Internal Medicine Residency Program
From our former Residents:
- Sharon Chinthrajah, M.D.
- Amy K. Haase (Cooke), M.D.
- Jonathan Hsiao, M.D.
- Vincent Hsieh, M.D.
- Peter Lac, M.D.
- Vanessa London, M.D.
- Geeta Nagpal, M.D.
- Lailey Oliva (Sooriash), M.D.
Sharon Chinthrajah, M.D.
Drexel University Medical School
Currently: Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship, Boston University
I absolutely loved my training at CPMC. It is largely a resident run training program so you have autonomy in deciding patient care, which helps you grow as a physician. CPMC is also a small tight-knit community that fosters learning and collegiality. You get to know the attendings and the administrative staff on a personal basis and everyone is vested in you – making sure you’re surviving residency and furthering your career goals. Everyone was very supportive of my efforts to go back to the east coast for fellowship – writing me excellent letters of recommendation and going out of their way to make phone calls on my behalf. Overall, CPMC offers a complete package where you get excellent training and make lifelong friendships.
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Amy K. Haase (Cooke), M.D.
CPMC Categorical Resident 2003-2006
University of Nevada School of Medicine
Resident of the Year 2006, CPMC, San Francisco
Physician of the Year 2008, Barton Memorial, Lake Tahoe
Currently: Hospitalist, Barton Memorial, Lake Tahoe
My decision to pursue Internal Medicine residency training at CPMC was one of the easiest and best decisions I have ever made. It became abundantly clear, after completing a medicine sub-internship, that CPMC was a gem. After encountering disgruntled residents during clinical rotations at other programs, I set one specific goal: SURVIVE and THRIVE throughout residency and beyond. CPMC allowed me to do just that! With its winning combination of amazing location, abundant clinical pathology, passionate and supportive teachers, and perceptive and receptive administration, CPMC not only met but definitely exceeded my goals and expectations. But as the end of residency drew near, I became hesitant to leave--was I adequately prepared to fly from my comfortable “nest” into the world of Hospital Medicine? Fortunately, the answer was a resounding YES! As you begin your journey, I wish you the same awesome residency experience—may you THRIVE and flourish.
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Jonathan Hsiao, M.D.
University of Washington Medical School
Currently: Staff Anesthesiologist, John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek, California
It is difficult for me to overestimate the value of my Preliminary Internal Medicine Internship at California Pacific Medical Center. Even today, in my daily practice as an acute care physician, I draw from the solid grounding that the initial year at CPMC has afforded me. Residency training will always be what you make of it. What CPMC provides as one of the premier tertiary medical centers in Northern California is the opportunity to care for patients with an unparalleled variety of illnesses, acute and chronic (argyria, anyone?); a talented staff of attending physicians who are as committed to fostering a rich learning environment for residents as they are to the practice of the most current evidence-based medicine; and a wealth of resources to learn from, not the least of which are your fellow residents. At the end of the year, my preparation for the next stage of training was at least equal and in most cases superior when compared to my cohort at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Just as importantly, as a result of the strong camaraderie among CPMC residents, I met some remarkable physicians who today are trusted colleagues and lifelong friends. Astonishingly, in spite of the work (yes, there is work), internship at CPMC turned out to be one of the best years of my medical training and of my life! For the record: I didn’t mind the nice attending lunches on Fillmore Street either…
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Vincent Hsieh, M.D.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
R-1 Preliminary – Internal Medicine,
Currently: Anesthesiology Residency, Stanford University
Choosing a preliminary medicine internship was not easy. Like most prospective anesthesiology residents, I was looking to gain a solid foundation in internal medicine and intensive care before specializing in my chosen field. As I toured the country on the interview trail, it became clear that CPMC possessed the elusive combination of intellectual depth, clinical breadth, and genuine camaraderie I was looking for. The year itself far surpassed expectations. I was constantly challenged by the level of acuity of my patients and by the outstanding caliber of the medicine faculty that valued education as much as service. My co-interns and residents were fantastic and made the experience engaging and loads of fun. For anyone considering a well-rounded internal medicine internship experience set in a nurturing learning environment (in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!), CPMC comes highly recommended.
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Peter Lac, M.D.
UC, Irvine School of Medicine
Currently: Private Nephrology group practice, the Inland Empire, Southern California.
I always look back at my residency years at CPMC as some of the best times in my professional life. I applied to residency as a couple-match with my then girlfriend (now wife), and we were both lucky to have matched there. CPMC was definitely couple-friendly; for example, our chief residents allowed us to have vacation days and busy months in-sync, which benefited our quality of life. I also enjoyed the fun times hanging-out with co-residents in SF including Fillmore street, attending the numerous CPMC events, and getting a chance to know my attendings outside of the hospital setting. As for the actual work, I felt that the residency program prepared me well for the real world. I worked as a full-time hospitalist soon after I completed residency, and the transition was smooth because I was taught how to work efficiently and communicate effectively with patients and their family. My next endeavor was being a nephrology fellow at Kaiser LA. At first I was nervous about fellowship with the added responsibility of taking care of our new daughter. I soon realized that much of what I needed to learn to manage patients as a nephrologists, I already learned as a resident. Also, I felt very comfortable with managing patients in the ICU and placing central lines as a nephrology fellow because of the strong ICU training at CPMC.
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Vanessa London, M.D.
Case Western Medical School
Currently: Chief Resident, Dermatology, University of Southern California
CPMC was the perfect learning environment and the perfect place to start my training. Everyone in the GME office, the attendings, and the other residents were friendly and made you feel comfortable. Beyond that, their focus on education and the visible passion they had for teaching was inspiring. I truly enjoyed every day there and I still miss the people. I feel that I really learned specifics about medicine through great cases, but also learned a logical/algorithmic thought process which carries over for any patient. I left internship feeling confident, but always humbled, and curious about medicine, which I think has helped me in my few years of residency since. Overall, what did I love about CPMC? -- the people!!!! (oh, and great food and anonymous text messaging-- ha ha!)
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Geeta Nagpal, M.D.
UC, San Francisco School of Medicine
Currently: Anesthesia Resident, Brigham Women’s &
Chidren’s Hospital, Boston
As a medical student at UCSF, I had the opportunity to rotate at CPMC for specialities including surgery, obstetrics, as well as a one year clinical experience in pediatric neurology. It was during this time that I realized that this hospital with a beautiful view was also a gem for my education. With a warm, but rigorous environment, I knew that it would be a great program for my preliminary year. And it was. Not only did I get to work with an amazing group of doctors that became some of my best friends, but I graduated with skills that many of my anesthesia colleagues did not get from their internships. With 3-4 months in the intensive care unit, I enter the Brigham confident with lines, ventilators and taking care of an enormous range of critically ill patients. And to balance all the hard work, we enjoyed the wonderful weather and numerous afternoon breaks to Fillmore street for delicious food and fabulous shopping!
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Lailey Oliva (Sooriash), M.D.
University of Florida Medical School
Currently: Outpatient Medicine at Palo Alto Medical Foundation
I have recently entered the world of life after residency and am able to look back on my time at CPMC with very fond memories and with gratitude for having had the opportunity to complete my training there. CPMC’s internal medicine training program is one that combines excellence in education with warm collegiality. The diversity of patients and diagnoses that you will see along with the emphasis on teaching and learning about each case create the foundation for the strong curriculum. Having the support of the people you work with, from the nurses, co-residents, and attending physicians to the GME staff and program directors, is what makes it such a unique environment in which to build that foundation.
I came into residency not quite sure what I wanted out of my career and 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.
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