Categorical Residency

As a PGY1, you will be exposed to the breadth and depth of Internal Medicine. You will spend on average two months on the General Medicine floors, admitting both routine and unusual cases. You will begin to learn HIV medicine on our inpatient services for four weeks and Cardiology for another month. You will get the opportunity to fine-tune your neurology examination skills with two weeks on the neurology consult service. All interns have two weeks of electives in Endocrinology to obtain exposure to this subspecialty. Our interns develop skills in the care of critically ill patients in both the CCU and the Medical ICU. A month at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) affords the opportunity to be exposed to quaternary-level cancer care.

A typical PGY1 Schedule is as follows:

Our PGY2s gain more responsibility for patient care and supervision of their team on the General Medicine floors and subspecialty teams (HIV, Cardiology). Half of the class has an additional opportunity to rotate through MSKCC. One full month is spent in the ED and Critical Care units to build confidence in our residents to care for critically ill patients.

A typical PGY2 Schedule is as follows:

As a PGY3, the formative experience is the time spent as the screening consult resident who is the liaison for patients going to the ICU and the medical consult resident who provides consultation to other services in the hospital. Seniors also spend time on the floors and in the critical care units to consolidate their leadership skills. Time is allocated for you to customize your schedule based upon your particular career interests.

A typical PGY3 Schedule is as follows:

During their two-week ambulatory blocks, categorical residents have the unique opportunity to serve as primary care providers for a panel of patients at one of three community-based centers.  These centers are part of the William F. Ryan Community Health Network, a Federally Qualified Health Center accredited by the Joint Commission and an NCQA Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home, which provides high quality care to vulnerable, under- and uninsured populations.  Additional time is spent in the outpatient subspecialty clinics, such as Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Pulmonary, Rheumatology and Endocrinology.

Complementing this extensive outpatient clinical exposure, we offer a rich, weekly academic half-day that includes seminars in core topics of primary care medicine, evidence-based medicine, and wellness sessions. Our PGY1 residents also have an additional academic half-day each block for Art and Practice sessions, which focus on equitable patient-centered care topics such as unconscious bias, social determinants of health and health literacy .  Woven throughout the block is our quality improvement curriculum which includes real-time, resident-driven project implementation, classroom didactics, and online certification modules.  Finally, it is during the ambulatory blocks that residents engage in Simulation Lab activities.  

The Medical Education Track is for residents interested in careers in medical education. Housestaff are invited to apply for the track at the end of their intern year and work through a two-year curriculum covering learning theory, curriculum design and implementation, feedback and evaluation, and medical education scholarship. The core sessions of the track occur outside of elective time, preserving the ability of track residents to pursue subspecialty clinical experiences. Residents in the Medical Education Track will help to create and implement a medical education project through the two years of the curriculum, with support and mentorship from the program. Projects developed through the track have included a professional skills curriculum for the residency, a pathophysiology-based monthly conference for the residents led by core faculty members, an enhanced ambulatory nutrition curriculum, and a peer-observation program aimed at improving teaching skills on resident-led rounds.

In addition to a focus on curricular design, the track will develop residents' skills as a medical educator, with additional teaching opportunities both at the residency and medical school level. Track residents are exposed to mentors and leaders in medical education throughout the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Mount Sinai Health System.

Applicants interested in the Medical Education Track should apply to the Categorical Residency Program at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West. Interested applicants should make note of their interest on their application, so appropriate interviews can be arranged.

Examples of projects developed by Mount Sinai Morningside/West Track participants:

2021-2023

• Guideline directed medical therapy in heart failure
• Simulation-based curriculum on non-invasive mechanical ventilation and high flow oxygen therapy
• Cardiac point of care ultrasound (POCUS)
• Podcasts on goals of care discussions
• Curriculum on HF in women
• PROMPT HF: ACS and heart failure, decreasing readmissions cost awareness
• Harm Reduction
• Empathy in Residency training
• GI procedures: 3 sessions, UGIB, LGIB, advanced GI procedures IPASS (handoff)
• CCU curriculum focused on heart failure
• Cardiology lectures/curriculum (Cardiology for the Internist)
• Impact of remote teaching (ie, zoom) on medical education/learners
• Financial literacy for the Resident
• Statistical programming 101 modules (SAS, SPSS, R)
• Evidence-based medicine on the inpatient service

