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Dean's Newsletter

Archive of previous newsletters

Our New Interns and Residents, 2007

Dr. David Guzick, M.D., Ph.D.

May 04, 2007

In my 6-30-04 newsletter, I recounted my first harrowing day as an intern. I questioned my ability to survive residency, and also commented on how the "novel" House of God seemed like an eerily accurate account of interning in those days--the physical and emotional exhaustion resulting from the competing demands of patient care, resident relationships, and the expectations of faculty, combined with the sheer exhilaration and wonder of it all—transitioning from a person with an MD after his/her name who is uncomfortable responding to the title "doctor," to a confident, independent clinician.

This newsletter follows up on the March 29th piece on the Match. In that installment, a cross-section of our graduating medical students told their stories of how they came to medicine and SMD, and how they chose their specialties and residency programs. In this newsletter, we look at the "receiving end" of GME from the standpoint of graduating medical students—here and elsewhere—who have chosen to do their residencies at the University of Rochester.

Michael Ferrantino and Andrea Noronha (Internal Medicine)

Michael Ferrantino and Andrea Noronha

I (Andrea) grew up in Pittsford, New York, a suburb of Rochester. I am the daughter of first-generation parents, John and Azalea Noronha, who moved here from Mumbai, India in the 1960s. Although my mother is a physician and both of my brothers were in medical school at the time, I chose to attend M.I.T. with the possible goal of becoming an engineer, like my father. After a freshman year filled with math and physics courses, varsity lacrosse, and volunteer work, I came to the realization that engineering was not for me. My personality fit better with the field of medicine, where I could combine my interests in science, research, and service. As I applied to medical schools, I was pleased to find that the University of Rochester fulfilled my interests in having early clinical exposure and a patient-centered approach to medicine. I also felt very welcomed and comfortable during my interview day, and knew this would be a supportive place to learn the art and science of medicine.

I (Michael) grew up in the town of Westwood, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. I am the second of three children, all of us boys. I attended Dartmouth College where my goals were to study English and art history. I had planned to become a teacher, but during my sophomore year I began developing an interest in medicine. Medicine fascinated me because it seemed to be the perfect combination of science and humanism, both of which I enjoyed. I fostered my interest in medicine with shadowing experiences at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, research at the medical school, and volunteer work. I chose to attend the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry for several reasons, including the biopsychosocial model of medicine and the opportunity to have early clinical experience with patients. This progressive model of education seemed vibrant and exciting to me, and unlike most other places I had considered.

We knew each other only as acquaintances during our first year of medical school. Little did we know that our experience together in the "Mind Brain Behavior" course with brain cutting would be the de facto start to our relationship! With a little encouragement from a mutual friend, we spent more time together that fall and began dating officially in January of 2005. Our relationship strengthened as we faced the challenges of medical school together, relying on each other for support and understanding. We were engaged in June of 2006 and began planning our wedding for May of 2007. After completing our third year, we chose to apply for residency in internal medicine. We felt that many of our most talented teachers over the past three years had been general internists, and often were excellent mentors as well. Many aspects of internal medicine shared a common appeal for us, including the opportunity to work with a diverse patient population, the breadth and complexity of problems seen, the longitudinal aspects of primary care, and the wide range of future career opportunities.

After an exhausting six weeks of interviews across the northeast and east coast, it came time to create our rank list. We had recognized early on the need to balance each individual person’s interests and values together to find the best "fit" for us as a couple. As it turned out, the further we looked the more we realized that the right fit was here at home. At Rochester the faculty combined our interests in primary care and medical subspecialties, and the residents’ career choices reflect this diversity. This is a program where a patient-centered approach to medicine is taught and practiced, and teaching is emphasized, indeed prioritized. We were impressed with the friendliness and genuine happiness of the residents here. Finally, the program director, Dr. Bordley, is a true resident advocate who is dedicated to creating the best learning and working environment for his residents. We are excited to join the internal medicine residency program of the University of Rochester, and we look forward to meeting the challenges of residency and married life together.

Elise Jensen Simons (Obstetrics and Gynecology) and Reed Simons (Emergency Medicine) [Written by Elise]

Elise Jensen Simons

I was born in Seattle, Washington at the University of Washington Medical Center, the same hospital in which I would gain my first experiences in Obstetrics and Gynecology over 25 years later. My parents are both Northwest natives -- my father a dentist who possesses immense passion for his work, and my mother a medical ethicist whose dedication to protecting that which is ethical and just in biomedical research has been an important model for me. I grew up with strong Seattle pride and a love for both the ocean and the mountains, and spent much of my high school years enjoying the outdoors on hikes, ski trips and time on Whidbey Island. For college, I decided to try something new and set out for Hanover, NH to attend Dartmouth College. I majored in Biology and Psychology with the intention of applying to medical school, and it was at Dartmouth where I began to cultivate my interest in both Women's Health and International Health. My exposure to International Health occurred during two trips to Costa Rica during my 4 years at Dartmouth to participate in building a health clinic and public health outreach activities. During this time I also gained insight into the importance of Women's Health in the overall well-being and status of women in education and society.

