We asked our residents: what do you like most about the UF Neurology program?
“I knew from online research that UF is a place of abundant opportunities to grow in general neurology and in sub-specialties. Although UF is impressive academically, what I could not have read or witnessed prior to my sub-internship was the OUTSTANDING CHARACTER of my future chiefs, senior residents, and attendings. After my sub-I, I raved to every applicant that I encountered (even while I was at other institutions), that every UF resident and attending I encountered actively invested in my academic betterment, built me up, advised me (while I was there and when it came time to make my rank list), and supported my physical and mental well being despite their own busy schedules and to-do lists. I was selling UF even before I matched here! On the interview “trail,” you will hear the same answers over and over. So how do you pick a program? HITCH YOUR WAGON TO STARS. These people shine bright, pack positive attitudes and are the warmest, happiest, most welcoming, and most competent, well-rounded residents that I encountered during my sub-Is and interviews. Plus, the hospital has big windows, a pond with turtles and birds, and the coffee shop is really good. See you soon super star!” – Abbigail Stidham, PGY1
“I chose the University of Florida because of the welcoming environment nurtured by all healthcare professionals. I had the opportunity to rotate at both Shands Hospital and the Fixel Institute before applying for a neurology residency, and I was extremely impressed by the people in the neurology department. Faculty, residents, nurses, advanced practice providers… Everyone I met was passionate about teaching and excelled at patient care. Building a work environment like the one we have at UF is extremely difficult, requiring a lot of thought and care from all levels of leadership. This was the deciding factor for my decision to rank the University of Florida; I wanted to be part of the amazing neurology team while learning how to foster groups with those characteristics.” – Luis Silva, PGY1
“I chose UF Health because I believe it provides the best training and offers the most opportunity of any program I applied to. During my interview, I was blown away by the amount of subspecialty training and fellowship positions available within UF Neurology, and I cannot imagine a better place to start my lifelong career as a neurologist. The faculty and residents have this incredible culture of camaraderie that I am honored to be a part of and hope to contribute to.” – Steven Carter, PGY2
“I remember saying, “Wow. UF’s program is phenomenal!” when I called my mother to tell her how the interview went. I was so impressed not only by the friendliness of the faculty and residents but how devoted they were to treating neurological conditions in their local community. I appreciated the great breath of sub-specialty exposure and UF’s commitment to medical education. I realized that I would learn so much here and would have a supportive community cheering me on!” – Brianna Alex, PGY3
“I remember feeling lots of wows during my interview with UF. From the wide variety of subspecialty services and renowned faculty to exceptional research and community outreach opportunities – UF just shines in every way. Yet what struck me even more was the warmth and support from the faculty. After having several joyful and eye-opening discussions about the field with them and being recommended books, I remember thinking – This is how much they care about young professionals and the field. I knew I would be in good hands.” – Xiaojun Li, PGY1
“UF Neurology was my top choice for residency because of its academic curriculum and research opportunities. I felt welcomed during my interview and was blown away by the positive culture and accomplishments of the faculty and residents. UF has no shortage of subspecialty exposure which will
allow me to become a well-rounded neurologist. In addition, the city of Gainesville is beautiful and somewhere I see myself living for a long time. I am very excited to be a gator and embrace the culture of UF. Go Gators!” – Sebastian Edwards, PGY1
“My interview at UF was my best interview day experience and I immediately felt a sense of connection to both the faculty and residents. Everyone was genuinely happy to be there and very welcoming. I was also blown away by the research opportunities available, exposure to every subspecialty you could think of, as well as how well-rounded the schedule was for residents providing great training in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Another big deciding factor for me personally was that several of my medical school mentors are a product of the UF Neurology residency program, so being able to follow in the footsteps of some of the best neurologists I know is a true honor!” – Neha Saini, PGY1
“Putting aside its high reputation and the fact that my family is currently living in Florida, I tried to go into my interview with UF with unbiased objectivity. I distinctly remember concluding that day and answering my family’s anticipatory phone call with “that…was totally awesome.” I was blown away by the most genuine sense of community and support that I felt, more so than any other program I had interviewed at. I knew that UF would be a place that would allow me to be happy and thrive as a person while also becoming a rock-solid neurologist.” – Scott Crawford, PGY2