2022-2024

• Curriculum on Integrative Medicine
• Teaching the physical examination
• Taking a medical history in oncologic patients
• Rheumatology for the Internist: A web-based module learning project; flipped classroom
• Medical errors in transition of care, medication reconciliations
• Managing sleep in the inpatient population
• Penicillin allergy de-labeling
• Longitudinal EKG, video series
• Preparation for STAR/ED boarding team, curriculum/workshop
• Simulation education to train senior residents in the art and skill of providing impactful verbal and non-verbal feedback to Interns
• Orientation process/boot camp/documentation workshop for PGY1s
• Health equity curriculum, case-based
• Procedural curriculum

2023-2025

• Medication reconciliation for geriatric patients
• Increasing comfort managing sedation drips in the ICU
• Screening and implementing brief intervention techniques for patients with harmful alcohol use
• Introduction to non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP and high flow machines)
• Advocating for anticipatory medication prescribing in the end-of-life patient
• Curriculum on hematologic and oncologic emergencies
• Culinary medicine curriculum
• Management of unit-to-floor transfer patients
• Strategies to tackle vaccination hesitancy in patients
• Increase resident confidence/competence in treating gastroenterological conditions
• Teaching residents how to deliver a difficult diagnosis/initiate difficult conversations with patients

This is a longitudinal pathway that provides an opportunity for internal medicine residents to be trained in obesity medicine and complete all ABOM certification requirements (except the exam) prior to graduation. If selected, guaranteed clinical experience based at the Weight Management Clinic at Ryan Health & development of a scholarly project with the mentorship of ABOM-certified faculty.

Housestaff stories

Christopher Matthews, DO

CATEGORICAL PGY-2
From the time I began exploring residency programs, Mount Sinai Morningside-West has stood out in all the right ways. I applied for a sub-internship with the program my fourth year of medical school, and I was thrilled to have an interview on my second day. Everyone was just as warm and inviting on Zoom as they are in person. When I began my residency at Mount Sinai Morningside-West, I appreciated the immediate sense of community between the residents. There are always opportunities to go out in the city, meet up in the park on the weekend, and enjoy our time off together. I have experienced amazing support from the chiefs and leadership of our program, and I have already been immersed in an array of learning experiences from the diverse patient population that we treat. I am confident that the training I am receiving from Mount Sinai Morningside-West will provide me with the opportunity to grow and succeed in my next career endeavors.

Norah Sadek, MD

CATEGORICAL PGY-2
My first priority when looking for a residency program was location - I'm a born and semi-raised New Yorker and wanted to stay as close to the city I love as possible. However, my next priority was a program that had not only a diverse patient population but also diversity within the program. In the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Mount Sinai Morningside/West, we see patients of every socioeconomic and cultural background and I'm proud that our House Staff that reflects that population. At any given time, there is almost surely someone on the team who speaks the patient's language and provides exceptional culturally competent care. As a Moroccan American, I recognize how significant this is not only for patient outcomes, but also as a part of my residency training. I could not have asked for a more supportive and well-rounded educational experience. At every turn, there is someone to assist when I have a question or concern, to take the time to teach me concepts or procedures, or sometimes just listen when I've had a bad day. It's made the transition from medical student to resident as seamless and enjoyable as possible. And to be in NYC, with the food and culture and, in my case, family nearby - I couldn't ask for a better residency experience.

Galit Balayla Rosemberg, MD

CATEGORICAL PGY-3
My name is Galit Balayla Rosemberg; I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. Becoming a doctor in Venezuela was one of the greatest and most challenging experiences of my life. I was exposed early on to very complex and rare diseases including tropical infectious diseases when I spent 4 months in a rural area in the Amazon called Kamarata. Working as a primary care physician in Kamarata made me realize the importance of knowing your patients integrally when caring for them and it was then that I decided to complete my medical training with a state of the art Internal Medicine residency in the United States. I could not have asked for a better outcome than matching to the Internal Medicine program at Mount Sinai Morningside-West. One of the things that I was looking for in a residency program was a combination of extensive clinical training with excellent academic structure. Mount Sinai provides both experiences by having academic activities such as research week and academic half days, and also by facilitating ample exposure to a large patient population with diverse backgrounds and pathologies.

