India Bradley, MD

Bio: India is originally from St. Louis, MO. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Howard University, India matriculated to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L Foster School of Medicine. During her time at Texas Tech, India showed her incredible leadership skills across multiple domains. She was the founder and president of the local Black Women in Medicine chapter, vice president of the SNMA chapter, and co-director of the Community Action Research and Engaged Service collaboration. In 2021 India founded Better Step, a pre-medical program for interested University of Texas-El Paso and New Mexico State University students designed to increase the matriculation underrepresented students into medical school. She also served as an executive leader of a medical student run mobile care unit, helping to provide health screenings and health education to the El Paso community. Her dedication to others and leadership led to her being inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. She has been active in both quality improvement and research throughout her medical school career. We are so grateful to have India bring her leadership and advocacy to our Cincinnati Med-Peds family!

Why I Chose Cincinnati: Throughout interview season, I was looking for that one program that met every must-have and requirement on my list. As interviews were virtual, I was afraid that I would never get the real feel for a program. The day of the interview, I went into it casually as UC was never high on my list and I knew nothing about living in Ohio (I also knew that it would be a lot to convince me to live anywhere cold again). However, UC checked off every one of my requirements including a freestanding hospital, strong categorical programs, a strong combined Med-Peds Continuity clinic, and a balanced/personalized curriculum. Moreover, diversity in not only the residents and faculty but also the patient population was of utmost importance to me. Throughout interview day, UC showed me how they value DEI and health equity on all levels. They showed me that they valued wellness and work-life balance. The night before interview day, we were able to meet with the residents, all of whom were very chill, laid-back, and also kept it real with us applicants. I felt a very strong sense of community, which is something I wanted. Meeting with the MP and categorical faculty members on interview day, I was welcomed with warmth and was able to connect with every one of my interviewers who seemed supportive and encouraging. I was truly able to be myself and immediately got the feeling that I would fit right in with the UC community. It was an extra bonus that Cincinnati was closer to my home town and felt like home (I refused to be in a boring city). After visiting during second-look, my decision was solidified!

Jessica Blanks, MD

Bio: Jessica hails from Hope Mills, NC and graduated from the University of North Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Asian Studies and Biology. After graduating she worked as a clinical research coordinator and medical assistant for the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. She matriculated to UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine and immediately began serving her local community and medical school. Jessica co-founded the Weight Inclusive Health Care Interest Group to help students learn about the impact of weight stigma in medicine. She also served as a medical-legal advocate, performing free N-648 screenings to help immigrants and refugees with physical, developmental, or medical disabilities receive necessary exemptions from the English and civics requirements of citizenship. Jessica’s service also includes volunteering at the Student Health Action Coalition free clinic, and serving as a special Olympics coach for several years. Her outstanding academic and service activities led to her being inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. We are so excited to have Jessica bring her clinical excellence and passion for service to our program!

Why I Chose Cincinnati: There are so many reasons that Cincinnati is the place for me! I was impressed during the interview day, particularly because of Dr. Warm’s presentation on the Internal Medicine side that highlighted the program’s dedication to MedEd. Cincinnati Children’s also has an incredible reputation and I wanted to train at a standalone children’s hospital and at a program that prioritized care for underserved patients. I am especially interested in caring for patients with neurodevelopmental disorders and was so excited to learn about the Freeman Center for Developmental Disabilities. What really sealed the deal for me was during my second look, everyone was so welcoming - Ben was at a conference but FaceTimed in to say hello, and I ended up playing pickleball with Evan and Rachel, two of the interns!

Emily Carnes, MD

Bio: After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and minor in Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, Emily matriculated to Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. While at Loyola, Emily developed a Disability Healthcare curriculum, partnering with community members and experts on disability healthcare to improve physician competence in treating patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also improved care for pediatric autistic patients presenting to the Emergency Department through new care flow, order sets, and training for residents. Emily served as a trained Direct Support Professional at L’Arche Chicago, accompanying adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to support their safety, well-being, and daily pursuits. She also founded Natural Ties, a student-run organization aimed at providing a safe space for medical students and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to socialize in a way that is mutually beneficial. We know that Emily’s passion and expertise in caring for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities will improve the lives of countless members of our Cincinnati community. We are so lucky to have her joining our program and community!

Why I Chose Cincinnati: There are countless reasons I could list for why I chose Cincinnati! First things first, the city itself is fantastic. It’s the perfect balance between small enough to get to know well, but big enough to have plenty to do and explore—with so many great parks, sports teams, performing arts, local restaurants, and breweries to try all within a 15-20 minute drive, I felt like I could live in a cute, charming neighborhood and still have quick access to work and all the fun things the city has to offer. But, I think what stood out most to me during interview season and especially on second look day was the culture of the program itself. When I visited, I was absolutely blown away by how well all of the current residents meshed together and how eager they were to spend time with us and get to know us. I also really appreciated how engaged everyone was during the lunchtime lecture that day—it was exciting for me to be in an environment where everyone was so motivated to learn and to enjoy the time they had together working to strengthen their knowledge base. Cincinnati has a powerhouse University Hospital, the top Children’s Hospital in the country, a clearly very strong focus on medical education and resident well-being, and endless opportunity to learn how to be the best physician I can be for kids and adults of all backgrounds—this program felt like the perfect fit for me and I am so grateful to be here! 

