November 2024
Lulu Wei, MD
Hey Lulu, thank you so much for taking the time on your vacation to be the trainee spotlight! How have you been doing?
Oh, I'm doing well. Thanks for having me!
Let’s just dive in. It can take some time for us to really get to know each other at the hospital because our days are so focused on patient care. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and what experiences in life have shaped you the most?
Well, I would say something that's really shaped me would be the same thing that a lot of people have gone through, being the child of immigrants and being Chinese American, going through life and figuring out how to navigate multiple identities is something that's like always present. So it’s cool that I've been able to be a part of the different groups and cultures and have had those different experiences. I think another thing that shaped me a lot is just being from New York and being able to be exposed to a lot of different cultures, foods, art and things like that from a young age has been really lovely for me. It's something that I really value.
Those are such powerful answers, Lulu. Thank you for sharing!
It sounds like it really means a lot to you to be inclusive, kind and help other people feel like they belong as well. I’ve actually witnessed you do that many times at Vanderbilt.
Thank you. That definitely is really important to me, so I'm glad that it also comes out through my actions and how I interact with everyone.
Fantastic. Do you have a favorite type of art or cultural experiences that you've come across through your time living in New York or traveling?
I love that we have all these different neighborhoods and super niche things here. You go from street to street and things could be really different.
As for my favorite art, I really like a new gallery that's on the Upper East Side because I really love like Gustav Klimt and abstract expressionist art. So that's definitely a really cool treat that we have here.
Have you ever been to New York? I definitely recommend. What is your favorite museum?
I've been to New York a couple of times, but I haven't been since I was an adult. In terms of favorite gallery, The Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh is a pretty cool abstract experiential gallery that is pretty neat. If you ever go there, it’s worth checking out.
Oh, I've never been to Pittsburgh.
Yeah, it's a fun little city, but nothing like New York. I love to see all the like fashion-forward things you have worn so far in Nashville!
How have you been spending your vacation? Have you been in New York the entire time?
Yeah, I've just been eating and sleeping a little bit of shopping, but mostly eating and sleeping. It’s been so great and really nice to see my parents, my family and my friends. It's really cool that we're only 4 months or so into intern year in residency and then catching up with people, especially old medical school friends and seeing how much we've all grown and changed. It just gives you a lot of strength moving forward, too.
That you're not alone in it.
Yeah. And it's just like, oh, they've matured so much and they're even cooler now than when I remember them to be. So I feel like it must be reciprocal and I must have also matured in the same way, so I'm really happy about that.
I'm so glad you were able to go home and just spend some time with family. It can be very grounding, especially when you're away from home.
Do you have any siblings?
I have a brother!
He and my sister-in-law just got back from Turkey, so that was cool to hear about.
Oh wow. Did they like Turkey? Did they get to see the hot air balloons?
Yeah, they got me a Turkish bath towel that I'm super excited about. I’m pretty sure they went up in a hot air balloon, I hope I’m not making that up.
What a bucket list trip!
We're going to pivot a little bit, what has surprised you the most so far about intern year?
I think I've been surprised by how lovely everyone is. Like, I definitely feel like it's a very pure kind of learning experience in that sense. I have, like a lot of room to grow and room to fail, but even if I fail, I feel like I have people who can help me pick up and like figure out where to go next. So I feel like it's a very pure learning experience in that way and I'm really happy with all the seniors in the program because it feels like everybody wants you to succeed.
I’m so happy you feel supported during intern year so far. It's really important.
Do you have any favorite memory in the OR so far?
I'd say like the most recent memory in the OR I have is when I scrubbed into one of Dr. Moses’ cases, because it was a surprise. He was quizzing me on what I assume is music from the 70s, but I couldn't even tell you the time period. Still, I got some of it right! I got like the Temptations, Stevie Wonder.
That's much better than I would have done, I guarantee you.
Do you have a favorite case urology so far?
I like HoLEPs!
Niiiiice. Such a great case.
Yeah, enucleation and morcellation is so satisfying.
Well you will do a lot of them during your time here with Dr. Miller, Kavoussi and Robles.
Have you found any favorite food in Nashville yet?
Ok-u has this matcha crème brûlée and everyone laughs when I say it, but I took a bite, and it was like the heaven opened up and sang to me. I really can't wait to go back to see if it was like a one-off thing or if there is an encore. I really liked it.
That sounds so good. I'll have to try it!
Kisser also has a MISO crème brûlée that is really good.
Kisser is so good! I went there last week and we got the ramen, udon, egg sandwich and beef tartare.
Oh, the tartar is so good! Justin says you have to get the Matcha latte, too.
Next time for sure.
What would you say is your happy place?
It's definitely like me at home listening to an album, taking care of my plants.
What are your favorite albums?
I really like R&B, but I like the experience of just like listening to an album, seeing where it goes. Sometimes it's not great, but I want to hear what they had planned for me at least.
That sounds so relaxing. This is a hard question for me to answer. Do you have an idea of where you see yourself in seven years after residency?
That is a hard question.
Honestly, I'm not so sure, but I like that. I like that it feels like everything is open to me, like the world is my oyster. Like I'm excited to see where I am in seven years. I feel like anything could happen.
Totally. And you'll grow so much residency.
Do you remember what you would have said when you were an intern?
Oh gosh. I think I might have said married in a job that I love living in Colorado or something like that.
Well you should have two out of the three!
Haha, exactly. I’ll take it. Alright, a couple more rapid-fire questions to wrap up. This one is from your co-intern, Brian:
What is your favorite song on the Charlie XCX album?
360 for sure. I think he knows that, lol.
What's your favorite book?
There's Treasure Everywhere.
It's one of the Calvin and Hobbs compilations from Bill Watterson, and in it, Hobbs asks Calvin what are you digging? And then Calvin's like I'm looking for buried treasure. And then Hobbs is like, you only have found gross stuff like worms and rocks. And then Calvin's like, yeah, but there's treasure everywhere.
Oh, so beautiful. I love that. What is your favorite movie?
Kiki's Delivery Service. I really coming-of-age stories.
Do you have a favorite hobby?
Lately it's definitely been trying out new restaurants.
Favorite drink?
Long tea brewed grandpa style.
Grandpa style?
You have the leaves in your cup and then you progressively add hot water and you can drink it multiple times because it's loose leaf, so it's usually like a little higher quality and you can concentrate the flavor along the way.
Favorite accessory?
I like a really good fragrance and the black and white bag that my grandma made that everyone loves. I bring it everywhere.
Favorite dessert?
Hong Kong egg tart
Favorite holiday?
Halloween and Chinese New Year.
Favorite travel destination?
Hong Kong my brother took me for like my high school graduation. I love big cities.
Lastly, if you could only eat one type of cuisine for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
That's really hard. But I have to pick Chinese food.
Lulu, this has been so special and I've learned so much about you just in a little bit of time! Thank you so much for being the intern spotlight this month. We are so lucky to have you at Vanderbilt!
Well, thank you so much. I really enjoyed it.
interview conducted by Natalie Pace, MD