that these folks were going to be my people for the next few years! Since starting my work in the hospital, my co-residents have approached the wards with a team based approach to making sure we are surviving, thriving, and getting out at a reasonable time.
What has surprised you most about Duke?
It has always surprised me how humble and down to earth Duke is.
About Duke University and Durham
What is the best thing about living in Durham and the Triangle?
I live 5 minutes from the hospital and rarely ever experience traffic. The best thing about living in Durham and the Triangle is how easy it is to find running trails, escape for a weekend of backpacking, or explore surrounding cities such as Carrboro or Raleigh.
How does the Triangle appeal to people of diverse backgrounds?
It surprised me how genuinely nice and welcoming people were in the Triangle. Also - the Triangle has so many different cultural foods/markets and nothing says home like being able to go to a restaurant and eat the food you grew up eating!
Where did you choose to live and why?
My housemates and I picked a house 4 years ago when we started medical school, and we have loved it so much that we just signed our lease for a 5th year. Never leaving!!
What advice would you give to someone looking to move to Durham?
The housing market is crazy (so I hear!)
What are your interests outside of medicine?
I love running, swimming, roller blading, and teaching my cat Mobitz how to do tricks!