Start Year: 2019

Basics

Hometown
Charlotte, NC

Where did you attend college/university?
​Dartmouth College

Where did you attend medical school?
University of North Carolina School of Medicine

What are your career goals?
First and foremost, I want to be a great clinician and provide evidence-based, high value care to my patients. I have a particular interest in palliative care and critical care. I worked in health care consulting before medical school, and would like to continue this work by taking on a more management / business type role as part of my career, while staying mostly clinical. With changing models of care and the rise in health care costs, I hope to play a role in finding strategies to reduce health care spending and optimizing value-based care.

What did you do the summer before intern year?
I spent most of my time before intern year rock climbing. I spent a month at the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, camping with my dog and climbing in the beautiful caves around Slade. In May, I went backpacking in the Grand Canyon with my dad, and then a week later got married! My husband and I went to France and Italy for our honeymoon, where we spent most of our time climbing.

"Duke has an amazing group of residents and faculty who are supportive and motivated to both practice excellent medicine while also pursuing passions aimed at bettering the world."

-Joanna Cavalier

Reflections on the Duke Program

What were you looking for in a residency program?
Great clinical training with a diverse group of co-residents and faculty. I wanted a program that focuses on health care systems in a broader sense and is doing innovative work in the world of health care delivery.

What are the strengths of the Duke Program?
An amazing group of residents and faculty who are supportive and motivated to both practice excellent medicine while also pursuing passions aimed at bettering the world.

What are your observations about the relationships between faculty and house staff?
Supportive and friendly. Everyone advocates for each other.

Tell us about your co-residents. What has helped you connect, support each other, and form friendships?
Spending time together exploring Durham and talking about difficult cases.

What had surprised you most about Duke?
​How supportive everyone is!

About Duke University and Durham

What is the best thing about living in Durham and the Triangle?
​Living just a few hours from my family & the new bouldering gym in Durham!

How does the Triangle appeal to people of diverse backgrounds?
It is a diverse city with lots to do, tons of great restaurants, and lots of different activities.

Where did you choose to live and why?
​I live close to downtown, right near NCCU. I like this neighborhood because it is close to downtown, diverse, and I can get to the tobacco trail in just a few minutes.

What advice would you give to someone looking to move to Durham?
There are lots of options for both buying and rental. Durham is growing quickly, so buying could be a great investment!

What are your interests outside of medicine?
Rock climbing, especially at the Red River Gorge and New River Gorge. I also love spending time in the mountains with my family, my husband, and our two dogs.