Arshdeep Kaur, MD, MSPH

Bio: Arshdeep attended Johns Hopkins University where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Public Health Studies, followed by her Master of Science in Public Health. During her Master degree work, she completed a government-funded evaluation of a local nonprofit's housing services for survivors of intimate partner violence. She also completed a systematic review of maternal and child home visiting strategies with the Home Visiting Applied Research Collaborative, and conducted a literature review on measurement of positive vs adverse childhood experiences with the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative. She later matriculated to the California University of Science and Medicine School of Medicine, where she continued to flourish as a scholar. Arshdeep worked with the UCSF Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network to evaluate associations between patients’ and caregivers of pediatric patients’ trust in providers, and their experiences of discrimination in healthcare. She also completed a mixed methods study to explore medical students’ perceptions of religion and spirituality in the clinical setting. During medical school, Arshdeep was a writer and host for the CUSM Podcast – Our Untangled Minds. We can’t wait for Arshdeep to bring her advocacy focus and scholarly expertise to Cincinnati!

Why I Chose Cincinnati: Throughout my interview day with the Cincinnati Med-Peds program, I could feel the enthusiasm and warmth of all the faculty and residents. I could see that this was a program with a strong Med-Peds identity, as well as a major focus on health equity and social justice, both of which were essential to me when looking at programs. During my interviews, the faculty genuinely wanted to learn about all my varied professional interests, and they also wanted to get to know me as a person. I knew that this was a place where my passions would be actively encouraged and my growth would be a priority. I could also sense the closeness of the residents, and I appreciated how kind and welcoming they were. I'm grateful to be part of this amazing program, and I'm excited to explore Cincy (especially all the parks and the food!).   

Matthew Moore, MD, MPH, DrPH

Bio: Matthew hails from Birmingham, AL, and earned his bachelor's degree in Nutrition Dietetics from Auburn University. After his undergraduate studies, he pursued Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Maternal and Child Health Policy. During his graduate studies he participated in a fully funded TL1 traineeship through the NIH and acted as project manager for the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative. He matriculated to UAB for medical school where he was a strong supporter of his peers, acting as a tutor and orientation director. He also emcee’ed an SNL style fundraiser for his school’s student-run free clinic. For his outstanding performance, he has been awarded multiple awards and honors. Outside of medical school he is an active member of his church and his faith was the foundation for his decision to practice medicine. We are thrilled to have such a talented and service-minded individual joining our program!

Why I Chose Cincinnati: I’m from Alabama, love Alabama, and had always lived in Alabama, though I dreamed of living in a different setting much of my life. When applying to residencies, I wanted a program that would challenge me in ways that made me uncomfortable but support me in ways that made me feel secure. The residents and program leadership at Cincinnati demonstrated this so thoroughly. The programs (Peds, IM, and MP) are designed to enable us as residents not just to be great physicians but to become even greater human beings, in and out of the hospital. Each aspect of the program is steeped in humility which makes the training environment ideal. Pair that with a bustling city with small city charm, delectable food and events, world class arts, and a location sandwiched in between the best parts of the South and Midwest, and it was really an easy decision for me 😊. 

Laura Ruegsegger, MD

Bio: Originally from New Philadelphia, OH, Laura obtained her bachelor’s in public health from The Ohio State University. After college, she moved to Lilongwe, Malawi, where she worked on several research projects including one project regarding partner notification of HIV status and also served on the board of the Malawi Children's Initiative. Upon returning to the states, she worked at the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, continuing her research work before matriculating to the UNC School of Medicine. During her time in medical school, Laura was passionate about serving underserved populations and worked with the NC Farmworker Project and Beyond Clinic Walls. She also continued her international work as a study coordinator for Chagas disease research in Bolivia. Her outstanding performance in medical school led to her being inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism Honor Societies. Outside of medicine, Laura enjoys hiking, gardening, reading, baking, and OSU sports. We are so lucky to have such an incredible globally-minded physician joining our team!

Why I Chose Cincinnati: I chose Cincinnati for my Med-Peds training because of their outstanding programs in both Medicine and Pediatrics, as well as their commitment to global health initiatives and contributions to medical education. I saw this program as a wonderful place to advance my medical knowledge and teaching skills but also as a community that shares my passion for creating positive change in healthcare, locally and globally. Additionally, the program serves a diverse patient population, which is important to me as it provides invaluable experience in addressing health disparities and delivering culturally competent care. Furthermore, Cincinnati seemed like an exciting new place to explore with a welcoming charm, but still close enough for me to visit my family and friends in Northern Ohio. Within my first week of arriving in the area, I felt a warm welcome from the Med-Peds team and I am so excited to become a member of their family! 

Lauren Wylie, MD

Bio: Lauren was raised in the Midwest and attended Miami University where she earned her bachelor’s in biology. She then matriculated to Wayne State University School of Medicine. During medical school, she received a competitive fellowship position in the Michigan Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program which provided her with an interdisciplinary understanding of creating a patient centered medical home for complex patients. She has also been involved with advocacy for the Deaf community, even creating a medical sign language and communication course for her fellow medical students and PT students! In addition, she has served as a free clinic volunteer, peer tutor, learning coach, and mentor during medical school. Outside of medicine, Lauren served as VP of the Art in Medicine organization and enjoys creating art with many different mediums. She has even sold her artwork online! We are so excited to have such a service and advocacy minded individual joining our program!