Testimonials
Class of 2015
Jeffrey DeFranc, DO
Jeffrey DeFranc, DO
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
I chose UPMC Hamot because of the program's tremendous reputation, curriculum structure, and the surrounding community of Erie. The program has MANY strengths which are quite appealing to anyone aspiring to be an excellent Emergency Medicine Physician. The support services of the administrative staff are top-notch as well as the medical staff. So far in my experiences here, I have never felt abandoned or alone with any of the attending physicians. The class sizes are small which allows for great learning experiences and plenty of one-on-one time. I feel that I have made an excellent choice by becoming a part of this program, and upon completing it, I will be a very well rounded and competent Emergency Medicine Physician.
James Cullinan, DO
James Cullinan, DO
NY College of Osteopathic Medicine of NY Institute of Technology
Several qualities about UPMC Hamot stood out and ultimately led me to choosing it as the location for my residency training. One of the biggest advantages I felt UPMC Hamot had over other programs was the close interaction between the attendings and residents of all levels. Several other EM residency program emergency departments are run in a “pyramid-scheme”, where most or all junior residents report to senior residents, who then report to the attendings. While I feel that the guidance and oversight of our senior residents is truly invaluable, I really value the direct interaction with our knowledgeable attendings from day one. The small size of the residency program makes this interaction with the attendings more feasible. It also enhances one of the other qualities I value most about the program; I cannot say enough how much the residency program feels like a family. I would never hesitate to ask any one of my co-residents for a favor, and have no doubt that if they were able, would lend me any aid they could. These program qualities, in conjunction with a high-volume emergency department with extensive trauma exposure, combine to make a truly complete and exceptional emergency medicine program.
Brian McQuone, DO
Brian McQuone, DO
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
There are a variety of reasons why I chose UPMC Hamot for my emergency medicine training. UPMC Hamot is the only trauma center in the area which provides me with the opportunity to develop the skills needed to handle such critically ill patients. UPMC Hamot now has a large SIM lab to practice difficult scenarios along with procedures to further enhance our education. Having only three residency programs total allows for ample opportunities to gain experience with procedures important to emergency medicine. These are only a few reasons why I am happy that my training will be here with UPMC Hamot.
Class of 2014
Jenny Sheffer, DO
Jenny Sheffer, DO
Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center
One of the main reasons UPMC Hamot was my top choice for residency was because it is the only trauma center in the area, combined with the fact that there are only two other residency programs. Each class is small, so there are plenty of opportunities to do procedures and become a proficient emergency physician by the end of residency training. In addition, the residents all work as a team – both teaching and challenging one another.
Cecil Thomas, DO
Cecil Thomas, DO
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
I chose UPMC Hamot because of the mix of a high volume center with the chance of one on one interaction with attendings. We are also one of the few residencies in the hospital, which means that we have a lot more opportunity to get hands on with procedures and clinical experience than other residency programs.
Sam Zerkle, DO
Sam Zerkle, DO
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
I have found my initial experience at UPMC Hamot to be a painless one. There have been any number of issues that come up with being a new employee and i have found them to be taken care of with ease. I am very happy with my choice, and look forward to my next 4 years here.
Class of 2013
Saad Mahmood, DO
Saad Mahmood, DO
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
I chose UPMC Hamot for my emergency medicine training for multiple reasons. I like the fact that UPMC Hamot is the major trauma center in the area, giving residents ample opportunity to develop the skills needed to handle trauma patients. In addition, with over 66,000 visits a year, UPMC Hamot's emergency department sees a wide variety of patients and pathologies. Even though the department is very busy, residents are able to perform many procedures and discuss patients with the attending physicians due to the low resident to attending ratio. There is also a strong emphasis on didactics in the residency program, with weekly lectures and monthly journal clubs and reading assignments. Finally, the residents all get along, have a great time together, and are always willing to help each other out. I strongly believe that my training at UPMC Hamot will allow me to achieve my career goals and am extremely happy with my decision to come here for residency.
KJ Sabotchick, DO
KJ Sabotchick, DO
Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
UPMC Hamot's EM residency program has so many great aspects, it's difficult to name them all in a short testimonial. While I was searching through EM programs throughout the northeast UPMC Hamot stood out among the rest because UPMC Hamot offered a large ED volume, patient diversity, and a high level of acuity - including trauma, all without being in an urban location. Through my experience at UPMC Hamot, the multi-faceted ED team works like a well-oiled machine. There is no shortage of resources at your disposal here at UPMC Hamot. The nursing staff is great to work with and the staff physicians are top notch. The camaraderie among the residents speaks toward the encouraging environment at UPMC Hamot and the emphasis that the program places on producing high-quality, compassionate EM physicians. The opportunities for education are numerous including weekly didactics, an Emergency Medicine Conference held annually in Erie, and the funding to attend national conferences. The city of Erie itself has so much to offer as well; a local zoo, an amusement park, beaches at Presque Isle, professional sports teams and all the conveniences of a larger city. UPMC Hamot really is the total package.
Class of 2012
Erik S. Buzzard, DO
Erik S. Buzzard, DO
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
I chose UPMC Hamot for several reasons. Ultimately, my decision hinged upon the fact that UPMC Hamot is able to provide the training required to be a competent emergency medicine physician and is able to do so in a unique setting. Particularly attractive to me was the fact that there are only three residency programs at UPMC Hamot-orthopaedics, neurology and emergency medicine. Therefore, there is an abundance of available procedures and a very good attending and resident ratio. UPMC Hamot's Level II trauma center is consistently very busy and has an ED volume of over 63,000 per year. When compared with other high-quality training facilities, I found a sense of team atmosphere at UPMC Hamot that I have not seen in other places. As a result, I love coming to work and am more than satisfied with the quality of my training.
William D. Lee, DO
William D. Lee, DO
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Since arriving at UPMC Hamot, I have been extremely impressed with the camaraderie of the residents. Everyone is working toward the same goals and is willing to help each other along the way.
Contact Us:
For more information regarding the Emergency Medicine Residency program at UPMC Hamot, please contact Pat Rogers, GME Program Administrator, by phone at 814-877-6257 or via email at pat.rogers@hamot.org.
