Reception Honors UB Students Staying Here for Residencies

Spurred on by new and growing opportunities in health care practice and research — spearheaded by the construction of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences building and the expansion of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus — increasing numbers of UB medical students are choosing to stay in Western New York for their residencies.

More than one-fourth of this year’s class — 42 students — are staying in this area for advanced training.

“Each year more and more of our students match here to take advantage of all that we have to offer,” said Michael E. Cain, MD, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “You have our commitment that we wake up every day constantly trying to make our facilities, our program and our faculty stronger and stronger.”

The event was a celebration not just of the students’ accomplishments, but of the resurgence of Buffalo and Western New York in general.

Roseanne C. Berger, MD, senior associate dean for graduate medical education, said she hopes to use the knowledge and expertise of the new residents to help other incoming residents get acclimated to the city.

“We think of you as UB ambassadors,” Berger said. “I am so excited that you decided to double down on Buffalo. This is the place to be.”

“For many of you this is home. If it wasn’t initially, it has become so over the last four years,” said David A. Milling, MD, senior associate dean for student and academic affairs. “Over the next three to five years — and hopefully longer — you’ll all put down roots and never leave. That’s the plan we have for you.”

Alan J. Lesse, MD, senior associate dean for medical curriculum, echoed those sentiments.

“It’s great that everybody’s staying around,” Lesse said. “You are going to have a great career.”

The medical students in attendance were excited about the next phase of their career path.

Yiyun Zhou, who matched in medicine-preliminary, will stay in Buffalo for one year and then move on to the University of Rochester for ophthalmology training.

“I’m very grateful for how UB has prepared us for the next step of our career,” Zhou said. “I’m really excited to stay in Buffalo for my preliminary year.”

Many of the new residents in attendance already have Western New York roots.

Caitlin S. Galbo, a native of the Buffalo suburb of East Aurora, was hoping to stay at UB. She will be doing a surgery-preliminary residency at Kaleida Health, Erie County Medical Center and the VA Western New York Healthcare System.

“My family’s excited that I’m staying in the area,” Galbo said. “’I’m excited to finally get a paycheck and not have to take out any more loans.”

Ryan J. Miller also grew up in the Buffalo area. The Hamburg native matched in family medicine, something he decided to focus on in his third year. He was also considering obstetrics and gynecology.

Miller has been able to practice both disciplines while working at Jericho Road Community Health Center on the west side of Buffalo. At Jericho Road — where just 41 percent of patients have English as their primary language — he has been able to care for large numbers of immigrants and refugees.

“It’s a rewarding place to work,” Miller said. “One of the great things about Jericho Road is we do all the deliveries at the site. We do all the prenatal programs as well. It’s old-school medicine.”

Rochester native Ted Nicolosi matched in medicine-preliminary with Catholic Health and will be in Buffalo for a year before moving on to the Albany Medical Center for four years.

After that, he wants to return to Western New York.

“This is where home is, this is where family is, this is where I want to be,” Nicolosi said.

While the medical students still need to graduate later this spring, the Medical Alumni Association already considers them part of its family.

“I couldn’t be more proud that you’ve all elected to stay here. I want you to know that the Alumni Association door is always open to you,” said Nicholas J. Silvestri, MD, assistant dean for graduate medical education and the new president of the Medical Alumni Association.

“You will have the honor of being dual alumni — both students and residents,” added Silvestri, clinical associate professor of neurology. “The Alumni Association is one of the the most rewarding things I’ve done in my career. I would encourage you to stay in touch with us.”

The reception took place in the sixth floor atrium outside the Harold J. Levy, MD ’46, and Arlyne Levy Dean’s Conference Room at the Jacobs School building.