The Pediatric Interest Group (PIG) at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health is experiencing a period of remarkable growth and energy. Following our post-pandemic rebuilding efforts, we have seen student participation soar, with nearly 30% of the M1 class joining in the last year alone. This surge in interest is a testament to the vibrant community we are building, highlighted by high-impact events like our “Meet the Department” speed-networking night—which featured 13 divisions—and our diverse noon talk series covering everything from Neonatology and AI to Child Life. As we aim to expand our programming to include upper-class clerkship prep and residency match guidance, the mentorship and presence of our faculty remain the cornerstone of the PIG experience. We hope that our Pediatric Faculty can share their expertise and passion for the field, helping inspire and shape the future leaders of pediatric medicine.
There are numerous ways for faculty to support these aspiring pediatricians throughout the year. The Pediatric Interest Group recently hosted a “Night at the Children’s Hospital,” a signature event where our students collaborated with our Pediatric Residents to host a dinner with our Pediatric Faculty, participated in hands-on clinical examinations of pediatric patients, and toured the American Family Children’s Hospital. Beyond this evening, we are looking for faculty to lead procedure simulations, participate in community volunteering, or host noon talks on their areas of specialty. In addition to our recurring “Meet the Department” networking event this fall, we look forward to hosting several informal socials and welcome any suggestions for new activities to further faculty-student engagement. Whether you can spare an hour for a lunchtime panel or an evening for a social mixer, your involvement provides the “early shadowing” and mentorship that is crucial for student development. Please keep an eye on your email for event sign-ups or reach out to the PIG team directly to learn how you can contribute to our mission of promoting excellence in pediatric care.
Meet the Pediatrics Interest Group (PIG) Leaders:
Name: Jeronimo Najarro
Please provide a short bio about yourself:
I was born and raised in Chicago and moved for the first time to Wisconsin for medical school. I’m also a part of the Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health (TRIUMPH) track program. In the future, I hope to work with underserved populations, especially the immigrant and refugee patient populations. In my free time, I love gardening and increasing my Lego collection!
What sparked your interest in pediatrics?
I grew up in a large family, so that always meant I was surrounded by kids at literally every family gathering. I’ve always had so much fun talking and interacting with kids of all ages that I kind of always knew I wanted to do pediatrics. That, along with amazing experiences with pediatricians when I was younger, just cemented it for me.
Why did you decide to take a leadership role in the Pediatrics Interest Group (PIG)?
I decided to take a leadership role in PIG because I really wanted to emphasize the importance of early exposure to pediatrics, along with highlighting all members of the care team. For example, I spent a lot of time working with Child Life during undergrad, and some students who might not be well-versed in the pediatrics world might not be fully aware of the roles of Child Life, therapists, nutritionists, and all the other team members.
What events and initiatives are you planning for PIG this year?
Now that summer is fast approaching, we’re working on our schedule for Fall. We hope to include many speakers from various domains, along with hosting a “Meet the Faculty” event, where students can meet faculty from all the pediatric specialties. We are also considering hosting a procedures fair for more hands-on experience. My hope is to introduce more students to the wonderful world of pediatrics in our pre-clinical years.
What can our faculty members do to help inspire interest in pediatrics in medical students?
I honestly think that increasing exposure is the best method. As a whole, I think we get little exposure to pediatrics, especially during our pre-clinical years. The earlier students can learn about pediatrics through shadowing, speaker events, and networking, the better. Many people come into medical school with a specialty in mind, but they might not know that pediatrics likely has a sub-speciality in that area too.
Name: Zoe DeZeeuw
Please provide a short bio about yourself:
I am from Manitowoc and I went to undergrad at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. After graduating, I took two gap years during which I worked as a nursing assistant. I spent my first year in Minneapolis working on an adult med/surg unit and then I moved to Madison and started working in the AFCH PICU. When I’m not in the PICU or at the HSLC, I’m usually out walking by the lake, playing pickleball, or perusing my local bookstore (The Book Deal, highly recommend).
What sparked your interest in pediatrics?
When I was 16, my first job was working with kids with developmental disabilities at an after-school program in my hometown. I LOVED working with those kids, and I thought that, in some way, I’d like to continue working with kids in my career. Flash forwards a few years, I had the unique opportunity to spend a year working with adults in a hospital setting, followed by a year working with kids in a hospital setting. Although I absolutely loved some of my adult patients, I came to appreciate the joy that kids brought into the room, the incredible support systems that most patients had, and the overall atmosphere of the children’s hospital. On top of that, providers seem to know that fun is a necessary part of the healing process, and there are countless people ready to supply it.