Another great thing about training at this program is the opportunity to rotate throughout different affiliated hospitals including Mount Sinai main campus and Memorial Sloan Kettering. This expands the array of learning possibilities by being in contact with different systems and specialists. Additionally, being in the heart of New York City allows for one of the best cultural displays one could find: from food, festivals, museums, music, theater, etc., to people from all over the world. I feel that the same type of open and welcoming environment is reflected in the Program’s culture. Personally, I have felt accepted and supported by coworkers, administrative personnel, and faculty alike. For prospective applicants and internal medicine lovers like myself, I highly recommend this residency training program and I’m looking forward to being as welcoming with you as I have been during my intern year.

Arpanjeet Kaur, MD

CATEGORICAL PGY-3
When I first came to Mount Sinai in 2018 to rotate as an International medical student, I was awestruck by the standard of medical training and wide array of opportunities and resources this health system had to offer. In that moment, I decided that I want to pursue my internal medicine residency training at Mount Sinai Morningside/West. With that desire I went back to India, and as I was preparing for my USMLEs, the wallpaper of Mount Sinai West on my phone inspired me to work hard every day and kept me going.

On the interview day, I was deeply impressed by the leadership’s vision and commitment towards the program as well as the great camaraderie amongst the residents. It just felt like a perfect fit for me. Now, three months into residency I can attest to the fact that this program definitely takes excellent care of its residents, both personally and professionally. In my opinion, having colleagues from all over the world makes diversity our biggest strength. The implementation of 6+2 curriculum and strongly enforced no 24-hr call policy speak volumes about leadership efforts to prevent resident burnout. Apart from outstanding fellowship matches, the program also comes with great perks such as meal and educational stipends, subsidized housing in the heart of Manhattan, and the opportunity to rotate at one of the nation’s leading cancer institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering. My favorite part of the program outside of the hospital is that it is just a few minutes’ walk to the Hudson River Park, Central Park and Times Square. At the end, I would like to say that I will definitely choose Mount Sinai Morningside/West again as my top choice without any second thoughts.

Primary Care Residency

Housestaff stories

Brent Arcayan, MD

Primary Care Residency PGY-1
As a primary care physician, we have the unique privilege and responsibility of being the go-to liaison for individuals seeking guidance in navigating their health and wellness journeys. We are all flawed individuals with our own unique stories and baggage just trying to be well, so I strive to get to know my patients, establish trust, and deliver personalized care. My perspective has been profoundly shaped by my experiences advocating for LGBTQ+ health equity in my home state of Texas. This involvement has given me intimate familiarity with the understanding that our health is influenced by more than just chemistry and biology; it is deeply intertwined with real-life factors like access to transportation, availability of nutritious meals, certain opportunities afforded to us, and the policies that affect our day-to-day lives.

Although I’ve only just begun my training towards becoming the fully-fledged primary care physician I aspire to be, I feel a deep sense of belonging alongside my new friends and mentors, particularly within the Primary Care Track at Mount Sinai Morningside and West. I am immensely grateful to be part of a program that equips me with the skills to provide compassionate, practical, and impactful care in a supportive learning environment, surrounded by mentors and colleagues who also value and celebrate the person behind each patient.

Raul Benavides Leon, MD

Primary Care Residency PGY-2
I recognized the importance of primary care (PC) early on in my training. It started as a passion for caring for people living with chronic conditions and a deep curiosity for the context in which their lives unfold, which occasionally can be a contrasting reality that most of us ignore. This was even more evident to me after I practiced rural medicine in the Ecuadorean Andes.

The truth is, the practice of good PC medicine is complex for many reasons, including a diverse, demanding, and frequently underserved population that has to scramble through a complicated healthcare system. However, I chose the PC track since it embraces the challenge of becoming a modern PCP capable of taking on the role of educator, scientist, and advocate for our patients and our community.

Since I started, I have learned to use different tools to supplement routine medical encounters and transform them into more comprehensive ones, like caring for my patient's ability to afford their medications, get food access or deal with housing issues. More importantly, I have learned how to hold those conversations with compassion and empathy.

I am grateful for being surrounded by great minds and role models that have made this learning process exciting from the beginning. This environment has fostered my critical thinking, creativity, and sensitivity beyond expectations, and I am thrilled to continue sharing the privilege of training in primary care with them.