“On my interview trail, UF stood out as a genuinely supportive program with excellent peer camaraderie and faculty mentorship. I was also impressed by the research options and dedicated tracks, brand new facilities, excellent subspecialty exposure, and the large catchment area. UF had everything I was looking for in a training program with the added bonus of being located in an affordable college town and only an hour drive to either coast.” – Rory Weston, PGY3
“My interview at UF was one of my first interviews of the season and the faculty and residents left a lasting impression on me. I realized the opportunities to learn as a resident would be endless at a program with such a great support system and great camaraderie amongst the team. It was an easy decision to place UF highly on my rank list as I knew it would be a program where I would excel as a future neurologist while providing the best possible care for my patients.” – Johnna Caputo, PGY1
“I chose UF because it is one of the nation’s top neurology programs, with exceptional academics and a focus on patient care. I was immediately drawn to UF’s warm culture and philosophy that ‘the patient is the Sun and we orbit around the patient.’ Rigorous academics are critical to training, but this training must be combined with a focus on the patient, because our training is always with the objective of providing the best patient care possible. UF’s combination of academic excellence and focus on patient care is unmatched by any other program in the country. I’m excited and proud to be a part of the UF team.” – Freddy Abraham, PGY4
“UF was hands down the most superb program I encountered. I had visited several university programs when looking for residencies, and UF was far and above the superior program with highly competent residents, faculty, and staff. I was genuinely welcomed by the residents and felt that I had made earnest friends and colleagues. I learned the most while rotating at UF and desired to be as competent as the resident physicians I was following. It is a beautiful atmosphere to work and learn. I couldn’t be happier to join the UF neurology team!” – Edwin Glueck, PGY2
“UF Neurology was a breath of fresh air during my interview trail. Everyone from the faculty to the residents were welcoming and made me feel at ease during a stressful online interview season. They understood the complexities that came with a unique interview season and delivered an excellent sense of the culture and the exceptional academics. This, in combination with a diverse range of clinical exposure solidified UF as #1 on my rank list.” – Claudia Hernandez, PGY4
“I was fortunate to rotate with the UF neurology department during my fourth year of medical school. It was evident that the residents are provided high-quality education and training through morning reports, didactic lectures, and clinical discussions during rounds. While the state-of-the-art facilities and beautiful weather are certainly added bonuses, the culture of teamwork and collaboration set UF apart. The sense of community present among the neurology residents and faculty created a fun learning environment.” – Maryellen Campbell, PGY2
“With my family based in Central Florida, UF was naturally the first place I looked for residency. The campus is beautiful and Gainesville is a charming and relatively small college town perfectly suited for making a home – whether for 4 years or long term. Everyone I’ve met at the program has been friendly and welcoming and once I had the opportunity to spend time in the Neurology Department, I was immediately impressed with the location, the hospital, and the staff. The residents especially appear to have a good work-life balance and I think all of them are genuinely delighted to be learning and developing in such an awesome program.” – Stephen Klaus, PGY1
“Having attended the University of Florida for my undergraduate education, Gainesville has always held a special place in my heart. As I learned more about the UF Neurology program, it was clear that UF was the right choice for me. I knew Shands had top-notch facilities, world-renowned faculty, and would allow me to see a variety of pathologies in a diverse patient population. I chose UF because I felt it was where I could foster my passion for neurology, while being part of a supportive and enthusiastic team of residents and attendings.” – Michaele Garrison, PGY2
“My goal in choosing a residency program was one where I could grow to be a well-rounded neurologist with diverse clinical experiences, as well as being surrounded by a positive and supportive environment of co-residents and faculty. I chose UF Neurology as it encompasses everything I am looking for and I am excited for the opportunities to come.” – Lindsey Le, PGY2
“The UF Neurology program quickly rose to the top of my list during the application process. UF Neurology had incredible opportunities for clinical training and research. It was clear that working at UF Shands would give me the breadth and depth of exposure I would need to excel as a neurologist. In addition, the faculty and residents were so approachable leading up the interview day and afterwards. There was a clear and direct vision for the program. Education at every level was emphasized, in addition to building residents as the next generation of educators. As I reflected on UF, I knew that it was a program with the right people and environment to help me become the best neurologist I can be.” – Ramsha Farrukh, PGY4
