Why Choose UPMC's Internal Medicine Residency Program?

Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?

I chose Pitt for many reasons, but most importantly I wanted to be at a program that supported my various interests during residency. I can easily find research in my field of interest, work with underserved populations at the free clinic as part of my longitudinal clinic (big plug for the Global Health track!) and learn from my medically complex patients at a large university center. It is important to choose a residency program that gives you the flexibility to pursue your own individualized interests. I don’t feel limited here, and I also feel very confident that I will become an internist who can comfortably manage any medical problem.

What do you like best about your residency so far?

My favorite part about residency is the amount of support my co-interns and I have gotten. Attendings are eager to teach us, and our senior residents are always willing to help no matter what the issue is. Being an intern can be very scary, and I came to Pittsburgh knowing maybe only two people. Now though, I feel like I have a large support system helping me navigate residency and various other life changes.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh?

I like the rustic charm of the city! I grew up in the Denver metro area and lived in Houston for a while, and both cities felt very modern with copycat buildings. Each neighborhood in PGH has its own distinctive look and culture. It is always an adventure exploring the city. My favorite neighborhood so far is Lawrenceville, but I frequently go to brunch and the REI in Southside Flats. 

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love hiking, going to Pilates, dog-sitting the cutest pups, and exploring Pittsburgh with my wonderful co-resident friends. I am currently on a mission to find the best vegetarian meal in Pittsburgh.

What are your career plans?

I plan on doing a hematology/oncology fellowship and incorporating global health/underserved care into my future practice.

Medical School: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?

The Pitt internal medicine residency has everything I was looking for: rigorous academics, a supportive environment of faculty and co-residents, and great research opportunities. After graduating from medical school in Lebanon, my partner and I were looking for a program that was both inclusive and supportive; we were lucky to find Pitt!

What do you like best about your residency so far?

I am still amazed by the combination of both intelligence and kindness among my co-residents. It’s also impressive how supportive and caring the faculty and staff are, taking a genuine interest in each resident’s journey and helping them achieve their goals.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh

The charm of Pittsburgh is its cozy ambiance and unique architecture. I love that the picturesque view of the skyline from Mt Washington is only a 10-minute drive from most neighborhoods!

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy discovering different local cafes and boba tea spots (Tsaocaa tops my list for boba tea). I also enjoy exploring the many parks in Pittsburgh during summer.

What are your career plans?

My career goal is to become a clinician-investigator in gastroenterology.

Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?
The global health and underserved population program drew me to Pitt. This track uniquely fits my career interests and personal passions. I also LOVED my interview day. At the end of the day, my gut told me to come to Pitt.

What do you like best about your residency so far?
The people. The people are the best part. Followed closely by the city.
Residency certainly has its challenges, but the faculty are incredibly supportive. I have met incredible clinicians who have pushed me to progress, while also cheering me on. I learn just as much from my fellow residents, who are always willing to help when needed. And of course, I have learned the most from my patients. Pittsburgh takes care of a very complex, high-acuity patient population. My patients have taught me so much about the science, and the art of medicine.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh? 
Pittsburgh is a very fun city, but also very easy to live in. There’s a lot to do here, and most of the city is very walkable. One of the best ice cream shops I have ever been to is a dangerous 10-minute walk from my apartment. I go frequently enough that the employees now know me.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Besides spending time with friends and family, I love to run through the different parks in Pittsburgh, try new restaurants, go to breweries, and eat at Millie’s Ice Cream!

What are your career plans?
I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up! I’ve been surprised by what I have liked so far, and what may not be my cup of tea. Regardless, I hope to help expand healthcare access to areas in need of it.

Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?

I wanted to work somewhere that prioritized resident autonomy and allowed early exposure to subspecialties. As a med student at Pitt, I was able to witness UPMC’s resident-led rounds first-hand. I was always impressed with how senior residents were able to efficiently lead the medical team, even early-on during their training!

Also, I was drawn to the X+Y structure of the residency, which allows residents to individually craft their schedule towards their interests. With only three years of internal medicine training, I wanted to make sure I had the opportunity to explore all the electives I was interested in.

What do you like best about your residency so far?

The residency really prioritizes community and collaboration. Even on the longest workdays, the resident lounge is full of smiling faces who are willing to help each other out.

