Faculty Feature Arpita Vyas
Arpita Kalla Vyas, MD, was born in India, and at a very young age, her parents relocated to Costa Rica. The schools and community in San Jose, Costa Rica, provided her and her family a sense of belonging. She spent most of her childhood and adolescence there. She completed her …
Faculty Feature Abby Kissel
Abby Kissel, MD, grew up right here in St. Louis (University City), with WashU undergrad and medical school always in her orbit. The undergrad campus was practically in her backyard and was where her oldest (of three) sisters went to college, and her second oldest sister attended law school. The …
Faculty Feature Melissa Mavers
Melissa Michelle Mavers, MD, PhD, is a St. Louis native who wanted nothing more as a teenager than to leave St. Louis and explore the big wide world. She did just that, relocating to Florida to attend the University of Miami. She still recalls her father regretting taking her to …
Faculty Feature Mallory Smith
Mallory Smith, MD, MS, grew up on the Texas side (i.e. the only side that matters) of Texarkana — a twin city that straddles Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas. She met her husband, Andrew, in the seventh grade, and the majority of their family still lives in Texarkana within a …
Faculty Feature Tarin Bigley
Tarin Bigley, MD, PhD, was born in Arizona but grew up in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bigley’s dad was an elementary school teacher, and his mom worked in childcare and retail. Growing up, when he wasn’t in school, he was playing sports, hanging out with friends roaming around town and even …
Faculty Feature Andrew Glatz
Andy Glatz, MD MSCE was born to two graduate students in Madison, Wisconsin, and lived there for a year as his parents completed their PhD studies. He then moved to Ames, Iowa as his parents both accepted faculty positions at Iowa State University. Glatz grew up in that central Iowan …
Faculty Feature Drew Schwartz
Drew Schwartz was born in New Jersey, but his family rapidly relocated to Columbus, Georgia, to escape the cold. Thanks to his mother’s passion for horses, he began competing in the equestrian sport of three-day eventing at age 13. Schwartz dedicated his free time to his horses and was rewarded …
Faculty Feature Sherea Smith
Sherea Smith’s rehabilitation career began at an early age. Her very first patient was her twin sister, who had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. By the age of 5, Smith would spend her playtime helping her sister with sitting balance and reaching skills. When trying to work on her sister’s …
Faculty Feature Jared Levin
Growing up in northern California, Jared Levin was told by several family members not to pursue a career in medicine unless he was certain there was nothing else he wanted to do. This advice was most commonly provided by his grandfather, Dr. Clinton Levin, who along with being the first …
Faculty Feature Maleewan Kitcharoensakkul
Maleewan Kitcharoensakkul grew up in Khon Kaen, a town in Northeastern Thailand. She is the youngest of six siblings. Her dad was known in Khon Kaen as a mechanic specializing in fixing trucks and large-size automobiles. For Kitcharoensakkul, her dad is the kindest human being who loves art and music. …