I was born and raised in Buffalo, Kenmore specifically, and grew up around UB my entire life. To get away from home, I headed to Stony Brook for undergraduate and then Georgetown for my master’s degree.

Eventually, I decided I was ready to come back home and happily stayed in Buffalo for medical school at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. I ended up choosing radiology because it gives me the chance to see a little bit of everything, constantly challenge myself, and use both technology and clinical reasoning to solve problems. After bouncing around every hospital in the area I ultimately stayed on as a resident at UB’s radiology program.

There are many things that radiology programs have in common that will provide you with a great education, but the differences are what ultimately help make you into a great radiologist. One of the biggest factors for me was the opportunity to work in a variety of clinical settings and across different levels of acuity. Another important quality was the level of autonomy residents are given.

Finally, I looked for programs that offered independent overnight call. Although it can be intimidating at first, I think those experiences are some of the most valuable for developing the confidence and clinical judgment you need as a radiologist. 

Besides being close to home, I was drawn to the incredible variety of pathology available through UB’s different clinical sites. We have exposure to Level I trauma, pediatrics, oncology, and outpatient imaging, among many other areas. With the volume of imaging performed throughout Buffalo, I knew I would have the opportunity to see just about anything during residency.

Another major draw was the fact that UB’s radiology program does not have fellows. That means residents have greater access to more advanced cases and don't have to compete with fellows for opportunities. For me, that was a huge advantage.

UB’s radiology program is somewhat unique in that residents are trained within a private practice radiology group. This gives us the opportunity to experience what radiology is like in true private practice while also working in a variety of hospital settings.

The camaraderie between the attendings and co-residents is one of the things that makes the program stand out to me. It is a place where you can always feel comfortable asking questions, whether you're working with a co-resident or an attending. There is a strong emphasis on learning, but also on supporting one another along the way.

Unpopular opinion, but the weather! Having four true seasons gives you the opportunity to get out and experience something different throughout the year. Festival season in the summer is one of my favorite parts of Buffalo, trying all kinds of new foods, playing carnival games like I-Got-It, and drinking fresh-squeezed lemonade. Fall is crisp and picturesque, with trips to the cider mill or Great Pumpkin Farm. And then there’s winter, which gives you the chance to snowboard or ski just 40 minutes outside the city. There’s always something to look forward to, regardless of the season.