Sharel Armaza Sadud, MD

Primary Care Residency PGY-3
My journey started while practicing medicine as the only doctor in a resource-constrained health center in Bolivia. I soon realized that our responsibility as physicians goes beyond prescribing medications, as it gives us the opportunity to gain insight into our patients’ lives, values and concerns. Having the possibility of applying my clinical expertise while establishing lifelong, trusting relationships with my patients solidified my desire to become a primary care physician and set me on my path to Internal Medicine.

When applying for residency, I wanted to be part of a supportive academic program that provided me with excellent clinical training while allowing me to serve a diverse community. On my interview day, while meeting the residents and leadership, I knew I wanted to be part of the Mount Sinai Morningside-West family. This program has offered me excellent mentorship and unparalleled experiences in caring for diverse communities at Ryan Center and Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West, while also focusing on healthcare disparities, community outreach, patient advocacy and academic medical education.

I am convinced that the Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West family will provide me with the support and the tools to grow as an individual and a compassionate physician.

Bailey Perry, MD

Primary Care Residency PGY-3
Primary care is the front line of medicine. All too often we see patients coming into the hospital for exacerbations of their underlying diagnoses that are usually avoidable. Primary care physicians are able to build relationships with their patients and become liaisons between the medical world and patients everyday life. We are able to incorporate social, environmental, economic and educational barriers into our delivery of health care, which can often prevent hospitalizations and chronic illness altogether. This is why I decided to specialize in becoming a primary care physician, through the Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West primary care track. This program offered me an opportunity to become an expert in understanding community barriers in an outpatient setting and how I can tailor my treatment based on social determinants of health without sacrificing mastering inpatient medicine. Most importantly, I was the most attracted to this program because of its family-like dynamic where I feel supported in every way and which makes learning and growing as an individual effortless.

Preliminary Residency

Housestaff stories

Ayele Agboglo, MD

Prelimary PGY-1
Choosing Mount Sinai Morningside and West was a decision I made early on in my interview trail, and it's a choice I haven't regretted for a moment. On interview day, even over Zoom, I felt the warm and inviting environment of everyone, including my peers. Coming from the CUNY School of Medicine, a relatively smaller medical school, I wanted to find a residency where my opinions would be heard in the crowd. At Mount Sinai Morningside and West, I've discovered that perfect balance between being part of a team and still standing out. In a relatively short time, I've learned more than I ever thought possible, and it's humbling to realize just how much more there is to know. This program has expanded my medical knowledge and given me the confidence to grow and excel in my career.

Kevin Paul, MD

Prelimary PGY-1
My journey into Medicine has been incredibly unique and rewarding. After graduating college, I co-founded a technology start-up and spent over a decade building a successful career in this space. In 2011, I began devoting almost all my free time to two charitable programs I founded in my local community. Ultimately, this work deeply inspired me to pursue a career in medicine, where I could maximize my potential to help and impact the lives of others. Fast forward 7 years later, I have landed at MSM/MSW and could not be happier. I chose this program for its awesome location, patient diversity, leadership, and culture – which I believe, taken together, are unrivaled. The atmosphere of teamwork and support I receive from both my co-interns and leaders is remarkable and heartening. When we work hard, we also laugh and have fun. Just as importantly, my colleagues and patients continually inspire me to be the best version of myself and push beyond perceived limitations. I am immensely grateful to be a part of this amazing program.

Our four-year ACGME accredited program is a track designed for applicants interested in a career in Geriatrics.

Residents will train for three years either through our Internal Medicine or Primary Care Track followed by a guaranteed one-year Geriatrics fellowship at Mount Sinai. Six months of geriatric training is built into residency, including a secondary continuity practice in geriatrics, and an additional 6 months of scholarship time in their fellowship.

Housestaff stories

Hyuck-Jin (Dan) Kwon, MD

Med-Geri Track PGY-1
When I first started medical school at SUNY Downstate, I was very interested in pursuing critical care/emergency medicine due to the high intensity nature of the practice. However, what I found to be most valuable during those clinical experiences were the patient-centered discussions that I had, especially with my older adult patients. Quality of life is very important to me and I often found myself asking my patients "at this point of your health journey, what is most important to you?" Geriatrics was always a field of interest for me, as I had grown up volunteering in nursing homes and skilled care facilities as well as having a very close relationship with my grandparents. When I was recommended by a pulmonary-critical care fellow to do an away sub-internship at Mt. Sinai Morningside-West, I immediately fell in love with the program. Every senior resident I rotated with made it their priority to make sure that I was learning, and would prioritize educational discussions even in the middle of their busy work day. It was evident that I would be ranking this program #1 on my list, but when I heard that there was a dedicated Geriatrics Track in the program, my choice was obvious.s.

