Teaching has always been a passion of mine, and throughout residency I have actively sought opportunities to teach whenever possible—whether when working with junior ophthalmology residents, medical students, or residents from other specialties rotating through our service.

Residency has strengthened my interest in academic medicine by allowing me to witness the impact that mentorship and education can have on trainees. I have found that teaching not only helps others learn but also challenges me to deepen my own understanding of the field. My role as chief resident will provide even more opportunities to mentor junior residents, coordinate educational initiatives, and contribute to the learning environment within our program. Although I have not yet determined exactly what my future career will look like, academic medicine will undoubtedly be a vital part of it.

Having spent 11 years on Long Island before moving to Buffalo, I've had the opportunity to experience two very different parts of New York. What I've come to appreciate most about Western New York is the people and the sense of community they create.

I love how vibrant the city becomes during the summer. Between the art festivals, Canalside and Shakespeare in the Park, there is always something going on. More than anything, what has brought me the greatest joy has been the friendships and community I've built here. My relationships are what transformed Buffalo from a place where I trained into a place I consider a second home.

During my fourth-year away rotation at UB, I was immediately struck by the genuine camaraderie among the residents and faculty. It was incredibly easy to connect with the residents, and it didn’t take long before we were grabbing wings together after work. It was clear that the residents enjoyed working together and truly cared about one another, and that culture was reflected throughout the program.

As someone who values community and thrives on building relationships, seeing that environment firsthand made it easy to envision myself training at UB, and it ultimately played a major role in my decision to rank the program highly.