Anna Richards, MD
Resident
Education
Undergraduate School: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in Pasadena, CA
Residency
Why did you choose WashU for your residency?
“I fell in love with WashU as a 17-year-old choosing a college. I attended WashU for undergrad and have loved the community here and in St. Louis ever since. Fast forward ten years to when it was time to do away rotations – I was excited to come back and find that WashU still holds the kindest, goofiest, most brilliant and most fun people I know. Beyond that, the education that is available to future OBGYNs at WashU is outstanding. I was blown away by how engaging and invested all the faculty are. Everyone at WashU believes in us residents and wants to help us become the most competent, capable, exceptional doctors we can be. I’m so excited to be shaped by this program and to contribute to its phenomenal culture.”
What are you looking forward to the most by being a resident here at WashU?
“So much! I’m looking forward to working with such a broad patient population and seeing the breadth of pathology and circumstances that impact health. WashU is the tertiary center of all tertiary centers, and we see so much of everything. I’m very eager to be pushed and stretched by all that we’re exposed to. And extremely excited to continue to deepen friendships, grow with, and learn from my cointerns.”
What goals do you hope to accomplish during your residency?
“My overarching goal for residency: To live and work in a way that encourages continuous growth and curiosity, brings value to my patients’ lives, and fosters joy and meaning for myself and those around me.”
What are your research interests?
“LGBTQ+ health care and health disparities, equity and inclusion themes in medical education curriculum, housing and food security impacts on health outcomes”
Personal
Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Pronouns: she/her/hers
What do you do outside of work?
“I am an extrovert through and through – I love spending time with my village! You can find me at a dog park, trivia night, play reading, reality tv watch party, or game night. I also love spending time outdoors and am always looking for an excuse to go camping, hiking, play tennis, or just generally get outside.”
What’s something that most people don’t know about you?
“I was not always on the path to medicine! Before medical school, I graduated from college with a degree in theater and worked as an actor and director.”
We know it’s early, but do you have any fellowship plans for after residency?
“Not sure yet, but excited for everything!”
What advice would you give medical students applying for a residency in OBGYN?
“If you’ve already decided – welcome and good luck! Trust the work you’ve done and be proud of how far you’ve come. And once your app is in, enjoy the ride of your fourth year! If you’re on the fence – don’t listen to the noise. Many people tried to tell me it would be too hard, too many hours, too many women, too toxic, not surgical enough, not medical enough, etc. etc. etc. A discussion on why OBGYN gets such a bad rap is nuanced and worthy of more attention than what this response allows. Suffice to say, if you are hesitating or unsure like I was, know that I am abundantly happy that I chose this specialty and I have not looked back. So much in medicine is hard. Choose the thing that fills your cup and the work will be worth it.”