Family Medicine Residency Columbia - Residents

Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine - Columbia

Why Family Medicine?: I love the wide range of medicine that family physicians get to practice. I get to do general medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, point-of-care ultrasound, minor procedures, take care of underserved populations, & much, much more.  I fell in love with the idea of getting to build long-term physician-patient relationships & hopefully really be able to make a difference in their lives.

Why our program / Columbia? I fell in love with Columbia as an undergraduate student & couldn’t picture myself wanting to practice anywhere else. I also wanted to give back to the community that has already taught & give me so much. I also wanted to continue working with/learning from many of the incredible people I got to train under as a medical student. The current & former residents really showed me how incredible this residency program is as well as how tight-knit of a group they are. They know how to work hard but also relax & have fun together.

Hobbies / Interests: Listening to/Playing music, rollerblading, watching Gamecock sports, & spending quality time with co-residents & all the friends I’ve made thus far

Medical School: University of Mississippi Medical Center 

Why Family Medicine?: The relationships!! I liked FM most all of my rotations throughout medical school. I enjoyed procedures, clinic, and hospital rounding. When I considered all the specialities, I realized I couldn’t just pick one age group. I wanted to see my patients grow in their health and their life.

Why our program / Columbia?: Serving in the community is one of my passions and their community medicine curriculum was so impressive. We have a whole month of community medicine but they also make sure we have regular opportunities throughout the three years. It was also so important for me to enjoy the people I work with and to feel supported by them since you see them more than friends/family. The people here (co-residents and faculty) have already brought me so much joy!! This was definitely where I was meant to be.

Hobbies / Interests: quality time w/ my people, being outdoors, hanging out w/ my dog, hitting the gym, baking

Medical School: Brody School of Medicine at ECU

Why Family Medicine?: I was on track to apply EM until doing an inpatient family medicine AI at the beginning of M4 year which completely changed my mind. I really enjoyed getting to follow the patient through their hospital stay to discharge and the idea that I would be continuing their care outpatient. The variety of patients and medical problems you see in family medicine is also unmatched!

Why our program / Columbia?: When researching programs and during interviews, this program really stuck out to me because of their ultrasound curriculum. They also seemed to have the medically complex patient population that I knew I wanted to see during residency and beyond. Once I visited during a second look, I knew this was where I wanted to end up. It was clear that the residents were close and felt supported by the program and that has proven to be true during my time here! There is also always something to do in Columbia and I have loved getting to explore the city with my family and co residents!

Hobbies / Interests: Other than spending time with my 4 pets, I love to travel with my husband. Our most recent trip was to Honduras and Mexico! We’ve also really enjoyed getting out and exploring Columbia; there’s so much to do here!

Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (Harrogate, TN)

Why Family Medicine?: Since the beginning of medical school, I knew that I wanted to specialize in Family Medicine, and this decision only solidified as I completed rotations. Like many others in our program, having the opportunity to cultivate relationships with patients is very important to me and is something I cherish about our continuity clinic. Additionally, I wanted a specialty that offers full spectrum care and is unlimited in the diversity of patients

Why our program / Columbia?: This program truly cares about your well-being, professionally and personally, and this was very obvious during my interviews. As a new mom and doctor, I wanted a residency program that is family friendly with caring and encouraging co-residents and attendings, but also provides exceptional medical training, and the beginning of my intern year has already exceeded my expectations! I also wanted to work in a town that offers a variety of places and experiences for my whole family, and Columbia does not disappoint!

Hobbies / Interests: I love spending time with my family, especially our newborn son. Exercise is very important to me as well. Before medical school, I used to teach dance, and I’m hoping to get back into teaching dance or exercise classes in the future. On an off weekend, you’ll probably find me cleaning or binge-watching TV because both are equally enjoyable to me! :)

Medical School: Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Why Family Medicine?: Prior to medical school, I had a career in banking and my favorite aspect was the relationships I had with my customers and their families. I knew that I wanted to be a part of medicine where I would have similar relationships but also have diverse and flexible opportunities to provide a wide variety care. With Family Medicine I not only get to provide continuity of care for my patients but potentially their future generations.

