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February 2011

in

Kiran Bidari, MD

  • PGY2
  • Career Plans: Academic Gastroenterology
  • Research Interests: Esophagology, Pancreatic and Biliary Disease
  • Click here to view pdf

"In med school, I spent a summer in Coimbatore, India split between working in major urban hospital, in a TB and leprosy clinic and in rural villages promoting cervical cancer screening and educating villagers about HIV and nutrition for children."

Why Internal Medicine?

I chose to pursue a career in internal medicine because it provides an opportunity to treat some of the sickest, most complicated patients in the hospital, the ability to learn about a wide variety of disease processes, and because I ultimately thought it would allow me to make the biggest difference in patients’ lives. I loved the fact that one could go from running codes and stabilizing patients in the MICU on one day to helping patients manage their blood pressure and cholesterol in clinic the following day. While I knew I would eventually pursue subspecialty training, I felt that internal medicine residency would help lay the comprehensive groundwork that is necessary to be a good subspecialist and a good physician.

What advice do you have for applicants? Why should they consider Northwestern for Residency?

Go to a place where you’ll be happy. Three years is a long time and it’s important to go to a place where you think you’ll really like your co-residents and be able to have balance between your life and career. Intern year is challenging no matter where you go. Having fantastic co-residents and having the ability to have fun outside of work living in a great city like Chicago makes the year go by really fast. In addition to having fantastic co-residents who make it a pleasure to go to work each day, Northwestern provides such a supportive environment that it makes it easier for residents to excel.

I had planned on a career in biomedical engineering but changed college when I decided I wanted to work with patients more directly, having a greater impact on their lives. After a GI rotation during third year of medical school I found the different diseases with which patients presented very interesting and I liked how the field called for using a blend of both cognitive and procedural skills to care for patients.

Where can we find you after hours?

After hours, you can usually find me spending time with my fantastic co-residents exploring Chicago (or even just staying in Steeterville livin’ the lifestyle at McClurg Court), playing or watching sports or going to restaurants. Chicago has so much to offer including its fantastic museums, great festivals and concerts, variety of restaurants, beautiful summers and a nightlife that never gets boring.