Resident Corner

PGY-4

Jonathan Barko, MD

Hometown: Mentor, Ohio
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Playing tennis, traveling, hiking
Did you have a career before medicine?: Yes, a PreK-5th grade music teacher and then a high school band
director for 2 years
Favorite place to grab a drink in Lexington: West Main Crafting Company
Best doughnut in Lexington: Spaulding’s
Catchphrase: “How’s it goin’?”

Charles Grigsby, MD

Hometown: Lexington, Ky.
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Career goals: Fellowship
Hobbies: Skateboarding, fantasy sports, video/board games, bourbon collecting
Favorite rotation: Internal medicine wards; the patient acuity and sense of teamwork
Dream, non-medical job: Bitcoin miner
Why did you choose UK for Med-Peds?: High Med-Peds presence, comfort level with the residents/faculty, extremely complicated patient cases, and emphasis on research at the medical center

Gabrielle Kahler, MD

Hometown: San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Medical School: Loma Linda University
Dream, non-medial job: Zookeeper
Why did you choose UK for Med-Peds?: Genuinely love the Lexington area and loved the group of residents!
My favorite from the interview trail. Loved the sense of community and how kind the program directors are as well!
Hobbies: Scrapbooking, exploring, board games

Elizabeth Martinez Hernandez, MD

Hometown: Louisville, Ky./Habana
Medical School: University of Louisville, School of Medicine
What is your catchphrase: Oye loca!
Did you have a career before medicine?: I was a medical technologist and worked in a microbiology lab for 8 years, before that I was a CNA and before that I was a bartender/waitress
Dream non-medical job: A metal singer

Jacob Meece, MD

Hometown: Bardstown, Ky.
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Hobbies: Working on old sports cars, driving old sports cars, being stranded by broken down old sports cars.
Career goals: Rural Med-Peds!
Favorite Rotation: VA Wards. Veterans are such an honor to serve, and they are grateful for all we do.
Favorite weekend getaway: Cave Run Lake near Morehead KY for fishing, hiking and Pop's BBQ
Why did you choose UK for Med-Peds?: Our program feels like a second family. The support and friendship
has been incredible!

Max Richardson, MD

Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.
Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine
Hobbies: Spending time with my wife and son, rock climbing, hiking, disc golf.
Favorite place to grab some food: Apollo pizza
Favorite place to grab a beer: West Sixth Brewing
Favorite weekend getaway: Red River Gorge
Why did you choose UK for Med-Peds?: Service of a significant rural population at an academic tertiary care
center. Oh, and the chance to work with some of the most intelligent and kind people I have had the pleasure to
meet!

PGY-3

Brant Cornelius, DO

Hometown: Beattyville, Ky.
Medical School: University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies: Hiking in the Red River Gorge, playing golf and disc golf, any board or card game, collecting bourbon, going to all the different breweries in Lexington, serving at my local church, and mowing the grass (yes, I said it).
Did you have a career before medicine?: No
Favorite place to grab a drink in Lexington: All the breweries in Lexington are great, but if I had to pick, Blue Stallion.
Best doughnut in Lexington: This ones tough, but I gotta go with Magee’s!
Why UK?: I know that every program claims this, but UK Med-Peds is a family, and it's a big one. From all the residents and faculty, plus all the former UK Med-Peds graduates on staff here at UK, you will find a Med-Peds friend wherever you go. Our PD, APD, and our program coordinator have done and will do anything for you to help make your goals and dreams possible. They are intentional and treat you like you're the only resident in the program. And of course, having grown up and lived in KY my whole life, I'm a big UK fan, so GO CATS!

Madison Dressler, MD

Hometown: Harrodsburg, Ky.
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Career goals: Typical MP answer- undecided and loving everything!
Hobbies: Hiking, traveling, reading, long walks with my Bernedoodle
Favorite rotation: Any inpatient wards
Dream, non-medical job: Open a bed and breakfast in the Swiss Alps.
Why did you choose UK for Med-Peds?: The opportunity to work alongside kind and supportive MP faculty scattered all throughout the hospital: whether in clinics, inpatient services or in the ICU's. Lexington is home for me- I loved the challenging patient population, the city, and the incredible group of residents here!

