Class of 2007
Mark Berman, MD
Current Position: Obes ity and Weight Management Content Consultant, HarvardHealth Publications
Medical School: Yale University Medical School
Medical Interests: Obesity prevention & management, plant-based nutrition, comprehensive lifestyle modification & behavior change, public health, emerging information technologies, health care systems reform, integrative medicine, biofeedback, exergaming.
Non-Medical Interests: Animal welfare, music, dance, vegan food, racket sports, hockey, rock climbing, Boabom, audiobooks, movies, dark chocolate, tea.
Future Plans: At Harvard Health Publications I will continue developing my HVMA senior project – a web-based guide to weight management. My other work will likely involve childhood obesity prevention consulting at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and clinical adult weight management at the MGH Weight Center, although the details are still in the works! In addition, I hope to find time to build a web-based obesity related start-up. My work will always center around dietary change and obesity, but the context will likely change over the years.
Why I came to the Brigham: To be inspired by my peers. To be surrounded by creative, talented, energetic, and compassionate individuals. To learn the basics of medicine in a culture that is supportive, nurturing and provocative.
Thoughts about the BWH/HVMA primary care program: The HVMA program offers unparalleled flexibility to customize your experience and the freedom to express and develop the aspects of medicine most important to you. It was a unique pleasure and joy to be surrounded by a collection of inspiring, free-thinking, and compassionate souls all of whom seek to make a unique contribution to medicine on many different levels. Above all, HVMA became my family in Boston in a time when support was greatly needed and a home that I loved coming back to. In short, there is no other medicine program in North America I would recommend more strongly.
Kate Koplan, MD, MPH
Current Position: Internist, HVMA, Project Manager, Atrius Health, Clinical Instructor, Harvard Medical School
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
Medical Interests: Chronic disease prevention, health promotion, systems and outcomes/effectiveness research, population-based health research and interventions, international health, public policy.
Non-Medical Interests: Reading, spending time with friends and family, seeing movies, traveling around the world, exercising, eating.
Future Plans: Combining outcomes-based research with real-world applications; applying my public health background to clinical medicine; systems change for quality improvement; international policy; primary care focusing on chronic disease prevention and health education.
Why I came to the Brigham: The HVMA program, the people (professors, colleagues, staff, patients), the program's commitment to research, teaching, and patient care; the flexibility and support provided by the BWH/HVMA administration; Boston.
Thoughts about the BWH/HVMA primary care program: It offers a unique opportunity to practice both in the hospital (BWH) and in an academically-inclined and community-based group (HVMA). Sharing time between HVMA clinic sites and the Brigham sheds light on the best of both worlds. Moreover, the commitment to resident enrichment is immense. This includes clinical and didactic teaching, epidemiology reviews, patient-doctor discussions, leadership symposiums, access to HVMA conferences, and more. Finally, the leadership of the program, from the director to the program administrator to the other residents, is top notch.
HVMA Clinical Site: Kenmore, near Fenway, the home of the Sox
Mariah Quinn, MD
Current Position: Fellow in General Internal Medicine and Faculty Development-Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention
Medical School: Cornell
Medical Interests: End-of-life care, women's health, medical education, experiential aspects of medical training and practice, and the mental health of physicians and physicians-in-training
Non-Medical Interests: Cooking, feeding my friends, yoga, hiking, dance (used to do a lot of this!), reading
Future Plans: Still a work in progress--I see myself combining clinical work as a General Internist with clinical teaching at medical student and/or resident level, and research aimed at improving educational and work experiences for physicians to support their own well-being and personally sustainable, excellent patient care
Why I chose the Brigham: Part of it was gut, part of it was analytic, but mostly I got the best feeling from the people at the Brigham, felt like I'd be among people whom I'd respect and with whom I'd have fun. This was certainly true: I found like-minded, warm, smart, and interesting people and felt lucky to be surrounded by them.