Why did you decide to take a leadership role in the Pediatrics Interest Group (PIG)?
I chose to apply for a leadership role in PIG because I wanted to get to know more faculty in the Pediatrics Department and I really enjoy planning events. The PIG leadership team this year is so committed to increasing student interest in pediatrics, and we are all super excited about planning fun events for students to participate in. We also had some great role models from last year’s PIG leadership team (Samiah and Morgan). They made this club so fun to be a part of. I do think PIG is one of the most active student interest groups at UWSMPH, and this year we have a lot of class interest in peds, which is amazing to see.
What events and initiatives are you planning for PIG this year?
So far this year I have helped organize a Q&A session with Dr. Amy Hanson, a PICU physician, and a “Meet the Matched” event with five different M4s who had recently matched into their pediatrics residencies. Although we have been able to interact with many peds subspecialties this past year, the PICU had yet to be represented, so I was very excited to bring Dr. Hanson in to speak with our group. And, of course, we were also so excited to celebrate the M4s and their recent successful matches. They are going to do amazing things all over the country. For upcoming events, we will be hosting our annual “Meet the Department of Pediatrics” event where we showcase many pediatric specialties. We also want to plan a social event for incoming M1s and M2s to informally get to know some of the pediatric faculty in a more relaxed setting.
What can our faculty members do to help inspire interest in pediatrics in medical students?
Keep an eye on your inbox! We will be sending out a sign-up sheet for any pediatrics faculty who would like to have students shadow them or, potentially, if you would be interested in taking on a med student mentee during their time at UWSMPH. Additionally, if you’d like to showcase your subspecialty, you can always reach out to Maddy, Jeronimo, or myself to join PIG for an informal Q&A or to give a short talk on an area of your interest. We host noon talks almost biweekly throughout the semester, and we are always looking for passionate faculty with unique interests and specialties to chat with PIG members.
Name: Madeline Kotz
Please provide a short bio about yourself:
I am from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I studied Biology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and stayed an extra year to complete an MPH in the School of Public Health. In college and graduate school, I worked with a small investigative team in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School studying mental health and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants and young children with long-duration PICU/CVICU hospitalization. I also did quite a bit of volunteering with Child Life at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital during this time, and I especially enjoyed getting to know patients and families in inpatient heme/onc.
What sparked your interest in pediatrics?
I have wanted to become a pediatrician for just about as long as I can remember. Just before starting medical school, I found a poster in my parents’ basement that I made in fifth grade titled “Maddy’s a Pediatrician.” On it, I drew myself in a white coat and listed the skills and education that I would need to become a pediatrician. Safe to say that UWSMPH and the Department of Pediatrics are making my dreams come true.
Why did you decide to take a leadership role in the Pediatrics Interest Group (PIG)?
When I started in the fall, it was clear that UWSMPH had a very active Pediatric Interest Group. The leaders organized noon talks every couple of weeks, and the Meet the Department of Pediatrics event included faculty representing multiple sub-specialties. The excitement for pediatrics among student members combined with the extensive faculty support that PIG receives made PIG leadership the perfect opportunity to continue exploring my interest in pediatrics while sharing my passion for the specialty with my classmates.
What events and initiatives are you planning for PIG this year?
I feel fortunate that Zoe, Jeronimo, and I work so well together and have the same passion for sharing the joy of pediatrics with our class. The three of us have proposed several ideas for the fall that we will work on this summer. Some of these include a procedures fair, where faculty teach common procedures in pediatrics; and the launch of a mentorship program that matches interested students with a faculty mentor in the Department of Pediatrics. We will keep you updated on the status of these projects and invite your participation in one or both of these opportunities.
What can our faculty members do to help inspire interest in pediatrics in medical students?
We would love having you join us for noon talks. If you would like to talk about your specialty, recent research, child health advocacy work, or anything else that you’re passionate about, please let us know and we will add you to the schedule. These talks often attract students from outside the Pediatric Interest Group, so it’s a great opportunity to give your perspective on why students should consider pediatrics. Additionally, we have a running list of faculty who are willing to be contacted for shadowing opportunities. If you would like to be added to this list, please let us know. Thank you for all your support!