Chief Residents

Thank you for visiting our residency website. We hope you find the information provided useful in getting to know our program.

There are many exceptional emergency medicine residency programs in the country, but we feel like our program stands out among the crowd.

The variety of the clinical sites at our program is second to none.

The attending physicians here have diverse skill sets, provide unparalleled teaching, and many have fellowship training in various areas of emergency medicine.

Above all, the philosophy of the UBEM program is that we are all a family, and this mentality is evident in all areas of our training program.

Birthplace: Skokie, IL 

College:  Indiana University Bloomington 

Medical School:  Marian University

Medical/Research Interests: Ultrasound, Med Ed, Physician Wellness  

Scholarly Track: Ultrasound

Personal Interests: Live music, Peloton, yoga, coffee shops, running, cooking 

How did you hear about our program: Alumni of the program and graduates of my medical school who chose to train here as well  

It’s hard for me to know where to begin when talking about the strengths of our program because there are so many things that come to mind. I think the most important of them all, however, is the people. From day one, you are welcomed warmly into the UBEM family by faculty, staff, and fellow co-residents alike. From our program coordinator, Dee, to our program director, Dr. DeFazio, and everyone else in between, the people here make this program one of a kind. You will never feel alone or unsupported with the passionate and caring culture which UBEM has cultivated.  From a training standpoint, the education we receive is superb. We are lucky enough to rotate through six different clinical sites, all of which offer unique educational experiences. As for our academic sites, we rotate through our Level 1 trauma center at ECMC, our stroke and STEMI center at BGH, and our children’s level 1 trauma center at Oishei Children’s. Our community sites offer robust training as well, with a very busy community acute care hospital at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, as well as our local VA, and a single coverage stand-alone ED at Degraff Memorial Hospital. There is no doubt that with such a variety of clinical experience, you will be prepared to work in any setting after training in Buffalo.  

Buffalo has a charm about it that is undeniable. Whether it be Saturday morning farmers markets in Bidwell Parkway, Food Truck Tuesdays in Larkinville, or Sunday morning Bills tailgates in Orchard Park before a football game, the spirit of Buffalo is contagious. The people who live here bring a culture and pride that is uniquely Buffalo and is beyond welcoming. After all, Buffalo is coined “The City of Good Neighbors”. As an out-of-towner from Chicago, I have found Buffalo to offer the best of both worlds. Buffalo brings the entertainment and amenities of a big city, but without the hassle of traffic and high cost of living that bigger cities endure. Although most people associate Buffalo with cold and snow, it is actually a city of four beautiful seasons; all of which lend to different outdoor and indoor activities and events to be enjoyed throughout the year. Overall, Buffalo has it all.  I could go on and on about how great Buffalo is, but I hope you come to discover Buffalo and all that we have to offer firsthand instead!  Go Bills! 

Hometown: Bethesda, MD

College: Colby College

Medical school: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNE COM)

Medical/Research interests: EMS and event medicine, airway management

Scholarly Track: EMS and Academic Tracks

Personal Interests: Hiking and spending time outdoors, baking sourdough bagels, playing and watching sports

How did you hear about our program?: When I was an ER Tech working in a small town hospital in New Hampshire, I got to know the medical students that were rotating at the hospital. Not only did I end up attending the same medical school as those students, but one of the medical students I met as an ER Tech would later become one of the UB chief residents and introduced me to the wonders of Buffalo!

This residency has become family. The whole first month of residency is built for you to get to know the city and your classmates, which helps form the bonds that last throughout residency and beyond, as you’ll hear from alumni. Residents are constantly messaging about trips to the beach, breweries, or offering to host for a fire pit or grill-out; whatever wellness means to you, there’s an opportunity for it. The academic caliber is also unmatched. I came here particularly interested in EMS, and my expectations have been surpassed with all the opportunities available to residents. As an EMS track resident, I’ve worked the Buffalo Bills games, driven the physician SMART car (i.e., fly car), flown in both fixed as well as rotor winged medical transports, taught paramedic students how to intubate, and so much more. Overall though, what all the recent grads and alumni share time and time again, is the exposure we get to sick patients. We work in all ED settings, from tertiary STEMI/stroke and trauma care, to stand-alone and community EDs, all within an eight- to twenty-minute drive from my apartment.

I love the big city – small town vibes this city and its people have fostered. As a big sports fan, I love being able to attend NHL, NFL, and MiLB games. To satisfy my desire for being outside, there are tons of amazing parks around the city. I even live walking distance to one of the larger parks in Buffalo, which not only offers glimpses of the Buffalo Zoo bison, but also has a nice 18-hole golf course. It’s only a short bike ride to the Shoreline trail that follows along the Niagara River. The summertime is certainly abustle with lots to do, but I also love the winters. Living North of the city helps avoid some of the major snowfall (minus this past winter), but there’s still enough to go ice skating or curling with friends Canalside downtown. There’s plenty to do, and plenty of opportunities to eat well! Buffalo may be best known for its wings, but whether I’m in the mood for a nice night out with my fiancé by the river, or a casual hangout with friends and Thai food, there’s always new places to try and good food to be enjoyed.

Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio

College: University at Buffalo

Medical School: University at Buffalo

Medical/Research Interests: Ultrasound, Academics, Administration

Scholarly Track: Ultrasound

Personal Interests: Basketball, Peloton, anything sporty or competitive, cooking, reading, my dog Ghost

How did you hear about our program: I went to undergrad and medical school here so I was lucky enough to have firsthand exposure to UBEM

Unlike other residencies, UBEM provides the unique opportunity to rotate at multiple different sites. We have ECMC, our Level 1 Trauma Center; BGH, our stroke and STEMI academic center; Oshei, our Level 1 Pediatric ED; Millard Fillmore Suburban and Degraff, our community EDs; and the VA ED. This setup gives us exposure to critically ill patients from vastly different patient populations, and also allows us the opportunity to learn in different settings from Attendings with different styles. For me personally, this breadth of experience has been invaluable and has helped guide my longterm career aspirations.  On top of the unending learning opportunities, our residency is also full of amazing people who make it easy to come to work. From my co-residents, to APPs, to the Attendings, I have created lifelong friends and mentors in my time here. I feel truly valued as a member of UBEM and I am grateful to be a part of this organization.

As someone who came to Buffalo 12 years ago with the intention of only staying a few years.... TRUST ME, you will fall in love with this city, just like I did. People love to focus only on the winters when talking about Buffalo, but summers and falls here are second to none. This is a close-knit community with a lot of the perks of a bigger city and there is always something fun to do (check out https://stepoutbuffalo.com if you don’t believe me). We have outdoor festivals, farmers markets, breweries, hiking trails, beaches (yes, BEACHES!), the Buffalo Bills, the Buffalo Sabres, a top knotch zoo, ski resorts, countless art galleries, and SO MUCH GOOD FOOD. The experiences here are endless but above all else, you will get to be part of a community that truly cares about you, and that is my favorite part about Buffalo!