Thoughts about the BWH/HVMA primary care program: I love this program--I was happy to be part of the larger Brigham medicine program, but the HVMA program provided a real family within the larger family. Spending time with all 3 classes is a key feature of this program that provides opportunity for observing growth over the years of the program, as well as learning from those in the program with disparate interests from my own. Our clinical epidemiology conference provides a uniquely rigorous way to improve our skills in reading papers and understanding study design, and Patient-Doctor provides an invaluable forum for maintaining integrity of the heart when it comes to the challenges of being (and learning to be!) a doctor.
HVMA Clinical Site: Kenmore-where I continue to work as a fellow
Patient Population: My patient panel is about 50% white, 50% minority (mostly African-American followed by Latino, Asian, and Caribbean).
Mary Thorndike, MD
Current Position: Academic Hospitalist and Educator, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Medical School: Harvard Medical School
Medical Interests: General internal medicine, medical education, educational outcomes research, patient-doctor communication.
Non-Medical Interests: My family--I have two daughters ages 11 and 7. I also enjoy outdoor activities (hiking, skiing), spending time with friends, and reading.
Career Development Plans: I love my current job which is a combination of clinical work, teaching, and research. I teach in several courses at the medical school and enjoy the teaching role as an inpatient hospitalist attending as well. I also do research on educational outcomes within the residency program and enjoy the challenge of thinking about how to measure something as intangible and complex as learning. I hope to further develop my skills in educational research and educational leadership over the next several years.
Why I came to the Brigham: For the people, of course! I was also strongly influenced by the wealth of opportunities in general medicine and by the residency program's commitment to resident career development, and to us as human beings.
Thoughts about the BWH/HVMA primary care program: I chose the HVMA program because of the continuity of small-group discussion and training over the three-year period. Our seminar-style didactics allowed us to work closely as a group and to explore the topics which most interested us. Everyone brings something different and unique to the table, and the sum is definitely greater than its parts! Our discussions were wonderful and sustained me both intellectually and emotionally throughout residency. I also really valued my relationship with my preceptor and the chance to practice medicine in a community setting.
Class of 2006
Rachel Broudy, MD
Current Position: Locum tenens Primary Care / Urgent Care, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
Medical Interests: Social Medicine, Community Health. Other things that often run through my mind: International Medicine, Women’s Health, Alternative Medicine.
Non-Medical Interests: I’m always reading some novel or other, I love to be outside in any way, and my friends and family (and providing good food for them) are really the center of my life outside the hospital.
Future Plans: I am working as a locum tenens Primary Care/Urgent Care MD at Harvard Vanguard this year and am spending some time exploring interesting and innovative things people are doing in primary care around the country. I will be starting a fellowship in General Medicine at Cambridge Hospital in July 2007 where I hope to explore ways to use healthcare to build community. More specifically, I am interested in looking at chronic care programs where patients help take care of each other, as well as themselves.
Why I came to the Brigham: I came here because I thought it would offer me the best training and I really believed that no matter what my medical interests were, they would be supported and encouraged by the faculty here.
Thoughts about the BWH/HVMA primary care program: It is exactly the right program for me for a few reasons. It’s a small program and it has been very sustaining to me to feel a part of this tight and warm community. The program is also very resident-driven and flexible, and this has worked well for me in allowing and encouraging me to shape my education and training to meet my own goals and pursue my interests.
Namita Mohta, MD
Current Position: Academic Hospitalist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Faulkner Hospital Clinical Consultant
Business Planning and Strategy Group, Partners Health Care Clinical Instructor, Harvard Medical School
Medical School: Yale University Medical School
Medical Interests: General medicine (both inpatient and outpatient), quality improvement, especially around transitions of care, health care strategy and management, medical education and mentoring.
Non-Medical Interests: Reading travel literature and traveling, dance, experimenting with cooking Indian food.
Future Plans: Clinically, to practice general medicine in a capacity that involves working with housestaff and medical students. I am interested in improving efficiencies of care through systems-based change and medical technology. I am also interested in the role of medical technology in improving medical education.
Why I came to the Brigham: I was impressed by the energy and initiative of the residents and the unconditional support of the faculty in helping us become future leaders in medicine. The housestaff are a caring, dynamic and fun group of people to work with.
