Fifth Year

Fellowship: Hand Fellowship, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)
Medical School: New York University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Brown University

Why did you choose Columbia Orthopedics?

I chose Columbia Orthopedics because of the residency program’s culture, high quality teaching, and outstanding research opportunities. I did not rotate at Columbia. However, within minutes of walking into the interview dinner, I felt completely at ease with the other residents. The residents clearly enjoyed spending time with each other outside of the hospital. Then, on interview day, I was impressed by the residents’ insatiable intellectual curiosity and overall enthusiasm for their work. Even on interview day, a day off from clinical duties for many of them, the residents were discussing new reduction maneuvers they had tried that week or sharing tips on how to use a new TKA system. Their passion for orthopedic surgery and desire to achieve excellence both as surgeons and physicians was palpable.

I was also impressed by the residents’ and attendings’ devotion to teaching. Even within the few hours I spent with the faculty on interview day, it was apparent that they all enjoyed teaching residents and medical students. All of the faculty were enthusiastically responsive to my questions about their recent interesting cases and active research projects. Now as a junior resident, I continue to learn from my attendings on a daily basis; no matter what time of day or night it is, each time we discuss a new consult or an OR case, Columbia attendings are always ready to share tips about how to troubleshoot during a case or discuss active relevant research in an effort to help me grow as an orthopedic surgeon.

Finally, one of the most significant reasons why I chose Columbia was the outstanding research opportunities made available to residents. The Columbia 6-year research track is unique when compared to other research tracks because on your first day, you are asked “what research questions do you want to answer?” At many other programs, you are often placed in a lab position or clinical research position without being given much autonomy or choice over what you will research. At Columbia, you are given the time and mentoring support to think of questions you want to answer about orthopedics, and then are given the resources to answer them.

You are also given complete control over whether you choose to pursue basic science, translational or clinical research. I was most interested in pursuing basic science and translational research, so I worked with my mentors to put together a successful OREF grant application for my basic science project during my first few months at Columbia.  Then, to complete my project, I collaborated with scientists across multiple departments both at the medical center and the undergraduate campus. The collaborative mentality at Columbia is unique, and highly conducive to producing singularly innovative research. Thanks to Columbia’s collegial academic environment, over the course of my research year and my first few years at Columbia, I have been able to publish basic science, translational and clinical research projects on a wide range of topics, all focused on significantly improving the clinical practice of orthopedic surgery.

I chose Columbia and would choose Columbia again and again because I was given the intellectual freedom and support to pursue my research interests.  I plan to continue to use the incredible resources at Columbia to build my body of research with the intent of becoming an independently-funded clinician-scientist in the future.

What is your favorite bone?

Scapula

What's the best place you have traveled?

Porto, Portugal

Where are you from?

Pound Ridge, NY

Favorite restaurant in NYC?

Mighty Quinn's

Favorite activity outside of work?

Running, not killing my plants

Dream concert (even if band not together or alive)?

John Legend feat. Notorious RBG

Best Pandora station for the OR?

Francis and the Lights

Favorite night float snack?

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and $1 pizza

Fellowship: Hand Fellowship, Washington university in St. Louis
Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis

Why did you choose Columbia Orthopedics?

Many of you reading this now are probably drawn to Columbia Orthopedics for some of the same reasons I was: prestige, legacy, and an opportunity to train in New York City. I hope you ultimately put Columbia #1 on your list for the same reasons I did as well: family atmosphere among the residents, learning from world class attendings, and a chance to set yourself up for whatever fellowship and career you want. Whether it is Tuesday Sports Indication conference, an add on hip fracture at the Allen hospital, or research conferences at the Trauma Training Center, there is always learning and teaching going on at every level, from medical students to residents to faculty. The staggering amount of resources and mentorship available to the residents is why we match into THE top fellowships every year. One of my favorite sayings is, “the decision is more important than the incision”. At Columbia Orthopedics, you learn to do both. I am extraordinarily blessed to continue my education here, and I strongly encourage you to do whatever you can to join our NYOH family.

What is your favorite bone?

Scaphoid

What's the best place you have traveled?

Barcelona/Tokyo

Where are you from?

Boston (go Pats!)

Favorite restaurant in NYC?

The halal cart on Fort Washington

Favorite activity outside of work?

Cooking so I can eat

Dream concert (even if band not together or alive)?

The cast from High School Musical

Best Pandora station for the OR?

Summer Hits of the 2000s

Favorite night float snack?

Coffee