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 Gretchen Matthews, MD
Program: Neonatology Fellowship, PGY-5, Mayo Clinic Rochester
Hometown: Lake Elmo, MN
Medical School: University of Maryland, College Park
What attracted you to neonatal /perinatal medicine?
"I enjoy the complexity of the medical problems, each baby behaves quite differently than the next despite having the same diagnoses, and the unique bond that is created with families as you care for their infant."
What attracted you to Mayo Clinic for residency/fellowship training?
"As an intern, I had a strong interest in neonatology. When I started my residency training at Mayo, there was no neonatal fellowship. I quickly learned that Dr. Colby was in the process of trying to develop the fellowship. I was able to read through the curriculum design and the model of teaching that would be implemented, and my first remark was "I feel like this was written for me!" Everything I had ever considered as being important for my fellowship training was right here. So once the fellowship was approved, there was no question as to where I wanted to be.
What makes the Mayo Clinic’s Pediatric Neonatal and Perinatal Fellowship unique? "The flexibility of the program is amazing. The deliveries occur at one hospital and the NICU is at the other, but the program is accommodating for this and allows the fellow to go where the best educational experience is for that moment.
Anything surprise you about Mayo's program? I am not surprised by anything as I knew exactly who I was working with and what this program would look like, which is why I chose to stay here for training. The faculty are amazing and the support staff is wonderful to work with!"
What is living in Rochester like for you?
"My husband and I laugh about this all the time. We matched here for residency and said that we would be here just for three years. Well now my husband is on staff and I am starting fellowship, so the three-year plan has long been tossed aside! There have been great changes in Rochester since we moved here; and all of these have been for the good! We enjoy the ease of our commute, the affordability of living here, and the safety and security we feel."
What does your future look like right now?
"I am eager to finally focus my efforts on my long-term career after all of these years of school and training. The hard work has finally paid off, and I am quite happy to be where I am."
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