Resident Testimonials

Gastroenterology & Hepatology Fellowship, CPMC

CPMC was the perfect fit for me! As a quaternary care center in the heart of San Francisco and a referral center for Sutter’s vast system of hospitals, I saw a breadth of pathology over the last three years that I never expected to see outside of textbooks. These valuable clinical experiences were supplemented by the program’s remarkable dedication to teaching through daily morning reports and 12:00 pm conferences.  The culmination of these three years have empowered me to feel confident in my training to both care for patients and continue as a lifelong learner. I am truly grateful for the kind and supportive learning environment fostered by the leadership and attendings. Day-to-day, I believe the little things matter and I credit the CPMC family including my peers and ancillary staff for making each day both challenging and enjoyable. I am thankful to have spent my last three years training at a special place like CPMC.

Cardiology Fellowship, CPMC

CPMC is truly one of the hidden gems of San Francisco for Internal Medicine training. Throughout my three years as a resident (2016-2019), the camaraderie and teamwork amongst the house staff, attendings, and administration are unparalleled. Residents receive excellent training to become a competent physician, and the program truly cares about your individual career goals, whether that be in primary care, hospital medicine, global health, or fellowship training. Other major positives about being at CPMC include participating in high yield morning reports organized by chief residents and having tons of fun outside the hospital with retreats and happy hours. I have been fortunate to have fostered lifelong friendships during my training and am excited to stay at CPMC for my Cardiology Fellowship! I feel anyone would be lucky to complete their residency training at this program.

Hospitalist, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa

When I first interviewed at CPMC I was immediately struck by the culture of the place. Everyone, from the Program Director down to the Interns, was warm and approachable. Morning Report was interesting and well run. Most importantly, the Residents all seemed to be genuinely happy. When I submitted my rank list, I went with my gut feeling and ranked CPMC #1. Having graduated, I reflect upon these most formative years of training and I can tell you this. Without hesitation, I would rank CPMC #1 all over again!

CPMC is the Quaternary referral center for all of Sutter Health in Northern California; the most complicated clinical cases are transferred to San Francisco. The diversity of our patients and the wide range of pathology we see is astounding. At CPMC, the Medicine you practice will be second to none. One such patient I had the privilege of caring for had a nutritional deficiency as a rare cause of Wernicke's encephalopathy. I wrote this case up as a Clinical Vignette for ACP and won Regionals and was a Finalist at the ACP National Conference. If you want to do research in residency, you will find ample opportunity and complete institutional support behind you.

As a resident, I felt part of a larger whole, a member of the CPMC family. Many of our Attendings were former Residents and Chiefs who have stayed on to practice because they just love it here. The Resident culture here is a supportive and nurturing one. We look out for each other here. Over the last three years, I have found lifelong friends among my co-residents and I have found Mentors with whom I will stay in touch with for life.

I feel well trained and ready for a career as a Hospitalist. I feel confident I could practice in any healthcare system nationwide. CPMC is a well-respected institution in California with an alumni network that spans the West Coast which definitely helped while applying for jobs. As a excited as I am to become an Attending physician, I will truly miss my time as a CPMC resident; I am a competent and well rounded physician and a better person for it.

Radiology, Stanford University

CPMC has been an excellent institution to perform my preliminary medicine year before radiology residency. The variety and volume of cases provided ample opportunities to grow as a clinician. The environment at CPMC fosters lifelong learning and curiosity; the morning reports are certainly one of the best features of the program! The CPMC community is highly supportive on both professional and personal levels. I developed strong bonds with my fellow residents, and I will look back upon this year with great memories.

Ophthalmology, University of Indiana

Reflecting back on the past year, I would pick CPMC again in a heartbeat! Though intern year will always be challenging (and the great clinical training at CPMC needs no introduction), I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to experience it with. From debriefing challenging patients to Lori’s homemade mochi to attendings treating us to lunch, I felt so cared for and valued this year. Everyone I met was not only interested in my professional development, but also in getting to know me personally as well. I feel so fortunate to have spent my intern year with mentors and peers who will remain close friends for the rest of my life.

