Meet SLCH's 2011 - 2012 Chief Residents
St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s chief residents have taken on a new role. New this year, chief residents are teaching third-year medical students about pediatrics. They are developing a curriculum that includes lectures, case study reviews and time spent observing patient care on hospital units. The chief residents also are continuing to develop and refine the curriculum for residents by establishing new conferences and scheduling additional sessions in SLCH’s Saigh Pediatric Simulation Center.
Another major undertaking is ensuring a successful transition to the revised duty hours regulations established by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). For every area of the hospital in which interns and residents work, the chief residents have developed new coverage models and schedules that conform to the ACGME’s rules. These require interns to work only 16 hours in a row, while second- and third-year residents may work 24-hour calls with a four-hour post-call period, for a total of 28 hours.
As always, the chief residents will continue as advocates for the residents and as liaisons between SLCH’s house staff and faculty.
Kyle Schulz, MD
Dr. Schulz compares the physician’s role to a detective searching for clues. “Like detectives, physicians are required to gather information in order to come to a conclusion regarding a patient’s diagnosis,” he says. “I like that aspect as well as the sense of autonomy you have in making a lot of your own decisions regarding patient care.”
A native of Topeka, Kan., Dr. Schulz received his bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and his medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City. Although he wavered between internal medicine and pediatrics, his interactions with children convinced him pediatrics was the best choice.
“Children just have a really fun outlook on life, and they are not jaded. Sometimes they don’t have a filter, and you don’t know what to expect,” says Dr. Schulz.
Dr. Schulz describes his first day of pediatric residency at St. Louis Children’s Hospital as an eye opener compared to the University of Kansas’ relatively small pediatrics program. “I wanted to complete my training at an independent children’s hospital in order to gain in-depth experience and broad exposure,” he says. “I was amazed at the plethora of patients we see here. That experience combined with participation in the COPE program really provided me with well-rounded training.”
He adds, “As a pediatric chief resident, I’m now looking forward to gaining experience in the administrative aspects of the hospital, as well as honing my teaching abilities.”
The complexity and acuity of hospitalized patients—and the investigative aspect involved—has Dr. Schulz planning on entering hospitalist medicine once he completes his year as a chief resident.
Dr. Schulz lives in the Central West End and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and attending sporting events and music concerts.
Ashley L. Steed, MD, PhD
At the time this article was written, Dr. Steed was at home with her 2-week-old daughter, Sydney. She somehow found time to answer a few questions as she put her pediatrics training into personal practice.
Dr. Steed decided to become a physician while in high school because she liked science and the application of science to human disease. During medical school, she decided on pediatrics because she liked new diagnoses and the potential to have a lasting impact on patients through early intervention. She found a similar commitment at Children’s Hospital during her training, where she appreciated the cooperative spirit among individuals sharing the common goal of helping children.
A native of Raeford, N.C., Dr. Steed received her bachelor’s degree in biology at Duke University in Durham, N.C. At Washington University School of Medicine, she completed her medical degree and a doctorate degree in immunology.
Dr. Steed felt a year as a chief resident would give her insight into how a pediatric hospital affiliated with a leading medical school operates. She plans on a career in academic pediatrics with a research focus and looks forward to completing a fellowship in critical care medicine in the future.
Dr. Steed’s husband, Kory Lavine, MD, PhD, is a cardiology fellow at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Her current “hobby” is adjusting to life with a newborn, but she also enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband and dog.
Jacqueline M. Walker, MD
At her eighth-grade graduation, Dr. Walker and her classmates were asked to record their career ambitions. She wrote down “pediatrician.”
“I’m one of those people who always knew I wanted to be a doctor. I enjoy science, and I like working with people and helping them in meaningful ways,” she says. “When I was younger, I did a lot of volunteer work with children at daycares and summer programs, so I knew I liked them. During my pediatrics rotation in medical school, it was gratifying to realize I really did love the profession.”
Dr. Walker now appreciates the opportunity pediatrics provides for practicing preventive medicine, instituting interventions that have the potential to affect children’s quality and length of life. She also likes the fact that pediatricians tend to get involved in advocacy efforts that benefit the community’s children.
Raised in south St. Louis County, Dr. Walker received bachelor’s degrees in biology and sociology at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and completed her medical degree at Washington University School of Medicine. Looking back on her recently completed residency training, she finds a lot to appreciate.
“Children’s Hospital is a wonderful place to come to work every day, and that’s primarily because of my colleagues,” she says. “We not only have excellent physicians, but also wonderful nurses and ancillary staff, an amazing group of people committed to providing outstanding care. Everyone really does work toward the hospital’s mission of doing what’s right for children.”
As a chief resident, a major goal for Dr. Walker is improving educational opportunities for residents. “All of us want to be present for residents on the floors, to be a meaningful resource for them,” she says.
Dr. Walker’s husband, Adam, works in finance at Boeing. She enjoys exercising, reading, music and attempting to cook (although trying new restaurants is another favorite activity). She also describes herself as an “avid” Jayhawks fan.
