Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Greenville - Residents
1st Year Residents
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Undergraduate: Bob Jones University, BA in Religion, BS in Premed
Graduate: Bob Jones University, MA in Theological Studies
USCSOM-Greenville, Doctor of Medicine
Leadership: CMDA Interest Group M2 President (2020-21), CMDA Student Campus Representative (2020-2023)
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, tennis, spending time with family, church community.
Future Career plans: Med-Peds hospitalist or outpatient practice.
Why I chose Greenville: Greenville is home, and I really wanted to stay close to my family and continue to train in my home community. As a medical student, I came to really respect and appreciate the attendings and the residents that I trained with, especially in Med-Peds! I love the learning environment and the culture. My experiences throughout the M3-M4 years confirmed that this is program where I wanted to train for residency. I’m also excited to now be able to give back to the medical students who are studying and training through USCSOM-G.
Hometown: Hampton, VA
Undergraduate: Virginia Commonwealth University, B.S. in Interdisciplinary Science
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Leadership and Awards:
I2CRP Excellence Serving Medically Underserved Populations, VCUSOM, 2023
Medical School Admissions Selection Committee, VCUSOM, 2022 - 2023
Hobbies/Interests:
Coming from a family who looks for any reason to celebrate, I always enjoy spending time with my loved ones at family gatherings. I love food and Target, so I’m always happy to try a new restaurant or peruse the aisles of my favorite store. In my free time I also enjoy reading/listening to audiobooks and binge-watching Netflix (sitcoms are my guilty pleasure). I also enjoy playing tennis, though I’ve gotten a little rusty over the years.
Future Career Plans:
In true med-peds fashion, I have many interests that I’m still trying to shape into a career. Working with underserved populations has always been a passion of mine and plan to continue throughout my career. I enjoy working with the adolescent patient population and I am particularly interested in pediatric to adult transitional care and hope to bridge that gap in some way. Additionally, patients with sickle cell disease have a special place in my heart and I would like to be able to contribute to the care of this patient population as well. Outside of my clinical interests, I am also passionate about the medical education pipeline and mentorship, particularly for minority populations.
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds:
When applying to Prisma, all I knew of South Carolina was Myrtle Beach. On my interview day, everyone was so warm and welcoming, and I could tell that the program leadership really cared about their residents as individuals. I felt that my wellness would be prioritized and that I’d be heavily supported throughout my residency. I was impressed by the emphasis placed on diversity, equity, and inclusion during my interview and the work that Dr. Ravindran and others had already done in that area. I also felt that I would be allowed the space to utilize my personal and professional experience in this area to contribute to the Prisma/Greenville community in a positive way. When I left my interview day, I could see myself at Prisma and that was a feeling I couldn’t shake throughout the interview season.
Hometown: Charlotte, NC/Fort Mill, SC
Undergraduate: Clemson University, B.A. Biological Sciences, B.A. Modern Languages: Spanish
Graduate: University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville, Doctor of Medicine
Hobbies: Currently, I enjoy spending most of my free time playing with my daughter and our assortment of pets. When I do have some time to myself, I like to play Xbox with my friends. I am a highly competitive FIFA player and have occasionally ranked among the top 200 players in North America. Throughout medical school and college, I actively trained with my local Crossfit gym and competed in various team competitions. In the winter, I try to snowboard as much as I can (despite the horrible weather we had last season). I also enjoy cooking for my family and experimenting with plant-based recipes.
Future Career Plans: As a med Peds resident, I do my best to keep an open mind, but I am very interested in Hem-Onc (I am still trying to decide whether I like adult, pediatric, or combined the best). I love working with the adolescent and young adult population, and I am looking forward to exploring the aspect of transitional care for hematologic and oncologic disorders.