Also, the faculty are excellent teachers. Here, teaching is prioritized and incorporated into nearly every workday. I’ve found that it’s easy to find mentors and attendings are always willing to help with anything you need.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh?

I love Pittsburgh! The city has everything you need- great food, restaurants, nature, concerts, and sports (Go Steelers!) while also being an affordable place to live during residency. Personally, my favorite part of the city is Mount Washington- the view can’t be beat!

What do you like to do in your free time?

When I have a day off, I love to explore the parks in and around Pittsburgh! Pittsburgh is full of great city parks: Frick, Schenley, Highland Park in the city, and North Park which is in the northern suburbs. Also, the bike trails are also beautiful for a ride along the river!

My wife and I also love exploring the Pittsburgh food scene. We’ve lived in the city for over four years, but we still have a long list of restaurants we want to try!  Our favorite places are the Forge and Pusadee’s Garden- both in Lawrenceville.

What are your career plans?

I’m undecided, but right now I’m interested in cardiology and critical care medicine. I also love teaching and I hope to work in an academic setting one day.

Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?
There were three things I wanted in the program I matched to: 1) A large hospital system that will provide me with great training. 2) A program that has the infrastructure in place to allow me to achieve my career goals. 3) A program that has a feel of camaraderie. UPMC checked every box!

What do you like best about your residency so far?
Resident led rounds: Attendings only round with the team once/week. On all other days the senior resident lead rounds and makes most of the medical decision making, teaching on rounds, discussing the plan with the patient and family. This was something that really piqued my interest when analyzing programs as an M4. I plan to go into academic medicine, so I viewed this as a great opportunity to hone my skills of leading a team beginning PGY-2 year. Usually, trainees aren’t given this opportunity until fellowship or once they become an attending. This has been great, and I am grateful to be training at a program whose structure allows me to grow both clinically and as a leader.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh? 
As a self-proclaimed foodie and new to Pittsburgh, I have really enjoyed the diverse restaurants.

What do you like to do in your free time?
On any day off you can pretty much guarantee I’ll be on the golf course.

What are your career plans?
Currently, cardiology is pulling at my heart strings — pun intended.

Medical School: Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

I chose UPMC for my residency because of the people. From the very start, during the interview, I felt a genuine warmth and support from everyone I met. The camaraderie among residents was evident, and it created a sense of belonging that I knew would be my lifeline during the inevitable rollercoaster ride of residency. Pitt Internal Medicine Residency program’s size and reputation offered limitless opportunities for both my personal and professional growth. The electives allowed me to shape my training to align with my future goals, all with the guidance and support of the program’s leadership. It felt like a place where I could thrive, surrounded by a community of residents working together to support each other. My favorite parts of Pittsburgh are the North Shore, Walnut Street restaurants, and North Park. When I’m not in the hospital, I’m spending quality time with my wife and our adorable baby boy, perfecting my culinary skills (aka attempting not to burn down the kitchen), and hitting the pickleball court with my friends. My future career plan is to become an academic cardiologist.

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?
Ranking residencies was no easy task, but I found that among all the variables I cared most about clinical preparedness, to come out the other end ready to take on whatever it is I decide to do. UPMC was a clear top choice with this in mind given its emphasis on early autonomy, layered support, and robust medical education. The unique resident-led rounding structure allows for unmatched autonomy as a senior resident leading daily clinical decision making. With this autonomy comes a desire for reliable support and the program’s design allows for a multi-layered level of support such that someone will always be available to back you up in any situation. Finally, medical education is a top priority with daily teaching in many forms including morning and noon report as well as afternoon teaching sessions; with emphasis on both learning and teaching to encourage career choices within medical education as well.
Additionally, my partner and I couples matched to UPMC (she applied Pediatrics) and something that mattered a lot to us was the programs willingness to not only recruit couples but also put effort into aligning schedules which has held true.

What do you like best about your residency so far?
As cliche as it is, it’s the people. It was important to me to find a place where I felt I could “fit in” and with UPMC’s many attributes focused on work – life balance it assuredly attracts applicants whom also appreciate these things. We all have a strong desire to be evidence-based, skilled, and empathetic physicians while also appreciating our time away from work and enjoying the amenities of Pittsburgh and greater western PA. The beloved 4+4 (x+y) schedule allows for a life outside of work without sacrificing clinical preparedness. You get to know your fellow residents who share your Y block well, with many weekly get togethers at local parks, pubs, and events around the area.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh? 
After only ever living in the NW, Pittsburgh had many different things to offer. My favorite parts include the many unique neighborhood strips of local restaurant, galleries, and boutiques along with the kind, fun-loving, and hard-working people who make up each community. The cost of living is reasonable on a resident’s salary, especially for being in a city that offers many big city amenities like sporting events, Broadway theater, and famous annual events like Picklesburgh (a weekend where downtown Pitt is filled with vendors selling everything pickles).

What do you like to do in your free time?
So far most of my free time has been dedicated towards meeting co-residents in various ways across town whether it be a picnic, trivia night, or stroll down Butler street. I’ve got my eyes set on exploring local rivers to start fly fishing once fall and spring roll around. Additionally, I’ve been pleasantly surprised on the biking accessibility within the city and the surrounding area with many 10-50+ mile trails connecting you to all corners of PA.

What are your career plans?
I am a victim of enjoying many parts of IM, but currently have my eyes set on Pulm/CC.

Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?

A big part of why I chose UPMC was the strong focus on general internal medicine. Going into residency, I was not sure about my career path, but I knew that I liked general internal medicine, so I wanted to choose a program where I would learn to be a strong internist first. I also felt the resident-lead rounds would push me to grow and be more independent by the time I graduated.

What do you like best about your residency so far?

My favorite thing about our program is the people, including amazing friends that I’ve made and incredibly supportive mentors. I also really appreciate the level of autonomy we are given as residents to develop our own clinical reasoning and practice style, all while having very available supervision if needed. The 4+4 schedule helps give some balance to our schedules as well and allows me to have some time for life outside of residency.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh?

I love that Pittsburgh feels like a city made up of neighborhoods. Each part of the city feels so different and it’s fun to explore. It also has a ton of beautiful parks right in the middle of the city where you can hike, play outdoor sports, etc. I tend to spend most of my time in Shadyside and Lawrenceville, where a lot of our residents live.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like spending time outdoors if I can, bike riding on the trails along the river or playing tennis in one of the nearby parks! I also love spending time with my friends from residency and exploring the city. During the summertime, I like checking out all of the outdoor festivals going on around the city as well.

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?
I wanted to be at a program that not only will train me to be a strong physician but will also allow me to enjoy my life during these important three years. All the current and prior residents that I spoke to felt immensely supported by the program and their co-residents. And the 4+4 block schedule also allows me to plan out my schedule in advance to recuperate and spend time with my long-distance significant other..

What do you like best about your residency so far?
My favorite part about residency is being able to meet so many new people from different parts of the country and world, who are all incredibly kind, smart, and funny. There are so many opportunities to hang out outside of the hospital. I know that I will always be able to find someone to go on a hike/explore the city/grab dinner with.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh? 
For me, Pittsburgh is big enough of a city that there are always things to do and events to go to, but small enough that I don’t have to stressfully parallel park everywhere I go. Plus, nothing beats the first view of the city coming out of Fort Pitt Tunnel.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I try to play outside as much as I can. Ohiopyle state park is the perfect place to go for a day hike. And for a weekend trip, I’ll be backpacking at Dolly Sods Wilderness and New River Gorge National Park. In addition, my fiancé and I have been exploring as many Chinese restaurants as we can find. Definitely stop by Everyday Noodles and Chengdu Gourmet if you are in the area

What are your career plans?
Although I’m still open to exploring other career paths, right now I’m very interested in hematology oncology. I plan to involve medical education, advocacy, and humanities as parts of my future career.

Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?

For me, it came down to the people and the environment of care/advocacy. UPMC is an immensely strong institution, and so is our residency program- whether you look at our clinical training, educational opportunities, research opportunities, mentorship and more. But what sets this program apart for me is how kind and generous the UPMC community is, making all the facets above that much more accessible.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh?

Having lived in rural Massachusetts and Philadelphia, I can confidently tell you that Pittsburgh strikes a unique balance between city and green. I absolutely love walking on the trails in Frick and Highland Park, eating through all the yummy food in Lawrenceville, and enjoying the festivals in the warm weather.

What do you like best about your residency so far?

My co-residents!! Work is much easier when the people you work alongside are awesome. The focus on teaching at UPMC is also special- there is a great deal of focus to fit teaching into natural workflow that fosters an environment of learning.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I recharge by spending time outside, staying active, cozying up with a good book, catching up with friends and family, and blasting R&B while trying new recipes (sometimes unsuccessfully) in the kitchen.

What advice do you have for incoming residents?

Don’t rush yourself. Your growth will happen when it is supposed to and when it needs to- don’t get lost in the anticipation of future stress/change. Keep doing whatever makes you human. Your future patients won’t bond with you over medical facts, but they will bond with you over that book/sports team/song. Keep your people updated with how you’re feeling. We don’t make it through our training in silos- we make it through as teams.

Medical School: Ludwig-Maximilans University of Munich School of Medicine

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?

The residency program at UPMC stood out to me for many reasons. First, it offers a broad clinical education with the opportunity to rotate into a great variety of subspecialties while emphasizing resident autonomy from the very beginning. Second, as a large academic center, UPMC allows for ample opportunities to get involved in high-level research. I really feel that the studies happening here do have an impact on how we will treat our patients in the future, and it is exciting to have the chance to contribute to it. Finally, UPMC is unique in that it offers a dedicated program track for international graduates from all over the world. Me being an international graduate from Germany, I am thrilled to be a part of this family within UPMC with my fellow scholars being from Nigeria, Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil and Greece. The list of countries goes on when you look at the other classes. This emphasizes how much diversity is valued at this program.

What do you like best about your residency so far?

The best part of my UPMC experience so far has been the people. From the very beginning, everyone was extremely helpful and supportive. Even before the actual start of the program, the staff at the education office did a great job to help me get onboarded to the program. Throughout intern year, it felt great to be connected to a mentor, who would also help me work on my career goals beyond residency.  Most importantly, the camaraderie among the residents is amazing and goes beyond the time spent at the hospital. The preceptors and attendings are very supportive while at the same time challenging you to take the next step. Overall, I feel that the people at UPMC make it become true what our former program director, Dr. Corbelli, said in one of her first speeches to our class: This place will feel like home.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh?

One of my favorite parts of Pittsburgh is my neighborhood Lawrenceville. I love the relaxed atmosphere when walking through Butler Street on a sunny day, exploring the different coffee shops and restaurants. It also has a vibrant nightlife, while still having this small-town vibe which I like. Other than Lawrenceville itself, I really enjoy the variety of breweries in this town. Each of them has its own touch and feel, and they are a great place to hang out with coresidents.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to explore the different places in Pittsburgh. There are so many different bars, breweries and restaurants, so you will always have something new to check out. Also, I enjoy running by the riverside with detours to Herrs Island.

What are your career plans?

Following residency, I would like to pursue cardiology fellowship. I love how many opportunities there are to help patients in this field, and how much research is being done. In particular, electrophysiology really strikes my interest. Longterm, I would like to work at an academic institution as, apart from patient care, I really enjoy research and education.

Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?

I honestly didn’t know very much about Pittsburgh or UPMC until I started looking at internal medicine residency programs at the end of my third year of medical school. Pitt initially came on my radar as I looked for strong, academic internal medicine programs within the Midwest (in places that also had strong neurology programs for my husband, hooray couples match!). The more I read about the program, the more I became excited about resident led rounds, the 4+4 schedule, and the emphasis on medical education. After my interview day, I was particularly impressed by the commitment to having trained educators (with master’s degrees in education) in general medicine faculty roles, the successful approach to graded autonomy with resident led rounds, the approachability of the faculty, and honestly how cool of a city Pittsburgh seemed to be. My husband and I decided to give a few years in Pittsburgh a go, and we’ve both been so glad we did!

What do you like best about your residency so far?

It’s probably cheesy and cliché, but I would not make it through each day if it weren’t for my coresidents. I learn so much from them (on the wards, at morning report), and know I can depend on them when I need help working through a case, putting in a tricky peripheral IV, or just getting through a long day.

I also am so grateful to be in a program with resident led rounds. It was such a great experience stepping into the leadership role of leading rounds as a new PGY-2, and I continue to grow in that role as a third-year resident. The structure creates an environment that is very conducive to learning, asking questions and discussion. It makes rounds more efficient, and gives every stage of trainee (resident, intern and student) more autonomy. Resident led rounds was one of the most attractive parts of the program to me when I was applying, and it has definitely lived up to the hype.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh? / What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I like running the trails of Pittsburgh’s urban parks (Schenley Park is my go-to) and biking along the GAP trail (a bike trail that starts Point State Park and runs all the way to DC). My husband and I like catching Pirates & Penguins games, Broadway shows that come to the Benedum Theater, and finding the best burger in Pittsburgh.

