Start Year: 2020
Basics
Hometown:
Raleigh, NC
Where did you attend college/university?
Davidson College
Where did you attend medical school?
Wake Forest School of Medicine
What are your career goals?
My ultimate goal is to be involved in Medical Education. Whether it be in undergraduate medical education or GME, I want to be involved in the training of future physicians and leaders in health care. I foresee myself becoming a clinician educator, dedicating my time between patient care and teaching.
"Duke's biggest strength, and what drew me to this program, is the people. It's a wonderfully supportive, kind, driven, and smart collection of residents, fellows, attendings, APPs, and nurses all working together for the patients."
-Carter Devlin
Reflections on the Duke Program
What were you looking for in a residency program?
I was looking for a residency program that would set me up to be a great clinician and a great educator. I wanted a place that would push me to reach my full potential not only as a physician but also as an individual with interests outside of medicine . Additionally, it was important that I find a program that would prepare me for fellowship training and set me up for a successful match in the area I ultimately choose.
What are the strengths of the Duke Program?
Duke's biggest strength, and what drew me to this program, is the people. It is a wonderfully supportive, kind, driven, and smart collection of residents, fellows, attendings, APPs, and nurses all working together for the patients. The program leadership has been absolutely amazing, especially during the unprecedented times of COVID19. I feel safe and cared for. We call it the Duke Family and I understand why. There are a lot of other strengths, including the robust clinical training, the vast research opportunities, and the encouragement to pursue life outside of medicine; but ultimately it is the people that make Duke great.
What are your observations about the relationships between faculty and house staff?
The faculty at Duke could not be kinder and more supportive while allowing the house staff to run the show. I have been very impressed with the autonomy and the competence of the junior and senior assistant residents. The dynamic between faculty and house staff feels like a collaboration as opposed to a hierarchy.
Tell us about your co-residents. What has helped you connect, support each other, and form friendships?
While it has been difficult to connect during the restricted era of COVID19, our intern class has made an effort to get to know one another the best we can and Duke has helped facilitate that. We have had small social gatherings with the chiefs, we had a dedicated lunch hour when the interns were encouraged to hand our pagers to our upper levels in order to spend time with one another.
About Duke University and Durham
What has surprised you most about Duke? The culture. I feared Duke would have a "malignant" culture, as it is one of the best Internal Medicine programs in the country. But those fears turned out to be very far from the truth. The culture is kind, supportive, and collaborative.
What is the best thing about living in Durham and the Triangle? As someone from the area, I am extremely biased; however, the Triangle is consistently voted one of the best places to live in the US, so we must be doing something right! I like Durham because it's a compact city with lots to do. With outdoor activities like the Eno River State Park, Duke Forest, the Sarah P Duke Gardens, American Tobacco Trail, Durham Bulls, and golf to name a few; with great restaurants and breweries; and with close proximity to Raleigh and Chapel Hill, there is always something fun to do here.
Where did you choose to live and why? I chose to live in a house in Downtown Durham. It was important to me that I be walking distance from things I like to do, and with my location I am a short walk from several great restaurants and breweries, from the Durham Bulls, and from the performing arts center DPAC.
What are your interests outside of medicine? I love playing golf and basketball, reading, watching movies and TV shows, playing video games, walking to a good coffee shop or brewery, anything to do with a dog (my significant other has a 1-year old Yellow Lab named Winnie and my parents have a 6-year old Kerry Blue Terrier named Duff - they are slowly becoming friends). I love traveling, going to the NC Coast, and visiting my high school and college friends all across the US.