Katie Carbonell, MD

Education

Undergraduate School: Vanderbilt University
Medical School: Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
PubMed name(s): Katherine V Carbonell, Katie Carbonell

Residency

Why did you choose WashU for your residency?
After my time as a medical student at WashU, I knew the warmth and camaraderie of our OBGYN department firsthand. Throughout my rotations, I was already having so much fun with the residents, both in the hospital and after hours. I really appreciated how close-knit they all were, and I knew I wanted a resident family just like theirs. I decided on OBGYN fairly late in med school, and I was so impressed by the WashU OBGYN’s research support and enthusiasm to get me involved – I knew this support would only grow in residency. Also, I was looking for a rigorous program that would challenge me throughout training, and Barnes sees some of the most complicated cases in the nation while serving a large catchment area. I’m from a rural background, and it means a lot to me to serve patients who might travel for hours to access high-quality care, just as many of my loved ones have. Finally, I feel that WashU has the perfect environment for resident training post-Roe. Residents have a quick commute to IL to rotate on Family Planning, yet we learn how to navigate the challenges of providing reproductive care in a restricted state.

What are you looking forward to the most by being a resident here at WashU?
Everyone says it, but… the people! I’m so excited to join the residents and faculty I worked with as a med student.

What goals do you hope to accomplish during your residency?
I’d like to be confident in my surgical skills and evidence-based patient counseling. Building relationships with patients is a primary reason why I chose this specialty, and excellent counseling is at the heart of that.

What are your research interests?
I’m especially interested in the intersection of Lifestyle Medicine and OBGYN, especially during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Awards & Honors

Gold Humanism Honor Society
Dr. Margaret G. Smith Award

Personal

Hometown: Chatham, IL
Pronouns: she/her/hers

What do you do outside of work?    
I love group workouts, running, trying new gluten-free recipes (shoutout to all my Celiac friends!), chipping away at home improvement projects, hanging with my dogs, and exploring St. Louis’s amazing food scene!

What’s something that most people don’t know about you?
I was a coach at Orangetheory Fitness during med school! There’s a studio walking distance from Barnes.

We know it’s early, but do you have any fellowship plans for after residency?
As of now, I’m planning on being a Generalist!

What advice would you give medical students applying for a residency in OBGYN?
Let your love for this specialty shine in your interviews, and you’ll be just fine! When you’re deciding where to go, listen to your gut 🙂