Joseph Presson, DO
PGY5, 2nd year fellow
From: My dad was an Air Force officer, so I’m from nowhere and everywhere!
Med school: Des Moines University
Residency: University of South Dakota
Research interests: Social determinants of health, Palliative care, and survivorship
Current post-fellowship plans: I love taking care of patients and their families, and also mentoring those with less experience, so I see myself as an attending at a teaching institution.
Family/Pets: My wife and I have four hoodlums…I mean “blessings”, aged 8, 6, 4, and 2. We also have a grumpy old miniature poodle named Jeeves.
Hobbies: I love baking, singing, playing the piano, living room dance parties, and catching the latest Pixar/Marvel movie with the kids.
What’s your favorite thing about our fellowship program? About Madison?: The warmth and collegiality of the staff and faculty shined through even during the Zoom interview. Madison is a vibrant, active community brimming with restaurants, outdoor activities, used bookshops, and so many other things to immerse ourselves in.
Interesting fact: My first bachelor’s degree was a double major in biblical studies and intercultural studies, and I did a cross-cultural internship in southern India for two months.
Non-medical dream job: Taste tester at a chocolate factory! Or a pastry chef.
Dream travel destination: I would love to take an extended tour of Europe…see the land of my favorite BBC shows (and ancestry). Enjoy legitimate fish and chips on Baker street, purchase an authentic Irish wool sweater, walk the lavender fields of Provence, bask in the sun of the Italian Riviera, and meet close friends in western Germany.
Favorite food: Dessert! Salted caramel, chocolate, creme brulee, sticky toffee pudding, any form of ice cream, tiramisu! Sugar is magic! 🙂
Katie Voelz, MD
PGY5, 2nd year fellow
From: Jackson, WI
Med school: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Residency: University at Buffalo (Oishei Children’s)
Research interests: Immunotherapy, Leukemia/Lymphoma but keeping an open mind
Current post-fellowship plans: TBD
Family/Pets: I have a 3 year old yellow lab named Rylie.
Hobbies: hiking, attempting new InstaPot recipes, spending way too many hours at the dog park, Wisconsin sports (of course!)
What’s your favorite thing about our fellowship program? About Madison?: The warmth and collegiality of the staff and faculty shined through even during the Zoom interview. Madison is a vibrant, active community brimming with restaurants, outdoor activities, used bookshops, and so many other things to immerse ourselves in.
Non-medical dream job: Kindergarten teacher
Dream travel destination: Anywhere with a beach, Bali, Maldives
Favorite food: Avocado (in any form)
Sudarshawn Damodharan, DO
PGY6, 3rd year fellow
From: Hoffman Estates, IL
Med school: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Residency: University of Wisconsin
Research interests: use of immunotherapy/immunomodulators for CNS tumors, epigenetic changes that affect CNS tumors
Current post-fellowship plans: Pediatric Neuro-oncology fellowship, academic practice
Family/Pets: Wife – Deval Patel (Hospitalist at UW) and our dog Cooper (eskimo/husky mix)
Hobbies: outdoor activities, cooking, sports
What’s your favorite thing about our fellowship program? About Madison? My favorite thing about our fellowship would be the supportive and friendly faculty who are always there for any reason. My favorite thing about Madison, WI would have to be all the outdoor activities it offers, both in the summer and winter.
Interesting fact: In medical school, I came up/invented a chest tube attachment that I presented to an innovation group. Ultimately, it failed to come to market but was a cool experience!
Non-medical dream job: NFL football broadcaster.
Dream travel destination: Italy – though this may have to wait for a while with the COVID19 pandemic!
Favorite food: Pizza