Why our program / Columbia?: What stood out to me the most about this program is the focus PrismaHealth/USC has on community medicine. It’s part of our curriculum. I love all the different ways we are involved in the community we serve. I wanted to train within a patient population that was similar to what I was looking to serve after residency. During interviews, the residents felt like they really enjoyed being part of this program and you could feel how they supported each other.

Hobbies / Interests: During my free time, I’m typically spending time with my family. Having young kids there is never a dull moment. We all love going to the beach and relaxing. I have recently developed a passion for fashion design, so when I’m not with the kiddos or hubby, I’m learning all about the ins and outs of fashion

Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why Family Medicine?: I love how in FM you can do a little bit of everything! There are so many things that you can focus on if they interest you and I love having that flexibility.

Why our program / Columbia?: We wanted to come out east and Columbia checked all the boxes for where I wanted to train and where my family would enjoy living. It’s perfect if you want to go to the beach or the mountains

Hobbies / Interests: I love to ride my bike, either road or on some of the local forest trails. Hanging out with my family in my spare time is always a treat and the zoo in Columbia is great! We got a season pass and it was 100% worth it. We as a family try to make it to the beach when we can which is always a good time.

Medical School: VCOM - Carolinas

Why Family Medicine?: I chose Family Medicine because of the variety! You get to care for patients of all ages and see different things every single day. You make lasting relationships with your patients and help them achieve their healthcare goals! I also fell in love with all of the in-office procedures that family medicine doctors do!

Why our program / Columbia?: I was really impressed during my interview with this program — having  strong women’s health training and procedure curriculum with exposure to a diverse patient population was really important to me. I also wanted to end up at a program that was very supportive and where all the residents were close friends. I feel like I have definitely gotten that with this program! Columbia itself has SO many amazing restaurants and coffee shops. There are always a ton of events happening around town so there is always something to do.

Hobbies / Interests: Some of my favorite things to do include getting outside with my husband to go on walks/hikes and to go kayaking. We also love traveling, visiting new coffee shops, and finding the best slice of key lime pie!  

Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine 

Why Family Medicine?: I tried to keep an open mind as a student and had fun learning about each specialty. However, it seemed like I was abandoning knowledge whenever I considered a specific specialty. The more I learned about Family Medicine, the more excited I got as it was perfect for me. On one hand I get to take care of patients of any age and a wide range of medical problems, and on the other hand I get the chance to build relationships with both patients and the community where I work. Starting residency at FM Columbia has already been a rewarding experience and I have met so many caring and supportive people during the first few months of residency.

Why our program / Columbia?: Columbia is my home where I was born and raised, and I am happy to return here to begin my medical career. Returning to Columbia gives me an opportunity to bring what I had learned abroad back to what I consider to be my community and my people. 

Hobbies / Interests: When not at work, I can usually be found visiting new worlds through books and movies, video gaming with friends or trying to learn about a new topic that has crossed my path.  Now that I am close to my extended family in Columbia, I try to spend as much time with them as I can. We especially enjoy watching team India in international cricket.

Medical School: Meharry Medical College

Medical School: VCOM- Carolinas

Why Family Medicine?: I enjoy the diversity of care that I get to provide and the freedom to learn as much as I can across many different specialties. 

Why our program / Columbia?: It's where I went for undergrad and is close to my family. I also loved the sense of comradery between residents

Hobbies / Interests: reading, hiking, snowboarding, nerdy things

Medical School: Mercer University SOM

Why Family Medicine?: it's a very dynamic field with lots of options to personalize your practice 

Why our program / Columbia?: USC Prisma is a very robust program that offers a lot of opportunities and experiences that can be tailored to individual interests.  Columbia is pretty and an affordable place to live. We also love taking our son to the Zoo and walking along the beautiful river.

