- Title/Role: Resident
- PGY: 4
- Program/Location: Diagnostic Radiology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
What inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare?
Beyond being interested in science from a young age, I had a family member, now a semi-retired doctor, explain his career to me, and medicine seemed like a way to pursue a rewarding career helping people while also pursuing my educational interests.
Describe what your daily life is like as a resident.
On a typical weekday without overnight or weekend coverage, I wake up around 6:30 a.m., have breakfast, and arrive at work by 7:30. We start with daily morning conference from 7:30 to 8:30, then read cases from 8:30 to 11:30, usually reviewing a few with the attending once or twice. At 11:30, we break for lunch and noon conference, which may be a lecture or a case-based session with my co-residents. At 1:00 p.m., we return to the reading room for more cases and usually finish around 5:00 p.m.
What do you enjoy most about your specialty?
I enjoy interpreting interesting radiology cases every day, working “behind the scenes” in medical care to help clinicians arrive at accurate diagnoses and treat patients accordingly.
What has helped you succeed at MedStar Health?
The free food in the GME lounge and the support from our GME staff.
What's something that most people may not understand about medical training?
There’s a lot of learning that happens after medical school in almost any field you choose! I read textbooks and do multiple-choice questions most days to learn radiology, for instance. Also, there are many fields, such as radiology, pathology, ophthalmology, anesthesia, and surgical subspecialties, that a student might not be exposed to without a dedicated rotation. I discovered diagnostic and interventional radiology through electives and decided to pursue radiology rather than surgery.
What ways do you prioritize your wellbeing and/or help your colleagues do the same?
I try to go to bed at the same time every night to get a good night’s rest. On nicer days, I also try to spend a little time outside, since I’m inside all day.
What would be your top piece of advice for other residents and fellows?
Radiology is here if you need us! Whether it’s a question about which exam to order or a case that’s already been reported, I enjoy speaking with our clinical colleagues and consider it an important part of my job.
What do you envision for the future of medicine? How do you see yourself in that future?
Radiology will certainly be affected by AI, but I think many fields will see changes as well. We have an AI tool that helps us prioritize studies with critical findings on our worklist, and I suspect additional tools will be developed to help us work more efficiently in the future.
Where are your favorite weekend spots and activities outside of residency?
My partner and I love Alexandria, Virginia, and taking walks around Roosevelt Island. Visiting the various concert venues around the DMV area is also a favorite when an artist we enjoy comes through.
Anything else that you would like to share?
I’ve enjoyed being a radiology resident at MedStar Georgetown, and it’s hard to believe my time here is already 50% complete!