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Highlights | Sharing the voices of incoming trainees  

  • The UW Medicine Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office welcomes 521 new trainees this year. 
  • These residents and fellows will focus their time on their chosen specialty or subspecialty. 
  • Get to know a few of the incoming trainees as they reflect on their hopes and goals for their time in their training program. 

This June, UW Medicine Graduate Medical Education is welcoming 521 new trainees. Each year, UW Medicine sponsors over 1,600 residents and fellows, which means that about one in three physicians practicing at UW Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center is a resident or fellow — making up a substantial and important part of our physician population.  

Under the supervision of an attending physician, UW Medicine residents and fellows learn and work primarily in UW Medicine hospitals and clinics, Seattle Children’s Hospital and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.  

These trainees are excited to dive deeper into their chosen specialty or subspecialty at UW Medicine. Below, we asked five incoming residents and fellows to share their goals and desires for their upcoming time as trainees and future in medicine. 

Manush Sondhi, MD, Incoming Rheumatology Fellow

A headshot of Dr. Manush Sondhi Matching with UW Medicine is an honor and an exceptional opportunity to train at a prestigious institution known for its excellence in patient care, research and education. This chance means everything to me — it’s an opportunity to become the best version of myself and the finest rheumatologist I can be. The warmth and support I’ve already received from the faculty are truly inspiring, and I eagerly anticipate starting my fellowship. 

I bring a deep passion for rheumatology and a solid commitment to representing UW at various platforms and conferences. Additionally, I am dedicated to advocacy in rheumatology. I bring diversity and will actively work toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within and outside the field. 

I aim to learn from experienced faculty and collaborate with diverse healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care. I seek to engage in research opportunities to contribute to advancements in rheumatology and improve patient outcomes. I also plan to develop strong professional relationships and mentorships that will support my growth as a rheumatologist and as an advocate for diversity and inclusion in healthcare. 

Megan Mayer, MD, Incoming Pulmonary Critical Care Fellow

A headshot of Dr. Megan Mayer Since graduating from the UW School of Medicine in 2020 with my MD and MPH, I’m thrilled to be back at the institution that instilled in me the principles of healthcare equity and access and the belief that every human deserves a high quality of care irrespective of ability to pay. UW is home! 

I’ve spent the last four years diving into health policy work and research to learn how to improve patients’ access to care and decrease healthcare spending without compromising quality. I can’t wait to learn about the amazing contributions of my peers and to grow together to be excellent physicians who serve our community.

Micah Sommer, MD, Incoming Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Resident

A headshot of Dr. Micah Sommer I had a relatively unconventional journey to UW Medicine, arriving in Seattle as a PGY3 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) transfer from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. Joining the UW PM&R program allows me to learn in an environment with leaders in the field of Physiatry, and further pursue my passion for Sports Medicine. Ironically, I grew up hearing the story of how my family almost moved to Seattle when one of my parents was offered a job here shortly after I was born. Now, twenty-five and a half years later, I am excited to live my “what if” Seattle dream and finish my residency at the University of Washington. 

Though management guidelines are similar between Canada and the US, access to diagnostic and therapeutic resources may differ. This may allow me to bring a unique perspective to patient encounters as I continue to learn the intricacies of the American healthcare system. I am looking forward to learning as much as I can from as many people as possible. The goal is to become a strong, well-rounded clinician with a consistent drive for improvement. I hope to continue to face challenges head-on, become a dependable teammate to my UW colleagues and continue to grow into the best version of myself. 

Ganesh Raman, MD, Incoming Hematology and Oncology Fellow

A headshot of Dr. Ganesh RamanMatching at UW Medicine is a dream come true. I have been passionate about Hematology since early in my medical training, and UW is one of the leading institutions in the field. I am excited to learn and grow as I begin the next phase of my journey in a caring and nurturing environment with access to experts and limitless opportunities for research.

Perhaps the most unique perspective I’ll bring to fellowship is my training in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Med-Peds is an intensive 4-year combined residency; as a resident, I’d switch between the two specialties every four months or so. There is a lot more overlap between Pediatrics and Internal Medicine than one may initially think, especially now that kids are often surviving previously fatal chronic illnesses well into their adulthood. This gives me a unique opportunity to work with adolescents and young adults with chronic hematologic conditions, helping them transition and navigate the system.

I am excited to learn a lot about Hematology! I’m also looking forward to the friendships I will forge and the mentors I’ll have the opportunity to work with. I hope that when I leave fellowship, I’ll not only be able to provide excellent hematologic care but also make contributions outside of the clinical setting in areas of health disparities and quality improvement.

Matthew Greydanus, MD, Incoming Cardiology Resident

A headshot of Dr. Matthew Greydanus Matching at UW Medicine has been a dream come true. The opportunity to integrate my studies of internal and cardiovascular medicine at an esteemed institution with my long-term passion of caring for persons experiencing homelessness is something I have been working towards since I first applied to medical school. It’s an added bonus that my hobbies of sailing, backpacking, and fishing are all accessible in the surrounding area!

As an intern coming from Chicago, I believe that my experiences working in a city with vastly different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic demographics than Seattle will allow me to provide a unique perspective within my teams. I’m also excited to bring my previous experiences working in politics, clinical research and inner-city emergency medical care to the UW Medicine family.

I have several goals for this program, most importantly of which is to become a confident, supportive, procedurally capable internist who is comfortable leading a medical team in any discipline or setting. I’m also hoping to pursue cardiology and to prepare myself to be an effective applicant and future fellow. However, a more personal goal is to ingratiate myself within Seattle’s unhoused communities and contribute my experiences, perspectives and ideas to the incredible work that is already being done for these patients. 

Celebrating the road ahead

Each of the incoming talented trainees eagerly entering their training program bring with them a diverse skillset, a passion for their specialties and a desire to provide the best patient care they can.

Read more in the blog post from Byron Joyner, MD, on the 2024 match results and the incoming class of trainees.