Basics
Hometown
Lawton-Ft. Sill, Oklahoma
College/University
University of Oklahoma
Medical School
University of Oklahoma
What are your career goals?
I’m interested in pulmonary & critical care as a specialty, with career interests in serving immigrant communities, environmental and social determinants of lung health, and health disparities in the ICU and chronic pulmonary disease outcomes.
Reflections on the Duke Program
What were you looking for in a residency program?
Unmatched clinical training, strong mentorship, and an incredible sense of community among residents – all of which Duke has delivered and more! I also sought a program with deep ties to the surrounding community and commitment to serving the underserved, and with opportunities at the Duke Outpatient Clinic and Lincoln Community Health Center, among others, there are plenty of chances for residents to find this.
What are the strengths of the Duke Program?
The ability to train in multiple hospital settings truly makes all trainees some of the most well-rounded internists in the country. While rotations at the Duke Regional and the VA foster autonomy while caring for "bread and butter" cases, every rotation at DUH provides the chance to care for someone with a new “zebra” diagnose we’ve probably only read about before! Beyond that, culture is everything – more than collegiality, there is genuine camaraderie among residents, consultants, and attendings, that make for an amazing training environment.
What are your observations about the relationships between faculty and house staff?
The faculty here genuinely aspire to make sure the house staff achieve their professional and personal goals in their time here. Every attending physician I've worked with has sought to know me personally and have found ways to provide me with opportunities to explore my career interests, connecting me with national experts along the way (many of whom are here at Duke!).
Tell us about your co-residents. What has helped you connect, support each other, and form friendships?
My co-residents are some of the humblest, most impressive, and most wildly fun people I’ve ever met. Everyone in my class (and in the residency truly) values relationships both inside and outside the hospital and deeply invest in one another. Aside from keeping things light on wards as best we can, some of my best friendships have been formed over post-call brunches, group hikes, volleyball games, and dinner parties.
What has surprised you most about Duke?
The culture here is unmatched, which is tremendously appreciated as the program seeks to offer residents great levels of graduated autonomy in patient care, even starting intern year. I have always felt supported, and I've always received help before I've even been able to ask for it.
About Life in Durham
What is the best thing about living in Durham and the Triangle?
Everything is so green here! The Triangle provides easy living, with small town conveniences, with many big-city attractions, all the while wrapped in natural beauty and endless hiking trails.
How does the Triangle appeal to people of diverse backgrounds?
Aside from easy access to any type of international cuisine you could imagine, the Triangle is a rapidly growing area that attracts all sorts of people from across the country for the various opportunities here.
Where did you choose to live and why?
I live in the Trinity Park neighborhood, conveniently walking distance to Downtown and Duke East Campus, while still maintaining its identity as a heavily forested and quiet neighborhood with plenty of trails. The 6-min drive to the hospital is also a huge perk.
What advice would you give to someone looking to move to Durham?
I had never been to North Carolina before the Match, and I’ve come to love the local art and music scene, the incredible restaurants and museums, and the easy access to both beach and mountains within a 2-hour drive.
What are your interests outside of medicine?
Outside of work, you can find me at the nearest farmer’s market or thrift store, running one of the many trails in the area, or sipping coffee at the many local coffeeshops. I always have a new rec from Netflix’s Foreign Language titles, something new I’m trying to bake, and a new spot I’ve been wanting to play sand volleyball.