This interest in Women's Health, both at home and abroad, is something I carried with me into medical school when I began at the University of Washington. The school sets great emphasis on primary care, and my desire to pursue Women's and International Health were greatly encouraged. I spent 3 months in the Republic of the Marshall Islands participating in public health education and outreach focusing on teenage pregnancy and the broader impact on women's health and society as a whole. During my time in medical school, I was privileged to have many excellent mentors, both faculty and other students, who encouraged me to pursue a career in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Reed Simons

During my first year of medical school, I met my future husband, Reed Simons, also a medical student at the University of Washington. Reed grew up in Montana and received his undergraduate education at Carroll College in Helena, majoring in Biology. While in medical school, he developed an interest in Emergency Medicine and caring for patients in the unique atmosphere of teamwork and service that characterizes the Emergency Department. When it came time to apply for residency programs, Reed and I formulated our lists together for the Couples Match. I had heard fantastic things about the program at the University of Rochester from several faculty mentors, but the most enthusiastic endorsement came from previous University of Washington students who had matched at U of R. I arrived for my interview day in Rochester already excited by the emails I had received from former UW students (now current residents) who emphasized the strength of the training program, the cohesiveness of the residents, and the advantages of living in Rochester. The interview day was a wonderful display of this enthusiasm, evident in both faculty and residents, and I knew the program would be a terrific fit for me. Attesting to the strength of the many other residency programs at the U of R, my husband felt the same way after his interview day, and we returned home excitedly awaiting the results of the Match. We were ultimately thrilled to end up at the University of Rochester for our residency training, and look forward to what lies ahead in June.

Manasi Ladrigan (Dermatology)

Manasi Ladrigan

As a medical student at the University at Buffalo, I learned the sense of fulfillment that came with earning a child's trust and acceptance. I came to appreciate the awesome responsibility of being an advocate for someone who is an integral link between many lives. I wanted to be part of my patient’s family, to be able to grow with them. My decision to become a Pediatrician was born from a sincere desire to care for our society's children, while working diligently to serve their interests.

In my training as a Pediatric resident at the University of Rochester, I have had the privilege of accompanying many children through life's cycles of wellness and illness. Through the years, I found myself increasingly drawn to the child suffering from cutaneous ailments. However, I often felt unsatisfied with the care I provided for these children. In order to improve my skills and better help my patients, I began working with Pediatric Dermatologists in the community, one half day per week.In so doing, I also saw the suffering of these children, who sometimes waited months to be seen. As I spent more time in the Dermatology clinic, I became passionate about wanting to do more. I saw the vast need for more Pediatric specialists in Dermatology.

Pediatrics seeks to balance a healing touch with advocacy, education and stewardship. Dermatology does the same while emphasizing the accurate diagnosis and treatment of illnesses with cutaneous manifestations.Through my years of training in Pediatrics, I have gained a solid understanding of the physiology, natural history and differential diagnosis of many pediatric illnesses, as well as practical experience in effectively communicating with children and their families. With additional training in Dermatology, I plan to practice Pediatric Dermatology with the goal of healthier children now and the hope for healthier adults in the future.

I consider myself very fortunate, after having been through two NRMP matches where I have found myself at my first choice both times. Being a part of a large tertiary care center has shown me the value of the rich diversity of patients who are cared for here. There is a wealth of attending physicians who share the common goal of helping to educate the future of medicine. As a center of excellence in research, research opportunities are abundant and waiting to be taken advantage of. The city of Rochester also flaunts seasons that are unparallel and access to culture that is only a short, no-hassle drive away. However, what I have enjoyed most are the kind people who I work with and will continue to work with. The residents are warm, collegial, and supportive and continue to academically challenge themselves and each other. These wonderful colleagues have made my residency a great experience. I look forward to heading into another 3 years at the University of Rochester.

Sarah Offley (Orthopedics)

Sarah Offley

Growing up around farmers and ranchers in the mountains of southern Oregon, I learned that solving problems takes equal parts head and hands, and that having the right tool for a job can make all the difference in the world. These principles made a lot of sense when trying to maintain order on a sheep farm, but I had no idea that they would prove to be invaluable when working to become a surgeon and a scientist.

I was the first in my family to go to college. In middle school, I spent my afternoons under the watchful eye of my grandfather, completing geometry and trigonometry lessons he had handwritten for me. My Grandpa Val was a retired Navy Chief who had left school in ninth grade in order to help support his family. Later in life, he returned to his education, reading voraciously and sitting in on math courses at the local community college. His lessons cultivated my interest in mechanics and primed me to discover my passion for orthopedics and research.

