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Betsy Bateman, MD

Green Firm Chief 2020-2021

Home Town: Mandeville, LA

Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine

Career Goals: Hopefully pulmonary/critical care fellowship and eventually a career in translational research with a focus on lung injury and inflammation.

Why I love Tulane IM: I'm originally from the greater New Orleans area and have always loved the city, together with its tradition of celebrating whatever life brings. When I was in medical school at Tulane, the opportunity to care for the people of New Orleans made me realize the impact I could have on patients' lives as part of the Tulane Internal Medicine program. New Orleans has a particularly sick and underserved patient population that I wanted to serve. In addition, I was inspired by the Tulane Medicine residents -- an incredible team with genuine camaraderie.  With them as my mentors and colleagues, I could become a better physician and person. 

Lauren Michael, MD

Blue Firm Chief 2020-2021

Hometown: North Houston

Medical School: The University of Texas HSC at San Antonio 

Career Goals: Academic Hospital Medicine 

Why I love Tulane IM: There are many things I love about our program and I find it hard to pick just one. Our Firm System and Monday/Friday school make our large program feel like a tight knit community. I have felt supported by my colleagues over the past 3 years as a resident and now as a chief. Our experiences bond us. We are a group of like-minded individuals working towards a common cause - provide high quality care to our community in need. Secondly, our program emphasizes teaching and medical education. Many of our residents go on to be amazing clinician educators. Finally, we are challenged to use our clinical reasoning skills and medical knowledge to independently come up with treatment plans and manage our patients. Of course, backup from attendings is there when needed, but this style of residency will give you great training for when you practice independently. 

Favorite Part of New Orleans: New Orleans is perfectly imperfect and is probably the most charming city you will ever step foot in. She draws you in makes you a local immediately. Pretty soon you start eating red beans and rice on Mondays, chanting "Who Dat," and start planning your Mardi Gras outfits 8 months in advance. While the roads are rough on our tires and the hurricanes throw a wrench in our plans, you fall in love with the city and its people and you can't imagine New Orleans being any other way.  

Rachel Dayno, MD

Red Firm Chief 2020-2021 

Hometown: Maple Glen, Pennsylvania 

Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University 

Career Goals: Rheumatology, Academic Medicine 

Favorite Part of Tulane IM: The best part about this program is the people that I have been surrounded by for the last three years.  I could feel how close-knit the residents were when I interviewed here, and it really did stand out to me. Although I am far away from my family, I grew to be very close to many of my co-residents and we created our own New Orleans family.  The friends I made through Tulane IM will be a part of my life forever, and for that I am grateful.  In addition, the faculty that we work with are extremely encouraging and supportive.  I always felt as though the faculty were able to strike a great balance between granting us an immense amount of autonomy and being a phone call away to lend a helping hand.  I feel prepared to step into the attending role this year.  

Favorite Part of New Orleans: The food and coffees shops. I love exploring new restaurants and enjoying the diverse food scene New Orleans has to offer.  

Phoebe Jensen, MD

Yellow Firm Chief 2020-2021

Hometown: Winthrop, Washington

Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin

Career Goals: Hospitalist, Academic Medicine

Favorite Part of Tulane IM: The best part about this program is the autonomy. From early on in training I felt well prepared to care for a high volume of complex patients. The residency is built of people who came to New Orleans with the shared goal of caring for the people of this city. 

Favorite Part of New Orleans: The thunderstorms and reading on my porch year round.  

Hobbies: Traveling, cooking, eating at the many New Orleans restaurants.

Elizabeth Figgatt, MD

Orange Firm Chief 2020-2021 

Hometown: Swansboro, North Carolina

Medical School: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill 

Career Goals: Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Why I love Tulane IM: The people! 

Favorite Part of New Orleans: Talking walks punctuated by food and drinks - I start near my house with a margarita from Vals, then walk down to Prytania for dessert before dinner at Creole Creamery, then dinner at Saba where you ask your waiter to please never stop bringing pita to your table, then walk a loop around Audubon on the way back to make myself feel better about what I just did (with so many variations of this walk possible)

Hobbies: Reading novels, providing unsolicited advice 

Schuyler Williams, MD

UMC Ambulatory Chief Resident 2020 - 2021

Hometown: Memphis, TN

Undergrad: Xavier University of Louisiana 

Medical School: Meharry Medical College

Career Interests: Primary Care, Underserved Patient Populations, Eliminating Health Disparities

Why I love Tulane IM: I love having the unique opportunity to serve the people of New Orleans across three different clinical sites.  It is that breadth of exposure I knew I would not find in many other places. 

Favorite Part of New Orleans: The people, the festivals, and all the great food

Hobbies: Checking out new local restaurants, Spending time with loved ones, Catching NBA games, Traveling 

Sarah Jin, MD

VA Ambulatory Chief 2020-2021 

Hometown: College Station, Texas

Medical School: University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio

Career Goals: Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Crazy Dog Lady

Favorite Part of Tulane IM: The residents are truly the heart and soul of this incredible program. I've never been so inspired by a group of passionate physicians whose grit is unsurpassed and love so humbling. 

Favorite Part of New Orleans: The Mystic Krewe of Barkus Parade, City Bark, Hansen's Sno Bliz

Hobbies: Implementing goals of care with my senior dogs (involves lots of belly rubs and treats)