Caroline Burkey, MD

Page Family Endowed Chief Resident

What’s next for you, personally and professionally? Why did you decide on that route?

I will be staying here for Hematology and Oncology Fellowship! I'm excited to be joining a fellowship program that is filled with strong educators who are passionate about teaching the next generation of cancer doctors, as well as providing comprehensive and high-quality cancer care. The field of hematology and oncology is constantly expanding, and I'm excited to tackle this new intellectual challenge. I also love that cancer care is very holistic and is focused on quality of life for patients and their caregivers.

What are the main takeaways from your time as chief resident (i.e., what did you learn, what was memorable, etc.)?

Chief year has been one of immense professional growth for me. I have improved my teaching skills, learned how to run meetings effectively, and become much better with e-mail management. My most memorable moments have been times where we have successfully advocated for change, whether in small ways through scheduling changes, or in larger ways through changes to rotation structures.

What advice/words of encouragement do you have for 1) the incoming chiefs, 2) the incoming interns (PG-1s), and 3) residents who are considering applying for chief residencies next year?

1. Chief year is a time like none other because you get to spend a great deal of time working on your teaching skills. Take advantage of this and don't be afraid to give people the opportunity to mentor you! This is also the best year to dive into interests and hobbies that may be of interest to you long term. I spent some of this year taking a free class through UW and attending lectures that I was interested in just because my time was more flexible.
2. Protected education time becomes rare as you advance into your fellowship and future professional career so take advantage of the wonderful educational opportunities you have in our residency! Andy is an incredible teacher who is filled with unending learning pearls and interesting historical tidbits. The chief residents also put a lot of time and effort into every morning report and clinical reasoning session.
3. I strongly recommend applying for chief if you are interested in medical education or leadership within academic medicine. You will have many opportunities to teach and to experiment with new styles of teaching, learn from talented educators, and to learn about the thoughtful decisions behind our residency program's structure.

Is there anything else you’d like to share, whether they’re shout-outs or memories?

Several shout outs come to mind:

(1) My co-chiefs, Kelsey, Amy, and Mike! They are compassionate, intelligent, and dedicated physicians who have done an incredible amount of good through their chief roles. (2) My mentors: Dr. Tom Shiffler, Dr. Monica Patel, and Dr. Amy Zelenski. They have shown great care for me and my family over the past few years, in addition to my professional growth, and I'm very grateful for them. (3) My family: Luke, Charles, and Anna. Luke has been a great partner throughout this journey and I'm thankful to have a very supportive and encouraging husband! Charlie and Anna have listened to me practice many morning reports and been patient with me as I've fielded jeopardy calls while at home.