We are excited to welcome Dr. Nicole Hunter to our Infectious Diseases Fellowship program! Dr. Hunter joins us following the completion of residency in Rochester, New York. Read on to get to know Nicole!
Where did you go to residency?
I completed my residency training with Rochester Regional Health in Rochester, NY. Rochester is located in upstate New York, just north of the Finger Lakes. I had a great experience in my residency program. I took on several leadership roles, including House Staff Association Vice President in my second year and Associate Chief Resident in my third year. Interestingly, my co-fellow Calvin and I both trained in Rochester (but didn’t know each other)!
Tell us about the position you are starting.
I am starting at UNMC as an Infectious Diseases Fellow and candidate of the Health Educators and Leadership (HEAL) track.
Why did you choose to come work at UNMC?
The Infectious Diseases fellowship program is what drew me to UNMC. The program is well-known within the ID community, and I found myself frequently coming across UNMC educators in the literature as well as in Febrile podcast episodes and within my ID Digital Institute training this year. My impression was that this program values education and would provide unparalleled training opportunities to prepare me for my future in ID. The HEAL track also presented an opportunity to advance my skills in medical education and leadership. On a more personal note, my husband and I couples matched for fellowship. As he loved his interview with the Gastroenterology and Hepatology department, we knew this would be a great fit for the two of us, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue our training at the same institution.
What makes you excited about working in ID?
In 2012, I was hospitalized in the ICU with septic shock and antibiotics saved my life. Taking this journey full circle and becoming an Infectious Diseases physician has been my motivation for many years. I find ID to be one of the most stimulating IM specialties, requiring a deep understanding of microbiology, immunology, and epidemiology. Patient cases range from common illnesses to rare and emerging pathogens, which keeps the work dynamic and exciting. There is a large collaborative culture as ID physicians have to work with a multitude of other healthcare professionals. One of my favorite collaborations is with medical microbiology. Following medical school, I achieved a Master of Science in Translational Medical Research, where I completed my bench side thesis work in the microbiology department. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the lab and liked the way it complemented my clinical experience and understanding.
Tell us something about yourself that is unrelated to medicine.
I am Canadian, which means yes, I played hockey, yes, I worked at Tim Hortons, and yes, I say “sorry” a lot! My close-knit family is incredibly important to me, and I make it a priority to get home as often as possible. That being said, I travel quite a bit. I lived in Europe for eight years: Poland for six and Germany for two. The experience of living in another country and stepping outside of my comfort zone has taught me valuable life skills and lessons that have shaped the person I am today. Other than traveling, my hobbies include sports (volleyball, boxing), scuba diving, and reading non-medical books when I have the time, especially historical fiction.