The General Surgery Resident Spotlight series highlights the experiences, interests, and perspectives of Iowa Surgery residents, offering prospective applicants a closer look at resident life, training, and the community that makes Iowa Surgery unique.
Alayna Dieter, MD
Alayna chose Iowa Surgery for the opportunity to train at Iowa's largest hospital and gain experience caring for patients with a wide range of unique and complex surgical conditions. She values the diverse clinical exposure, exceptional learning opportunities, and strong support system within the residency program.
Outside of the hospital, Alayna enjoys spending time outdoors, working in her garden, and hosting friends and fellow residents on her patio. She is also an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan and looks forward to tailgating during football season.
One of her favorite residency memories so far was attending Iowa City's annual Block Party with the rest of the PGY-1 class, enjoying live music, local restaurants, and the opportunity to build friendships outside of the hospital.
Fun Fact: Alayna minored in German in college and still speaks it regularly. She has traveled to Germany and Switzerland three times and even owns a traditional Bavarian dirndl.
Noah Antes, MD
Noah chose Iowa Surgery for the opportunity to train at Iowa's largest academic medical center while living in a welcoming Big Ten college town. He appreciates the strong sense of community within the residency program, the diverse clinical experiences available at UI Health Care, and the chance to learn from a broad range of complex surgical cases.
Outside of the hospital, Noah enjoys golfing, playing ice hockey, and spending time on hiking trails. He values the balance Iowa City offers, with its extensive trail system, outdoor recreation opportunities, and vibrant community.
One of Noah's favorite residency memories so far was attending Iowa City's annual Block Party with his co-residents. The event provided an opportunity to connect outside of the hospital and highlighted the camaraderie that makes the Iowa Surgery residency program unique.
Fun Fact: Noah is an avid golfer and ice hockey player and enjoys taking advantage of every opportunity to get outdoors, whether that's on the course, at the rink, or exploring a new hiking trail.
Kristín Haraldsdóttir, MD
Kristín chose Iowa Surgery for the opportunity to train in a supportive environment while experiencing life in a new part of the world. Since arriving in Iowa, she has enjoyed becoming part of the Iowa Surgery community and building connections with her fellow residents.
Outside of the hospital, Kristín enjoys singing, dancing, knitting, cooking, and playing the harp. More recently, she spends much of her free time relaxing and catching up with her partner over FaceTime after busy days on service.
One of her favorite memories so far has been celebrating her first Fourth of July in Iowa, an experience that gave her a unique introduction to American traditions and life in the Midwest.
Fun Fact: Kristín plays the harp.
Nick Bovio, MD
Nick chose Iowa Surgery for its unique combination of high-volume, complex academic surgical training and a welcoming, livable community. As Iowa's only academic medical center, the program provides exposure to a wide variety of surgical cases while offering residents increasing autonomy and responsibility throughout their training.
Outside of the hospital, Nick enjoys road trips, visiting museums, playing chess, and spending time with his dog, Tofu. He also has a longstanding interest in language and history.
One of Nick's favorite parts of residency so far has been seeing the progression from observing and learning to actively contributing in the operating room and caring for patients more independently. Some of his most memorable experiences have come from working through challenging cases with his team, developing new technical skills, and seeing patients recover and improve.
Fun Fact: Nick took four years of Latin in college and has always been fascinated by the history and evolution of language.
Linda Jung, MD
Linda chose Iowa Surgery for the opportunity to train at a high-volume academic medical center while becoming part of a close-knit and supportive residency community. As a PGY-1, she has enjoyed learning from residents and faculty across a wide range of surgical specialties while building strong relationships with her fellow interns.
Outside of the hospital, Linda enjoys working out, cooking and baking new recipes, and exploring Iowa City to discover new favorite spots and hidden gems.
One of Linda's favorite parts of residency has been the camaraderie among the intern class. The interns have made it a tradition to get together at the end of every block to catch up, decompress, and enjoy each other's company before starting a new rotation. These gatherings have been a meaningful way to stay connected and support one another throughout the first year of training.
Fun Fact: Linda is right-handed for almost everything, but uses her left hand when using knives or scissors. ✂️🔪
Chase DeLong, MD, MPH
Originally from California and a graduate of medical school in Miami, Chase chose Iowa Surgery for the opportunity to train in a supportive environment while enjoying the best of both small-town living and big-city opportunities. He values the welcoming community, affordable cost of living, and the balance Iowa City offers between rigorous surgical training and life outside the hospital.
Outside of residency, Chase enjoys cooking, baking, exercising, reading, sewing scrub caps, 3D printing, and taking on a variety of creative projects. He also enjoys spending time outdoors and exploring the parks and natural areas around Iowa City.
One of Chase's favorite parts of residency has been the camaraderie built through events like Maggie's Pizza gatherings and journal clubs. These experiences have reinforced what he appreciates most about Iowa Surgery: a close-knit community that extends beyond the clinical environment.
Fun Fact: Chase is a first-generation college and medical student who has solo traveled through Europe and Iceland. He also spent 13 years competing in gymnastics and enjoys tackling creative hobbies ranging from sewing to 3D printing.
