Graduate Testimonials
Cecilia Harrington, MD 2018
"Strengths of the program:
- Large varied population, good mix of complex and simple cases.
- Truly approachable staff and attendings who are up-to-date with current studies and practices (a benefit with University-based residency).
- Large enough program to be hands on but still we're all able to know and work with each other irrespectively of the resident year.
- The Chief of residents is one of us and so much more connected with our current issues.
- Unmatched benefits with housing in an otherwise low cost city.
I would absolutely choose CAMC again!"
Monica Chowdhry, MD 2019
"Strengths of the program:
- It’s a small program so it feels like a family. All the residents know each other well and are able to connect well.
- It’s a university affiliated community program so it offers the benefits of a community program. You have a lot of independence in managing patients, and in seeing a diverse pathology. Also you have the benefit of a university program, like having an away rotation, for those who want to do a fellowship.
- Charleston is a great city with wonderful people and an affordable cost of living.
- The residents are very protected in terms of both workload and vacations.
I would you definitely choose CAMC Internal Medicine Residency again. I had a wonderful experience as a resident."
Waleed Butt, MD 2020
Endocrinology fellow at Harbor UCLA
"Strengths of the Program:
- The faculty is very easy to talk to, not intimidating, and are excellent role models.
- There is one EMR, one hospital, one clinic in the same building, with subsidized housing and excellent teaching - a perfect combination.
- The morning report is the best platform to perfect your presentation and summarizing skills, it also provides new interns an opportunity to learn how to be confident while presenting to an audience.
- The workload is just right, not too much not too little.
- The dictation software is an excellent resource and provider support will always be available to help with EMR troubleshooting.
- The nurses are used to working with residents so they are always happy to teach new interns about nursing issues.
I feel like I was well prepared to start fellowship, as there aren’t a lot of fellows at CAMC, which allows residents to act like fellows themselves and speak to attendings directly.
I would choose CAMC again, the people in West Virginia are very nice. For IMGs: I haven’t felt any racism from our patients, no one refused to have me as their physician, the city is quiet enough yet has lots of fairs and festivals. There's no traffic and there’s plenty of outdoor activities -- its nature on steroids! My faculty and colleagues were a pleasure to work with."
Asif Khan, MD 2013
"Strengths of the Program:
- The training is comprehensive and prepared me well for a career as a hospitalist.
- The ICU component of the training was very strong and helped me transition into a hospitalist role and an independent practice efficiently.
- CAMC's training program is a great community setting program. We were exposure to all aspects of care and in particular to the ICU. There was a lot of emphasis on education and a strong system for feedback.
I would choose CAMC again because it was a good program with very good training. Listening to my other peers and hospitalists their residency programs were not as thorough as CAMC and not as dedicated to learning. At CAMC we lived, learned and worked together as a family and I had a lot of support from everyone."
Ali Ahmed, MD, MBA, 2011
Clinical Faculty, Dept. of Internal Medicine/Hospitalist, Freeman Health System Joplin, MO
"The strengths of the program were many but I would say the most important was the opportunity for the residents to work with faculty who provide such a broad range of experience. We had some who were a few years out of residency and brought a fresh perspective, while others like Drs. McJunkin, Carter and Pfister brought with them decades of experience and wisdom that can never be replaced.
Another great strength of the program was the ample exposure to the critical care aspect of medicine. Our rotations in the ICU prepared us to deal with the most critical of patients in a competent manner and also provided us the opportunity to hone our procedural skills.
One can never be completely prepared for the challenges of independent practice once one steps out of residency, but I feel our residency program provided us a great platform that enabled a very smooth transition into the world of Hospital and Academic Medicine.
I would most definitely choose CAMC again for my training because of the aforementioned reasons and, above all, the great sense of community this program provided where I still feel I am part of the CAMC family.
Take care and let me know if I can be of any assistance. Thanks."
Fatima Ahmed, MD, '2020
Cardiology Fellow, CAMC
"Strengths of the Program:
- Collegiality, diverse pathology, resident autonomy, WV, and Charleston in particular, is a great place to live!
- The population is extremely friendly.
I had the privilege of transitioning to a fellowship program at CAMC and therefore the start of my fellowship was even smoother. I would definitely choose CAMC IM if I had to do it all over again"