I grew up outside of Chicago and got the full taste of Chicago culture (can you beat a day at the Art Institute followed by a dive at the local pizza joint?) as well as being able to ride horses and raise cattle. I studied Biology and Spanish at the University of Illinois in Urbana and had the opportunity to live for six months in the Dominican Republic which is where I decided that I wanted to become a doctor. As I started applying to medical schools, I randomly added the University of Iowa to my list of schools only because it was close to home and had a good reputation for primary care. I never imagined actually coming here nor did I know anything more about the town or school. I visited and liked many of the schools that I saw, but I absolutely fell in love with Iowa City. I remember driving into town on a beautiful fall day and seeing the Iowa River and City Park then getting lost in the vibrant downtown. By the time I actually made it to the medical school, the fact that everyone was welcoming and helpful was an unnecessary added incentive to come. I couldn’t believe that some people weren’t even locking their bikes up outside the school! As I progressed through medical school, I began meeting some of the fabulous family medicine and psychiatry faculty and residents. I knew that this is where I wanted to stay. The program is superb, the people are amazingly supportive, and the town is culturally stimulating and easy to live in. Send me an email if you have any questions for me. I love talking about Iowa and residency! Email: julie-voelker@uiowa.edu