Alumni Spotlight

What Good Can I Do?

Genevieve L. Pagalilauan, M.D. ’00, Res ’03

“My grandfather wasn’t a daily presence in my life, but I understand his commitment,” says Genevieve L. Pagalilauan, M.D. ’00, Res ’03. “He made tremendous self-sacrifices. He was part of the Bataan Death March during World War II. I don’t think you can grow up with stories like that and not think: what is my purpose here? What good can I do?”

Pagalilauan, a UW associate professor of medicine, has asked and answered these questions. By becoming a doctor, like her grandfather.

Oh, the Places They’ll Go!

Meet two M.D. graduates as they head off to residency

In March 2018, the UW School of Medicine’s graduating class came together for Match Day to find out where they’ll be going for their residencies. We talked to two of them about their next phase.

Helping the Next Generation

David Greeley, M.D. ’89, FAAN

David Greeley, M.D. ’89, FAAN, is a third-generation doctor — but his father, a general internist, initially tried to talk him out of it.

“By the time I was applying to medical school, my dad was feeling the crunch and seeing the changes in medicine,” says Greeley. But his son was undeterred, finding happiness and intellectual fulfillment in his choice: the practice of neurology.

Heart and Soul

Jeff Hostetter, M.D. ’00, M.S., FAAFP

A math teacher, a coach and now a doctor in North Dakota: that’s alumnus Jeff Hostetter, M.D. ’00, M.S., FAAFP. “It’s all about service,” says Hostetter. “I taught high-school and college students, coached two varsity sports, and now I mentor residents. For me, teaching is very fulfilling.”

Healing Land

Lisa Sferra, M.D. ’97, Res. ’99

Beacon Avenue South is a major, trafficked street. Still, it doesn’t surprise Lisa Sferra, M.D. ’97, Res. ’99, to find someone parked on the side of the road near her property. It happens fairly regularly. One passerby told her, wistfully, “This looks like the place I grew up in Laos.”

Helping Kids Thrive After Cancer

Eric Chow, M.D., Res, ’04, Fel. ’07

“Fifty years ago, most kids didn’t survive cancer. Today, more than 80 percent of kids who had it are long-term survivors,” says alumnus Eric Chow, M.D., Res, ’04, Fel. ’07, UW assistant professor of pediatrics and adjunct assistant professor of epidemiology.

Making sure kids stay well is his job. And his mission.

Have Couch, Will Travel

Deanna Glassman, M.D. ’16

Fifteen interviews: it’s not unusual for a medical student to have that many in the process of applying for residency. This can mean having to find up to 15 places to sleep, often in cities or towns thousands of miles from home.

Deanna Glassman, M.D. ’16, remembers the challenges of the interview trail well. That’s why she now volunteers for Help Our Students Travel (HOST) by offering free accommodations to traveling medical school students.