Riley Ochs

Undergraduate School and Major: Western Washington University- Biochemistry

Medical School: Pacific Northwest University

Life/professions/adventures prior to attending medical school: All sorts of things! During the summers from high school through the first half of college, I worked for a kayak guiding outfit based out of the San Juan Islands in Washington State. I've also spent time as a tutor, high school paraeducator, commercial fisherman, ED scribe, and amateur bike mechanic.

Interests / Hobbies: I love doing anything outside with my friends and awesome partner, Sarah! I also enjoy cooking, going to a good coffee shop, and discovering new music.

Favorite Food: Nothing beats in-season blueberries.

Restaurant Recommendation: I still have so much to explore as far as Portland’s food scene goes, but Big Sky Bread Co has some great soups/bagels.

Favorite TV Show or Movie: Breaking Bad and 60 Minutes.

What book do you recommend to others and why: Astoria by Peter Stark. It's a well-told true story recounting the adversity and adventure that came with exploring the American West in the early 1800s. I enjoy historical nonfiction and think this book provides an insightful look into a time not often highlighted.

Favorite Hike or Ski trail: "The arm" at Mt. Baker (Washington State) has some of the best ski runs around.

Favorite Beach (doesn’t have to be in Maine): Butterfly Beach in Santa Barbara, CA.

Craziest / Best / Worst Job: My time spent as an ED scribe was easily the best. I was able to work with some remarkable folks who played a large role in inspiring me to pursue emergency medicine. The craziest would be commercial fishing; it seemed like we would have a wild story to tell after every day!

If I weren’t a doctor I would be: Either a teacher or, more likely, something else in healthcare.

Medical Interests: Wilderness medicine! I was lucky enough to complete the wilderness medicine elective at MMC as a fourth-year med student, and this really added to my enthusiasm for the specialty. I'm also interested in ultrasound, critical care, and social EM.

Personal Goals: Push myself to become the best physician I can be, say yes to as many learning opportunities as possible, and maintain a strong balance between work, family time, and recreation!

Favorite Place in Maine: Baxter State Park.

Why MMC: When exploring residency programs as a medical student, I had a hard time deciding between academic, community, or county training environments. I believe MMC is uniquely positioned to provide aspects of all three! They have the pathology, research, sub-specialists, and diverse mentorship you would expect from a strong academic hospital. At the same time, EM residents don't feel like they have to compete with other residency programs for cases. Additionally, the residents and attendings seemed like an incredibly accomplished, close-knit group who were happy, supportive, and truly cared for each other. This, combined with being located in one of the most beautiful places in the world, made MMC a no-brainer for me.