As a Categorical Medicine-Geriatrics intern, you rotate through all the same clinical blocks as your co-interns, but you have dedicated geriatrics clinic days during your clinic weeks. As early as your first day, you are already integrated into the Geriatrics fellowship program, and you have access to resources you would only have as a fellow at the Mt Sinai Hospital. Between Mt. Sinai West, Mt. Sinai Morningside, and Mt. Sinai Hospital, you get the most diverse patient populations in NYC, and early exposure to Geriatrics even as an intern. I am so happy with my decision, and I am thankful for all my coresidents. I am ecstatic to be spending 4 years at all the Mt. Sinai campuses training towards becoming a Medicine-Geriatrics physician.

Stefano Gattazzo, MD

Med-Geri Track PGY-2
I completed my residency program in Geriatrics in Italy, and I decided to challenge myself to become a physician doctor in the United States. I love the complexity of care of the elderly, and I positively value the holistic approach to patients, taking care of all the different aspects and trying to give them the best quality of life. I could not have asked for a better outcome than matching to the Internal Medicine-Geriatrics combined residency program at Mount Sinai Morningside-West. This combined program allows the Internist to develop excellent skills in caring for elderly patients. It provided me with Geriatric Medicine knowledge, frameworks, and skills since the beginning of the intern year. I have the privilege of having more considerable exposure to the geriatric population, working more days in the Geriatric clinic and floor, and helping with Geriatric consults. This environment allows me to connect with fellows and attendings, whom I will have the pleasure of working with during the Geriatric Medicine fellowship.

The Morningside-West program provides me with extensive clinical training and excellent academic activities such as academic half days and afternoon reports. In addition, through this program, I have the possibility to see patients of every socioeconomic and cultural background, which allows me to be exposed to different diseases.

The best thing about the program is the friendly environment. I have experienced amazing support from our program's chiefs and leadership. There is always someone to help me when I have questions or concerns and to teach me concepts or procedures.

Last but not least, New York City offers the best cultural activities like music concerts, museums, theaters, and especially restaurants, which are fundamentals for an Italian immigrant!!!

Arpanjeet Kaur, MD PGY1

When I first came to Mount Sinai in 2018 to rotate as an International medical student, I was awestruck by the standard of medical training and wide array of opportunities and resources this health system had to offer. In that moment, I decided that I want to pursue my internal medicine residency training at Mount Sinai Morningside/West. With that desire, I went back to India, and as I was preparing for my USMLE’s, the wallpaper of Mount Sinai West on my phone inspired me to work hard every day and kept me going.

On the interview day, I was deeply impressed by the leadership’s vision and commitment towards the program as well as the great camaraderie amongst the residents. It just felt like a perfect fit for me. Now, three months into residency I can attest to the fact that this program definitely takes excellent care of its residents, both personally and professionally. In my opinion, having colleagues from all over the world makes diversity our biggest strength. The implementation of 6+2 curriculum and strongly enforced no 24-hr call policy speak volumes about leadership efforts to prevent resident burnout. Apart from outstanding fellowship matches, the program also comes with great perks such as meal and educational stipends, subsidized housing in the heart of Manhattan, and the opportunity to rotate at one of the nation’s leading cancer institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering.  My favorite part of the program outside of the hospital is that it is just a few minutes’ walk to the Hudson River Park, Central Park and Times Square. At the end, I would like to say that I would definitely choose Mount Sinai Morningside/West again as my top choice without any second thoughts.

Galit Balayla Rosemberg, MD, PGY-1

My name is Galit Balayla Rosemberg; I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. Becoming a doctor in Venezuela was one of the greatest and most challenging experiences of my life. I was exposed early on to very complex and rare diseases including tropical infectious diseases when I spent 4 months in a rural area in the Amazon called Kamarata. Working as a primary care physician in Kamarata made me realize the importance of knowing your patients integrally when caring for them and it was then that I decided to complete my medical training with a state of the art Internal Medicine residency in the United States.

