Are you in a special track or focus during your residency?
I am in the Global Health Track and have interests in behavioral health, addiction medicine, and OMT.
Why did you choose UPMC Shadyside Family Medicine Residency Program? Why Pittsburgh?
During graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh, I shadowed a family medicine resident at the Shadyside Family Health Center who inspired me to switch careers and apply to medical school. In medical school, I rotated with a family medicine physician who was an alumnus from the Shadyside Family Medicine Residency and influenced my decision to pursue family medicine. On a personal level, I have witnessed my brother and two close friends be admitted to Shadyside hospital and receive genuine care and support under the care of the residency’s Inpatient Family Medicine Team. Through these experiences and the residency interview, I saw how warm-hearted, humble, and capable everyone was at the program and wanted to be a part of it. Pittsburgh was the city where I attended graduate school, where I worked my first hospital job at UPMC Children’s Hospital, and where I spent my last two years of medical school for rotations. I love the city’s comfortable and scenic living environment and growing multicultural food scene.
What are your goals while here in the residency program? How will this prepare you to be an excellent physician?
One, I aim to become a capable physician who is not just friendly to patients but knows how to best treat and support them as they fight to live the best life they can. Two, through the global health track, I wish to learn at a deeper level the disparities that exist in international communities and learn what I can do to possibly address them as a family medicine physician. Lastly, I want to learn how to better manage patients overcoming addiction as I have lost loved ones to this growing issue.
Do you have any special interests outside of the residency?
My main musical instrument that I play is the bass guitar and am classically trained in piano. I enjoy hiking, tennis, golf, and ultimate frisbee.