Meet the Class of 2024

Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?

My co-residents, especially the chiefs, have impacted my approach to work more than anyone.  Residency is a really unique time of life and balancing work, family, and taking time for yourself is tough.  There are times to really grind and bust your butt for patients, but there are also times where you need to take a step back and invest in your family and yourself.  Older residents seem to have the most insight on how to walk that line.

What's one invitation you can never resist?  A place or activity in OKC / with your fellow residents that you are always up for.

I am pretty much always up to golf.  If you ask my friends or family, I'm functionally incapable of saying no to a golf invite, espeically with my co-residents.  Lincoln is one of the best courses in OKC and a short drive just north of the hospital.  It's an easy place to play 9 holes after work if you get off a little early.  But OKC has a ton of great places to play that are a short drive from pretty much anywhere.

What's something you're learning about personally, and what makes it important to you?

This year has taught me a lot about trying to slow down at the end of the day.  I'm the kind of person who has a tough time completely disengaging from work.  Making time to work out, walk my dog, or do something else active is a big part of my day.  I've also started working on a consistent nighttime routine, which has been helping me shut down.

When you were a kid, did you know you wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon?

Not specifically.  I wanted to be a pilot and astronaut, but then I figured out space was terrifying.

Where do you like to take friends and family when they come to visit you?

Hmmm… Scissortail Park!  We like to go to the breweries downtown and in Bricktown.  And we recently visited the Cowboy Museum, which was fun!

What kind of pet do you have, and how did you choose its name?

I have an Irishdoodle.  Her name is Huli.  We chose that name because my new last name is Hoopes, so she's Huli Hoopes.

What would you tell a medical student to look for in an orthopedic program?

Look for a program that has good camaraderie among the residents.  And people you would enkoy spending long, hard hours with.  Your co-residents are who you'll see the most over the next five years, so make sure they're people you like.

What is one thing you'd love to see brought to OKC in the next few years?

An NFL team.  We have the Thunder and the Dodgers, so basketball and baseball are covered.  And of course we have awesome college football.  But who wouldn't want an NFL team?

What is something you used to hate and have changed your mind about?

Sushi… it's like my favorite food now.

If you could snap your fingers and be an automatic expert in one area, what would you want it to be?

Orthopedic surgery!  Haha

What local restaurant never fails to deliver a top notch meal?

Goro Ramen, Frieda Southwest, Cheever's, and Pizzeria Gusto

Which fictional family would you want to be part of?

The Roys from Succession

What was the most difficult aspect of your intern year?

The most difficult part of intern year is learning how to deal with the responsibility of being a physician.  You suddenly have to make decisions that truly impact a patient's life.  Tasks that seem like they should be trivial have real consequences.  You move from theory in medical school to reality in residency.

What has been the most surprising part of living in Oklahoma?

The most surprising part of living in Oklahoma has been learning about the people.  I have lived in different parts of the country for each step of my education, and Oklahomans, as a group, are the most genuine and kind people I have met.

What song or artist gets you to turn the volume up every time?

Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton

What was the biggest adjustment from medical school to residency?

Medical school a lot of the time felt like "watch and learn."  The adjustment to residency was "do and learn."  It was scary at first to realize that my decisions, orders, and notes now meant something for patient care.  It's starting to get less scary and more rewarding.  The same goes for now being expected to actually be the one doing the procedures with hands-on learning.  It's incredible to make that leap.

When you're not at work, where are you most likely to be found?

Golfing, at the lake, out at The Collective / Jones Assembly, or working on my house

What's the best thing you've watched on Netflix recently?

Designated Survivor