Preliminary R1, 2017-18

Anesthesia, UC San Diego

Having attended Dartmouth for medical school, I experienced CPMC not only as a preliminary intern but also as a medical student on my first clinical clerkship. During my 3rd year rotation, I was struck by the engaging morning reports, the diverse patient population, and the collegial work environment. Rounds provided me with a firsthand look at how CPMC attendings and senior residents prioritize the patient experience, take time to teach, and treat categorical and preliminary interns equally.

Upon returning two years later, I was welcomed back by the affectionate CPMC family. On my ICU and inpatient medicine months, I again benefitted from the campus being a major referral and transplant center for Northern California as our teams managed a wide range of clinical pathology while respecting cultural differences among our patients. During my elective time, I rotated through inpatient hepatology, renal transplant, advanced heart failure, echo, and PM&R to round out my preparation for anesthesiology. I also appreciated the opportunity to work with UCSF faculty and residents while rotating at SFGH for emergency medicine.

In my remaining free time, I’ve hiked in Marin Headlands, eaten at hole-in-the-wall and Michelin star restaurants, explored the wonders of Golden Gate Park, and bonded with my colleagues at post-night shift brunches and intern dinners.

From the chief residents to program directors, I’ve been continually impressed by how the program leadership responds to feedback, individualizes their approach to resident development, and works to make housestaff feel appreciated. As I look forward to continuing my training at UC San Diego, I am grateful for the ways in which CPMC has shaped my growth as a physician.

Graduate, 2014; Chief Resident 2014-15

Hospitalist, CPMC Pacific Campus

CPMC fulfilled this with flying colors however what exceeded my expectations was THE PEOPLE. Throughout my residency I felt completely supported by the GME staff, faculty, and co-residents and have developed friendships that will last a lifetime. I am now a hospitalist seeing 14-20 patients a day and I feel CPMC has properly trained me to handle whatever workload or zebra diagnosis that comes my way.

Graduate, 2011

Director, Gastroenterology Education & Research, Highland Hospital ACMC (Oakland)
Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Highland Hospital ACMC (Oakland)

My time at CPMC spanned 2008-2011 as an internal medicine resident. During these early formative years in my medical training, it was clear that CPMC was dedicated to providing cutting edge medical care with a focus on medical education across all disciplines. From the friendly and supportive staff in the GME office who I’ve come to regard as an extended family, to the team of dedicated attendings including hospitalists, primary care physicians, and sub-specialists, the culture at CPMC is an attractive and unique feature of this teaching hospital. Trainees are encouraged to grow and develop their early careers in a supportive, resourceful and welcoming environment that thrives in teamwork and camaraderie. It is this wonderful combination of great people and supportive environment that I attribute my success at matching into a GI fellowship. I am happy to say that I have the opportunity to continue being a part of the CPMC family as site director of the GI Fellowship rotation at Highland Hospital in Oakland.

Graduate, 2007; Chief Resident 2007-08

Primary Care, Palo Alto Medical Foundation

I came into residency not quite sure what I wanted out of my career and I left with a clear vision of not only my career goals, but also my life goals. This transformation seemed to evolve naturally over time with the help of a handful of mentors that I am eternally grateful for knowing. I cherish the time I spent at CPMC and am very excited for anyone who has the chance to train there.

Preliminary R1, Graduate

Dermatologist, Los Angeles Area

My decision to pursue an Internal Medicine preliminary year at CPMC, before doing my dermatology residency at UCLA, was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone doing either a preliminary year or an entire residency. There are a number of factors that make CPMC an incredibly special place and somewhere that you will not want to leave. Despite the rigor of internship, it was my favorite year of my life. The hospital is in a great location and attracts a diverse, interesting and friendly group of people. Though you will work hard, you will leave feeling gratified and happy at the end of every day. The nurses at CPMC, the GME office, the supportive and involved teachers, and your fellow co-workers are what make this place so very special. Like any large hospital, you will have ample exposure to interesting pathology, and on top of that the people who surround you are interested in learning and teaching from each other. There is a great balance of work life and an ability to enjoy life outside of work due to CPMC’s phenomenal location. I can almost guarantee you that, like me, you will remember your time here fondly and will hope someday to come back!