MATTER Track Class of 2027
Name: Katherine Baker
Hometown: Frostburg, MD
Undergraduate Institution: West Virginia University
What made you want to apply to WVU EM MATTER?
As an Appalachia native and WVU undergraduate alumna, I have developed a deep connection to WVU and the community it serves. I was a Ruby ED scribe throughout my undergraduate education which is where I discovered my love for the EM. I am drawn to high-acuity patients, variety, procedures, and fast paced yet personal environment. Both the people that make up the WVU EM department and program itself are unmatched, I knew there was nowhere else I’d rather do my residency training! Finally, I am hoping to continue practicing in the Appalachian region to serve my community.
Hobbies: Running, reading, baking, watching WVU sports, and outdoor activities on my fiancé’s family farm
Brief bio: I was born in Maryland and raised in the Western region, which is the part of Maryland that is just like West Virginia. I grew up with a large extended family who I am very close to. My family has two Australian Shepherds named Daisy and Moose. I attended WVU for undergrad where I played on the women’s club soccer team, and I have always been a huge WVU women’s soccer fan. I am an avid runner and am always training for my next race! In my spare time I enjoy making sourdough as well as hanging out with my family, friends, and fiancé.
Name: Eli Collavo
Name: Zachary LeBlanc
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Undergraduate Institution: Campbell University
What made you want to apply to WVU EM MATTER?
Emergency Medicine has been the direction I’ve wanted to pursue since before starting medical school. Before WVU, I was in the military for just over a decade as a medic which exposed me early on in life to unique patient populations, acute care, and various working environments around the world. Once I started medical school, I shadowed in the ED at Ruby Memorial, which was a great experience. Since that initial experience, I’ve always enjoyed the culture, team, and learning environment as well as the opportunity to work in various settings such as community and rural hospitals. So to me, I knew almost immediately after the summer externship, that I wanted to be here for residency.
Hobbies: Woodworking, Travelling, Hunting, and cooking
Brief bio: Pets, hobbies, family/friends, interesting things about yourself, etc!
Outside of medicine, the most important part of my life is my family. My wife, our son, and our two dogs enjoy traveling together, being outdoors, and taking as many chances as possible to hang out together. Fun fact, you can indeed fit that many people, dogs, and things into an SUV. Additionally, since helping co-found SOFtoSOM, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans pursue careers as physicians. I find a lot of my free time is spent helping others from the military community pursue medicine by way of mentoring, tutoring, and assisting with school applications. SOFtoSOM is for me, in a way, how I continue to give back to the community in which I came, and a passion that I hope to continue long after residency. I couldn’t end this without also saying that my wife and I enjoying cooking and dancing together, on most weekends, you can likely find us at a Salsa or Bachata spot (if they existed in Morgantown).