Erik Vilen, MD

Zumbro Falls, MN

College: Luther College, Decorah, IA

Medical School: University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN

Interests Outside of Medicine: Triathlons, Adventure Racing, Ice climbing, Rock climbing, Mountaineerign, Backcountry skiing, Fishing, Hunting, Paddling various watercraft, Cooking, Construction, and Dark beer  

Interests in Medicine: Wilderness medicine, Sports medicine, Improving healthcare access, Medical education for underserved populations

Life before Medicine: Carpenter since the ripe old age of twelve which convinced me there were better ways to make money than shingling roofs during the Minnesota summer (thanks for that lesson Dad). Spent some time bumming around after college, trekking around Argentina, moved to Missoula to ski and train for triathlon, spent 15 months deployed for the war in Iraq, guided sea kayaking in Alaska, worked as a fitness instructor, and more triathlons. oh, and lots of fishing during all of that except when in the desert.

Favorite Books: 

"The Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumas and "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas; because I would have been a pretty sweet swashbuckling swordsman.

Favorite Music: The intro music for "Geo Quiz" on NPR's program "The World"

Why you chose residency in Montana: Hmmm, it is a long list. Fun residents, can see the ski hill from town, sweet rock climbing ten minutes away, trout fishing in town, wilderness medicine program, can ride my bike to work, LOTS OF SUNSHINE, great faculty, opportunity for lots of procedures, chance to do tons of ER, away rotations at Yellowstone and Big Sky, cheap housing, brew pubs, great road and mountain biking in town, and did I mention the sun always shines. All the residents and their significant others are outdoorsy so you always have someone to go recreate with!