Why I Chose Greenville Med Peds: I was fortunate enough to be a medical student at USC Greenville, so I had firsthand experience with the amazing residents and faculty of our Med Peds program. As a medical student, I never had a good idea of what I wanted to do, and I pretty much loved all my clinical rotations (except for OBGYN!). From my first interaction with a Med-Peds resident, I knew I found my people (who were just as undecided as I was). I have always loved the close-knit community and relationships with everyone in the program. Between my undergrad at Clemson and 4 years in medical school in Greenville, I have fallen in love with the community and nature found in the upstate, and I am extremely grateful to continue to live here for the next 4 years.
Hometown: Fort Mill, SC
Undergraduate: Clemson University, B.S. Biology, Summa Cum Laude
Graduate: University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Hobbies/Interests: I love trying new foods from all over the world and incorporating the new techniques and unique flavors into my home kitchen. Apart from the recipes alone, I love learning about other cultures and creating a sense of community around meals. I love exploring new coffee shops, thrifting clothes, and spending time on the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Future Career Plans: I aim to practice both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics as I am passionate about caring for patients at various stages in their lives. Currently, I would love to work as a Med/Peds hospitalist. However, I am truly open to other options like primary care or a fellowship.
Why I chose Greenville: During my time as a medical student in Greenville, I knew that the leadership and faculty here were invested in my personal and professional growth. As I explored all my options during interview season, I constantly felt that I would be missing out on the close-knit community with dedicated and passionate mentors at my home program. I also loved that the program is well integrated within the categorical residencies and has a large community Med/Peds presence. I aim to become a physician educator as well as a community advocate, and I believe that Greenville excels in both domains. The culture of wellness at this program is easy to embrace with Greenville’s vibrant downtown, beautiful interwoven park system, and plenty of restaurants to explore.
Hometown: Springfield, OH
Undergraduate: University of Cincinnati, B.S. in Medical Sciences
Graduate: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Awards and Leadership:
Steven A. Haist Award for Improving Medical Education, 2023
UKCOM Advanced Clinical Skills Award, 2021
UKCOM Team Player Award, 2020
UKCOM Admissions Committee Student Representative
Medical Student Outreach and Leadership Program Graduate
Hobbies/Interests:
I love to take my dog, Piper, for walks with my husband. We’ve been enjoying exploring the different parks and trails around Greenville. I like listening to podcasts (mostly true crime) and reading (mostly fiction). I usually try to decompress by exercising or cooking. I love traveling, whether it’s exploring a new place with my husband or familiar places to see family and friends.
Future Career Plans:
While I do love primary care, I'm also interested in gastroenterology, endocrinology, and palliative care, so my exact path is still to be determined. I know that I want a career that enables me to participate in medical education, patient advocacy, and provides me with the opportunity to form close relationships with my patients.
Why I Chose Greenville Med-Peds:
Coming from a medical school with a strong Med-Peds presence, I knew I wanted to train at a system with a similar culture. Prisma Health Med-Peds more than exceeded my expectations on my interview day. It was clear that the program would encourage my growth not just as a physician but also as a person. The close-knit, family feel of the program was apparent even over Zoom. The residents and program staff were so warm and welcoming, it made the whole day feel so natural. I also appreciate the program’s dedication to resident wellness and DEI initiatives, which speaks to the supportive learning environment they have created. Finally, visiting Greenville in person was the cherry on top as my husband and I fell in love with all that the city has to offer.
2nd Year Residents
Hometown: Orange County, California
Undergraduate: Chapman University, B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cum Laude
Graduate: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine
Awards: Phi Kappa Phi, Virginia Tech 2019
Hobbies/Interests: Broadly speaking, my hobbies are separated into four different categories: cars/mechanics, outdoor activities, working out and coffee. I enjoy fixing my Toyota Land Cruiser or 4Runner, restoring vintage wrenches and ratchets, and tying flies for fly fishing. If I am ever on a three-day weekend, you will find me overland camping off grid anywhere from the Smokey Mountains to the coast where I can fly fish, hike, or climb. I am a firm believer one of life’s greatest gifts is a well-balanced pour over coffee.