Hobbies / Interests: spending time with my husband, son and our two labradoodles! I am also looking forward to being involved with the Jewish Community of Columbia

Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why Family Medicine?: FM gives me the opportunity to care for patients in every age range. I love being able to take care of literally the entire family and grow with them. I also love that I get the opportunity to do procedures and be as hands on as I would like to be. 

Why our program / Columbia?: Columbia is very community-based which was what I was looking for. Everyone felt like a family in the program and provides me with a great community to grow my family and provided my family the opportunity to stay together. S/o to the couples' match, which our program is super supportive of.

Hobbies / Interests: spending time with my son, hanging outside, reading (audiobooks now a days), and taking care of my houseplants.

Medical School: Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine 

Why Family Medicine?: Wide breadth of practice, continuity of care, and seeing patients of all ages

Why our program / Columbia?: Meeting the amazing residents during the interview season and at the second look really sold the program for me! I liked that there are so many different opportunities within the program for experience with things like POCUS and community outreach. Columbia is also the perfect sized city for me, is affordable, and is close to so many things! 

Hobbies / Interests: Spending time with my many pets, martial arts, binging Survivor re-runs, and hiking/camping.

Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Why Family Medicine?: I like being able to take care of anybody and everybody

Why our program / Columbia?: The people, of course. And Columbia is close to so many beautiful places for quick weekend outings

Hobbies / Interests: board games, soccer, taking it easy

Medical School: VCOM-Auburn

Why Family Medicine?: I chose FM because I love being able to help patients of all ages in both inpatient and outpatient settings. 

Why our program / Columbia?: I chose Columbia because I loved the people that I met on my interview and the facilities that we train at.

Hobbies / Interests: golf, fishing, spending time with my dogs, sports, and spending time on the water. 

Medical School: Vanderbilt University SOM

Why Family Medicine?: I like to know a bit about everything, get to do something different every day, and really know my patients. 

Why our program / Columbia?: College town, lots of fun outdoor activities, short drive to the mountains, the beach and a national park!

Hobbies / Interests: visiting national parks, hiking, walking my dog, casual bird watching, NYT crossword 

Medical School: Lake Erie of Osteopathic Medicine- Seton Hill

Why Family Medicine?: The opportunity to practice all types of medicine, providing me with variability in what I would like to do in the future.

Why our program / Columbia?: Beautiful city close to family and multiple airports making traveling easy and a breeze. This program was an easy choice, my second look made me realize that everyone here is just like my second family, and the staff here is patient and eager to provide us opportunities to learn.

Hobbies / Interests: traveling, hiking, recently into audio books, Spending time with friends and loved ones.

Medical School: VCOM - Auburn

Why Family Medicine?: the ability to make your job what you want it to be and have a bunch of different avenues to focus into  

Why our program / Columbia?: loved the faculty and residents which made me pick Columbia! 

Hobbies / Interests: anything active, sports, or working out

Medical School: Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine 

Why Family Medicine?: The opportunity to pursue sports medicine in a holistic approach to treating athletes

Why our program / Columbia?: Beautiful city with great opportunity both socially and for my career 

Hobbies / Interests: recreational sports. Watching all levels of football. Playing games at home. Spending time with friends and loved ones. Going to concerts

Medical School: University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine   

Why Family Medicine?: Allows me to provide comprehensive care while building lasting relationships with patients of all ages and walks of life, combining my passions of addressing both medical issues and social factors affecting health. 

Why our program / Columbia?: The focus on community-oriented care and underserved patient population makes it an ideal environment to practice preventive medicine and address health disparities. Columbia’s diverse, family-friendly atmosphere is also perfect for forming long-term connections! 

Hobbies / Interests: Collecting vinyl records, knitting, reading, and finding the best local cappuccino. 

Medical School: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why Family Medicine?: The opportunity to build long term relationships with patients from all walks of life. I loved all my rotations and couldn’t imagine “giving up” any aspect of medicine.

