In this month’s Resident Spotlight, we highlight Katie Cooper, MD, a third-year Internal Medicine Resident on the research track. Here, Dr. Cooper describes her clinical and research interests, what makes UMass Chan a great place for residency, and her favorite hobbies. 

 


Hometown? 
Auburn, New York 

What are your clinical and research interests?
I am applying for a GI fellowship and am interested in decompensated liver disease. From a research perspective, my research in residency has focused on patient outcomes before and after liver transplant. I have a particular interest in sex differences in liver disease and reproductive health in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.  

Are you involved in any other groups or activities at UMass Chan that you’d like to highlight?
I am part of the research track and participate in projects with multiple faculty members in the GI division. As part of my passion for research and mentorship, I am one of the founding/steering members of UMass UMatch, an initiative to build a user-friendly database for trainees to become involved in scholarly activity and find mentors in their field of interest. 

What makes UMass Chan a great place for your residency?
UMass Chan offers exceptional clinical training with comprehensive exposure to a wide range of sub-specialties, ensuring a well-rounded medical education. As residents, we gain experience in advanced heart failure, bone marrow transplantation, and liver transplant. UMass Chan is also at the forefront of several emerging fields of digital medicine, providing exposure to telehealth, wearable technologies, and artificial intelligence in healthcare. This diverse and intensive training environment prepares residents for successful careers in both general and specialized medical practice. I have also found incredible mentorship here (shout out to Dr. Deepika Devuni) which has been crucial for my development as a physician interested in academic medicine.   

Favorite hobbies?
When I am not at work, I enjoy being outside, reading, and doing research (yes, I am a nerd). I can also be found spending time with my guinea pigs (Chewy, Ziggy, Ginger, and Bean) or heading to my hometown in upstate NY to visit with my baby niece!