Future Career Plans: I am currently interested combined Hematology/Oncology, Adult Congenital Heart Disease, or Critical Care. What I love about Med-Peds is the vast opportunities to serve patients of all ages with various pathologies. I look forward to getting more experience in each area and seeing where my path leads.
Why I chose Greenville: Throughout the interview cycle I tried to focus on what I called the "two C’s": Culture and Clinical Exposure. I distinctly remember reading the biographies of each resident and being taken aback by the authenticity and detail in which each person described the program. Everyone I met throughout my interview seemed truly invested in training residents not only to be excellent physicians, but also caring and compassionate humans. I felt the program lived out the balance of challenging their residents while rooting then in a culture that promoted their whole well-being.
Gabrielle.Chamlee@PrismaHealth.org
Hometown: Hopkinsville, KY
Undergraduate: Western Kentucky University, B.S. in Biology
Graduate: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Honors, Leadership, and Awards: Gold Humanism Honor Society, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, American Medical Women’s Association, UKCOM Entrustable Clinical Skills Award, UKCOM Committee for Advocacy in Professionalism & Ethics, Chair
Hobbies/Interests: Enjoying the outdoors- camping, fishing, hunting, kayaking, hiking
Spending quality time with my dog, Gardening, Cooking
Future Career Plans: I know I want to work with adult and pediatric patients throughout my career. I currently like inpatient medicine and can see a future as a Med/Peds Hospitalist. However, I am keeping my mind open since I might develop a passion for primary care or a subspecialty throughout my training. The great thing about Med-Peds is it opens doors for plenty of opportunities!
Why I Chose Greenville Med-Peds: I think the people across Med-Peds in general tend to be a great group, but during my interview season, Greenville really stood out. I always knew I wanted to stay in the south, and southern hospitality truly runs strong here. The people I met during my interview were so nice and down-to-earth. I immediately felt like these were “my people.” Upon talking with the residents, it was clear the faculty truly cares about resident wellness and works to make sure resident passions are supported and goals are fulfilled.
Med-Peds is full of opportunities and experiences, but one stood out to me at Greenville. The opportunity to work with Med-Peds hospitalists in a community setting at Greer Memorial was unique and really peaked my interest. It’s not often that you get to experience more community-based hospital medicine from both the adult and pediatric sides. I knew this was a fantastic opportunity that I wanted.
I hadn’t been to Greenville before, but everyone I mentioned it to had lovely things to say (“oh that’s a beautiful area, I loved Greenville when we visited, or my family member lives there and they love it!”). I knew I had to visit for myself and taking a trip here solidified my decision to choose Greenville Med-Peds. The population is so friendly and has excellent things to say about Prisma Health. The city is beautiful, and there are many gorgeous natural parks nearby. Not to mention, several vacation destinations close by too (Atlanta, Asheville, Gatlinburg, Charleston). Overall, the people, the beauty of the area, and the opportunities here led me to know Greenville Med-Peds would be my new home!
Hometown: Arlington, VA
Undergraduate: University of Mary Washington, B.S. in Biochemistry, Magna Cum Laude
Graduate: Jefferson University, Master’s of Public Health
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: I love exploring nature, cooking new things (especially soups and stews), listening to music, and learning modern music history, but the biggest love of my life has to be watching football (the kind you play with your feet, not your hands). I’m a diehard fan of NY/NJ Gotham FC and an aggrieved fan of Arsenal. You’ll also catch me rooting for the Washington Mystics and USC WBB.
Future Career Plans: In true Med-Peds fashion, I like a little bit of everything. My hope is to use my diversified training and perspectives to understand and meet the unique needs of my community, whether in primary care or as a hospitalist (or perhaps both!).
Why I chose Greenville: My interview here was by far the most personal and transparent. It was evident that the residents, faculty, and staff really put in the effort to get to know me both in preparation for and throughout the interview. The genuine rapport between the residents (as well as their Medicine and Peds counterparts) at second look events only solidified my choice. Finally, the attention to equity and inclusion both for patients and residents made me certain that this was the place for me.