Miranda Gerrard, MD

Hometown: Pine Village, Ind.; Riner, Va.
Medical School: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Dream, non-medial job: Horse trainer
Hobbies: Livestock showing - cattle, pigs, sheep; horseback riding - western, trail, pleasure, rodeo

Laura Josephson, MD

Hometown: Marshfield, Wis.
Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
My hobbies: hiking, swimming, running, reading, violin, travel
Did you have a career before medicine?: no
Dream non-medical job: National Geographic photographer so I could travel and explore all the historic/natural wonders of the world

Joshua Morris, MD

Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Medical School: Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin
Career goals: Undecided! It's currently a 3-way tie between primary care, hospital medicine, and nephrology fellowship
Favorite thing about living in Lexington: Getting to experience four full seasons!
Your go-to weekend getaway: Nashville
Favorite memory of residency so far: Everyone driving up to Michigan for Benjamin's wedding at the end of first year
Favorite place to grab some food in Lexington: Crank & Boom when it's hot, Rolling Oven when it's not
Favorite place to grab a drink in Lexington: Ethereal Brewing
Best doughnut in Lexington: I fancy myself more of a bagel guy (hot take I know...) and Magee's everything bagel is my weekend go-to
Hobbies: Running (goal is to run a marathon every year of residency - one down, three to go!), yoga, podcasts, reading (sci-fi and fantasy), and trivia
Why did you choose UK for Med-Peds: the MASSIVE Med-Peds presence across UK - the people are everywhere! Plus, Medicine and Pediatrics are all interconnected across the buildings and Lexington being a small city means you're so close to everyone and everything all the time.

Benjamin Nicholson, MD

Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine - Grand Rapids
Favorite place to grab some food: I'm loving Bourbon N Toulouse, Thai Street Cafe, Kentucky Native Cafe (it's in a green house), and there's an amazing taco place in a gas station next to my house.
Favorite place to grab a beer: I'm not a huge beer guy, but I do love the whiskey selection in the Distillery District (and in Lexington in general). It's a little outdoor area with distilleries, a pizza place with 2-foot wide pizza, a brewery and an awesome ice cream place.
Hobbies: Woodworking, hiking, board games, cat dading
Favorite weekend getaway: Red River Gorge
Why did you choose UK for Med-Peds?: There was a very strong Med-Peds presence, other programs thought highly of Med-Peds here. The program direction, and the other residents just seemed very authentic. I was drawn to the high acuity of the patient population.
Best doughnut in Lexington: I recognize this is a highly debated topic but I have to go with Magee's. Strong second Spaudling's. Franks is open before 6 and an excellent choice.
Did you have a career before medicine?: It wasn't exactly before but throughout undergrad and medical school I worked construction

PGY-2

Hunter Bechtold, MD

Hometown: Houston, Texas
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Career Goals: Some form of blending academic medicine with serving rural and international populations in mostly inpatient settings.
Favorite things about living in Lexington: the weather (there are actually 4 seasons here) and college-town vibe (plenty of things to do).
Biggest surprise about living in Lexington: nobody knows what a kolache is.
Hobbies: Being with people as often as possible, running with my Bracco Italiano, listening to podcasts about science/faith/medicine, reading (especially history), grilling out, going for walks with my wife, checking my infant son's Babinski reflex.
Why did you choose UK for Med-Peds? My wife and I really were really impressed with the people and culture at UK. We knew we wanted to live in a new state at some point, and UK made Kentucky the clear choice. Also, I'm interested in academic and rural medicine, a combination that UK excels in!

Kaylee Gouge, MD

Hometown: Versailles, Ky.
Medical School: University of Kentucky
Career goals: Combined Hospitalist and/or Combined Palliative
Favorite thing about living in Lexington: I love how green and lush Lexington is. Kentucky is famous for its horse farms; it is easy to go for a short drive outside of Lexington and suddenly be out in the midst of those rolling green hills. The fall season, in particular, is hard to beat. Lexington is also a perfect size for me – affordable, growing, big enough to always have something to do, and small enough to navigate without major traffic.
Your go-to weekend getaway: Backpacking in the Red River Gorge
Favorite memory of residency so far: Monthly intern dinners – especially playing Jackbox games at Hunter’s house with the other interns.
Favorite place to grab some food in Lexington: Tacos at Agave & Rye, brunch at Carson’s, Italian at Bella Notte, fancy dinner at Epping’s.
Favorite place to grab a drink in Lexington: Coffee at Old School. Otherwise, anywhere that sells Thrive Kombucha!
Best doughnut in Lexington: The objective correct answer is North Lime Donuts (per a blind taste test conducted by me and my med school friends).
Hobbies: Party planning, going to church, backpacking/hiking, running, hanging out with my co-residents and peds categorical husband
Why did you choose UK for Med-Peds? UK’s Med-Peds program has the reputation for producing exceptionally competent, driven, and kind doctors. I was told even by other program leaders that the Med-Peds culture at UK is special. I believe this is because many of the program’s residents have stayed at UK to become much-beloved attendings and educators. Med-Peds docs are everywhere here – from categorical subspecialties and the ICU to general primary care. They were some of my biggest role models during medical school, so I felt confident that I would learn to become the doctor I want to be by staying here for residency.

