New faculty spotlight: Karisa Hajek, M.D.

Karisa Hajek, M.D., is a new faculty member at UNMC.

• Name: Karisa Hajek, M.D.
• Hometown: Fremont, Neb.
• Title and department at UNMC: Instructor, UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, chief resident

Research/professional interests:

• Hospital medicine
• Women’s health
• Resident and medical student education

How I fell in love with internal medicine:

Shortly after starting my internal medicine clerkship as a third-year medical student, I realized I had found “my people.” I love the intellectual challenge — I feel like I spend my days solving complex puzzles. Practicing internal medicine also gives me the opportunity and privilege to help my patients and their families navigate through what are often scary and difficult hospitalizations, and it gives me great joy to make these scary situations more comfortable.

Degrees:

• M.D., UNMC.
• Residency, internal medicine-pediatrics, UNMC

Memberships:

• American College of Physicians
• American Medical Association
• American Medical Women’s Association
• American Academy of Pediatrics

Three things people may not know about me:

• I’m a huge fan of the show “The Office” — I dare anyone to challenge me in trivia!
• If I wasn’t a physician, I would be a veterinarian.
• I’m a Minnesota Vikings fan. Skol Vikes!