Mona Lisa Delva, MD

Mona Lisa Delva, MD, is a trainee in the general surgery residency program. Her family is from Haiti and she is a first-generation Haitian American. She is also the first person in her family to obtain a degree beyond high school.

Delva was born in Newark, New Jersey, but grew up in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida. As a teenager, she moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where she completed a dual Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and biomedical engineering.

She subsequently earned a Master of Applied Science degree in biomedical engineering in rehabilitative and assistive devices.

“I realized I enjoyed working directly with people, and that the human body is the ultimate biological machine, prompting me to apply to medical school,” Delva says.

She earned her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.

“And now I am here in Buffalo with my husband and our 5-year-old twins.”

I wanted a well-rounded exposure to bread-and-butter general surgery in addition to nuance subspecialties. I didn't want to feel limited by location or lack of exposure.

I also wanted to match to a place where people progressed successfully into their chosen field or private practice. I also looked for programs were graduating seniors felt comfortable enough o go into private practice, because I think that gave some insight into the quality of training. Finally, I wanted to be in a small to mid-sized city that had the feel of larger city, as well as a place that is close to my family and friends.

There are two things that made an impression on me about UB General Surgery after interviewing here.

First, is the way they support a diverse array of academic and professional interests. We have folks going straight through, some taking one-year or two-year research fellowships, some doing MBA, MPH, Master of Education degrees, palliative care, gender affirmation and gynecological trauma. There are folks going into fellowship, some creating their own fellowships, and some going straight into practice. And everyone succeeds.

I know that scheduling each year can be a nightmare, which is why I appreciate the way they make it happen year after year so that we have as much choice and opportunity as possible.

Secondly, I was impressed by the diversity of our program. Not just in race, gender and age ... but also in geography, second careers, socioeconomic status, presence of families and small children and neurodiversity. I have met a lot of great people here, and I feel part of a whole rather than singled out.

Being able to train at different hospitals was a major plus when I was ranking residencies. I have had such a great exposure to different patient populations, surgical techniques, health care delivery models, and business models. As I am nearing the end of my training, I feel more equipped to decide what works best for me and my career aspirations.

My passion for youth mentorship is rooted in the limited guidance I experienced during my own preclinical years. Even if children are not interested in STEM fields, I think there is a direct correlation between youth mentorship and the clinical outcomes and health care literacy of those we serve in our community.

In my preclinical years, I started by volunteering with various youth organizations, and being a Youth Leader in my church for many years. After arriving at Case Western Medical School in Cleveland, I helped initiate the Anti-Fragility Group out of Rainbow Babies Children’s Hospital, which was a multi-pillar approach to interrupting pediatric violence involving science and research, advocacy, front-line teaching and community work.

Right now, I am focusing on my general surgery training and am about to embark on a clinical MBA program. My goal in obtaining an MBA is to combine my knowledge and STEM background with the skills and language to guide and influence programs that impact my patients and community.

With having small kids, Buffalo has been great for us. Everyone has been so nice and welcoming. We live in a great place that is affordable and close to the hospitals. The schools are top tier, there are lots of family-friendly activities, and there is a great babysitting/nanny network here.

We also like Buffalo because there are great food options, major sports teams (Go Bills!), live music and theater. We love living close to the water and being in an area with lots of green space, parks and beaches.

There are also great townships outside of Buffalo — like Hamburg or the Finger Lakes — that are great for day trips. However, if we want to travel farther, we are in the middle of major cities like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Toronto and New York City.

There is truly something for everyone.