Maluki Radford, MD

I’m originally from Kansas, where I grew up around my parents’ business in Social Security disability advocacy, which sparked an early curiosity about people’s stories—the “why” behind who they are. That same curiosity drew me to science and eventually Internal Medicine. This career allows me to ask both the physiological “why” behind a diagnosis and the human story behind the patient.

When my husband and I couples-matched to Iowa, we were excited but uncertain of whether the program would live up to the “Iowa Nice” reputation and impression we received from interviews. Our fears were quickly allayed as we were welcomed into the Internal Medicine family.  Through the years of training here I have been blessed with lifelong friends within the program that have also served as role models and mentors. Iowa fosters a culture of humility and excellence that attracts both the brightest and most down-to-earth people you will meet.

In particular, the chief residents during my intern year were a lifeline. Witnessing the chiefs be approachable, patient, and self-sacrificing inspired me to also pursue this servant-leader role. Their advocacy and support helped me develop into a compassionate provider and I hope to continue encouraging that legacy.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy running, traveling to visit friends and family, spoiling my cat, and reaping the benefits of my husband’s cooking.

As the Chief Resident in Quality and Safety, I look forward to deepening my understanding of quality improvement and developing the tools necessary to improve patient outcomes within systems. After completing residency, I plan on pursuing a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.