Luke Vandeventer has been an ISMA member during his time at Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM). He currently serves as the Medical Student Society Trustee and will be graduating from IUSM in May. On March 21, he matched at Franciscan Family Residency in Indianapolis. 

Vandeventer discussed the excitement surrounding Match Day and his hopes for the coming residency:

Why did you choose family medicine?
I was initially drawn to family medicine due to the continuity of care you can provide and the longitudinal relationships you build with your patients. The variety of medical presentations and patient populations that family medicine allows you to see was also very appealing. Lastly, I have an interest in public and preventive health and family medicine seems like the perfect field to combine this interest with my everyday practice as a future physician.

Why did you choose Franciscan Health?
I chose this program because of the inviting atmosphere everyone created during my interview day. Everyone was extremely welcoming, and it was clear they emphasized a supportive culture for residents. Additionally, they were supportive when discussing my interest areas within family medicine and provided a detailed plan on how they could help equip me with the skills to have the future practice I desire.

What are you most excited about?
I am most excited to continue building on the clinical foundation I have started in medical school and have increased autonomy as a resident physician.

In what area do you think you will learn the most?
I think I will learn the most about the daily operations of running a practice efficiently. In medical school, we learn about common medical conditions and treatments, but not much time is spent on the daily logistics of being a physician.

Did you always want to be a doctor?
I have wanted to be a doctor ever since I completed an internship at my county hospital during high school. I was struck by how physicians were able to use their training to positively impact our community, and this motivated me to pursue a career as a physician.

What is your long-term plan? 
My long-term plan is to remain in Indiana after residency and practice in a medically underserved community. I grew up in a rural area that experienced limited access to medical care. This had a profound impact on my career choice, and as a future family medicine physician, I hope to be able to help address medical access issues in Indiana. In addition to my medical practice, I hope to one day serve as a County Health Officer, and I plan to stay involved with the ISMA in some capacity moving forward.

How has ISMA helped you?
The ISMA introduced me to the various advocacy opportunities available to us as physicians and medical students. ISMA has taught me how my passion for improving the health of Indiana residents may be pursued through advocacy avenues, while simultaneously improving the practice landscape for Hoosier physicians. Additionally, my time as the student trustee has allowed me to have an active role in the organization, interact closely with physician members, and learn more about how the organization operates to pursue its goals. I am very grateful to have had these opportunities as a medical student, and these experiences are a large reason why I wish to continue my involvement with the ISMA as a resident and beyond!