Wade Harrison, MD MPH

Degree(s): Integrative Physiology and Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology (EPOB); Minor: Political Science

Professional background, interests and expertise:  I entered CU unsure of what I wanted to do and played around with academic interests from environmental science to medicine to politics and policy. Eventually settled on medicine but with a strong interest in public health and health care policy.  After college I spent some time volunteering and traveling in India and then up in Fort Collins working at a Federally Qualified Health Center.  I applied to medical school during the debate surrounding passage of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) which reinforced my intent to pursue a career not just as a clinician but as someone who could impact the way medicine is practiced and improve the health of populations.  I ended up attending the Dr. Seuss (Geisel) School of Medicine at Dartmouth, attracted to the program because of the opportunity to complete a masters in public health at The Dartmouth Institute whose distinctive focus is on health care delivery and reform with a strong emphasis on measurement and evidence to inform policy.  While there I completed my MPH and also spent a second additional year conducting research into neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission rates, hospital system variations in care, primary care availability, and the use of patient reported measures to improve chronic disease outcomes and care. When looking for a residency program to continue my training in pediatrics I knew I wanted a program that would offer me strong clinical training but also opportunities to continue my research interests in health system design and practice transformation.  That lead me to the University of Utah where I work primarily at Primary Children's Hospital, an Intermountain hospital, as a pediatrics resident. I am currently finishing my residency program in the summer of 2019 and will be staying on next year as a Chief Resident before embarking on a career as a pediatric hospitalist.  Intermountain like Kaiser, Geisenger, or Mayo is often cited as one of the premier integrated health care systems able to measure and demonstrably improve care processes and population health.  It also has the benefit of being in a great city with incredible access to the outdoors.

In my spare time I love to mountain bike, ski, hike, and brew delicious coffee or beer (depending on the hour) with my partners in crime - Asha McClurg and Lucy (our dog).  Asha and I met our freshman year at CU and are both members of the PLC Class of 2003.  She is an obstetrics and gynecology resident at the U and is pretty darn cool as a mentor, doc, and health policy guru in her own right.

Hours available for mentoring per month: 5-10

Best professional advice: Take time to pursue what you are passionate about and go where the opportunities and fun take you.  It's all too easy to view medical education as a conveyor belt that you have to get on and complete without any deviations of delay.  You will find more joy if you take time to recharge and do what's personally fun without suffering any meaningful setbacks in the end, and it will likely even advance your academic or professional interest as opportunities are likely to present themselves that wouldn't have otherwise.