During any given year, over 1600 residents and fellows are training in the 200-plus residency and fellowship programs sponsored by UW Medicine Graduate Medical Education.
Over 800 residents and fellows have graduated from UW Medicine programs and stayed on as faculty during the last 10 years. Many residents and fellow alumni also serve as clinical and educational leaders at UW Medicine. We asked a few of these leaders about their experiences and why they decided to stay.
Janna Friedly, MD, MPH
Professor and Chair, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine; Executive Director, UW COVID Aftercare and Recovery Program (UW CARES)
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Resident, 2005
“When I applied for residency, I went all in and only ranked one program — definitely not a strategy I recommend to medical students today, but the best career decision I have ever made. I specifically chose UW Medicine because the PM&R residency program is the leading program in the country and is known for being academically rigorous but also being very supportive. I knew this was the right place for me to train given my goals to be an academic leader with strong research and clinical skills.
The number one reason I’ve stayed at UW Medicine for my entire career is the people. The dedication of our faculty and staff to work together to help the most vulnerable patients with complex disabling conditions and to continually evolve and innovate inspires me every day.”
Santiago Neme, MD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer, UW Medical Center; Associate Dean, UW School of Medicine; Professor, Infectious Diseases
Internal Medicine Resident, 2008; Infectious Diseases Fellow, 2013
“I chose to stay at UW Medicine for two main reasons: the people and the excellence in medical education and training. I still remember my very first day as an intern at UW Medical Center, when my fellow intern and now close friend, took me under her wing and eased my transition during those first few hectic days on a busy inpatient cardiology rotation. Beyond medical education, UW has provided me with numerous opportunities for growth and leadership development. At UW Medicine, I have had the privilege of working with outstanding mentors and colleagues who believed in me and embraced who I am.”
Ali Ravanpay, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Neurosurgery; Service Chief, Puget Sound Veterans Affairs Hospital; Associate Program Director, Neurosurgery Residency Program
Neurological Surgery Resident, 2016; UW School of Medicine, PhD 2007, MD 2009
“I felt honored and fortunate to train at a prestigious neurological surgery program renowned for its exceptional surgical education and strong culture of teamwork and camaraderie. As I neared the end of my training, I was even more fortunate to be given the privilege to stay at UW School of Medicine, where I would benefit from its clinical and surgical diversity, distinguished faculty, and rich opportunities for teaching, collaborative research and innovation.
When I started residency, in-house matches were rare. It is nice to see how that landscape has changed and so many brilliant local people train here and continue to give back to their communities.”
Michi Shinohara, MD
Associate Chief, Department of Dermatology; Professor, Department of Dermatology; Michael W. Piepkorn Endowed Chair in Dermatologic Research; Director of Dermatopathology Fellowship
Internal Medicine Resident, 2005; Dermatology Resident, 2009
“I have always been proud to say I trained at UW Medicine. Exposure to diverse patient populations across multiple sites — a Veteran’s Hospital, county hospital and tertiary care center — helped me become first a better internist, and then dermatologist. Now I get to work alongside some of the smartest and most dedicated people I know.”
Learn more about working and training at UW Medicine
Interested in learning more about training at UW School of Medicine? See our Prospective Residents and Fellows page.
Want to learn more about teams and opportunities? Check out the UW Medicine Careers page.