Thoughts about the BWH/HVMA primary care program: It is amazing. I particularly appreciate the small group environment (within the larger Brigham family) and the flexibility of the program. The residents have a wide array of experiences and expertise that makes learning from them a privilege during our seminars. I am inspired by the wide variety of career paths the residents choose and the leaders that they become.
Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA
Current Position: Hospitalist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Faulkner Hospital
Clinical Instructor, Harvard Medical School
Medical School: Yale University Medical School
Medical Interests: General medicine, complementary and alternative therapies, medical education.
Non-Medical Interests: Venture philanthropy, understanding how physicians find meaning in their work, Writing, Reading (Biographies, Fiction), Dance (bhangra and salsa), Indian classical music, hiking, outdoor sports, real estate, cooking with friends, exploring new lands and cultures, spending quality time with my family and friends.
Future Plans: I plan to continue as a part time hospitalist while exploring my interests in health care entrepreneurship and international health. I am also continuing a writing project on the physician's search for meaning that I began during residency.
Why I came to the Brigham: I was attracted to the Brigham because of its unconditional support of residents combined with very strong clinical training. The program is very personal and impressively responsive to the needs of each resident. While having the advantages of a large program, the Brigham has also managed to create a robust sense of community which makes for a better life inside and outside the hospital. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the people here are extraordinary. They are not only intelligent and capable mentors, but they are also kind, thoughtful, and a great deal of fun.
Thoughts about the BWH/HVMA primary care program: HVMA is like the Brigham with icing on top. It is a tight, supportive, and invaluable family within the larger Brigham family. HVMA has given me a great deal. It has provided me with more focused, personal support and mentorship. It has given me more opportunities and time to rediscover my interests, explore my passions, and take concrete steps towards a well thought out post-residency career. Most importantly, it has given me a close group of friends who teach, support, and inspire me.
Aimee Shu, MD
Current Position: Endocrine Fellow, Columbia University Medical Center
Medical School: Harvard Medical School
Medical Interests: Preventive care, international comparative health systems, medical ethics (especially involving the use of human subjects in clinical research), the media’s role in disseminating health care information, women’s health, endocrinology.
Non-Medical Interests: Running, soccer, swimming, dancing, yoga, cooking, interior decorating.
Future Plans: Endocrine fellowship.
Why I came to the Brigham: Friendly people, rigorous training.
Thoughts about the BWH/HVMA primary care program: I was thrilled to be part of the program! I was fond of my patients; enjoyed sharing office space with my primary care mentor (my desk was next to hers!); and felt well-supported by our administration and faculty. I felt fortunate to learn about medicine and life from my fellow residents, as our schedules were structured to allow the 12 of us across classes (senior, junior, intern) to come together at various points during the year while on our “ambulatory block time.”
Class of 2005
Marcy Carty, MD, MPH
Current Position: Hospitalist, Brigham & Women's Hospital / Faulkner Hospital, Senior Consultant
Center for Clinical Excellence, Brigham &Women's Hospital, Clinical Instructor, Harvard Medical School
Medical School: Columbia P&S
Medical Interests: Patient safety, quality improvement, women's health, medical education.
Non-Medical Interests: Real estate, exercising, crafts of all kinds, weekend trips, going to the beach.
Future Plans: Likely a combination of clinical care (hospitalist) and administrative responsibilities related to patient safety and quality improvement
Why I came to the Brigham: I loved the relaxed yet academic feel of the Brigham. More importantly, I felt an instant connection with the residents who are among the most friendly, motivated, and interesting people with whom I have worked.
Thoughts about the BWH/HVMA primary care program: Beyond my original choice to pursue a primary care residency, I chose the HVMA primary care program specifically for several reasons: 1) The variety of interests of current residents (ranging from environmental health to running NGOs to the business side of medicine), and the careers that graduates choose (including starting Epocrates, working in Afghanistan, and being a PCP). These interests and career tracks make roundtable discussions fascinating. 2) The experience of working within a larger primary care practice alongside practicing clinicians, teaching us how to manage support staff and run an efficient practice with high quality outcomes. 3) The development of a long-term relationship with one preceptor. 4) The opportunity to continue to pursue my interests in epidemiology and population-based health via the weekly epidemiology course.
