It's a family and its been a family since
the day I interviewed here.
It's a very supportive, nurturing, fostering
environment.
I think that's something that really is unique
and stands out to me.
I just had a sense when I came to VCU that
there was a real genuine care for the residents
here that the education was going to be top
notch and that I would be able to achieve
the career dreams that had envisioned for
myself.
It's a great place to train because it's a
very large academic center in an urban area
with a diverse patient population.
We see people who have the broadest range
of pathologies which is good from a learning
perspective but also rewarding being able
to take care of those patients.
The diversity of the staff of the physicians
- just everyone that works in the hospital
you walk around and you see people from all
different walks of life.
And I think as an international medical graduate
that I found that very welcoming.
I have felt very supported in my training
here by my co-residents, by the faculty.
You can ask any question at anytime.
It's really much like a large family.
I know it's very cliche to say that.
But I feel like I can talk to my attendings
- I have a great relationship with them, my
fellow residents - we all hang out...it's
a very good community.
We definitely make resident education a priority
across the Heath System.
We take feedback from our residents very seriously
and we try to implement their feedback in
order to serve our residents well because
we understand that in the end that translates
to better patient care.
There's a lot opportunities for residents
to step up and do a lot of work that maybe
at other institutions the fellows would do
and so they do a very good job of dividing work.
I think here at VCU we do tailor our program and our residency quite a
bit to fit your needs.
If you want some more extra research time
most people have had that.
If you want some more work in the community,
you can also get that.
It's state-of-the-art.
You see a lot of different wings - a lot of
buildings that are connected together.
I really love that everything is in the same
place - you're connected, you're not separate
from any other specialty or department of the hospital. I thought that was really unique.
We have a very busy emergency room and the busiest Level I Trauma Center
within Central Virginia.
We are one of the busiest burn centers in the state.
And that provides our trainees - not only in surgery but also emergency medicine and associated
surgical specialties a diverse, busy population to take care of.
VCU Health actually has done an excellent job of making new operating rooms
and they are like state-of-the-art systems.
I really like Richmond.
Richmond itself will surprise you as it did me as a great place to live.
When you drive into the city and you see that skyline - it has the feel of a big city
without feeling like you're overwhelmed.
It's definitely got kind of niche little subcultures throughout the community.
Whether you're walking through Cary Steet or going through the lakes and river systems around here.
You feel like it's a small town within sort of a big city feel.
You're next to the capital building, next to the river. You really get immersed in the city and in Virginia itself.
Being happy at work and being happy when you're not at work was the most important thing to me
just to have a kind  of whole life here.
Just come. Just come explore.
Residency is hard. There are going to be hard days and days when you feel like maybe
you can't do this but there will always be someone here who can tell you that you can.
