Jesse Boyett Anderson, MD, MS, is a triple badger, having completed her medical school (2018), pediatrics residency (2021), and pediatric cardiology fellowship (2024) at the University of Wisconsin. She is currently assistant professor in the Division of Cardiology in the Department of Pediatrics.
What is your favorite part of your job? I work as part of a collaborative team to help children live their best possible lives.This team includes parents, siblings, surgeons, doctors, advanced practice providers, sonographers, nurses, nutritionists, child life specialists, health psychologists, vocational rehabilitation specialists, case workers, social workers, environmental services technicians, and phlebotomists, as well as physical, occupational, respiratory, speech, music therapists, and more. Watching all of these individuals rally together around a child inspires me every day.
What skills or knowledge did you learn through your UW training that you found most useful in your career? I am still in the early phases of my career, but one piece of advice that I received fairly early on has shaped my experience. Dr. Nick Von Bergen told me, “You will get out of it what you put into it.” Following this piece of advice and asking for the support of the people around me has allowed me to develop the skills and knowledge I need to care for the unique subpopulation of children and promote the health and well-being of all children who have had cardiac surgery.
What advice would you give your resident/fellow self? At our residency graduation, the preceptor of one of my co-residents talked about how she did not focus on being fast, instead she focused on learning every skill and every disease one step at a time. The preceptor said that by the end of residency, this process resulted in my co-resident ending up not only proficient, but also efficient. I intentionally adopted this strategy as I entered fellowship: I focused on becoming proficient and discovered that as I became proficient, my efficiency increased. I would remind myself that being efficient will come as I focus on becoming proficient.
Are there any courses, professors, or opportunities from your time at the UW that have had a lasting influence? Dr. Kok-Peng Yu showed me that I could shape my practice to fit me. Dr. Carol Diamond pushed me to think bigger. Dr. Nikki St Clair saw me as a person. Dr. John Hokanson guided my research endeavors. The entire heart program welcomed me as their inaugural pediatric cardiology fellow. The entire department supported my transition from medical student, to resident, to fellow, and now faculty.
What’s your best memory from your time in Madison? I’m still here and I still love all the outdoor opportunities: hiking, biking, kayaking, snowboarding, and rock climbing are all available within a short walk or drive.