L.E.A.D. Residents

Hometown: Northbrook, Ill.

Undergraduate Institution: University of Michigan

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Legislative advocacy, gun safety, mental health

Why did you pick LEAD?
I picked LEAD because I wanted to have dedicated time to work on advocacy and community engagement while in residency. I knew I would likely go into a pediatric subspecialty and I wanted to learn more about health disparities and find ways to work in advocacy and public health that can be applied to whichever field I end up choosing.

Favorite thing about Houston: Tie between the food and the warm weather!

Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.

Undergraduate Institution: University of Georgia

Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Primary care

Why did you pick LEAD?
I chose LEAD because I felt that this program had all the tools and resources that could help me become the pediatrician I always envisioned myself to be. I have always aspired to work with underserved populations and continue to serve in advocacy work; I felt that LEAD would open doors and opportunities for me to explore these paths as a physician and as a community member. Also being within such a large residency program, I knew LEAD would serve as a smaller close-knit community with others who have similar goals and passions.

Favorite thing about Houston: The diversity!

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Undergraduate Institution: Rice University

Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Public health, child development, nutrition, obesity prevention, primary care, sports medicine

Why did you pick LEAD? Given my MPH background, I wanted a residency-training program that incorporated more public health education and would prepare me for a career in primary care. I also wanted more training in advocacy work, ranging from community collaboration to legislative advocacy. I really liked the idea of a smaller track within a much larger program at one of the nation's best children's hospitals to experience the best of both worlds. As a BCM medical student, several of the LEAD residents and LEAD faculty had a profound influence in my decision to stay and do LEAD.

Favorite thing about Houston: The diversity and culture!

Hometown: El Paso, Texas

Undergraduate Institution: Boston College

Medical School: Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin

Areas of Interest: Nutrition, obesity, immigrant and refugee health, access to care, business of medicine

Why did you pick LEAD?
LEAD allows you to be part of an intimate group of likeminded individuals while getting to experience the vast resources and learning that Texas Children’s has to offer. I was drawn to the curriculum with a different advocacy focus each year - including community advocacy, legislative advocacy, and public health. The curriculum allows you to continue to build on skills you learn in prior years.

Favorite thing about Houston: The diversity in culture and food

Hometown: West Lafayette, Ind.

Undergraduate Institution: Wheaton College, Illinois

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Immigrant and refugee Health, mental health access, child abuse prevention

Why did you pick LEAD?
I wanted to be in a program that taught me about concrete ways to advocate for my patients. The emphasis on primary care, seemingly infinite resources, and robust connections with community organizations, diversity, and large underserved patient population made LEAD an easy decision when deciding on residency.

Favorite thing about Houston: The international food scene here is incredible!

Hometown: Frisco, Texas

Undergraduate Institution: UT Dallas

Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Areas of Interest: Injury prevention, child abuse/neglect, nutrition

Why did you pick LEAD? I wanted to contribute to my community in a bigger way during residency and have opportunities to positively influence my patients affected by health disparities, especially in the primary care setting.

Favorite thing about Houston: The diversity of the people who live here and endless things to do!

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Undergraduate Institution: The University of Texas at Austin

Medical School: McGovern Medical School

Areas of Interest: Immunizations, healthcare policy, firearm safety

Why did you pick LEAD? I picked LEAD because of the opportunities to advocate alongside community and state partners, develop scholarly projects addressing health disparities, and work in primary care settings that primarily serve vulnerable and underserved populations in Houston. I was drawn to the ability to belong to a smaller family within our large pediatrics residency program!

Favorite thing about Houston: The diversity!

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Undergraduate Institution: Texas A&M University

Medical School: Texas A&M School of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Primary care, underserved and vulnerable populations

Why did you pick LEAD? I chose LEAD because as an aspiring primary care doctor looking to work with underserved and vulnerable populations, I want to learn more and be active in addressing barriers facing our pediatric patients. I love learning about how I can be a greater advocate for the population I am serving and be a voice for them when they are not heard. Not only do I want to grow as an advocate, I love the community collaboration aspect of LEAD. I am looking forward to working with others to help improve healthcare policy. Through LEAD, I am able to combine my interest and learn how to apply what I have learned as I progress in my career to becoming a general pediatrician.

Favorite thing about Houston: The many different food options! You are bound to find something you like in any cuisine.

Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy School of Medicine

Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy School of Medicine

Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine