Why Choose UPMC's Internal Medicine Residency Program?

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: Medical University of Gdansk 

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency? 
Amazing people, both faculty and residents, and great fellowship opportunities after residency.  

What do you like best about your residency so far? 
Outstanding co-residents and faculty that I had a chance to work with.  

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh? 
There are so many. But if I had to choose it would be Shadyside, Lawrenceville and Strip District. Each is very unique and has a different vibe.   

What do you like to do in your free time? 
Long and short distance travel. Cooking with friends.  

What are your career plans? 
Hematology/oncology. 

Medical School: The University of Toledo College of Medicine  

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency? 
I think the most important factor for my choice in UPMC for residency came down to the people within the program – residents and faculty alike – as well as the amazing opportunities for resident autonomy, including resident-led rounds and the medical education pathways that are available. Whether you are interested in research, mentorship, or education, UPMC provides you with ample avenues to pursue those interests all while being immersed in the diverse patient populations within the hospital and clinic settings. I think one of the greatest assets of UPMC is that the program truly aims to propel you to the next level of your career with all of the supportive faculty, residents, and opportunities that are available. 

What do you like best about your residency so far? 
One of the best things about residency thus far has definitely been my co-residents. While working in a new city during a pandemic was tough, we have all built a general sense of comradery and friendship together due to similar experiences of intern year. Additionally, I have a sense of pride for working in this residency department, one that is cognizant of the socioeconomic, racial, and LGBTQIA+ disparities that are ongoing not only in the world but also within the field of medicine. 

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh? 
I personally love exploring all of the different neighborhoods and the vibe each brings, whether it is the modern Strip District, quaint Shadyside, or “hipster” Lawrenceville. Additionally, the Phipps Conservatory, city museums, and parks are excellent for enjoyable days off from work. 

What are your career plans? 
I am still in the process of deciding, but currently I’m between becoming a Hospitalist with a medical education focus or pursuing a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology. 

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?
First and foremost, I love the diversity of patients I have taken care of — both pathologically and equally important to me, ethnically. Secondly, our schedule structure is amazing and allows me to do the things I enjoy outside of work.

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: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine 

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency?
On my interview day, Pitt immediately struck me as a place that was clinically rigorous, but also had a welcoming and collegial culture. Equally as important was that house staff were actually friends outside of the hospital. Pitt’s Residency Program struck an optimal balance between superb clinical care, research, and medical education. The program genuinely cares not just about my professional development and growth as a physician, but also my personal growth. Luckily, my initial impressions were met and even surpassed throughout my intern year!

What do you like best about your residency so far?
The people. There is a pervasive camaraderie within the program, from the residents to the program leadership, where we are all united to become better clinicians and educators. The residency program is incredibly supportive, which was well demonstrated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone is so welcoming and motivated, and my co-residents are always down to explore the city, go on a hike, or grab a bite/drink at a new restaurant.
Also, resident-led rounds are an absolute gem. Although I was skeptical at first, they make rounds fun and allow for early autonomy to enhance our clinical reasoning while being the primary physician for our patients. Plus, the 4+4 schedule really is a difference maker in promoting wellness!

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh?
I have quickly embraced the love and passion for this city that native Pittsburghers share. In just one year here, I feel like I am well on my way to becoming a Yinzer. I love that there are so many unique neighborhoods in the city, each with their own quirks; just to name a few: Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Polish Hill, Point Breeze, and the Strip District. In my opinion, Lawrenceville is hands down the best neighborhood with an ever-expanding list of walkable coffee shops, restaurants, breweries, and bars on Butler Street. All the parks, museums, arts, and sporting events are accessible and affordable making it seamless to explore all the city has to offer in my free time.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Outside the hospital, I enjoy running, playing basketball, going to local Pittsburgh sports, exploring Frick and Schenley Park, and checking out new breweries (shout out to Two Frays).

What are your career plans?
I hope to pursue Gastroenterology fellowship after my Internal Medicine training. I love MedEd and plan to make this an emphasis in my career!

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: West Virginia University School of Medicine 

The most important factor for me in choosing Pitt for residency was the general sense of collegiality I felt amongst the residents both at the interview dinner and on interview day. I didn’t feel the same degree of stress and anxiety when compared to other interviews. I was more at home and thought that I would fit in nicely with all the people that I spoke to. All the staff made me feel very welcome and I had great conversations with my interviewers and residents. Pittsburgh is also a great city; I was quite familiar with the area given that I grew up about an hour and a half south near Morgantown, WV and visited frequently for Penguins games. I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity to do my residency here as it’s been a wonderful experience so far! 

The best part of residency has been the people I’ve gotten to work with and gotten to become friends with. It’s been an odd year for everyone to say the least and COVID made an already big transition to intern year a bit more challenging. Through all the quarantines and isolation, the one thing that helped me the most was being able to go to the hospital and spend time with amazing people. My senior residents were all brilliant and so supportive, and attendings both on inpatient and consult months were always kind and respectful. The work life balance is also hard to beat with a true 4+4 schedule which makes planning weekends and trips during elective months much easier. The last couple of months of intern year were especially wonderful as I’ve had more opportunity to get to know my classmates and senior residents that much better outside of work with the vaccine.  

My favorite part of Pittsburgh is that it’s quite diverse in that you can get a big city feel with lots to do but also at a stone’s throw away get a very quaint and quiet neighborhood feel. There are a ton of great food spots, breweries, and bars. It’s a great sports town with the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates with very passionate fans which makes going to games extra fun.  

My favorite things to do in my free time include hanging out with friends, watching sports, and playing tennis. I am a big New York Yankees fan and follow them religiously. I’m also a Pittsburgh Penguins fan. I’m a huge WVU sports fan as I did my undergrad and medical school there. I catch some flack from my friends in Morgantown for coming to Pitt and though I’m a mountaineer fan through and through, it is fun to experience both sides of the “Backyard Brawl” rivalry. I do my best to get out and play tennis as well. There are lots of great parks in Pittsburgh with tennis courts, and Frick Park even has clay courts! Many in our class play and it’s been a blast getting out on the courts with them. 

In terms of future career plans, I’m hopeful to do a fellowship in Cardiology and then maybe also pursue further training in critical care or cardiac imaging. I really like the culture of academic medicine and hope to find myself in a position where I can work with learners and perhaps do some clinical research at an academic institution. 

Medical School: Universidad CES Escuela de Medicina 

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency? 
The people I got to meet during my interview here and the academic opportunities offered. Among these opportunities, was the international scholars’ track (IST). 

I still remember how Sara Carter, our program coordinator, helped us and walked us through our interview day, with a smile on her face. That is how I felt with every person I met that day: Dr. Corbelli, Dr. Berlacher, and many more. It felt like they appreciated me for who I was, with all my different qualities but also my shortcomings. Additionally, the IST track felt like a unique opportunity that I couldn’t miss out on. Overall, this program felt like home. I felt welcomed, accepted, and wanted for exactly who I was. 

What do you like best about your residency so far? 
Again, one of my favorite things is the people I have met along the way. I think this program has a way of choosing not only phenomenal physicians but also beautiful human beings as well. The level of collegiality is extraordinary. I have always felt supported by everyone around me, our chiefs, our attendings, and my colleagues for sure. The environment here has allowed me to grow in ways I never thought possible. Lastly, as a future cardiologist, I have to say having a designated in-patient cardiology rotation is amazing. You get to learn so much, even if your future interest is not in cardiology. The exposure to complicated yet interesting pathologies and working alongside brilliant cardiologists and fellows helped me consolidate knowledge, learn thousands of new things, and made me feel comfortable and capable in difficult situations. 

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh? 
There is a park called Mellon Park that has a special sentimental place in my heart. It is the perfect place to make a little picnic, read a book, and do some yoga. It has a beautiful view of the city as well. 

What do you like to do in your free time? 
I love to do yoga! I also have found a couple of yoga studios here in Pittsburgh which are fantastic. Other than that, I spend most of my free time with my friends from residency, to be honest. We love to hang out, decompress, visit new breweries and eat a lot of food! 

What are your career plans? 
One thing I am very passionate about is cardiology. I want to become a fierce cardiologist, hopefully in an academic institution where I can continue to work with medical students, residents, and fellows. I enjoy teaching a lot, and I believe it is a wonderful way of pushing yourself to be better every day. 

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: Weill Cornell Medicine 

Welcome (virtually) to the UPMC community! My name is Nicole; I am originally from Seattle, WA, and studied medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in NYC. I am an intermediate baker and a novice knitter in my free time, but one of my favorite things to do on my sunny days off is spend time walking and picnicking in the local parks. I am hoping to build a career as an academic hospitalist with a focus on social determinants of health research/advocacy and medical education. But enough about me – you’re here to find out why you should come to Pittsburgh! 

By far the most important aspect of my decision to come to UPMC was how apparent it was on my interview day that education is the program’s top priority, and every decision regarding the structure of the residency has been made with educational value in mind. Probably the most unique example of this is resident-led rounds, which promotes independent clinical decision-making very early in our training. I also believe that you cannot learn effectively if your mental and emotional health are not well-supported, and I was excited to see that the residency program addresses this directly. The 4+4 system is probably the most obvious example of promoting wellness through the structure of the program, but our residency leadership are also very individually supportive of resident wellness. And finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the commitment of our program director, Dr. Corbelli, to being a phenomenal advocate for the residents. Even though we have a pretty big program, she knows all of us personally, and genuinely cares about ensuring that we have the guidance and support we need for our ongoing medical training. 

At this point, you may be thinking – the residency program sounds great, but why should I move to Pittsburgh? Being from Seattle and coming from NYC, I wondered the same thing before I interviewed! Personally, I find that the most fascinating thing about Pittsburgh is its neighborhoods. Pittsburgh has a LOT of distinct neighborhoods (Google tells me there are 90!!), and each of them has their own distinct flavor and character. So whether I feel like novelty shopping in the Strip District, visiting the bars of the North Side or the nightlife of Lawrenceville, strolling art festivals in Shadyside, going to the parks in Squirrel Hill, or browsing the winter markets of the bustling downtown, Pittsburgh has me covered. There is a ton of nature sitting just outside the city limits, so apple picking, farm touring, and skiing are all just a short drive away. And from someone who just moved from NYC, the affordable cost of living is a huge perk! 

In short, Pittsburgh is lovely, and UPMC is an excellent place to continue your medical training. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the program if you have any questions – I know I would love to talk more with you! 

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. In my couple months of working here, everyone I have interacted with been welcoming and understanding. We have spent time in our training not only learning how to handle a viral pandemic, but also learning how to handle microaggressions in our daily interactions. There is a natural sense of advocacy built into the way people practice medicine here that was crucial for me in my decision-making.

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh?
Having grown up in a really small town in Massachusetts, and having spent the last 4 years in Philadelphia, I can confidently tell you that Pittsburgh strikes a special and unique balance between city and green. I absolute love Phipps Conservatory, running on the trails in Frick Park, picnicking in Schenley, and strolling around in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill.

What do you like best about your residency so far?
I really like my co-residents, and the sense of camaraderie that we’re building, even with social distancing in place. I also have to mention the focus on teaching at UPMC- there is a great deal of focus by attendings and the program to fit teaching into natural workflow that fosters an important 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 unsucessfully) 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. Take care of yourself. In hindsight, there isn’t a single workout or baking session that I regret, even if I double-thought it in the moment. 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: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine 

I chose UPMC primarily because it was close to home for me. It was easy for me to choose UPMC though because of so many other attributes of the program. One of my favorite parts about our program is how large it is. With so many residents per class, it is extremely easy to find your community. I felt like I always heard that residents loved their program because of the people. And I think that’s one of the things I love the most about UPMC. What’s great about our program, though, is that with our 4+4 schedule, I know I will have 4 full weekends to spend time with my colleagues if I so choose. Additionally, the 4+4 schedule has not only been nice for “work/life harmony” but it has also given me the chance to get early experience in subspecialties. I feel like this gives me a better framework for asking consultants good questions as well as dedicating a month to learn how a subspecialty thinks about the common problems they see, which we then end up managing on general medicine floors.  Finally, there is so much learning built into our day. On wards, I learn practical skills about how the hospital works and how to think about certain problems from resident led rounds. At noon conference, which I attend ~85% of the time, I learn how a sub-specialist advises managing a certain diagnosis or common complaint. At afternoon teaching with the attending, I learn a tangible piece of evidence-based medicine that usually directly relates to the patients we are caring for. 

In my free time, I enjoy spending time outside and exploring Pittsburgh. There are great parks nearby with several tennis courts. I love going out to eat and getting some retail therapy on Walnut St and in Bakery Square. Pittsburgh has so many different neighborhoods to explore as well. I am more used to a flat terrain, but the hills have really improved my cardiovascular health (or at least I hope so). Although I am not a beer aficionado, I do enjoy visiting the local breweries and enjoying the ~vibes~. 

I am one of the (new!) third year Med-Peds residents.  While I may have been looking at some extra factors (like the need for a wonderful Children’s Hospital) compared to the categorical residents when deciding where I wanted to complete my training, UPMC really fit the mold of where I could see myself spending these important years.  As someone who was not entirely sure what I wanted to do after residency when I started, I was really interested in finding a place that would allow me to practice different types of medicine in many different settings.  I loved the fact that I would have the opportunity to practice at a large academic institution, more community-based hospitals, the women’s hospital, the VA and multiple different outpatient settings.  I think having that opportunity has allowed me to shape the type of physician I want to be after graduation, and I think it’s my favorite part of residency so far.

After being able to practice in a lot of different settings over the past two years, I am most likely going to pursue a career in primary care – seeing both adults and children in the outpatient setting.  I would also love to be able to find a job that allows me to practice adult hospital medicine for several weeks a year to be able to solidify that skill set.  Our residency program has a generalist track which has helped me tailor my schedule with many different organized and self-driven electives which really helped me solidify my career choices.

While the clinical aspects of the UPMC residency program were, of course, such an important component of choosing a place to spend my four years of training, looking back I really feel like there are a few factors that have made an immeasurable impact on my overall happiness here, factors that I wasn’t necessarily placing that much emphasis on while interviewing.  I can’t express enough how much living in a place that I really love has impacted my overall happiness and well-being in a stressful time of training.  Pittsburgh is really my ideal city.  It’s not as large as New York or Boston, but it is still full of fantastic things to do with a very reasonable cost of living – so you can afford to do some of the things that you are itching to do.  As a transplant from the Philadelphia area, I also really appreciate the fact that my family is fairly close by after an easy drive.  I love the mountains and am never disappointed by the hiking available and outdoor places to explore that are so close to the city.  There are wonderful bike trails and plenty of green space in the city, which were nothing but positives for me.

The two things in Pittsburgh that I’d love to share with those considering moving to the area are 1) the best breweries and 2) the best ice cream (my opinions may be controversial, but I’ve done a lot of careful research).  The best breweries in Pittsburgh are Grist House and Hitchhiker Brewing.  The best ice cream in the city is at Klavon’s in the Strip District.  The best ice cream outside the city is at Churn in Glenshaw.  Give them a try.

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 into 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. Myself being an international graduate from Germany, I am thrilled to be a part of this family within UPMC with this year’s scholars from Nigeria, Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil and Greece. The list of countries goes on when you look at the senior 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 have 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. The camaraderie among the residents is amazing and goes beyond the time spent at the hospital. Finally, the preceptors and attendings are very supporting 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 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 night life, 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 a 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.

When choosing my residency, I looked for a few key factors. I wanted to train at a large academic medical center with clinical excellence across all specialties; emphasis on resident autonomy; and a supportive environment. I found all of that and more at Pitt. What stands out to me every day is the acuity of patients we take care of. Due to a catchment area that stretches across multiple state lines, we care for incredibly sick and complex patients.  As PGY2’s we lead our own rounds and take ownership over the whole team. Couple this with our patient population, and that creates a uniquely strong clinical training experience.

Another pro of being at UPMC is the fact that I get to enjoy Pittsburgh. Being a lifelong New Yorker, Pittsburgh has exceeded all of my expectations. Not only is the day-to-day quality of life here easy for a busy resident’s schedule, but on my days off there is always something exciting to do. I love how much rich character, history, and diversity there is in each neighborhood. There is a large young community here, a terrific food scene, the city is super dog friendly, and the opportunities to explore nature here are incredible. I think Pittsburgh is one of the few cities that really has it all for everyone, no matter if you are single, with a pet, or a family. The 4+4 schedule let’s you really take advantage of that.

Ultimately, I know I want to stay in academics, but for now, I am undecided about the exact subspecialty. My interests are all over the map, spanning from cardiology, oncology, to nephrology and critical care. Being at a large research powerhouse like UPMC makes it very easy to connect with leading experts in each field and get involved.

Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine 

What was the most important factor in your choice of Pitt for residency? 
When it came to choosing a place for residency, I focused on finding a place that balanced kind and passionate people with program caliber. Interviewing at different programs across the country allows for a small glimpse into the culture of an institution. I carefully reflected following each interview day whether I could see myself at that program. I remember leaving my interview day at UPMC feeling like this is the place where I want to spend the next phase of my training. I was amazed by the kindness of all the residents I met, by how knowledgeable everyone seemed at morning report, by the opportunities available to residents, and by the passion of our program director, Dr. Corbelli. One of the most striking examples is a story Dr. Corbelli shared in which a resident had been affected by the travel ban put in place by a prior presidential administration. UPMC went to extraordinary lengths to help this resident and that highlighted the degree our program is willing to go for us. To top it all off, Pitt Internal Medicine offers world class training and will open any career door you wish to pursue. 

What do you like best about your residency so far? 
Our schedule structure. In general, we have a “4+4” system which means you will have weekends off every other block. Residency will be grueling, taxing, and exhausting no matter where you go but knowing there are “golden weekends” to look forward to every other month is fantastic. 

What are your favorite parts of Pittsburgh?  
As someone who has spent most of their life in rural Appalachia, I enjoy how Pittsburgh offers lots of green spaces such as Frick and Schenley park while also giving you the city feel. Pittsburgh is comprised of many neighborhoods and they all are individually unique and most are filled with great eateries.

What do you like to do in your free time? 
I enjoy spending time outdoors (which has only increased since we recently got a hammock), exploring the city, throwing a frisbee, game nights, video games, and playing basketball. 

What are your career plans? 
I initially came into residency undifferentiated and have spent a considerable amount of time thinking about all the possibilities. Gastroenterology has always been at the top of the list of options and my current plan is to apply for GI fellowship. It might even be fitting as someone who (unfortunately) experienced a severe upper GI bleed fresh out of high school!