Basics
Hometown
Brick, NJ
Where did you attend college/university?
George Washington University
Where did you attend medical school?
George Washington University and Duke University
What additional degrees do you have and from what institution?
PhD, Duke University
What are your career goals?
Learning how to practice as a well-rounded clinician while studying immune-oncologic interactions in cancer, with the goals to participate in the implementation of novel investigative immunotherapies for patients with cancer
What did you do the summer before internship?
Got my Labrador pet-therapy certified, traveled to Washington and Oregon and the Gulf Coast of Florida
From co-interns, to senior residents, chiefs, fellows, and faculty, the teamwork and the passion is so palpable that it makes it a thrilling place to work each day.
Reflections on the Duke Program
What were you looking for in a residency program?
I was looking for a program that provided a highly passionate, intense, and exciting environment of learning clinical medicine. One that offered graduated autonomy from the start and one that was consistently surrounded by educators who were dedicated to training well-rounded, confident, and compassionate physicians.
What are the strengths of the Duke program?
Duke provides an incredible environment of teamwork and valuable education pertinent to several facets of clinical medicine. From co-interns, to senior residents, chiefs, fellows, and faculty, the teamwork and the passion is so palpable that it makes it a thrilling place to work each day.
What are your observations about the relationships between faculty and house staff?
The faculty are a component of the program who are incredibly unique at working with the house staff as a team, with the goals to confer an early sense of autonomy and clinical decision-making capacity that they initiate from the start of training.
Tell us about your co-interns. How long did it take to connect?
They are amazing! We joined as a team from the start, and we rely on each other for various conditions. It's so wonderful to see how a group of individual strengths can be organized and harnessed to empower the areas of improvement that each of us might need. We truly were close from the start. And not a day goes by on the wards when I don't see one of my co-interns from the prior service and have to give them a giant hug.
What has surprised you most about Duke?
The level of tailored, personalized training to each individual in the program is something so special about the program. For such a large program, as internal medicine programs most often are, this place does a tremendous job at prioritizing the needs of each of its trainees.
About Duke University and Durham
What's best about living in Durham and the Triangle?
My most favorite aspects are the fact that the weather is quite pleasant year-round with seasonal changes still, and the fact that I can bring my big dog most everywhere.
How does the Triangle appeal to people of diverse backgrounds?
The triangle is booming these days. From new coffee shops to cocktail joints to dog-friendly eateries, it's just so fun to go into town. Durham in particular offers a variety of avenues for both relaxation and a good night out!
Where did you choose to live, and why?
I chose to live a little closer to Duke Hospital, at least for the year starting out. Although I may need to change it up next year and get a yard, that's certainly doable, as the surrounding neighborhoods and downtown offer the full spectrum of downtown city-feel living to home ownership.
Based on your life, what advice would you give about moving to Durham?
Be open to the fact that this area is less of an urban environment but definitely offers that busy city-like feel in certain pockets, plus it can offer other activities and aspects of a high-quality of life- much different that than of a city.
What do you like to do outside of medicine?
I enjoy exploring new places for yoga, visiting beer and coffee shops with my canine, occasionally golfing and playing tennis, and going to Duke basketball games!
Parting thoughts?
Hope you have Duke on your list!