Q&A with Kacie Rytlewski, MD, assistant professor, Division of Infectious Diseases
Hometown: Danville, Indiana
Educational/professional background: I attended Indiana University for my bachelor’s degree in Bloomington, Indiana. From there, I went to medical school at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana. My pediatrics residency was at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics/Stead Family Children’s Hospital. I stayed there an extra year as chief resident before moving west to Children’s Hospital Colorado/University of Colorado–Anschutz Medical Campus for Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship. During fellowship, I completed the Subspecialty Excellence in Educational Leadership and Scholarship (SEELS) program.
Previous position (title, institution): Pediatric Infectious Disease Fellow, Children’s Hospital Colorado
What is your field of research or area of clinical care, and how did you get into it? Clinically, I am interested in respiratory viruses, and my research is specifically in influenza. What interests me most is the wide scope of illness caused by respiratory viruses, and why some kids may become sicker than others from an infection. I am also deeply passionate about educating the next generation of pediatricians, with a focus on game-based learning and how finding joy in learning can inspire us. I became interested in respiratory viruses after having patients who developed serious illnesses from “common cold” viruses. My medical education journey really took off during my chief residency year.
How would you describe your work to a 5-year-old? I help kids fight off the bacteria and viruses that make them sick (with the help of vaccines!). I like to tell my four-year-old daughter that vaccines make little helpers in the body to start making you feel better, but sometimes kids need medicines to kill the bad bacteria, and that’s where I help.
What attracted you to UW–Madison? My husband and I drove through Madison in 2017, and even then, with the beautiful fall colors all around us, we had a sense that this was home. When we were looking for jobs, we felt there were endless opportunities for professional growth at the UW in our respective fields, while also being a wonderful place to raise our family.
What is your favorite thing to do in Madison? Walking around on all the sidewalks and trails, trying different restaurants, going to the Children’s Museum and Henry Vilas Zoo with our kids, and attending all of the fun festivals and events.
What’s one thing you hope trainees will learn from you and your work? I hope each trainee takes time to reflect on their own interests and passions, uses this to guide them, and believes that they can take on anything with the right mentorship and training. When I work with trainees, I hope to help them find their joy in learning and support that however I can.
Do you feel your work relates to the Wisconsin Idea? If so, please describe how. Yes, influenza impacts all people (and many animals), and there are a lot of misconceptions. Education in all infectious diseases, but influenza specifically, can help improve disease prevention and treatment that can benefit adults, children, and chickens alike.
What’s something interesting about your area of expertise you can share that will make us sound smarter during video chats and parties? The Spanish influenza of 1918 did not originate in Spain. While the exact location it started is unknown, Haskell, Kansas, is thought to be a possibility. Spanish flu got its name because Spain was the first to spread news about the illness. It was a neutral country in the war and was not censoring the media.
What are some of your hobbies and other interests? While I have referenced passion a lot in these responses, if you asked my daughter, she would say my passion is reading. My favorite genre is fantasy, and I enjoy podcasts that deep-dive the books I read. I also like to exercise, mostly on my Peloton bike. I like to bake with my daughter, particularly fall-themed desserts. I love coffee and tea and hot cocoa, which all go very well with a good book and a pumpkin bar on an autumn day.