Health Equity Track Alum, Johns Hopkins Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellow and 2024-2025 Chief Resident

“When I was an undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins, I mostly stayed on campus and didn’t really engage with the larger city of Baltimore. When I returned to Baltimore as a medical student, I started to explore different neighborhoods in the city and really fell in love with its “charm.” I also began to learn more about the intense needs we have in Baltimore, whether it is for housing, education, employment, or especially, healthcare. I also struggled with what kind of doctor I was going to become and how I was going to give back to the city that gave me so much.

“I truly found a 'home' in the Pediatrics Department at Johns Hopkins as a medical student. Many attendings and residents I had a chance to work with not only taught me the skill of observation needed in pediatric medicine but also how to identify and combat the social determinants of health in the children we cared for. They always encouraged me to learn at the bedside, to round with a family-first attitude, and challenged me to think about the health of children holistically and not just focusing on pathophysiology. It was no surprise that I jumped on the chance to come back as a resident, and now I have had the privilege to train on the Urban Health/Health Equities track. I’m excited to serve this city by caring for its children alongside world class faculty and my co-residents, who even in the first few months of residency have become dear friends!"

Categorical Alumnus, Johns Hopkins Neonatology Fellow and 2024-2025 Chief Resident

“I was fortunately able to experience some insight into Hopkins pediatrics as a visiting medical student prior to my interview day as a part of an away rotation. It was during these experiences that I could firsthand see the authentic passion and genuine care that attending physicians, fellows, and residents demonstrated to not just the patients, but to me as well. I was truly inspired by the commitment to a practice of evidence-based medicine that I saw on a consistent basis, along with the dedication to teaching clinical information whenever possible to improve medical practice in all areas and levels.

“During my time, I also had the fortune of witnessing the diversity of the Greater Baltimore area and of the people that travel all the way to Hopkins from various corners of the world to receive this level of medical care. Such a widespread appreciation and respect for this institution, along with my experiences, assured me that I would be prepared for any opportunity during and post residency, all of which was reaffirmed on my interview day. I am beyond thankful to join the Hopkins pediatrics team and look forward to contributing to patient care in any way that I can. In my free time, I enjoy reading, cuddling my dog Papito, and exploring Baltimore and cooking with my fiancé."

Categorical Resident, PGY-3

Never did I think I would end up at Hopkins, such a long shot but with much encouragement from my family I applied. My uncle attended as an undergraduate and raved about his experience in Baltimore and faculty interactions. Located an hour away from my home in McLean, VA I had always been intimidated by the university name. I was desperate to return to the DMV area for Residency as I found myself previously moving further and further away from home with training.

My interview day occurred at peak of November following Thanksgiving, Nicole (the program director) commented on my impressive mustache and I felt immediately welcomed. Determined to be nothing more and nothing less than myself, appropriately nervous, I was comforted by associate program directors and faculty interviewers. I knew at the end of interview day they would be my number one choice. I wanted a program where I knew I would gain the best training when coming out on the other side of residency. I know I would have every opportunity offered to me to assist with the course of my career, whatever that may have been at the time. The program itself is the ideal size; large enough to provide ample coverage and friends, while small enough to not get lost in the crowd.

On a first name basis with all the program directors, attendings I’ve worked with, fellows and our seniors it’s a welcoming and nurturing environment. Specifically the relationships you develop with your 3rd year seniors as an intern is unparalleled. Hopkins establishes a teaching pipeline where gradual responsibility is gained with each new year, in our second year we begin senioring in the NICU at night, ED, and STAG hospital. As third year the majority of our rotations involve some component of senioring which is the ideal teaching experience. 

What I love about Hopkins? Besides the people? You can learn and I continue to learn from every person you encounter. Obviously the attendings, but also the nurses, respiratory therapists, echo techs, vascular access team, social workers, case management, chaplains, the list goes on. Education is woven into the framework of this institution and it shows in everyone’s commitment to the cause of caring for kids!

Health Equity Resident, PGY-2

Hopkins has always been a dream of mine, since I was a kid I dreamed of coming here. Of course you have the history and the legacy - but the thing that really blew me away was the faculty. It's hard to explain but I really felt seen, and wanted. This all started when I called one of the APDs to notify them of my inability to participate in the virtual visiting elective because of scheduling conflicts - without even seeing my full application I was offered a fully-funded in-person away rotation for the Visiting Elective to Promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Pediatric Healthcare students. I was blown away by that!! I ultimately declined because I felt I didn't have the bandwidth but it spoke volumes to how serious they were about recruiting URiM students, which means a lot as an African-American male. This coupled with an incredible interview experience, great resident socials and the world-class training (as a resident and within the Health equity track), made Johns Hopkins the right choice for me!

