Welcome to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin! My name is Bethany Weinert and I am a third year resident in the class of 2013. I attended Northwestern University for undergraduate and medical school. Even though I am a southern transplant, I have been very happy in the Midwest (yes, even with the winters!). I have lived in Texas, Alabama, and Florida, but I consider Wisconsin home and was thrilled to come back for residency. Wisconsin is a beautiful place! Some of my favorite things include the brilliant fall foliage and the abundance of good food. The fall here is absolutely breathtaking and, in my opinion, best enjoyed by visiting one of the many great state parks in the area or by walking along the lakefront. There are also several lovely places to visit for a long weekend, such as Door County or the Apostle Islands (a national lakeshore park). I love the “buy local” food movement, and Wisconsin is a great place for this! There are farmers markets in every pocket of the Milwaukee area with amazing produce, fresh eggs, locally-made cheeses, and Wisconsin-tapped maple syrup. You can frequently visit the farms directly to pick apples, berries, sugar snaps, and pumpkins! I also love the people here, and I am sure that you will feel as welcomed as I have!
I have been working in the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin for a little over 2 years so far, and I love being here! There is an incredible variety of disease processes that come through our doors and we are always receiving transfers from outside hospitals. So, you will see everything and learn a ton! I have found everyone to be so supportive: I am constantly being given “pearls” from the attendings, fellows, and senior residents. People always ask “what do you need help with?” and in turn you begin to do the same, so there is a wonderful culture of collaboration and respect. This was one of the most important things that I looked for when considering residency programs, and I noticed the kindness of the residents and attendings on my interview day.
A long-term goal of mine is to work for the Indian Health Service after residency, so I am happy to tell you that there is a new Global Health Track! There are programs already in place in Belize and Uganda, as well as a great deal of support for residents who would like to set up an elective elsewhere. I am currently working on setting up a global health elective with the Indian Health Service both in the Milwaukee area as well as a clinic in northern Wisconsin. I will be spending a month working on a Chippewa reservation this fall in Red Cliff, WI. There will be several noon conferences throughout the year dedicated to global health, too.
Please come and visit the Medical College of Wisconsin pediatrics residency program! It is one of the best children’s hospitals in the country and a fabulous place to train!
Bethany Weinert, PL-3