Why our program / Columbia?: Despite being from Missouri, everyone welcomed me with open arms during my audition rotation. The faculty were passionate teachers in all fields, including ultrasound. I loved the close knit relationships and personalized learning environment of community programs and the resources of the larger academic programs.  Prisma Health – Midlands was one of the few programs that offered both. Since moving to Columbia, SC, my family and I have never felt more supported. I love that the city is large enough that we always have something to do and there is a local airport to fly out of, but small enough that almost everything is within a 15 minute drive. As a college city, the cost of living and entertainment is affordable #GoGamecocks

Hobbies / Interests: Reading, traveling, kayaking, shopping at Costco, Trader Joe's, and TJ Maxx, weight training, spending time with my friends, family, fiancé, and fur babies!

Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine - Columbia

Why Family Medicine?: I love caring for patients of all ages and having a wide depth of medical knowledge to be able to treat whatever comes my way. I enjoy inpatient and outpatient medicine and am grateful that my future practice can be customized to my own interests. 

Why our program / Columbia?: While on my family medicine rotation as a medical student it was obvious to me how close the residents were and how much they cared about each other. I am so happy that I get to continue serving the patient population in Columbia because it has become my second home. 

Hobbies / Interests: Going to concerts, doing nails, reading, thrifting 

Medical School: VCOM - Virginia

Why Family Medicine?: I’ve always wanted to do Family Medicine. I love the relational side of FM and having the continuity of care. Medicine is, after all, built on trust and relationship with your patients. I also love the versatility of the specialty. You can truly make it your own and explore endless avenues of interest.

Why our program / Columbia?: I absolutely loved my interview and getting to meet the faculty and residents! They were so welcoming and genuinely caring. I came for a second look and I was amazed at how open and hospitable they were. I felt right at home.

Hobbies / Interests: reading, baking, hanging with friends, and board games. I’m also a huge foodie and love Disney!

Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine 

Why Family Medicine?: I knew early on in med school that I wanted to do FM. I really enjoy the outpatient aspect of it as well as being able to build a longitudinal bond with patients. Work-life balance is also something I looked for and FM gives me that opportunity. 

Why our program / Columbia?: This program being close to home was the initial reason that I was interested in it, but after interviewing and learning more about it, I knew it was a great fit for me. Since the start of the interview season till now as a PGY-1 here, everyone has been awesome and pairing that with the ample of opportunities available in the capital of SC for inside and outside of medicine is the reason I chose this program.

Hobbies / Interests: I love watching football and am excited about fantasy football starting soon. I enjoy playing basketball and we have a good group that tries to play every few weeks when we are all free. Hiking, the stock market, and video games are some other things that I enjoy.

Medical School: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University 

Why Family Medicine?: I found it extremely hard to decide what specialty I wanted to choose while in medical school because I enjoyed all of them. I realized that the one thing they all have in common is people. Medicine is intriguing and rewarding, but the chance to get to know people and help them is what motivates me. Family medicine is unique because it affords you the opportunity to not only practice a broad scope of medicine, but also to build meaningful relationships with people and impact their lives.

Why our program / Columbia?: I had no connections to Columbia or even South Carolina prior to applying for residency. I did a lot of research looking into hundreds of family medicine programs and this one rose to the top for two main reasons: training and support. I knew after interviewing that I would get the training I wanted to be a full-spectrum family medicine physician. I also knew that my family and I would be well supported and welcomed into this family with open arms.

Hobbies / Interests: I love spending time with my wife, two boys, and dog Koda. I enjoy anything involving sports, both playing and watching. We love to travel, have fun experiences as a family, and try new foods. My free time is mostly spent chasing the boys or watching movies.

Medical School: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why Family Medicine?: What I love about FM ultimately is the opportunity to know an individual’s complex story and walk with them through the highs and lows of their life. I also love it because of the ability to learn and impact an entire community made up of diverse backgrounds and circumstances, which means you’ll always have the excitement of being a lifelong learner and will never get bored! 

Why our program / Columbia?: The community outreach engagement, the diverse and underserved patient population, opportunities in global health, and most overwhelmingly, the people – both in the program and outside. The second looks were the selling points for me and my husband (couples match!), and we couldn’t be more blessed by the supportive community we’ve found here.

