Why did you choose MIR for your residency training?
Jokerst: I was in medical school and had shifted my interests from urology to radiology. Due to a bad experience, I was about to switch back to urology, but someone told me about the fantastic radiology training program at Mallinckrodt. I was able to do a fourth-year rotation, and I had such a good experience that I decided that not only did I want to do radiology, I wanted to do radiology at MIR.
Linscott: MIR offered a depth and breadth of radiology training that I hadn’t seen before on the interview trail. St. Louis was a great place for our young family.
How would you describe your time at MIR?
Fowler: My time at MIR was the most memorable part of all my years of training. I enjoyed many parts of St. Louis in my free time: exploring the parks; watching comedians at the Fox, Pageant and Peabody theaters; listening to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at Powell Hall; and seeing Chuck Berry at Blueberry Hill.
Jokerst: Easily some of the best years of my life. Trials and tribulations for sure, but the place is predicated on churning out great radiologists and it shows. When you come out of MIR, you’re ready to go. It made the transition into being in the “real world” super easy.
Did any faculty members leave a particularly strong impression on you? Any specific experiences/lessons that carried with you beyond MIR?
Fowler: Barb Monsees and Kate Appleton helped train me as a breast imaging radiologist. They provided excellent patient care and are amazing leaders in the field.
Jokerst: Sanjeev Bhalla and Cooky Menias are probably at the top of the list, and Sanjeev is the reason I’m a cardiothoracic radiologist.
Linscott: Bob McKinstry was a great mentor. Gheetika Khanna, Bill McAlister, Becky Hulett and Steve Don helped guide me to pediatric radiology. Franz Wippold, Josh Shimony, Katie Vo, Michelle Miller-Thomas, Aseem Sharma and Matt Parsons helped develop my interest in neuroimaging as they made rounds in the ever-spacious neuro reading room.
What are some highlights from your residency class (’12)? Any memories, co-residents, etc. that stand out from your MIR experience?
Fowler: I love my residency class; they all stand out as friendly, smart, funny, dependable and hardworking individuals. Co-residents and lifelong friends Sara Dyrstad and Gretchen Smith were awesome to also work with as breast imaging fellows. Many thanks to my co-chief residents Clint Jokerst and Doug Kitchin, who made that job a lot of fun.
Jokerst: I love my class and every single person in it. Everybody is so laid back and has their own quirky personality. Part of the magic of MIR is picking good trainees, and I think Janice Semenkovich was on her game for the class of 2012.
Linscott: The 2012 class was a pretty cool group of humans. Many long evenings of post-work oral board review in the small conference room truly brought us together. I remember carpooling to work with Jared Allen, going through hundreds of post-op ortho films in the salt mines of the CAM on the MSK rotation, and loving the family picnic at the Hulett Farm.
In what way did your training at MIR prepare you for your career path?
Fowler: MIR trained me well as an academic radiologist, breast imager and researcher. It also taught me leadership skills and how to handle stressful situations.
Linscott: MIR instilled in me a strong work ethic and the tools to keep learning every day. Nearly every day in my pediatric neuroradiology practice, I see something new — the learning never stops.
What are some of your interests beyond radiology?
Fowler: I enjoy unwinding with family and friends, British detective shows, gardening and, most recently, Wordle.
Jokerst: Getting outdoors, fishing (especially fly fishing for trout) and gold prospecting with a metal detector.
Linscott: There’s nothing I love more than spending time with family and friends, preferably in the mountains or the desert. My favorite activities are backcountry skiing, mountain biking and trail running.
Published in Focal Spot Fall/Winter 2022 Issue