"Mosquitoes can cause vector-borne illnesses... at least I picked up one thing from medical school! Even that knowledge, however, did not stop me from leaving bug-free Southern California to come to UVA, a program I've found to have not only the "big city" feel of an academic program, but the "small town" atmosphere, complete with a whiff of Southern hospitality.
In choosing a residency program, I knew that I wanted to come to an academic center, but also that I did not want to get lost amongst a sea of residents, left adrift during my intern year. Rather, I wanted to become part of a program where my fellow residents would be there to help me discuss novel cases, pick the right antibiotic, order take-out food, and (during those 30-hour calls) volunteer to feed my cats. Thomas Jefferson once said, 'When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.' It is those around me who have given me a shoulder to lean on, and I am proud to call these people not only my colleagues, but my friends.
No program is perfect. However, it must be said that people here at UVA are constantly working towards improving and building upon the foundations laid in 1825. Have an iced tea, take in the Blue Ridge mountain views, and decide for yourself."
