Bryanna Lexus Freitas, MD ’25
Meet Bryanna Lexus Freitas, MD ’25, Emergency Medicine Resident
Tell us briefly about your background.
I grew up in Lincoln, Rhode Island, but my family comes from Portugal for which I am a dual citizen. I went to the University of Massachusetts Amherst for undergrad where I received Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry and psychology.
Afterwards, I was an infectious disease research fellow at the Wadsworth Center in Albany, New York, for one year before ultimately getting my medical degree from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo in 2025.
When looking at emergency medicine residency programs, what qualities were most important to you?
I prioritized strong clinical training with a high patient volume and a diverse patient population. I was also looking for a supportive and collaborative environment with engaged faculty and co-residents. I also wanted a program with strong ultrasound education to help me improve on my skills and allow me to have more tools to use when evaluating patients.
Additionally, I also wanted a program with different EM tracks and attendings with different educational backgrounds as I am currently interested in the EMS and wilderness medicine fellowships.
What specific attributes about UB’s program appealed to you the most? Did earning your MD from the Jacobs School influence your decision in any way?
I decided to stay at UB for residency because of how much I loved the program. I saw firsthand on my clinical rotations how supportive, approachable and invested the faculty and residents were in both patient care and education. I found myself to be at my happiest rotating in the Emergency Department here.
I appreciate the diverse patient population we have here and how lucky we are to be able to rotate at so many different emergency departments. I also enjoy volunteering for the UB Heals street medicine outreach initiative with the medical students which I get to do as an EM resident.
Can you talk more about the benefits of the program having a diversity of clinical training sites?
Training at a variety of clinical sites provides us with great exposure to different patient populations, health care systems and practice styles. This will prepare me to practice in a wide range of clinical settings after residency.
What do you like best about living in Buffalo?
I absolutely love the strong sense of community you feel in Buffalo. People are very kind and welcoming here. There is also a great variety of food and always something going on in the city. Go Bills!