Sarah.Strandholm@PrismaHealth.org
Hometown: Steamboat Springs, CO
Undergraduate/Graduate: University of Wyoming, B.S. in Physiology; B.A. in Spanish; M.S in Exercise Science
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville
Honors and Awards:
Distinction in Lifestyle Medicine, USCSOMG, 2022
Med-Peds Interest Group President, USCSOMG, 2021-2022
Hobbies/Interests: In my free time I try to be active outdoors as much as possible. I love running the trails at Paris Mountain or the roads around our neighborhood with my dogs, going for long mountain and road bike rides with my husband, and enjoying breweries and great food. The kitchen is another happy place of mine for cooking, baking, trying new recipes, and perfecting favorites. I have my own sourdough starter (named Deb) and have been baking bread weekly. My specialty is a multigrain loaf.
Future Career Plans: I’ve always had a broad range of interests, which is why Med-Peds is the ideal specialty! Right now, I envision myself practicing outpatient primary care serving patients from birth to old age, forming close therapeutic relationships with my patients/families, and incorporating my training in Lifestyle Medicine to treat chronic comorbidities. I also find hospital medicine very exciting and may try to split time between outpatient and inpatient settings. Because teaching and lifelong learning are important to me, I hope to stay involved in medical education throughout my career.
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds: By attending medical school in Greenville, I already had a good idea what the Med-Peds program here is about. I remember early on in my clerkships, some of my most influential mentors were the Med-Peds residents. At that time, I had no idea what Med-Peds was, but looking back, they represented the culture of the program well. They are passionate, kind, determined, intelligent individuals dedicated to their patients, and they are also well-rounded humans outside of medicine. I quickly realized I wanted to be like them. When thinking about residency, location was important for me. My husband and I have loved living in Greenville, and I was certain Prisma would be one of my top choices. Part of me wanted to train out West, closer to home, but ultimately, I felt the most excitement and sense of belonging after interviewing with Prisma. I was impressed by the leadership throughout the hospital system and Greenville community who are Med-Peds trained, giving the program strong representation. With the USC School of Medicine-Greenville right next door, a hospital serving as a large referral center for upstate SC, the focus on resident wellbeing, it had the benefits of a larger academic hospital within a community that felt like family. I’m thrilled to be part of the Prisma Health Med-Peds family!
Hometown: Pulaski, GA
Undergraduate: University of Georgia, Bachelors of Science in Biology and Psychology
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Honors and Awards: Alpha Omega Alpha, Phi Kappa Phi
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy spending time with my wife, Mary, and our golden retriever, Millie. We have enjoyed exploring Greenville and all it has to offer so far. We frequently go on walks at Conestee Nature Preserve after work. I also like to play golf, exercise, and watch college football. When I have a free weekend, I enjoy going to my hometown to hunt and fish.
Future career plans: I plan to move back to my hometown and do a mixture of inpatient and outpatient Med-Peds. There has never been a pediatrician where I am from, so I am excited to be able to provide care for the families in my county.
Why I chose Greenville: I chose Prisma Health Greenville for residency because I could tell how much the program leadership cared about me and how much the residents cared about each other. Everyone is so kind and down to earth. I also wanted to come to a program that had a strong Med-Peds presence in the community, and with over 40 Med-Peds physicians in Greenville, I knew that I would have a great system of mentors to help guide me through residency and my future career. I liked that I would get excellent training in both inpatient and outpatient settings. During the social the night before my interview, I could quickly tell that the residents genuinely enjoyed working at Prisma, as well as spending time with each other. It was important that I go somewhere where I felt supported by the hospital, my program leaders, and my fellow residents – and Prisma Health Greenville checked all of those boxes for me. It was also hard to pass up the opportunity to live in Greenville, as there are so many great things to do and see when I am not working.