Now that I've completed intern year, I've had time to reflect on my choice and I’d be lying if I said it was a walk in the park. There have been countless moments of self-doubt and feelings of inferiority/inadequacy. So during my initial advising session, I decided to bring some of this up. I communicated that during the first few months of intern year, there were times that I didn't feel safe/comfortable at this institution and that it often felt like I still had to "perform," even in front of those who were deemed to be safe spaces ... It was pretty tough to be vulnerable in that way, because I didn't know how it would be received. I walked in feeling very unsure and unstable, but walked out with a different story - feeling the most supported I had throughout those first 3-4 months. I think having that moment of vulnerability, has really enabled me to feel more comfortable being open about my concerns and frustrations, which we as URiM trainees will face at any and every institution. So, speaking candidly, the question is not if we will experience these things, the question is what happens when we experience these things and what happens after - i.e. how does the program respond? Each time I've brought something up, I've witnessed an appropriate response. 

While I was interviewing and formulating my rank list, I spoke with a friend here who was a resident over in a different department. We had pretty long conversation, and he was quite transparent with me. But the way he ended it was just as true and genuine... "We want you, and quite frankly we need you"... It resonated with me so I'm hoping that it speaks to you as well!

I initially became interested in training at Johns Hopkins during my fourth year of medical school because of the opportunity to serve a population diverse in race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status and to develop skills in global medicine through a specialized training pathway. I then had the opportunity to participate in the Visiting Elective Program to Promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for medical students which solidified my decision. Throughout my experience, it was clear that the Pediatrics program was committed to promoting diversity. Everyone from the resident to the attending level made me feel incredibly welcomed, and it was evident that URM residents were well supported and thrived here. I knew I now had both the training opportunities and supportive environment to feel confident in my decision.

These feelings still hold true, as I am entering my second year of residency. During my intern year I worked with incredible senior residents, fellows, and attendings who were truly dedicated to teaching and my overall success as a resident. I have had access to multiple faculty members who have connected me with research projects in my areas of interest and provided opportunities for career development.

Categorical Resident, PGY-2

"I chose Johns Hopkins because I wanted the opportunity to train at a pediatric hospital that serves both an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse patient population and works hard to connect with their community. I was also happily surprised by how warm and welcoming everyone at the program was during my interview day. I knew this was the place for me when I noticed how well my passions aligned with the program, and also when I saw how much of a family the residents in the program were to each other. 

As an Intern, my favorite part of residency so far is my continuity clinic at Yard 56 across from the Bayview Medical Center. There, I get to meet, serve, and work with the most wonderful Spanish speaking families which has been incredibly rewarding. I have loved getting to know all my amazing co-residents and am grateful for how supportive everyone continues to be on this journey! For fun, I love reading, cooking and catching up on Netflix shows. I have also loved exploring and getting to know the DMV area.” 

My path towards discovering Hopkins was through its alumni. One of my best friends at UNC (undergraduate) introduced the idea to me because his mom did her Pediatrics residency at Hopkins. She raved about her experiences here and this was a common theme that many other future alumni I'd meet would display! This idea was further nurtured when I attended a Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) Residency Virtual Fair Event where I met Dr. Marquita Genies, and residents Dr. Tolu Fatola and Dr. Christle Nwora. They talked about the program with the same uplifting energy I felt amongst the other alumni! From this, I learned about the Johns Hopkins Visiting Elective Program to Promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Pediatric Healthcare and thankfully was accepted! I did my visiting elective in the Fall, and it left such a lasting impression for the visions I could have in my future as a Hopkins-trained Pediatrician!

I chose Hopkins because of the opportunity to serve such a unique, urban and diverse population. I also wanted the opportunity to continue working alongside Dr. Sarah Polk at the Yard 56 Latino clinic at Bayview Medical Center. I came across the work that she did hereat Hopkins through an APA Regional Conference Meeting in Charlottesville, and it all came full circle when I got placed there during my visiting month! Right now, I am more geared towards primary care so the Latino Clinic that Hopkins has been a joy thus far! Helping take care of the growing Latino immigrant population in Baltimore has also been so impactful for me because many of these families remind me of my own and their experiences resonate a lot to what I had growing up in North Carolina. I am excited for the years to come and to see how I develop into Pediatrician and ecstatic I have the opportunity to do it here at Hopkins!