J. T. Henderson, MD

Hometown: Paint Lick, Ky.
Medical School: University of Kentucky COM
Career goals: Undecided but I'm interested in pursuing fellowship
Favorite thing about living in Lexington: Love the smaller-city vibe and the (GO) CATS!
Your go-to weekend getaway: Nashville or Norris Lake (TN)
Favorite memory of residency so far: Haven't been here long yet, but definitely getting a free blizzard for KY Children's Miracle Day!
Favorite place to grab brunch in Lexington: I LOVE brunch! Bear and the Butcher has so many great options
Favorite place to grab a drink in Lexington: West Sixth
Best doughnut in Lexington: So tough! Magee's is fantastic and has more than just pastries, too.
Hobbies: tennis, skiing, running, binge-watching tv
Why did you choose UK for Med-Peds? I loved the faculty and residents as a student - they were some of my biggest role models, so I knew I'd get amazing, personalized training.

Brenna Kaelin, MD

Hometown: Crestwood, Ky.
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Career goals: Med-Peds Hospitalist, VA Hospitalist. I really enjoy clinical education and plan to pursue the clinical educator track.
Your go-to weekend getaway: Gatlinburg, Tenn. I love all the fun activities and the amazing food and drink options!
Favorite memory of residency so far: The Med-Peds Intern Monthly Dinners are always such a fun time! I love to catch up with my fellow interns and play some really cool games together!
Favorite place to grab some food in Lexington: I LOVE tacos, my favorite place is Agave & Rye. If you want a great steak that won’t break the bank, Malones is fantastic. Bella Notte has delicious Italian options.
Best doughnut in Lexington: North Lime Coffee & Donuts

Gabrielle Morguelan, MD

Hometown: Nicholasville, Ky.
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Career goals: I want to continue to serve adults and children, so likely primary care, but I also love ID!
Favorite thing about living in Lexington: All the green spaces and good food.
Your go-to weekend getaway: I love hiking/camping, so we like Cumberland Falls or Red River Gorge.
Favorite memory of residency so far: Initiating suboxone induction!
A favorite place to grab some food in Lexington: Sushi Blue.
Favorite place to grab a bubble tea in Lexington: Pho BC.
Best doughnut in Lexington: Spalding's.
Superpower I would like to have: Understand any language after one conversation.
Why did you choose UK for Med-Peds? The faculty in our program are very passionate about teaching. In addition, I am very close to my family and involved in my community and finally being able to give back as a resident was a chance I could not pass up.

Blaine Patty, MD

Hometown: Franklin, Ky.
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Career goals: That is a great question, I am still trying to figure that out. I love inpatient medicine, especially critical care, but I am keeping my mind open.
Favorite thing about living in Lexington: We have a lot of city activities, like burger week, taco week, and coffee week.
Your go-to weekend getaway: Probably Red River Gorge, or Cincinnati.
Favorite memory of residency so far: That is a hard question, it is likely going to Hunter's house and eating grilled venison and getting his secret recipe.
Favorite place to grab some food in Lexington: If you love sushi, you have got to go to Miyako.
Favorite place to grab a drink in Lexington: West Sixth Brewery, they have run club on Tuesdays. Highly recommend!
Best doughnut in Lexington: Frank's Donuts
Hobbies: I love playing tennis and running. I love to grill, so in the summer you will find me pretty close to the grill!
Why did you choose UK for Med-Peds? We have some of the sickest patients in the nation at UK, and I wanted to train at a place where I would have high acuity and complexity.