3rd Year Residents
Nicholas.Brewer@PrismaHealth.org
Hometown: Columbus, MS
Undergraduate: Mississippi State University, B.S. in Biochemistry, Magna Cum Laude
Graduate: University of Mississippi Medical Center, Doctor of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Being in the outdoors – whether hiking, fishing, gardening, playing tennis, or walking along the Reedy River with my wife and our dog is one of my favorite hobbies. I’m also a passionate fan of Mississippi State sports and Liverpool FC.
Future Career Plans: Fortunately, Med/Peds prepares its residents for multiple career paths, three of which I am still heavily considering. My plans are to either practice primary care in a rural community, be a Med/Peds hospitalist, or continue my training post-residency in a Pediatric ICU fellowship.
Why I chose Greenville: The two most important things for me on the interview trail were the culture of the program I would be joining and the learning opportunities that would help me grow into a competent physician. From my first interaction with the faculty and residents here, I knew that the culture of the program was one that emphasized community and uplifting one another. I was also drawn to the opportunity that residents have to do procedures they wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to perform at other institutions. These facts, combined with the chance to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the Southeastern United States, made Prisma Health an easy choice for residency training.
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Undergraduate: University of South Carolina- Columbia, B.S. in Public Health
Graduate: University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy hiking and traveling to new places, especially ones with historical significance like the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina. I love dancing (for fun or fitness), exploring local coffee shops, and absolutely anything that involves food! I also like spending time with my friends and church community.
Future Career Plans: I’m not entirely sure what my future holds, but I imagine myself practicing both adult medicine and pediatrics. I want to teach residents and medical students in addition to my patients. I am hoping for a mix of inpatient and outpatient experiences. I’d like to participate in global health opportunities as well. I am most interested in infectious disease, heme-onc, or cardiology if I had to choose a subspecialty at this time.
Why I chose Greenville Med-Peds: I fell in love with Greenville during medical school and couldn’t think of a better place to continue training. Greenville offers experience in a rich academic institution and in smaller community settings. I can learn in a full spectrum of clinical environments from an amazing group of faculty that truly want to cultivate well-rounded physicians able to practice anywhere, any time, and with any age. Physician and patient wellness is clearly at the heart of the program, and it’s easy to see that residents are valued and supported here. The program promotes a culture of teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration that I think leads to outstanding patient care. I have great respect for the partnership with USC School of Medicine Greenville, and I am excited to develop my skills as a clinical educator and also have access to wonderful technology and simulations. Greenville itself has become my home, and I believe it has something for everyone. There is no shortage of outdoor activities, nearby hiking, a bustling arts community, and tremendous restaurants–not to mention it’s beautiful, family/pet-friendly, and proud of the local culture and businesses.
brenham.hughes@prismahealth.org
Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Graduate: Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
Hobbies/Interests: Board/Card Games, Trivia, UNC Basketball, Horror Movie Marathons, Discovering new music, Peanut Butter & Jelly
Future Career Plans: In typical Med-Peds fashion, I have yet to make a concrete decision on a future career. At this point, I know that I am interested in working in academic medicine in either a clinical or combined Med-Peds hospitalist setting.
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds: During an atypical interview season, Prisma did a great job making me feel welcomed and clearly stood out among other programs. All of the faculty members and residents I “met” during the virtual meet-and-greet and interview day took extra steps to make sure I felt valued. Seeing the residents interact with each other, I knew that they genuinely cared for each other and worked to make each other better. As a resident, I wanted to work in an environment where everyone’s diverse strengths were highlighted and utilized to improve patient care. The residents and faculty here personify the “work hard, play hard” mantra, and residents are not only valued for their medical knowledge, but for their abilities to interact with and care for others too. After moving to Greenville, I was extremely grateful (yet not surprised) that the Med-Peds family that everyone talked about on interview day was as genuine as they made it seem.
dillon.isaac2@prismahealth.org
Hometown: Blackville, SC
Undergraduate: Claflin University – Major in Biology, Minor in Chemistry
Graduate: Duke University – Masters of Science in Biomedical Sciences, USCCOMG – Med School
Hobbies/Interests: I’ve been interested in fitness and nutrition since I was in high school, particularly bodybuilding. However, during my time studying abroad in Australia, I took my interest to new heights. Upon leaving Australia, the new habits persisted, and I participated in a bodybuilding competition. This has been a meaningful hobby and outlet for me throughout medical school as I built discipline and made personal progress, even inspiring family and friends to take ownership of their fitness and nutrition lifestyles. I look forward to maintaining this habit throughout my residency training.