I could not have asked for a better outcome than matching to the Internal Medicine program at Mount Sinai Morningside-West. One of the things that I was looking for in a residency program was a combination of extensive clinical training with excellent academic structure. Mount Sinai provides both experiences by having academic activities such as research week and academic half days, and also by facilitating ample exposure to a large patient population with diverse backgrounds and pathologies. Another great thing about training at this program is the opportunity to rotate throughout different affiliated hospitals including Mount Sinai main campus and Memorial Sloan Kettering. This expands the array of learning possibilities by being in contact with different systems and specialists.

Additionally, being in the heart of New York City allows for one of the best cultural displays one could find: from food, festivals, museums, music, theater, etc., to people from all over the world. I feel that the same type of open and welcoming environment is reflected in the Program’s culture. Personally, I have felt accepted and supported by coworkers, administrative personnel, and faculty alike. For prospective applicants and internal medicine lovers like myself, I highly recommend this residency training program and I’m looking forward to being as welcoming with you as I have been during my intern year.

Tomohiro Fujisaki, MD, PGY-3

The elderly population in my home country, Japan, remains an underserved segment of society. There are not so many primary care doctors due to lack of established general internal medicine (GIM) training. Instead the elderly are seen by providers whose specialty is divided into anatomical and physiological systems. The complex medical needs of this rapidly growing elderly population caught my attention as a young doctor, and I was inspired to pursue GIM training in the U.S. to become a reliable internist equipped with a wide range of knowledge and skills in not only a subspecialty but also GIM.

The Internal Medicine Residency Program at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West offers a unique opportunity for trainees to be exposed to a diverse group of patients in two different large teaching hospitals and several outpatient clinics. I felt the diverse patient population in terms of ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious practice, and socioeconomic status here in Manhattan would bring me an extraordinary educational environment. I also liked the diversity of faculty members as well. This program is open to applicants from all over the world, making a strong multinational team with understanding of multicultural differences. The location of this program was also very attractive. It only takes five minutes to the Times Square, Central Park and the Hudson River, allowing residents to have vibrant lifestyles. Fourth, this program is a part of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and residents have opportunities to participate in academic activities collaborating with faculty members in other sister hospitals. Finally, the many Japanese physicians who have pursued residency training through this program have inspired me, as they have become leaders in their respective fields upon their return to Japan and I used to read textbooks written by them. For these reasons, I wished to further my future career goals in this program.

As we progress in our training, I am further convinced that the opportunity to be trained here will provide residents with rich educational environment and best-evidence-based knowledge applicable to the treatment of future patients. Considering the fact that I could collaborate with some researchers from the Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital, this program can easily offer a great opportunity for residents to do some research activities and make outstanding physician-scientists. I believe this program can provide residents with ideal environment to develop into the type of physician they wish to be. I am so excited and looking forward to working with incoming new residents.

Lady Njemeh Danso, MD, PGY-2

My name is Lady Njemeh Danso (née Saho); I was born and raised in The Gambia. The decision to go to medical school and become a cardiologist was borne of a deeply personal experience of losing my dearest little sister to heart disease. Since that painful and life-changing experience in my formative years, medicine has been my passion. I wanted to become a cardiologist; therefore, choosing a residency program that matches my career goal was quite important to me. Matching at my number one choice, in a world-class medical institution where physicians are trained to become clinical experts and leaders, makes my dream a reality.

The Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West Internal Medicine Residency Program provides a supportive environment for both my professional and personal development; as such, I look forward to the next three years of learning and training in a conducive environment to meet the challenges of modern medicine and cutting edge medical technology. My journey from interviewing for Residency to my current status as an intern is awe-inspiring for I have been accorded the opportunity to share my story in a safe, friendly, and supportive environment. The warm welcome I received from the program leadership, senior residents, interns and the staff is positively exemplary. Mentorship is really important in the program; each resident is provided with strong mentorship from the very beginning, which goes to show the commitment of the program leadership to the success of each resident. I am personally happy with the mentorship program and deeply grateful to my mentor. In addition, of being reputable and knowledgeable, she continues to work with me in all areas of career development.  I also want to mention the extraordinary efforts to keep trainees safe in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Personal protective equipment is readily available and a great emphasis is placed on mask wearing, social distancing and daily temperature monitoring. Such proactive actions go to show that the health, safety, and wellbeing of both residents and patients is a priority for our hospital.

