October 7, 2004

Profile: Mandy Stadtmiller

Assistant director of publications and public relations, Feinberg School of Medicine

Northwestern alumna has also worked in development. Spends free time making people laugh.

What do you do? I contribute as a writer to Ward Rounds, the school’s quarterly alumni magazine, as well as other projects such as the annual report and Web site. I like the position because it provides stimulating work in a structured framework, which gives me the time and energy to pursue other creative interests.

photo by Stephen Anzaldi

What are you writing now? I’m working on a story about the Medical Scientist Training Program, which enables students to earn both Ph.D. and M.D. degrees in about eight years. Students can then examine problems from the viewpoint of a scientist and clinician. Ultimately, they can apply their clinical experiences with patients to the research they are doing in the laboratory setting and vice versa.

What are some of your creative interests? I’ve always loved comedy, even as a kid. As a Northwestern student, I was fortunate to interview several performers who interested me, including Conan O’Brien, Jay Leno, Ana Gasteyer and David Schwimmer. Because I was so focused on journalism, I never thought about actually doing comedy myself. In the last few years, I’ve been inspired to give it a shot.

How is it going? Well, so far. I’ve been taking classes at Second City and ImprovOlympic and writing a collection of first-person essays and scripts. Last year I sold a pilot episode for a sitcom about a dating company. It was the first time I was paid for comedy writing.

So you're performing and writing? Yes, I've also been doing standup around the city.

Is it going well? Definitely. I've had several people come up and tell me how much they liked the material. That's one of the most immediately gratifying things about it. Instant feedback.

How do you come up with material? I just write, in a stream of consciousness initially, and then I edit and develop the ideas I like the best. I find the funniest things are often the most painful and truthful, as opposed to quick one-liners. In any kind of writing or performing that I do, it’s a huge thrill when I say something that resonates with people, when I make them think about their own experiences in a different light.

What makes you laugh? One of the best shows on the air is The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. It’s very smart, with an element of surprise. It’s so rare that you’re surprised by something on television anymore in a way that challenges you to think. Their satire is brilliant, painful, and hilarious all at the same time.

So you're enjoying the work-life balance? I am, and it’s nice to be able to try different things to see what I enjoy the most. Right now, I like being able to spend my daytime hours concentrating on science and medicine, and when I leave the office, being able to engage other parts of my brain with writing and performance.

— Stephen Anzaldi