Future Career Plans: Currently, I’m leaning towards pursuing fellowship opportunities in Adolescent Medicine or Infectious Diseases. I also have an interest in primary care.
Why I chose Greenville: When considering residency programs, I felt confident I’d receive comprehensive Med-Peds training at many of my choices. It was when I spoke with a close mentor and friend when all the pieces came together. He confirmed that all my options were great but advised me to choose where most feels like home. Greenville crossed my mind without hesitation. Throughout my medical school training. I fell in love with the city, hospital campuses, and the clinical teaching faculty. We were exposed to taking comprehensive patient histories and practiced an abundance of hands-on skills from the start. During my acting internships, I felt well-prepared to complete my duties while remaining coachable and learning from my preceptors. When considering where to continue my training, I knew choosing Prisma Health was the right choice to take my medical competencies and training further–it simply felt like home. Greenville and Prisma Health have everything I want and need.
Renee.miller2@prismahealth.org
Hometown: Luling, LA
Undergraduate: Xavier University of Louisiana, B.S. in Biology minor in Chemistry
Graduate: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Honors and Awards:
Distinction in Community Health 2021
The Dean Brenda D. Lee Award 2021
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy spending time with my loved ones, ranging from hiking, dancing, playing tennis, or binge-watching Netflix together. I also enjoy home decor shopping in my spare time (or if I’m just stressed). I’m firm believer in retail therapy. Being from right outside of New Orleans I am also a foodie and love trying new restaurants and coffee shops. You will likely catch me brunching on my days off.
Future Career Plans: I am interested in combined Hospitalist. However, I also like the idea of maybe doing a fellowship in congenital cardiology and being able to take care of both adults and kids with congenital heart disease. I would also love to continue being involved in medical education and community advocacy.
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds: Short answer, it just felt right. The 2020 residency interviews were difficult to navigate given the virtual nature. I noticed that Greenville did an awesome job of portraying a family centered and supportive atmosphere even through the screen. I felt like I could completely be myself from the first time I met the residents and faculty. The attention to resident wellness, diversity, and teaching here stood out tremendously for me.
Also, there is always something to do in Greenville. The weather is great, and the mountains and beach are both only short drives away. I also love how unique and diverse the food scene is here too. I love being able to try a new restaurant every week when I can.
joseph.snooks@prismahealth.org
Hometown: Springfield, GA
Undergraduate: Georgia Southern University, Major in Biology and Minor in Chemistry
Graduate: Mercer University School of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: I love spending time with my family especially if it is outdoors. One of my favorite activities is fishing with my two sons. I like cooking and grilling. I also love to travel and explore new places. I have always enjoyed playing and watching sports especially baseball and golf. Weightlifting is a fun way for me to stay active, but with so many options in Greenville, I look forward to adding hiking and running to my list of workouts.
Future Career Plans: I am very interested in primary care especially in a rural and underserved area where I am needed most. The beauty of pursuing med-peds is that my training will allow me to explore many unique ways to effectively carry out my dreams. I will be able to tailor my career to meet the specific needs of whatever community I am in.
