Gretchen A. Matthews, M.D.
What attracted you to Mayo Clinic for fellowship training?
As an intern, I had a strong interest in neonatology. When I started my residency at Mayo Clinic, there was no neonatal fellowship, though I learned that Christopher E. Colby, M.D., was in the process of trying to develop one.
After I read through the curriculum design and the model of teaching that would be implemented, my first remark was, "I feel like this was written for me!" Everything I'd ever considered to be 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 Pediatric Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine Fellowship unique?
The flexibility of the program is amazing. The deliveries occur at one hospital and the neonatal intensive care unit is at the other, but the program accommodates this and allows fellows to go wherever the best educational experience is at the moment.
Did anything surprise you about Mayo's program?
I wouldn't say there were many surprises — I knew I'd receive great training and have ample opportunity to see a little bit of everything.
That said, I suppose one surprising thing is how well I've been prepared to find a great academic position. As part of our fellowship training, we partake in numerous opportunities that lend to building an extensive curriculum vitae. Now that I'm nearly finished with my fellowship and am interviewing for academic positions, it's been surprising to see that other fellows' curricula vitae don't look similar to mine.
Can you tell us a little bit about your research?
In a retrospective cohort study, I've been studying outcomes — specifically asthma and growth outcomes — in former late-preterm infants. Using the resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project, I've been able to fully assess for these outcomes in a large cohort of babies born in Olmsted County, Minn.
In the process of doing my study, I've created a large database of detailed information about this cohort that could be used for other fellows' research projects.
What's it like living in Rochester, Minn.?
My husband and I laugh about this all the time. We matched here for residency and said that we'd be here for just three years. Now my husband is on Mayo Clinic's staff, and I'm in my fellowship, so our three-year plan was tossed aside long ago.
There have been many positive changes in Rochester since we moved here. We enjoy the ease of our commute and the affordable cost of living, and we feel safe and secure.
What does your future look like right now?
I'm nearing the end — I've been interviewing for positions and am now at the point where I need to decide where I want to go. It's nice to finally be finishing my training and starting my career.
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