“I remember the excitement that I felt when I was offered an interview at UF because I knew they had a strong reputation both as a neurology residency program and as an academic institution. During my interview day, I felt like everyone in the department was passionate about the work that they do and were excited to work with and teach residents. I knew then that this was the place for me. I think from
every angle UF neurology is an amazing program, whether you are interested in academia, community service, or just being the best clinician you can be.” – Leonid Gozman, PGY3
“After my interview with UF Health, I remember immediately thinking to myself: here is an environment where I could thrive. Even though it was a virtual interview, I got a sense of the camaraderie and empathy everyone has for each other. Also, I admire the commitment to doing better and excelling beyond where we are now. I trust the faculty and all of my co-residents will make my time as a Gator exciting and life-defining.” – Karina Maria Rodriguez, PGY3
“I am excited for residency at UF because of the environment and people I came to know during my 4th year away rotation in Gainesville. I was impressed by the educational atmosphere that was created by all the residents and attendings that I interacted with, and I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. For someone like myself who is undecided on which fellowship I wish to pursue after residency, UF offers exposure to many subspecialties and routinely graduates residents who match into many different subspecialties.” – Bill Remley, PGY3
“The UF neurology residency program impressed me on the interview trail! I was drawn to it because of the friendliness of the residents and the energy that the faculty had about education. It seemed like a great place to get excellent training in a supportive environment!” – Kristin Hedtke, PGY4
“I chose UF Neurology after a three week stint of zero degree weather this past winter in Illinois. Equally important as the weather, however, are the top-notch facilities and the unique neuromedicine hospital. On my interview day, everyone I met was friendly and the resident culture seemed very supportive. Being one of only a few academic centers in Florida, the clinical training here is very strong with a wide variety of cases coming from all over the state and numerous fellowship opportunities available if you want to further specialize.” – Riley Van Velsor, PGY4
“I chose the UF neurology program because I was impressed by the distinguished faculty members’ dedication to teaching during my interview and 4-week away rotation. Each faculty member was welcoming and listened attentively to my presentations, taking their time to answer my questions while challenging me to think critically and participate in patient care. Similarly, each resident I met during the interview and away rotation was friendly and encouraging. Each person’s smile and positive attitude felt contagious. Since I enjoyed every day that I had spent at UF, it was easy for me to choose wanting to spend my years training here too.” – Neha Pirwani, PGY3
“From the Chief to the residents, the visionary spirit is strongly present at UF. A contagious passion for neurology and the care of people, combined with a culture that values the uniqueness of every resident, is what made me choose UF. The facilities are the best microglia and the faculty are the most supportive rich club that any node could ask for.” – Marcos Santana Firme, PGY4
“After my interview, I remember feeling like I had found my perfect program. The dedication that UF has not only to its residents but to its patients and the communities it serves is clear. UF allows residents to explore various career interests early on in their training. The facilities are all so beautiful and modern as well. Most importantly to me though, I was able to resonate with the people, who were all so genuine and passionate about making sure everyone feels welcomed and that patients are the first priority. After my interview day, it was clear that UF was my top choice!” – Michael Siegel, PGY2
“I chose the UF Neurology program because of the people and highly supportive culture! I was also drawn by the individualization of training, the state-of-the-art facilities, and extensive research, teaching, and leadership. I was also looking for a program that valued community outreach and was very impressed by their role in offering neurological care to the medically under-served through the UF Mobile Outreach Clinic!” – Jessie Walker, PGY4
“I chose the University of Florida because I felt very comfortable during my interview while meeting such distinguished faculty. The collegiate atmosphere of Gainesville is unlike any other. Growing up in Florida and knowing the impact the Shands hospital system has on my community made it an easy choice.” – Ziyad Aboudan, PGY4
“The University of Florida’s Neurology residency had everything I was looking for in a program – I knew I could be involved in cutting-edge research while learning from renowned faculty who are experts in their fields. Having completed my undergraduate studies at UF, I am confident Gainesville provides a level of comfort and proximity to everything you could need as a resident. “ – Nishi Varde, PGY2