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds: Throughout the interview season, I had a difficult time trying to get a good feel for where I would fit in best. I was always told by other residents it is just a gut feeling. With our interviews being virtual I was worried I would miss out on really getting to know residents, faculty, and program leaders. I was also very nervous about moving my family somewhere we had never been. I interviewed with Greenville early on and was immediately blown away. It was hands down my best experience from beginning to end and I found myself comparing all my other interviews to Greenville. The meet and greet with the residents was extremely relaxing and I truly felt like they wanted to know me better. They had clearly read all the applicant bios and they were so thorough with their questions and the conversations felt very natural. I remember finishing up with them the night before the interview and saying to my wife “these are my people.” I was in awe of how down to earth the Program Director and Associate Program Directors were. I also loved how many med-peds trained faculty are all around Greenville. I had only heard great things about the city, so I began following the social media pages for the residency programs as well as different business and city visitor guide sites. My wife and I decided to take a trip up to Greenville at the end of the interview season as I was making my list. We spent the weekend downtown exploring new restaurants and walking down to the beautiful Falls Park on the Reedy, and we immediately fell in love. I already knew the hospital and program were a great fit and I would get some of the best Med-Peds training, and after seeing how amazing Greenville was I knew exactly where I wanted to be.
4th Year Residents
megan.mcgarel@prismahealth.org
Hometown: Morristown, TN
Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame, B.S. in Biology
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Leadership and Awards: Gold Humanism Honor Society
Imhotep Society
Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy hiking, running, volleyball, and really doing anything outside. I also love to sing and have been active in my church choir for the past several years.
Future Career Plans: Med-Peds primary care, ideally close to an academic center so I can be involved in teaching. I am also interested in doing a palliative care fellowship down the road.
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds: I heard great things about Greenville before visiting but was unsure if it would be the right fit. I wanted a program that would help me become a good physician educator and where I would be working in a community that felt like a family. That is exactly what I found in Greenville. The USC-Greenville medical school and the sim center are right next to the hospital, which will provide many opportunities to teach and practice hands on skills. More importantly, the residents and faculty are extremely supportive of each other. They work hard, but they work even harder to take care of one another. Dr. Kolarik sets that mentality from the start and is passionate about physician wellness and helping us all have a good work-life balance.
In addition to an amazing program, Greenville feels like the ideal place to live. When I came for my interview literally every person I met (inside and outside of the hospital) said they loved it here and they were all eager to welcome me. I cannot wait to explore more of the city, the Swamp Rabbit Trail, and the surrounding state parks!
Hometown: Madison, Mississippi
Undergraduate: Mississippi College, B.S. in Biological Sciences
Graduate: University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: I love to write about movies, read, listen to podcasts and music, run, travel, chronicle my dog’s diva-antics on Snapchat, join in trivia and game nights, and spend time with my friends and family! Since moving to Greenville, I’ve been learning how to cook and taking advantage of the lovely scenery by hiking and planning trips to the many beautiful lakes nearby!
Future Career Plans: 50/50 Med-Peds Hospitalist and teaching!
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds: For residency, I was looking for a place where the residents felt like a family both within their tight-knit Med-Peds class as well as with their categorical peers, where I would feel supported by the program leadership, where there was culture that genuinely and openly advocated for wellness, and where the teaching and training would make me feel prepared for anything. Finding a residency location that also offered many things to do (outdoors or indoors) outside of the hospital was so important as well. These were significant factors that I considered to feel confident in being able to leave my home state and move 8 hours away for the first time. I found that home-away-from-home in this program.
Alexander Perez, Jr.
alexander.perez@prismahealth.org
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Undergraduate: University of South Carolina, B.S. in Statistics
Graduate: University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville
Hobbies and Interests: I love being outside, hiking, trips to the lake, playing soccer. I enjoy playing video games, leisure reading. I love traveling and hope to plan many a trip in the future.
Future Career Plans: Ultimately, I would love to work as a combined hospitalist somehow. I have plans to work with the underserved community, with a focus of the Latino community.
