Travis Fenlon, DO

PGY-1

Professional education

  • University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine

Why I enjoy the pathology program at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center exudes a culture of collegiality and consistent evaluation and innovation to yield the best in patient care outcomes. Dartmouth’s place at the top of my rank order list was solidified after my interview day, as it was clear that everyone here loved not only their job and where and with whom they worked, but that they also never lost sight of the why behind it all: the patient.

Dartmouth Health’s commitment to recognizing and actively injecting the humanities into their operations aligned with my values and career goals, as I am always looking for ways to highlight the visual arts and narrative medicine into the practice of pathology. My first interviewer told me, “There are plenty of poets at Dartmouth”—and I’ve known since then that this was the place for me.

About me

I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, where I graduated from Ronald Reagan High School, before earning my BS degree in biology and biochemistry from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. At Baylor I laid the foundation for my first career, serving as a teaching assistant for Introductory Chemistry over 4 semesters. I moved back to San Antonio after graduation, working for a STEM magnet high school where I taught courses in anatomy and physiology, medical microbiology, pre-AP chemistry, as well as giving a philosophy lecture series. I stayed in San Antonio for 5 additional years for medical school, earning my DO degree from University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine, and completing a yearlong predoctoral fellowship, where I taught histology, pathology, microbiology, immunology, and osteopathic manipulative medicine, in addition to treating patients at the student-led musculoskeletal pain clinic on campus.

I spend much of my time away from formal academic life as a politico, even electioneering at times over the past 15 years. I have an extensive physical library, primarily collecting and enjoying books concerning the history of economic thought, as well as the philosophical and cultural underpinnings of western civilization, especially as they pertain to aesthetics, ethics, politics, and theology. I am also a woodworker, specializing in lutherie work, primarily making acoustic guitars. I consume large amounts of standup comedy, even dabbling in it myself for a time as an impressionist. Lastly, I am a lifelong fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, and am hoping my closer proximity to the City of Brotherly Love affords me opportunities to catch a few home games during my time in residency at Dartmouth.