Q&A with Luke Addesso, MD, assistant professor, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Hometown: Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Educational/professional background: Medical College of Wisconsin
Previous position (title, institution): Pediatric resident at the University of Wisconsin
How would you describe your work to a 5-year-old? I’m a general pediatrician, and my job is helping kids stay healthy.
How did you get into your field of research or area of clinical care? During residency I had a chance to rotate through every pediatric subspecialty. Primary care stuck out as the best fit for me because I love seeing a mix of healthy and sick kids while getting to watch them grow into young adults.
What attracted you to UW–Madison? UW was an easy choice. During residency I had the opportunity to work with so many people in this department and felt right at home. It truly felt like a community. Having such a wide range of experts within our department gives me confidence that I will always be able to find someone who can help when a child has a problem that I cannot address myself.
What is your favorite thing to do in Madison? Biking! The endless paths in Madison are fantastic. There’s nothing better than biking to the Terrace on a summer night.
What’s one thing you hope trainees will learn from you and your work? I hope they learn how to communicate medicine to families in a way that is understandable and relatable.
Do you feel your work relates to the Wisconsin Idea? If so, please describe how. Bringing evidence-based medicine to our community is a great example of how the pediatric research at the UW can directly benefit the people of Wisconsin.
What’s something interesting about your area of expertise you can share that will make us sound smarter during video chats and parties? Prematurity in babies can be scary. I remind parents that Albert Einstein was born two months early, so prematurity should never be viewed as a limitation!
What are some of your hobbies and other interests? DIY home renovation, road biking, and kayaking