Poonam Merai, MD

Assistant Professor 
Department of Internal Medicine, Rush Medical College
Role: Faculty
Joined Rush in 2016

Bio:

I obtained my medical degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2011. I completed my residency at the University of Chicago in 2014. I then worked as a hospitalist in Guam, an underserved territory of the US, before returning to the University of Chicago for my Geriatrics fellowship. I have been at Rush in the Section of Geriatrics since July 2016.

What inspired you to get into your field?

The great mentors I had while I was in residency who looked at patient care differently inspired me to get into my field.

What excited you about your work at Rush?

Finding a community of geriatricians who are also passionate about aging and committed to making Rush an age friendly health system is what excited me about working at Rush.

What is your opinion of mentoring and sponsorship? Please comment about your experiences.

I believe mentorship is important.

Do you have tips or advice you would recommend for someone looking to enter your field of work?

Be committed to the field of geriatrics and aging.

What are your hobbies? How do you like to spend your free time?

I enjoy spending time with my kids and lecturing in the community about aging.