Philip Makedon, DO, MEd, MLS(ASCP)CM

Hometown: Homewood, IL

Undergraduate: Arellano University

Graduate: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Medical School: University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine

Sub-Specialty Interest: Transfusion medicine and hematopathology

Why did you choose VUMC Pathology: It's easy to create a giant spreadsheet comparing programs based on objective factors. I definitely did that. Vanderbilt checked all the boxes I was looking for: an NCI-designated cancer center, a renowned children's hospital, excellent CP training with the Diagnostic Management Team (DMT), and a centralized medical campus complemented by the new PMI core laboratory with state-of-the-art facilities. On top of that, Nashville offered an exciting city with plenty to do, all set in the beautiful state of Tennessee. But what ultimately made Vanderbilt my top choice was the people. Everyone I met on interview day was welcoming, kind, and genuinely supportive, and I knew it was a place where I would receive excellent training while feeling at home.

Fun fact about yourself: I have been kitesurfing since 2011, first learning in the Philippines and have kitesurfed in Florida, California, and Greece. I enjoy golf (handicap 14, but gets higher every round), hiking (recently Big Bend Nat'l Park), Muay Thai, snowboarding, walking with my dog, and relaxing with my cat and fiancée. Lastly, I’m a big Chicago Bears fan - Go Bears!