Start Year: 2020
Basics
Hometown
Durham, NC
Where did you attend university/college?
Amherst College
Where did you attend medical school?
UNC
What are your career goals?
I'm interested in pulmonary and critical care, and I want to pursue an academic career where I can do teaching and research.
I wanted a program with strong camaraderie among the residents, and program leadership that looks out for our well-being. I also want to do academic medicine and fellowship, so I was looking for an institution with a track record of helping its graduates end up where they want to be, and a system of mentorship & career guidance.
-Monroe Wolf
Reflections on the Duke Program
What were you looking for in a residency program?
I wanted a program with strong camaraderie among the residents, and program leadership that looks out for our well-being. I also want to do academic medicine and fellowship, so I was looking for an institution with a track record of helping its graduates end up where they want to be, and a system of mentorship & career guidance. Residency is too busy to figure all this out on your own.
What are the strengths of the Duke Program?
I love the atmosphere of collegiality and support here; I think that's extra important right now with Covid-19 making it harder to spend face-to-face time with our co-residents and forcing changes to the schedule & routines. It's important to have flexible leadership that prioritizes resident education and well-being and responds quickly to issues as they arise, and that's evident here at Duke from Dr. Zaas to the chiefs to the rest of the faculty.
What are your observations about the relationships between faculty and house staff?
I only recently started intern year, but on every rotation so far I've had engaged faculty who value my opinions and are excited to teach. I think it's a huge strength of Duke IM that we take our jobs seriously but don't take ourselves seriously.
Tell us about your co-residents. What has helped you connect, support each other, and form friendships?
Moving during a pandemic is not easy, and I appreciate my co-residents coming up with socially distanced plans to hang out and get to know each other despite everything that's going on. Being able to lean on each other on tougher rotations is so important.
About Duke University and Durham
What is the best thing about living in Durham and the Triangle?
I grew up in Durham so I'm biased, but I love being back here! It's always been a foodie city and there's plenty of that open with takeout or outdoor seating--same thing with the breweries, etc. I love running and the trails in places like Eno state park are a welcome break from the summer heat. Also, we're ~90 minutes from great climbing and a few hours in either direction to mountains&backpacking or beach--all great options when the pandemic has locked down indoor fun.
How does the Triangle appeal to people of diverse backgrounds?
The Triangle has big-city amenities and easy access to small-town open spaces, which is awesome. It's also racially and geographically diverse and having a lot of population growth because of things like the universities, RTP, and the popularity of the downtowns.
Where did you choose to live and why?
I live south of Chapel Hill so that my husband can commute to his job in Fort Bragg-don't do this unless you have to, but it's totally doable and I love coming home to our peaceful wooded neighborhood.
What advice would you give to someone looking to move to Durham?
Personally, if I could have moved to Durham we'd be renting a house in the W Club Blvd area--so pretty, close to the hospital, and within walking distance of my favorite Vietnamese restaurant.
What are your interests outside of medicine?
Running, climbing (top rope only, I'm not hardcore), reading novels, cultivating way too many houseplants and an increasingly weedy garden. I also jam on my fiddle from time to time.