In this program, every senior resident is a teacher and a leader. I have personally benefited from their teaching and leadership. It is noteworthy that my seniors are eager and happy to share their knowledge and skills with me at all times. As a world-class institution, the hospital attracts talents from all parts of the world and from diverse and multicultural backgrounds. Here, the world comes to us and I could not be happier to be getting my medical training in this highly sought-after institution. Diversity is honored and celebrated because with it, we can learn from colleagues from all around the world and better serve our already diverse patient population. I am deeply honored and privileged to be receiving my medical training at the prestigious Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Morningside/West Internal Medicine Residency Program in New York City. Against substantial odds, my unlikely journey that started in a small West African country of The Gambia, through Morocco, culminated here. For prospective applicants, I strongly and wholeheartedly recommend this program and I cannot wait to have you with us next year.

James Prince, MD, PGY-2

When I applied to residency I wanted to be in New York for family reasons, and applying to Mount Sinai West/Morningside was a no-brainer given its location, reputation, and curriculum. However, it was not until the interview process when I realized that this program is unmatched. Meeting with the current residents and hearing about their experiences gave me real insight into the education and camaraderie amongst residents. Now, 4 months into my residency, I have seen first-hand the genuine sense of community that comes with being a resident here. There has been an incredible rapport from day 1, and I have been made to feel supported in every sense. Your co-residents look out for one another, professionally and socially. You are never short of a game of football (‘soccer’), weekend outings, or drinks with your fellow residents. If you have a problem with a patient, there will always be someone willing, and more than able, to give you a hand. Your chiefs, leadership and administration are all-exceptional, and make every effort to insure you achieve your goals.

There are great opportunities for research, electives, and support towards fellowship, but, for me, the diversity of the program is its biggest strength. There are residents from all over the world and everybody brings their own unique experience and perspective on topics - whether it be medical or non-medical. In addition, being located in the heart of New York, you are exposed to complex patients from all walks of life. This degree of diversity provides a level of training not many can compete with. Couple that with living in NY, and you cannot go wrong.

Hendrik Sy, MD, PGY-3

I chose this program because I felt that it was a great fit. During interview day, I had the impression that residents were supported and that they truly liked working here. I knew that I wanted to match at an urban hospital with a diverse patient population, broad clinical exposure and a wide range of research opportunities. The program certainly offers all of that as part of the Mount Sinai Health System and with its collaboration with MSKCC. It also has a history of great fellowship matches, which is of importance to me since I plan to apply for an Infectious Disease fellowship.

Looking back, coming here was the right decision. A great strength of this program is the supportive and truly diverse group of residents I work with every day, many of whom have become good friends. I am confident that I am receiving a very robust training in internal medicine, which will prepare me well for fellowship. This stems from the teaching we receive and from our wide range of clinical exposure by working with uniquely diverse patients who come to us from the Bronx to Midtown Manhattan. We also have a strong educational curriculum and recently transitioned to academic half days - a good example of how program leadership seeks to make continuous improvements based on residents’ feedback. This flexibility is also reflected in helping us reach our goals. For instance, everyone was very helpful in accommodating a clinical tropical medicine and global health elective I asked to pursue during PGY-2. I also appreciate the approachability and the enthusiasm of faculty members who are eager to collaborate on research projects. This program is a great place to train and I would definitely choose it again. 

Corinna Psomadakis, PGY-3

I left my interview day at MSSLW feeling very fortunate to have been selected to attend. The Program Director's stated goals for the residency, which included recruiting trainees with diverse backgrounds from around the world, and emphasizing evidence-based, high value care, matched what I was looking for in a program. The interns and residents I met on that day were dynamic and seemed quite happy. I had little doubt I would end up designating the program my top choice.

Now several months into my intern year, I still feel like it is a privilege to be here every day. I am in awe of my colleagues who are bright, considerate, and hard working. The senior residents are incredibly supportive. I am grateful to the chiefs who organize high quality, engaging teaching for us every day. The attendings are approachable and eager to teach. Add to that the diverse pathology that you get to see at two distinct hospital sites in New York City and the combination is pretty unbeatable. There are certainly challenging days but it's a pleasure to work through them with the MSSLW team. I am confident this program is offering me a strong foundation for my career as a physician.