Education

Meet the Residents: Helen Kim, MD, and Brad Krasnick, MD

By William •
Image of Helen Kim, MD, and Brad Krasnick, MD, Washington University surgical residents.

Residents in the Department of Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are part of an academic program with diverse surgical training, strong research opportunities and mentors who are national leaders in their fields.

With residency programs in General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Urology and Vascular Surgery, residents in every specialty have access to world-class training. What makes each of these programs truly special is the community and camaraderie.

Get to know the residents in the Department of Surgery’s residency programs, why they chose Washington University School of Medicine for their surgical training and what it’s like to be a resident in St. Louis.

Helen Kim, MD

Kim is a PGY-1 Urology resident. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Kim was raised in northern Virginia. She studied biology at University of Virginia, then earned her medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School. Kim’s research interests include medical and surgical education, and she loves the greenery and nature in Forest Park.

The Washington University Urology Residency is a five-year program, including an intern year of rotations through the core program in General Surgery and four years of urology training. The program seeks to train outstanding physicians for careers in urology through the expertise of its fellowship-trained faculty, high clinical volume and diversity of cases, and a spirit of inquiry in research.

Image with Helen Kim, MD, and her family. When asked why did you choose Washington University School of Medicine, Helen Kim, MD, Washington University PGY-1 Urology Resident, said: "I chose Wash U for a number of reasons. St. Louis was the perfectly-sized city for me, the urology program had experts in all of the fields that I wanted to explore, and the high operative volume made me feel like I would be prepared by the end of residency. But more importantly, my gut feeling from the general vibe of the faculty and residents when I interviewed here, sold me. It felt welcoming and genuine, which I think is essential for an effective learning environment. As a female entering a male-dominated field, this program was extremely diverse, not only within the residency, but amongst faculty members as well." When asked what is your favorite memory from residency, Kim said: "Probably my first night on call—need I say more?" When asked what advice would you give medical students applying for a residency, Kim said: "Things get real when you start making your rank list. Take the fluff out and dissect out what is really important to you, even if it's not the status quo. Only you can make yourself happy!"

Brad Krasnick, MD

Krasnick is a PGY-4 General Surgery resident from the suburbs north of Detroit. Krasnick has an interest in oncology research, and studied brain behavior and cognitive science at University of Michigan before earning his medical degree at Wayne State University School of Medicine.

The Washington University General Surgery Residency is a five-year program, providing residents an amazing depth and breadth of clinical experience, the flexibility and personalization to create customized training, and a welcoming family of faculty and trainees.

Image of Brad Krasnick, MD, Washington University Department of Surgery PGY-4 resident. When asked why did you choose Washington University School of Medicine, Krasnick, said: "I honestly felt this was the best surgical program in the country. Wash U uniquely offers the full breadth of surgical subspecialties and general/ acute care/ trauma surgery. This combination of busy and highly ranked departments across the board, in combination with a great university and research setting led me to choose Wash U for my surgical residency." When asked what's your favorite thing about St. Louis, Krasnick said: "Everything is close, people are nice, lots to do for cheap (park, free zoo, tennis, etc.), affordable, great food, lots of fun neighborhoods and areas to spend free time." When asked what advice would you give medical students applying for a residency, Krasnick said: "Have an open mind. Try to figure out what institution will allow you to have great training, in a city you want to live in for 5-8 years, and with residents that you get along with."