Day in the Life of a Resident
Dalton Brady, MD
Where are you from and where did you go to medical school?
From Pleasant Grove, Utah and The University of Utah.
What attracted you to the PM&R residency program here at the University of Utah?
Primarily the people I interacted with throughout my time in medical school. The residents and faculty were the biggest draw. The program itself offers everything you could hope for and I knew that upon graduation I would be well prepared for any general PM&R job or sub-specialty fellowship.
What particular aspects of the program do you think have been most beneficial to you?
Breadth of experience. Anything I have ever wanted to do within PM&R has been easily accessible and readily available.
What is your most memorable experience during your residency?
Working with patients. At the end of the day the things I look back on are the stand-out interactions with patients that make everything else worth all of the time an effort.
Do you have a mentor? If so, who is it? And how has this person helped you?
I have multiple. Drs. Cushman, Willick, Henrie, Ehn, Allred, Park, Edgley, Carefoot, Foley, Campian, Jensen, and Godfrey among others have all played some form of mentorship role for me. Some mentor me in research, others in professional and leadership development, others simply in life.
What is your favorite activity outside of work?
Spending time with my wife and son. Other than that, SKIING!!!!!!
What is your most memorable experience outside of work?
The birth of my son during residency.
Renate Meckl, MD
Where are you from and where did you go to medical school?
I am from Oconomowoc, WI and went to medical school at University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine.
What attracted you to the PM&R residency program here at the University of Utah?
My interview, despite being virtual, really sold me. I had great conversations with the faculty and residents and definitely saw myself being able to thrive in the culture and environment that this program fosters. The opportunities that this program provides are helpful for gaining exposure within the field and honing our crafts along the way. The added bonus is certainly Salt Lake City and the mountains. Being this close to top-notch recreation is such a benefit to take advantage of with any time outside of the hospital/clinics. The people here are just as wonderful as I sensed during interview day so it really has lived up to every bit of the hype!
What particular aspects of the program do you think have been most beneficial to you?
The people and support you receive here has absolutely been the most beneficial. Whether fellow interns, senior PM&R residents, attendings/faculty, there is such a collaborative and collegial culture here that really fosters an effective and enjoyable learning environment. My fellow residents are some of my best friends which makes the experience and journey so worthwhile and fun!
What is your favorite activity outside of work?
Definitely spending time in the mountains! Whether hiking, biking, camping, cross-country skiing, or snowboarding, any time of season in the mountains is the best. My dog, Chip, and I are always ready for adventure!
What is your most memorable experience outside of work?
Our class of PM&R interns (plus spouses/partners) is going to Glacier National Park before starting our 2nd year and staying in a huge log cabin AirBNB for the week! This hasn’t happened yet at the time of writing this…but it will absolutely be the most memorable experience of the year!
Riley Martinez, MD
Where are you from and where did you go to medical school?
From The Woodlands, TX. Went to Medical School at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
What attracted you to the PM&R residency program here at the University of Utah?
The program seemed full of residents who were so excited about PM&R and life in general. When I did my away rotation, I was blown away by the passion the residents had for their patients, the specialty and all the activities that living in a place like SLC made possible. The program strikes the perfect balance between working hard and being well and happy outside of work.
What particular aspects of the program do you think have been most beneficial to you?
As I have only completed my intern year in internal medicine at this point, it is tough to say exactly what will be the most beneficial. Even as an intern however, I have been able to attend a few of the resident lead ultrasound didactics which have been super useful.
What is your most memorable experience during your residency?
First 28 hour shift in the ICU :O Cant wait for some cool PM&R memories!!!!
Do you have a mentor? If so, who is it? And how has this person helped you?
I don’t have one specific mentor yet but everyone I’ve reached out to for help this past year has been incredible and I look forward to meeting all the wonderful people in PM&R
What is your favorite activity outside of work?
Summer: Hiking, climbing, taking my dogs to Mill Creek Canyon, BBQ’s, brewery hopping
Winter: Snowboarding, bonfires
What is your most memorable experience outside of work?
SO many things to choose from!! Obviously, all the days spent out in the mountains have been incredible but one that will always be my favorite is climbing up Angels Landing with my PM&R co-interns during orientation. Such a fantastic way to kick off residency!
Omar Rachdi, MD
Where are you from and where did you go to medical school?
I’m from Portland, Oregon, I am a dual-citizen (Moroccan-American) and I went to Western University COMP-Northwest in Lebanon, Oregon.
What attracted you to the PM&R residency program here at the University of Utah?
I remember having this feeling of, “Woah, these folks are the real deal” after my interview. The training resources are incredible for the UofU PM&R residency, but really it’s the people that made me want to come. The faculty and staff are genuinely invested in our wellbeing and success. I can’t imagine training anywhere else.
What is your favorite activity outside of work?
I really love gardening, listening to Sam Cooke and watching my chickens just do their chicken thing.
What is your most memorable experience outside of work?
Definitely hiking Arches with my friend Ryan and thinking we were going to fall during our hike from how windy it was. Haven’t felt wind like that since I lived in Oregon.