I had my first experience with research as an undergraduate at Stanford University. I was hired as a research assistant on an osteoporosis project at the Palo Alto VA. Our team was very small, and I had the chance to jump into a central role on the project. A year later, to our team’s great happiness, our work was published. More importantly, I had determined two fundamental things: I wanted to become an orthopedic surgeon and I wanted to become a research scientist.

While at Albany Medical College, I continued to look for opportunities to pursue research. Dr. Richard Uhl, the Orthopedic residency program director, suggested several outstanding surgeons and programs for me to contact. At the top of his list was UR’s Dr. Judy Baumhauer. She invited me to spend a week with her in December of my 3rd year, and I couldn’t have asked for a better holiday.

Over my 3rd and 4th years, I spent time at as many different orthopedic programs as I could fit into my schedule. Without fail, I came across UR alumni in the best of them. Each spoke highly (and often wistfully) of UR. They made a point of praising the quality of the Ortho team, top to bottom. Nothing, however, prepared me for the exceptional visit I had to UR during my interview and my return visit to the labs.

When it came time to make my match list, ranking my top choice was one of the easiest decisions of my life. Simply put, no other program came close to rivaling UR’s many strengths. For me, there was only one choice. Rochester was it.

Konstantinos Spaniolas (Surgery)

Konstantinos Spaniolas

I was born in Athens, Greece, and although I grew up in a major city, I have been blessed with spending my childhood summers in my family’s hometown on a sunny Greek island. Being exposed to these two different worlds became the basis of my personal philosophy of balance between high-pace living and having the mindset to enjoy the ride. With my father being an ophthalmologist and my mother a dentist, medicine was a natural choice for me. I entered the six-year program at the University of Athens School of Medicine, one of the seven medical schools in Greece, and it was the ride I enjoyed the most.

The advantage of patient contact early on met my own interest in the acute care of patients. During the last three years of medical school, I found myself going back to the Emergency Room of our academic institution during my free time to see more patients. It was apparent to me that the more time and effort you put into what you like, the more it will reward you in the end. This became one of the best experiences I had throughout my six years in medical school. My interest peaked during my senior year in the Surgical and Critical Care rotations. I was very enthusiastic with the diagnosis and management of surgical patients, as well as the fine-tuning and micro-management I witnessed in the ICU.

It was that world of surgical adventure and acuity that I wanted to explore further. Soon after my graduation, I was accepted into a two-year Research Fellowship position in the Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care at Harvard Medical School in Boston. Part of my everyday responsibilities involved performing or assisting surgical experiments on small and large animals, as well as working with local data, large databases and participating in prospective trials. As a result of my two-year research endeavors, I was able to present our work at the 65th Meeting of the American Association of the Surgery for Trauma and other local and national meetings. Our work on bleeding control and resuscitation has been published in many medical journals, presented in the ACS Forum, the New England Surgical Society Meeting, the Western Trauma Meeting and others, and has received attention from the press.

These past two years have been very beneficial, and have reinforced my decision to pursue a career in Surgery. When I came to see the University of Rochester, I was very impressed by the strong emphasis on education. I was also interested in the option to devote two years for a graduate degree in Public Health. Although the history of Surgery in the University is world-known, I was mostly inspired by the present. The faculty demonstrated during my short stay their authority in surgical education, leadership and mentorship. These are values that I want to obtain during my residency training, and instantly I was determined that this would be the ideal fit for me. I know that I will be in excellent hands for the next seven years, and I am looking forward to starting a new chapter in Rochester.

Each of these residents will be entering departmental training programs, but these are coordinated by the Office of Graduate Medical Education, run with passion and tremendous capability by the team of Diane Hartmann, MD, Assoc. Professor of Ob-Gyn and Associate Dean for GME, Administrator Jean Boedecker and their staff. In my newsletter of June 24, 2005, I reported that our GME Office won a "gold star" from the Institutional Review Committee of ACGME, in that we were the first institution nationally to be viewed as meriting an extra year of accreditation beyond the typical 5 years.

I am pleased to report that ACGME’s Committee on Innovation in Learning has identified our GME Office and residency programs as one of four institutions nationally to be models of high-functioning graduate medical education. ACGME has initiated a project in which SMD’s practices will be assessed as a way of establishing benchmarks and best-practice standards for other GME programs.

Hats off to our GME Office and the residency program directors!

And when our new interns, residents and fellows arrive, please extend them a warm welcome. They are joining us in Rochester as they embarking on a very challenging personal and professional journey. No doubt, they will be up to the task. They are our future.

Meliora,

David S. Guzick, MD, PhD
Dean, School of Medicine and Dentistry