Outstanding Alumni Award
Katelynn E. Davis
Chief Pathology Resident, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
Like many DMACC students, Dr. Katelynn Davis’ educational journey took several twists and turns. And like so many others before her, she saw each challenge as an opportunity on her way to earning her AA degree on the Ankeny Campus.
Her schooling at DMACC served as a springboard as she completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Iowa State University in 2012 and then completed her Medical degree at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in 2018. Dr. Davis now serves as the Chief Pathology Resident at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. Davis credits her time at DMACC with helping her to understand that in moments when we stumble, we must pick ourselves up and give it another try. She says that she would not be the educator, mentor, curriculum developer, chief resident, or medical doctor that she is today without all those formative experiences.
Pulling from her time at DMACC, Dr. Davis says she gained valuable insight in working as a tutor, as she was able to see how others process information. This enabled her to adapt her teaching style to match the learner. That serves her well today in her role as Chief Pathology Resident.
Serving as the Wellness Chair in the Department of Pathology, she was able to apply her soft skills gained over the years to earn praise in helping residents maintain morale during the incredibly stressful early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the many initiatives she led was a system that allowed residents to continue to have their meals served during the pandemic, lending a sense of normalcy while reducing stress during a chaotic time.
Dr. Davis continues to make an impact at Johns Hopkins in a variety of ways including leading efforts to improve resident workspaces, increase didactic and interactive conferences, enhance communication between departments, and create a moonlighting system to reduce the impact of decreased staffing.
Reflecting on the twist and turns that have brought her to where she is today, Dr. Davis says that being someone who once struggled to speak up, she has found that advocating for others gives her the strength to speak loudly and confidently.
