by Madeline Eckenrode, MD

L to R: Dr. Daniel Turner, Sunoti, Bebe, and Jonathan Kalehoff

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey prior to residency.

A: Well, I’m from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, born and raised. Growing up, I always figured I would do something with music, like being a choir director. The first time I began contemplating the idea of medicine as a profession was when a medical missionary came to my church. He had a clinic in Africa, and I was just really inspired by his work. While in college, I was moving towards [a career in] medicine but was unsure. I was trying to avoid med school and took a year off. During that year, I decided to take the MCAT which prompted me to apply to medical school. 

In medical school, I continued to pursue opportunities for global health outreach. I went to Haiti twice. I wanted to be able to contribute in a meaningful way when I worked abroad, and I wanted to have applicable skill sets. I went to Bangladesh, where I witnessed a really sustainable way of doing medical mission work. This involved having locals serve in administrative roles. It was also there that I felt more drawn to internal medicine.

Q: What are some pitfalls that Americans looking to participate in medical mission work abroad may face?

A: Sometimes we can decide to barge in as Americans and want to ‘get our hands dirty’ without realizing the long-term consequences of our actions. We can do so much good by participating in endeavors that are sustainable and include community members’ voices. At the hospital where I worked in Bangladesh, they were great about making voices of the local people heard. For instance, global medical outreach efforts often provide free care. However, in many cultures, paying at least some amount for medical care allows patients to retain their dignity. So at the hospital in Bangladesh, locals decided who would pay what for medical care, according to their individual situation.

Q: How has UAB empowered you to pursue your goals?

A: It has become trendy over the past several years for internal medicine residency programs to have a global health track. During my interviews, I sometimes noticed there was rigidity in where you were allowed to go. At UAB, I would have the freedom to go wherever I wanted. In fact, I remember when I interviewed for residency, Dr. Willett told me she would help me meet my goal to work in global health. This was really appealing. This year I will be going to Kijabe, Kenya, as part of the global health elective.

Q: As you look back at your time as a resident at UAB, what strikes you as to what makes UAB special?

A: A lot of places talk about the collegiality of their programs. However, at UAB, we really have that. The faculty here really care about residents and about resident education. We have true camaraderie here because the faculty set the tone. I remember a really hard moment in the ICU as an intern. I was overwhelmed by multiple admissions and had just finished a procedure. Derek Russell, a fellow who is now a faculty member, came over to me and essentially said, “It’s going to be alright.” It meant a lot that he would take the time to acknowledge that I was struggling and to reassure me. This is what makes UAB so special.

Johnathan Kalehoff, MD, will serve as one of our Chief Medical Residents 2019-2020. Currently he is contemplating either a pulmonary-critical care fellowship or immediately serving abroad following his chief year.