April Domster, MD

I grew up in Lyons, New York, and went to undergrad at SUNY Cortland for athletic training. I lived and worked all over as an emergency medical technician and a paramedic while deciding to go to medical school. I ultimately attended St. George's University School of Medicine before we settled down in Western New York.

I wanted a program with strong EMS and pediatric emergency medicine opportunities. Program size was important to me, too. I felt I would do better at a larger program. The biggest factor, however, was being close to family.  

UB has all the fellowship opportunities I could have asked for with robust EMS experiences available. Having a Level 1 trauma center, a pediatric hospital, community sites, and a tertiary care center also meant I’d be able to see all sides of EM and come out of residency well-rounded. 

UB Emergency Medicine has good vibes all around. The culture is very supportive and though we all come from different backgrounds and experiences, I feel that finding your people and growing your support system is easy to do almost immediately. 

It gave me the opportunity to meet some really wonderful students who are going above and beyond to help the community. On one UB Heals shift, I even saw a patient I took care of in the hospital, which was very rewarding to be able to follow up with them. 

The summers! Though the winters can be long, the summers are incredible here. Chicken wings, Bills games, and Sabres games are all highlights, too!