I.M. a Resident/Fellow: Jenna Davison, MD, MPH

Jenna Davison, MD, MPH
Internal Medicine Resident, PGY-3
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Which residency or fellowship program are you currently in?

I am currently a PGY-3 internal medicine resident at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Why did you choose internal medicine? If you’re in fellowship, why did you choose that subspecialty?

I have always been drawn to complex, multisystem diseases. Internal medicine provides a foundation for exploring complicated patient cases and requires intellectual rigor, curiosity, and empathy. I love getting to know my patients both in and outside of the hospital and developing long-term relationships with them. These interests led me to pursue a fellowship in rheumatology, where I will continue to touch every organ system. Like internal medicine, rheumatology has intricate puzzles and requires you to understand your patients holistically, where you become a partner in helping patients with and through their pain.

What lesson(s) did you learn in residency or fellowship that will help you for the rest of your career?

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned in residency is that listening and leading with empathy are powerful tools to utilize with patients and mentees. Losing my father while I was in medical school gave me a background in recognizing that vulnerability is not a weakness but a source of connection and strength. Reflecting on this lesson every day while caring for my patients and my junior residents led me to two mantras. First, if you do not feel safe, you cannot learn. Second, I believe the highest form of professionalism you can offer is to be kind. If we can make our patients and those we mentor feel safe and are kind to them, we are starting every conversation we have on the right foot.

What are your plans for after residency or fellowship? What factors or advice from mentors contributed to your decision?

After fellowship I hope to blend my public health training with clinical investigation. I enjoy focusing on epidemiological research that addresses health disparities particularly in LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color. I also hope to stay in academia, where I will continue to mentor medical students and residents from underprivileged backgrounds, like mine, who are the first in their families to become physicians. I have excellent research mentors at Mayo who model taking time to do research, work with patients, and support residents incredibly well.

How has being a member of ACP helped you in your professional life? What resources have been most helpful to you?

ACP has provided invaluable opportunities for research dissemination and professional development. Presenting at the ACP National Abstract Competitions in 2022 was a defining moment in my academic journey. The organization fosters community among early career physicians and mentors, and it has helped me find my voice in scholarly work. I also regularly use ACP’s clinical guidelines, MKSAP questions, and journal resources in both clinical decision-making and teaching settings.