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds: I am what many would say, “Home Grown.” While I grew up elsewhere, Greenville has become my hometown. Before medical school, I actually worked at the hospital as a Spanish Interpreter before. I felt like I needed to “span my wings” and experience something else. I had a great time in my interviews and there were a lot of great places I could see myself training in. I thought so long about it, but ultimately, I just could not walk away from Greenville. The program does an excellent job of ranking a diverse group of personalities. But one thing that everyone has in common is a sense of community and work ethic. I experienced the faculty first-hand. They are excellent teachers who also appreciate the well-being of their residents. The program does an excellent job of training their residents in both inpatient and outpatient medicine. Greenville is a beautiful city with plenty of entertainment, surrounded by so much beauty. It was a no brainer, and I could not be happier with my decision.
Abigail.Stoker@prismahealth.org
Hometown: Chapin, SC
Undergraduate: Clemson University, B.S. in Biological Sciences
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Leadership and Awards:
Gold Humanism Honor Society Member
Outstanding Student in Pediatrics, USCSOMG, 2020
Honor and Professionalism Council, USCSOMG, Member 2017-2020, Chair 2019-2020
Med Peds Interest Group, USCSOMG, President 2017-2018
Hobbies and Interests: I grew up on Lake Murray and have always loved to do all things on the water. Since moving to Greenville a few years ago, I’ve really enjoyed running and biking on the Swamp Rabbit Trail as well. When I’m feeling less active, I like to get in the kitchen and cook/bake. I enjoy spending time with my church community and family that lives nearby too!
Future Career Plans: Like many Med Peds residents, I have a pretty wide array of career interests and am not sure where I’ll land just yet. I know that I really enjoy the opportunity to get to know my patients well, understand their values and goals, and walk alongside them through a season of life. I can see opportunities to do that in many different career paths. I’m especially interested in primary care or a combined subspecialty and am excited to figure out what fits best over the next few years.
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds: There’s a lot I could say about why I chose Greenville for Med Peds. It checked all the boxes for me when it came to things like a healthy, supportive hospital culture, an educational environment that finds balance between giving residents autonomy but providing appropriate instruction, and of course the wonderful community and city outside of the hospital. At the end of the day though, I knew that the most important thing to me in a program would be the people. A very wise person told me, “residency is like a circus, you just have to find your clowns.” Coming from USCSOMG for medical school, I had seen firsthand the genuine, humble, hard-working, fun-loving, easy-going and compassionate nature of the Med Peds residents here, and so wanted to be like them “when I grew up.” At the end of the day, I felt there was no place I would be more supported and grown into the physician and person I want to be than right here.
Hometown: Knightstown, Indiana
Undergraduate: Indiana University, B.S. in Biology
Graduate: Indiana University School of Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: I love doing any activity that lets me spend time with friends and family. I enjoy going on walks around the Swamp Rabbit trail, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, or staying home and hosting a game night or cookout. I can’t wait to see all the beautiful state parks and lakes around Greenville, or to venture out and explore all the amazing waterfalls in the surrounding area.
Future Career Plans: As of right now, I have two different dreams for my future career. I could see myself as a dual hospitalist for both adults and pediatrics, but I have also considered primary care. That’s the best thing about med-peds, you have four years to decide.
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds: I placed my personal wellbeing as a top priority when deciding where to go for residency. I knew I would be there for four years, so I wanted to love it. Not only did I want to find a residency that challenged me or provided me a great education, but I also wanted a place where I could form friendships. The moment I arrived in Greenville I could tell how great of a city it was. Everyone in the community was out jogging, walking their dog, or strolling up and down main street looking at places to shop or to grab a bite to eat. The entire city was so lively and filled with young professionals like myself. I felt this same energy during my resident dinner and interview day. All the faculty and staff were so genuine that the conversations came naturally to me. I could tell after talking with the residents and program director that I would be supported emotionally and that they held mental health to a high priority just like myself. My mom told me when I was making my rank list, “Ariel, you know residency is going to be hard and it’s going to take up most of your time. So you might as well go somewhere fun and beautiful where you’ll be happy both at work and on your days off.” And I’m so glad I did!