Chief Residents

Thank you for visiting our residency website. We hope you find the information provided useful in getting to know our program.

There are many exceptional emergency medicine residency programs in the country, but we feel like our program stands out among the crowd.

The variety of the clinical sites at our program is second to none.

The attending physicians here have diverse skill sets, provide unparalleled teaching, and many have fellowship training in various areas of emergency medicine.

Above all, the philosophy of the UBEM program is that we are all a family, and this mentality is evident in all areas of our training program.

Birthplace: Pittsford, NY

College: Union College

Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical/Research Interests: Critical care, sports medicine

Scholarly Track: Sports Medicine

Personal Interests: Swimming, running, Orangetheory, Buffalo Bills, my dog Lyla

How did you hear about our program: Alumni

About the Residency
There are so many great things about our program its hard to know where to start! First of all, the training we receive is outstanding. We have the opportunity to rotate through six different clinical sites, all of which offer different experiences. For our academic sites, we rotate through our STEMI and Stroke center at BGH, our Level 1 adult trauma center at ECMC, and our Level 1 children’s trauma center at Oishei Children’s. Our community sites also offer a wide array of pathology and acuity. You will work at our busy community acute care hospital at Millard Filmore Suburban Hospital and the VA, as well as a single coverage stand-alone ED at DeGraff Memorial Hospital. Last of all, the UBEM family is amazing. You will be welcomed with open arms and will quickly realize just how fantastic everyone is.

About Buffalo
I love Buffalo! My mom grew up here and it has been a second home to me. As a die-hard Buffalo Bills fan, the fall and winter months truly reveal the team spirit of this city. Another great thing about Buffalo is that we get to enjoy all four seasons! There are activities for everyone to enjoy, both outdoor and indoor enthusiasts. LET’S GO BUFFALO!

Birthplace: Hampton, VA

College: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)

Medical School: VCU School of Medicine (Medical College of Virginia)

Medical/Research Interests: Critical Care, Ultrasound, Academics, Med Ed

Scholarly Track: Ultrasound and Academic tracks

Personal Interests: Traveling (and eating), weightlifting & MMA, hiking, spending time at the beach or a pool, and did I say eating

How did you hear about our program: Two graduates from my medical school were PGY3s here which prompted me to pursue an away rotation at UBEM as a fourth-year medical student - I loved my experience, and the rest is history!

About the Residency
UBEM is a family first and foremost. As someone who moved far from home, without knowing anyone in the Buffalo area, I was prepared to feel isolated for a bit. That was not the case and immediately upon starting residency, we were treated to an amazing orientation month with several activities to facilitate collegiality and friendships among my classmates.

The family environment is what makes our program so great and other specialties at UB often complement our program's culture. My training experience thus far has been superb and I have gotten the training I feel is necessary to excel in any future emergency medicine environment. Spending time at our large stroke/STEMI site Buffalo General, level 1 trauma center ECMC, and level 1 pediatric trauma center at Oishei Children's certainly prepares us well for critically ill patients in an academic setting.

Additionally, we spend time at community hospital sites (Millard Fillmore Suburban, DeGraff, VA) getting experience managing ill patients where resources are more limited - something that is more representative of where most trainees not interested in academic EM will end up. This variety of seeing patients at our tertiary centers and outlying community hospitals has facilitated the best training in emergency medicine that I can imagine. I have developed life-long friendships, experiences and knowledge here in Buffalo and for that I will always be thankful!

About Buffalo
Buffalo is a mid-sized city that offers a palpable amount of hometown pride. People are always friendly, welcoming, and offering to help their neighbors. Thankfully many of the conveniences of city living are present without any cumbersome traffic to deal with.

The food scene is thriving with new places and events to explore on a weekly basis (https://stepoutbuffalo.com/ is a great site to keep up with the constant events going on). I personally have also enjoyed the proximity to Canada, traversing the border for events at Niagara on the Lake and enjoying weekends in Toronto exploring all that it has to offer.

Buffalo is very affordable which allows you to get out and enjoy yourself during your free time. Having the opportunity to live in a football city has been fun and there certainly is an infectious need to say... Go Bills!

Birthplace: Elyria, Ohio (Outside of Cleveland)

College: Wright State University

Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical/Research Interests: Critical Care, Sports medicine

Scholarly Track: Sports Medicine

Personal Interests: Cooking, Sports, having laughs and a good time with friends, Camping

How did you hear about our program: Research during application season. Prior to interviewing, I had 0 connections with the program or city but even through the zoom interview and resident happy hour it was clear that this is a special place.

About the Residency
Supportive. Family. Prepared. To me UBEM residency exemplifies all of these. Our program director Dr. Defazio, Program Coordinator Dee McCarthy, and the rest of the program support us both clinically and personally. If we need anything on shift or if something in our personal lives comes up, they all have our back.

With that support comes a family atmosphere. Everyone wants to get to know you because they genuinely care. Whether it be at a residency sponsored event or in the parking lot of the Bills games tailgating it is always a good time. This caries over to when you are on shift and makes training enjoyable.

One question I asked a lot of the seniors as an intern was “do you feel prepared?” Without a doubt the answer was always yes. UBEM provides excellent training in many aspects of Emergency Medicine. From ECMC our Level 1 Trauma and psychiatric center, to BGH the comprehensive stroke and cardiac center, across the street to Oishei Children’s Hospital a Level 1 pediatric trauma center, or into the community at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital or the stand-alone ED in DeGraff, it is truly an awesome experience to see so many different settings of emergency medicine.

About Buffalo
I can say that Buffalo gives off big Midwest vibes. Everyone here is very friendly and having a good time. Events are always happening no matter the season. Plenty outdoor concerts, golf courses, parks, trails, and beaches during the summer. Winter you have skiing and skating nearby, as well as Shea’s Theatre for plays and concerts. If sports are your thing, we have plenty of that too! Buffalo is home to the Bills (NFL), Sabres (NHL), Bisons (AAA baseball), and the Bandits (back to back National Lacrosse League Champs).

Buffalo also boasts many fantastic breweries, wineries, and restaurants (shout of to Bar Bill, best wings in the city). Not to mention Niagara Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is in our backyard. The city is easy to get around and the airport is a breeze to get in and out. Buffalo is a great city and provides a good time to all!