Alicia Marier Cunningham, MD, MPH
Current Position: General Internal Medicine Practice, Aesculapius Medical Center, South Burlington, Vermont
Medical School: Harvard Medical School
Medical Interests: Primary care/general internal medicine, public health (especially environmental health), and health care access/health care inequalities.
Non-Medical Interests: Spending time outdoors and with my family.
Future Plans: To practice internal medicine in a small urban or rural setting, combined with work in public health or health policy.
Why I came to the Brigham: I love the attitude and dedication of my fellow residents, as well as their brilliance! I learn something valuable from another resident or intern on a daily basis.
Thoughts about the BWH/HVMA primary care program: First, the HVMA primary care program is resident-directed, nurturing the passions of its residents. We are responsible for deciding what we want to learn about, including inviting faculty lecturers, and teaching one another in resident lectures and clinical epidemiology sessions. Second, we share our outpatient time together, providing us with the space to bounce clinical and non-clinical ideas off one another. Finally, we share clinic time and office space with our individual preceptors who practice medicine alongside us in clinic, allowing us to see first hand how primary care clinicians manage their own patients.
Dawn Harris, MD
Current Position: General Internal Medicine/Urgent Care Practice, Brigham & Women's Hospital
Medical School: Yale University Medical School
Medical Interests: End-of-life care, home visits, endocrinology, rheumatology, medical writing.
Non-Medical Interests: Reading (fiction and non), writing (fiction and non), getting to the gym (when I can), spending time with my husband and watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition (this is a very good show!).
Future Plans: Primary care practice (mostly seeing patients, but with some teaching as well), having children and figuring out how to spend time with them.
Why I came to the Brigham: This is the nicest, smartest group of residents around, fostered by the greatest, most supportive team of residency program directors and faculty around.
Thoughts about the BWH/HVMA primary care program: It is a great program for people who know exactly what they want to do with their medical careers and an even better one for those who don't have a clue. It is a great all-around exposure to primary and specialty medicine, with an ability to tailor the program to whatever individual needs a resident may have (or discover along the way). In my third year here I can say with confidence that I wouldn't have wanted to train anywhere else!
Senior Project: I am writing a medical murder mystery, incorporating the controversies surrounding embryonic stem cell research, and the involvement of the pharmaceutical industry in bio-medical research.
Alexander Smith, MD, MS
Current Position: Fellow, Pain and Palliative Care Program, Dana Farber Cancer Institute (2005-6), Fellow, General Internal Medicine, Harvard Medical School (2006-8)
Medical School: UCSF
Medical Interests: Palliative care, medicine and humanities, medical ethics.
Non-Medical Interests: Photography, Hiking, Singing, Playing Guitar.
Future Plans: I will be a Pain and Palliative Care fellow at BWH/DFCI next year. Following this clinical year I'll do a couple of research-focused years. This will probably be a general medicine fellowship.
Why I came to the Brigham: Flat out, it has the friendliest residents I've met. The community is supportive, the teachers are the best in their fields, and being affiliated with a hospital and residency that is doing well financially takes away significant headache and pain. Oh yes, and my wife is here so I’d better be.
Thoughts about the BWH/HVMA primary care program: HVMA is a treasure. Its small size allows it to be fast on its feet; if we want to move as a group in a particular direction we do. Whereas the Brigham has fantastic recourses, we have that and more. We have all of HVMA and DACP to draw from as well. The outpatient training in primary care internal medicine is “real world” training: I have a clinical practice in a supportive and efficient environment. Our program is like a small family within the larger Brigham community. I particularly enjoy the small self-directed sessions on Thursdays: Patient-Doctor and Clinical Epidemiology; but have also been enriched by our short curricula in Geriatrics, Palliative Care, and Leadership and Management.
Senior Research Project: I'm investigating approaches to advance care planning on the day of admission. I'll be surveying both residents and palliative care experts. Using case scenarios, participants will be asked what conversations they prioritize in each situation: establishing a health care proxy, asking about preferences for CPR (code status), or discussing goals and values related to the end of life. Resident data will establish what is being done in practice, while palliative care expert data will model ideal clinician behavior.
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