Hobbies / Interests: Time with family and friends, reading, playing with my cat, hanging outdoors, trying new Pinterest recipes

Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why Family Medicine?: I love having the opportunity to develop close relationships with my patients and do anything I can to help make their lives better! I am passionate about all areas of medicine, find joy in treating patients of all ages, and appreciate the ability to practice in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Why our program / Columbia?: I fell in love with Columbia and knew that this was the program for me as soon as I attended the second look in person. I was amazed at how well the residents, faculty, and staff interacted with each other and was able to appreciate the fantastic culture that the program offers immediately! Columbia is the perfect sized city for me and has a lot to offer while still being extremely drivable. Additionally, I was impressed with the facilities, ultrasound / MSK curriculum, and ability to work at an institution that has many resources and specialties available to its patients.

Hobbies / Interests: I love all sports (especially soccer, cycling, tennis), going to the gym, the beach, eating good food, and hanging out with my dog Sully

Medical School: University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine 

Why Family Medicine?: The reason I ended up deciding to pursue Family Medicine was the relationships. I am a people person, and I love talking to other people and learning about them. As a Family Medicine physician, your relationship with your patients is paramount. I love being able to work with my patients and help them navigate their medical decisions. I firmly believe that good primary care is the key to improving health outcomes. Another reason is I had a variety of interests in medicine. I enjoyed all my rotations in medical school, and Family Medicine requires a decent knowledge of a wide range of medical topics.

Why our program / Columbia?: I have always loved South Carolina. We used to visit every year for vacation. My family also loved the area, and over the last few years, both of my parents and two of my sisters and their families have moved to Columbia and the surrounding area. I always knew I wanted to stay in South Carolina, but I originally thought I would like to be by the coast more. However, when I was interviewing, I found that our program in Columbia was by far the best fit for me. As a resident with a family and two young children, I was happy to find several other residents who were parents and who expressed how supportive and accepting the program was to residents having families. What stuck out the most to me was how happy all the residents I met were. While they obviously were tired and working hard, they all seemed to really enjoy being here despite the rigors and challenges of residency. To me, that was very important. Residency is hard everywhere and having a good support system within your program is a must. I have been very happy since starting my residency at Prisma Health, and everyone has gone above and beyond to make sure me and my fellow interns feel supported and have everything we need to be successful.

Hobbies / Interests: Love hanging with me wife and two boys! We have two dogs as well: a pug named Lucy and a Morkie named Chloe. We love the water and the beach. I like to do outdoor activities: hiking, camping, fishing, pretty much anything that involves nature. I also love cooking and gardening.

Medical School: VCOM - Auburn

Why Family Medicine?: Family medicine is a unique and fulfilling specialty because it offers the opportunity to build long-term relationships with patients across all ages and stages of life, fostering a strong sense of community. This specialty embraces a holistic approach, addressing not just immediate health concerns but also promoting overall well-being and lifestyle improvements. Physicians in family medicine have the flexibility to create practices that align with their personal interests. This adaptability allows for a more personalized and impactful practice, enhancing patient outcomes and physician satisfaction.

Why our program / Columbia?: Choosing to be a part of the Family Medicine Program at Prisma-Columbia means joining a close-knit and supportive community of faculty and staff dedicated to your success. With a long history of excellence, the program offers exceptional training and opportunities for professional and personal growth. The city itself provides a blend of vibrant college life and historic charm, perfectly situated between beaches and mountains. I look forward to exploring these locations over the next three years!

Hobbies / Interests: Any outdoor activity (camping, hiking, chasing waterfalls, reading in my eno!), pottery,  and grilling corn!

Medical School: Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Why Family Medicine?: I was attracted to the specialty because of the diversity of the field. There are numerous opportunities to explore, build and collaborate with your patients, colleagues, and community. 

Why our program / Columbia?: I chose USC Columbia because of the perfect mix of excellent people and people who were committed to excellence. 

Hobbies / Interests: Basketball, running, foodie, and traveling!