September Resident Spotlight: Audrey Panko, MD

Audrey is a PGY4, our current Education Chief Resident, and harpist in the Northwestern Medical Orchestra. Audrey grew up in New Jersey and studied harp during college at the University of Richmond, during which she toured nationally and internationally with the American Youth Harp Ensemble. During medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, she led MusiCare, a group of medical students, residents, and faculty who played music for patients in the hospitals. After moving to Chicago for residency, she joined the Northwestern Medical Orchestra, which is comprised of over 100 members of the Northwestern medical community, including two of our Ob/Gyn attendings, Dr. Michelle Brown (French horn) and Dr. Helen Cejtin (oboe). Through the NM Orchestra, she has performed pieces from the Star Wars and Harry Potter suites to The Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas. She also has continued to play as a freelance harpist for weddings and parties around Chicago, and teaches harp. After graduation in 2025, Audrey plans to pursue a career as a general Ob/Gyn and hopes to continue playing with the NM Orchestra!