Madison Sundlof

Name: Madison Sundlof (she/her/hers), MS3

What aspects of the curriculum at University of Minnesota Medical School are your favorite?

I love our focus on discussion. I imagined that medical school would be mostly rote memorization, flashcards of facts, and sitting in lecture halls taking notes. That is absolutely a component of our learning, but the most enriching part is talking about hard, unanswerable questions. This is the time where I get to listen to my classmates' history, widen my worldview, and learn how I can serve my patients with more than prescriptions and scans.

What are your favorite things to do in Minnesota/Twin Cities area?

I am a big gardener and runner, so I love running around the chain of lakes (Harriet, Bde Maka Ska, Isles) and looking at the gardens and houses. I joined a gardening club this year to help maintain one of the spaces around the lake to keep myself involved in things outside of school that keep me literally grounded.

What are three adjectives you would use to describe your classmates?

Curious, Persistent, Joyful

What is one of your future goals as a physician?

I hope that as a future provider I create a space where my patients feel seen, heard, and safe. I recognize how vulnerable we ask patients to be in clinics and hospitals, spaces that hold significance for many people. I want to ensure that they feel supported and validated throughout their care in a way that is personalized to their needs, history, and stage in life.