Miranda Lindburg, MD, is no stranger to the Department of Otolaryngology, having completed medical school and residency at Washington University. She is now equally excited to continue her career here as a faculty member and continue her exploration of the St. Louis food scene.
Where are you from originally?
I was born in the Seattle area, but grew up primarily in a suburb of Salt Lake City. I was a medical student and resident at WashU and feel very fortunate to be able to stay on as faculty!
What excites you most about your new journey at WashU?
I am excited to be able to devote myself to both patient care as well as resident and medical student education at WashU. The focus on education here is impressive and I’m very grateful to be able to contribute to that portion of the department’s mission. I’m also very lucky to get to work amongst the fantastic faculty members that I learned so much from as a resident myself.
What influenced you to become a doctor and specialize in Otolaryngology?
I was always interested in biology and the function of the body, especially the field of neuroscience. I was originally planning on pursuing a PhD and becoming a scientist, but realized during college that I enjoyed meeting people and helping them more directly than I could as a researcher, so I pivoted to becoming a physician.
During medical school, I discovered that I enjoyed complex anatomy, a wide variety of pathology and diseases, and being in the operating room, so otolaryngology was a perfect fit for me. I love that I can talk to one patient about hearing loss, then discuss surgery on the thyroid with the next patient, and then see someone else for sinusitis. The surgeries that otolaryngologists can do are so wide-ranging and varied, and I love being able to help patients feel better and improve their quality of life.
Any hobbies outside of work?
Outside of work, I am an avowed foodie. I love to cook new things with my husband Hunter Banks, go to farmer’s markets, and explore new restaurants. I also love to hike and go on long walks; read (primarily fantasy and sci-fi, but I will read anything); and go to movies. I ski whenever I can, but this is a bit harder to do in the Midwest than in Utah! We recently bought a house and have been doing some DIY renovation, so that feels like it has become a hobby recently too!