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Danielle Falkenstein, PGY-1
Danielle Falkenstein grew up in Hamlin, NY, near Rochester, and earned her undergraduate degree in Microbiology with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Rochester. During college, she worked as a medical scribe and EMT, experiences that deepened her commitment to clinical care and public health. After graduating in 2020, she spent a gap year continuing emergency medical work in Rochester before starting medical school at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Buffalo, NY.
Early in her career, she recognized the important connection between social determinants of health and a patient's overall health and wellbeing. During medical school, she helped develop an Anti-Racism curriculum and later integrated Indigenous Health topics into the first-year curriculum. She also organized a speaker series—featuring members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy—focused on Indigenous health and history. Her work explores how historical trauma, racism, and social determinants of health contribute to disease disparities in socially marginalized populations. She is excited to join the Med-Peds community in Worcester, with clinical interests in hospital medicine, rheumatology, health equity, pediatric rheumatic disease, and public health. Danielle enjoys caring for her plants, thrifting, yoga, listening to electronic dance music, watching Survivor, and FaceTiming her three dogs back home. She’s also a proud Buffalo Bills fan (Go Bills!) and a fan of anything mystery!
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Hope Heldreth, PGY-1
Hope grew up in Florida, spending many summers with family in Massachusetts. She studied comprehensive science and psychology at Villanova University. Throughout college, she conducted research at Massachusetts General Hospital focused on patient and family quality of life during phase 1 clinical trials, amongst other research projects. She returned to Florida for medical school at Florida State University, where she continued her work in palliative care research and founded a student interest group that volunteered with hospice. As wellness chair for her regional campus, she developed a passion for wellness and preventive medicine.
During her internal medicine rotation, Hope worked with a Med-Peds physician and was drawn to the continuity of care across the lifespan. She is currently exploring interests in primary care, palliative care, cardiology, oncology, and preventive medicine.
Hope is excited to now call Massachusetts home and to be close to her support system. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, walking, cooking, discovering new restaurants and coffee shops, and spending time with family and friends. Finally (and perhaps most importantly), she absolutely loves dogs.
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Kristen Lowder, PGY-1
Kristen grew up in Bridgewater, MA. She attended Stonehill College, majoring in Biology. After college, Kristen worked in clinical research for four years at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She also coached Special Olympics during her time in Boston, which sparked her passion for working with the disability community. Kristen then went on to attend medical school at UMass, where she was involved in the Sidekicks program, Best Buddies, and the Epworth free clinic. After spending time at the Med-Peds clinic as a medical student (and enjoying both her Pediatrics and Internal Medicine rotations), Kristen was drawn to Med-Peds for the breadth of training and flexible career options. She is thrilled to be continuing her training as a resident at UMass! Kristen is interested in complex care, transitions of care for patients with disabilities, hospital medicine, and medical education. Outside of the hospital, Kristen enjoys biking, kayaking, skiing, rock climbing, and spending time with friends and family. |
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Meghan Reilly, PGY-1
Meghan grew up in Medway, MA. She discovered her love of Worcester while attending Clark University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in sociology. In between college and medical school, Meghan worked at McLean Hospital as a clinical research assistant in the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Division of Women’s Mental Health, where she participated in research surrounding gender differences in substance use disorders. She went on to complete a premedical postbaccalaureate program at Harvard Extension School and spent time volunteering at her local hospital, Milford Regional Medical Center. She went on to attend UMass Chan Medical School, where she fell in love with comprehensive, compassionate patient care across the lifespan and the Med-Peds community. In her free time, you can find Meghan getting dinner and a sweet treat at some of her favorite Worcester spots with her mom and friends, working on her next cross-stitch or crochet project, and binge-watching the latest Netflix show with her cats and boyfriend.
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