What are your career plans?

Academic general internal medicine – I hope to practice both primary care and hospital medicine, and have roles in medical education leadership

Medical School: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?

It is not uncommon to encounter programs during the interview trail that are truly hard to choose between. However, Pitt stood out to me in many ways. The International Scholar Track (IST) is a track for IMGs interested in research and has had an impressive 20-something year history. This is practically unheard of in any other large academic program and is a testament to Pitt’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Dr. Bulova, our track director, is a focal point and definitely played a huge role in my choosing of the program. Previous and current ISTs are a family within themselves and are made of seniors and colleagues who are extremely approachable, even during the application season. Another aspect that I learnt through the Rainbow Event was Pitt’s vested interest in providing gender-affirming care, that aligned with my own. Rather than merely discussing wellness, Pitt implements a practical 4+4 schedule and fosters a genuine culture of well-being.

What do you like best about your residency so far?

Relocating to a new city in general could be quite challenging, but there is an added layer of complexity to residency when you immigrate and must sort through your visa work in time. Pitt’s legal and administrative teams have proven exceptionally reliable and thorough, working closely with the ISTs with unexpected delays. The Chiefs listen and advocate for us – given my visa status, I requested a rather unusual vacation arrangement of three consecutive weeks, and the program accommodated my request without any questions. I also love my Tuesday Clinic folks (Go Tueslicity!) for making my transition into residency smoother. So far, I have truly loved the practice of resident-led rounds. While it grants autonomy and scope for MedEd as seniors, it definitely helps ease into residency as interns! Overall, these initial weeks have introduced me to some wonderful people who ensure I’m well-fed, heard, comforted, and help keep my homesickness at bay.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh’s walkability and dependable public transportation make navigating the city hassle-free.  I don’t know if I can choose just a few favourites since many neighborhoods have their own charm! I enjoy trivia nights in the Strip District, quiet strolls in Highland/Schenley Park, and the coffee shops down at Southside. Shoutout to my friends, Kseniya and Jesse, who share a love for diners; our sitcom diner breakfasts in the South Hills are a Sunday staple.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Currently, I am trying to rekindle hobbies I set aside during medical school, something that the 4+4 schedule has really enabled. Nothing like a fun karaoke session or boardgame nights with friends. I do occasionally experiment in the kitchen, much to my mother’s delight.

What are your career plans?

I want to continue working closely with vulnerable subpopulations; hopefully make some meaningful contributions in the realm of gender-affirming care. Clinically, at this juncture, I remain pretty undifferentiated. The sheer expanse of Internal Medicine appeals to me and I am not sure any subspecialty has captured my heart to the extent of forsaking the broader field of GIM. Pitt also has a very strong GIM department that offers mentors who’ve pledged their allegiance to this domain, and that definitely helps!

Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?

I knew that my clinical training would be second to none at UPMC with its unique resident run rounds, the opportunity to work with a diverse patient panel, and exposure to a diverse case mix that included “bread and butter” medicine and rare pathologies. I also wanted to be at a program where I could continue my research in machine learning and healthcare, and I knew that UPMC would provide every opportunity as one of the top 10 list of NIH-funded institutions. Another reason that drew me to UPMC was the city. I had the chance to visit Pittsburgh before my interview and fell in love with the different neighborhoods, all the little hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and the incredible view of the city when you come out of the Fort Pitt Tunnel.

What do you like best about your residency so far?

My chiefs and co-residents are some of the smartest and most wholesome people I’ve ever met. The 4+4 schedule gives a lot of flexibility with getting to know everyone outside of work.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh?

There are too many good eats to explore! Kseniya, Nanditha, and I just trekked up to South Side Slopes for Breakfast at Shelly’s – cute retro vibes, highly recommend.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I want to be able to finish at least a half marathon by the end of residency, so I’m on a run whenever I get a chance. My favorite route is coming from the east end of South Side Flats up towards Mount Washington. The top gives an awesome view of Pittsburgh.

What are your career plans?

I have my sights on becoming an intensivist but am currently torn between pulm/crit and cardiac critical care.