Chief Residents
Chief Residents provide leadership and support to residents in the combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency program. They serve as mentors and advocates for the residents and set a positive tone for the program.
2024-2025 Chief Residents
Lauren Carpenter
Originally from Evergreen, Colorado, I found myself in the Midwest for residency after attending Villanova University for undergrad and the University of Colorado for medical school. I fell in love with Med-Peds as a specialty at the very end of my third year of medical school. I was so impressed not only by how clinically well-rounded Med-Peds residents and faculty were, but how supportive and approachable they were as I decided on a career path.
These tenets of Med-Peds rang especially true when I interviewed at IU School of Medicine. IU offered the chance to train in a rigorous academic setting with strong categorical Internal Medicine and Pediatrics programs, and after I met the residents and faculty involved in IU Med-Peds I was sold. The day I matched at IU I was welcomed into the IU Med-Peds community, and it has given me a foundation of support I will be forever grateful for. As the largest Med-Peds residency in the country, IU not only has a palpable on-campus Med-Peds presence, but a nationwide network of alumni and mentors.
Like my path to Med-Peds as a specialty choice during medical school, I decided to apply to Sports Medicine fellowship late in my third year of residency. Training at IU has allowed me to provide coverage at a variety of levels, from local high school football to Division I athletics. In true Med-Peds fashion, I hope to ultimately combine my specialty training in Sports Medicine with a primary care practice (and spend a few weeks a year as an inpatient hospitalist if I can get away with it). My IU family has supported my career exploration throughout residency, and I can't wait to see where my next steps take me!
I hope to leave a legacy of resident advocacy and support as a chief resident. The beauty of Med-Peds is the diversity of strengths and passions it attracts. My goal as a chief resident is to encourage our residents to pursue their own "why Med-Peds," and to support them in their unique Med-Peds journey.
Charles Shofner
Kentucky born and raised; you can still hear the southern accent come out when I am on nights. I moved off to the “big city”, Louisville (or Luh-vul as we say) for college and stayed for medical school where I graduated with a Distinction in Global and Public Health.
During medical school, I was drawn to the diverse and dynamic field of Med-Peds. To me, the greatest strength of Med-Peds has always been knowing how to combine the systematic approach of an internist with the family-centeredness style and passion for advocacy of a pediatrician. I believe that by cross-applying the skills you learn from both, you can improve the care you provide for all. In addition, Med-Peds also provided me with a strong foundation for a career in global health. For those both locally and abroad whose access is limited, that comprehensive knowledge in internal medicine and pediatrics proves indispensable.
My journey led me to IU School of Medicine, where I found a community that was not only supportive but also deeply committed to the professional and personal growth of its residents. So many things stood out to me about IU, but one of the biggest was the strong presence of Med-Peds at IU. From 55 co-residents to fellows to staff, around every corner, there is a Med-Peds provider. A support system that understands the unique challenges a Med-Peds resident faces is priceless. From a program standpoint, I was drawn because of the vision of global health centering on sustainable, capacity-building partnerships in Kenya. I had the privilege of living there for 8 weeks this past year practicing medicine. However, it is really my co-residents who have made the last four years a highlight of my life; from cake parties while on Riley nights to trivia at Dugout every Wednesday, there is never a shortage of fun.
As a chief resident, I am excited to contribute to the continued excellence of our program. My goal is to support our residents in achieving their full potential, whether they are navigating the challenges of clinical work or exploring their own unique career paths. I am particularly passionate about highlighting disparities in medicine and expanding resident knowledge of the intersection of business and medicine. I am looking forward to meeting you on the interview trail and helping you choose the right program for you!
