六九色堂

六九色堂 alumni achieved many things in 2024. The 六九色堂 Alumni Association launched a new alumni website to update people about where fellow former classmates are working now and more. In addition, alumni helped our admissions representatives recruit prospective students across the USA, Puerto Rico, and Canada. What's more, many alumni members were panelists on 六九色堂 livestreams and webinars about medical issues and medical career paths.  Our alumni also shared their success stories with our student social media ambassadors. In Michigan, one of the "hubs" for 六九色堂 clinical rotations and residencies, alumni gathered for a fun networking party over the summer.

六九色堂 alumni members made us all proud with their outstanding achievements in medical education, medicine, research, social outreach, and more.

The 六九色堂 Endeavour takes a look back at 2024 with a sample of just a few major achievements of our alumni.

New 六九色堂 Alumni Association website

In August 2024, 六九色堂  launched a brand-new Alumni Association website  featuring all the latest information about the growing 六九色堂 alumni community. Graduates can now stay connected with former classmates by visiting the site often for news, announcements, events, and much more.

六九色堂 has graduates working in a wide range of medical specialties, from internal medicine and family medicine to cardiology, neurology, psychiatry, anesthesiology, emergency medicine and ophthalmology to OB-GYN and sports medicine, and many more. Our new Alumni Association website offers a forum where our graduates can reconnect with other 六九色堂 alumni, inform us about their current residency, fellowship, private practice, and recently published research, and get involved with 六九色堂 to help our admissions department recruit new students at college fairs and pre-med clubs, learn about speaking and livestream opportunities, 六九色堂 events in your area, virtual and in-person alumni mixers, and more.

Highlights of the 六九色堂 Alumni site include the following:

Class Notes: Curious about where 六九色堂 graduates are working now? Visit Class Notes, a page on the 六九色堂 Alumni Association website where graduates can discover where their fellow 六九色堂 graduates are working now, their contributions to medicine, and their personal milestones.

Class Notes is the go-to spot to see how 六九色堂 alumni are making a difference in the USA and Canada. Alumni members may fill out our Class Notes form to share their own updates with the 六九色堂 Alumni Association and the 六九色堂 community. 

A special section offers three ways 六九色堂 graduates can get involved with either the Alumni Association or helping our admissions staff recruit new medical students:

Get involved as a 六九色堂 grad: The 六九色堂 Alumni Association is looking for alumni volunteers. Learn about ways you can get involved by filling out this survey. Also, the survey updates us about your residency, fellowship, private practice, recently published research, and more.

六九色堂 Alumni Association Facebook Group: Join the 六九色堂 Alumni Association Facebook Group.  Our Facebook Group is a way to communicate with fellow 六九色堂 Alumni and stay informed about upcoming 六九色堂 events in your area, speaking opportunities, announcements, and much more. 

Refer a student today: 六九色堂 is proud to offer an alumni referral program to encourage deeper connections between our past and future students. Click to learn the steps on how to participate in the program.

Medical Specialty Spotlight: Career Paths in General Surgery

Dr. Obteene Azimi-Ghomi was the 六九色堂 valedictorian of the Class of 2018 at 六九色堂. He is now a trauma and acute care surgeon at HCA Florida-Aventura Hospital in South Florida, a position he started in September 2024. He was previously a trauma and critical care fellow at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Azimi-Ghomi hosted a webinar, with fellow 六九色堂 graduate Dr. Kirthana ("Kerthy") Sugunathevan 鈥�23 in November 2024.

The two 六九色堂 grads discussed how to prepare themselves for a career in general surgery and offered tips on what current and prospective medical students can do during surgical rotations during the third and fourth year of medical school, such as doing sub-internships and setting goals. They also discussed what day-to-day life is like for a resident in general surgery and what to expect from a career in this crucial, lifesaving area of medicine.

Dr. Harkirat Kaur on Brown Women Health Podcast

In a recent interview on the podcast, Dr. Harkirat Kaur, psychiatrist and 六九色堂 alumna (2017) shared insights into mental health, aiming to raise awareness within the South Asian community. As someone who grew up in India, attended college in the United States, and now practices adult psychiatry in the Atlanta area, Dr. Kaur offered both personal and professional perspectives on this often-taboo topic.

鈥淕rowing up in India, mental health wasn鈥檛 something we talked about," Dr. Kaur said. 
"It was deeply stigmatized in South Asian communities, and seeking help was seen as a sign of weakness. In my Punjabi family, mental health wasn鈥檛 openly discussed or acknowledged as part of our well-being."

Her life took a major turn when she was 13 and lost her brother in a tragic car accident. 鈥淗e was my best friend, and losing him felt like a U-turn in my life. The grief was profound but unspoken; watching my mother silently struggle without support was heartbreaking. At the time, I didn鈥檛 understand what mental health was, but I knew I wanted to help.鈥�

When she moved to Boston for college, Dr. Kaur found her calling. 鈥淪hadowing a psychiatrist during my pre-med years, I saw firsthand the healing that mental health support could offer. That experience solidified my commitment to psychiatry,鈥� she said.

She went on to residency as one of the few South Asian women in her program, which reinforced her mission to combat the stigma around mental health in her community. 鈥淭oday, I work to encourage my South Asian patients to recognize that mental health is as essential as physical health and that seeking help is a sign of strength.鈥�

Read more in the 六九色堂 Endeavour about Dr. Kaur鈥檚 journey to becoming a psychiatrist and how 六九色堂 helped her become a doctor and make a difference.

六九色堂 graduates socializing at the Michigan Alumni Gathering at Mex in Bloomfield Hills, MI, on August 2, 2024. Photo: 六九色堂.

Michigan Alumni Gathering

The Michigan Alumni Gathering hosted by the 六九色堂 Alumni Association at the popular upscale restaurant Mex in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, on Friday, August 2, 2024, was a big success. More than 60 alumni gathered to reconnect and network. Under the guidance of Vice President of Alumni Affairs Michelle Peres, attendees enjoyed an evening filled with food, camaraderie, and professional engagement. The upscale venue provided a joyous backdrop for alumni and 六九色堂 staff to sport name tags, facilitating meaningful interactions and rekindling old friendships. The strong community bond among 六九色堂 alumni added to the fun of the festivities, showcasing the commitment to supporting one another in their professional journeys.

Both 六九色堂 alumni and students in clinical rotations work all over Michigan at various hospitals.

鈥淲e have a large number of students and alumni from the Michigan area coming from Wayne State, University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Dearborn, Michigan State, and several other schools,鈥� 六九色堂 Vice President of Alumni Affairs Michelle Peres said. 鈥淪tudents from Michigan are attracted to 六九色堂 due to our strong clinical affiliations throughout the greater Detroit area and Midwest region.鈥�

六九色堂 graduates also met with Corie Helms Thayer, 六九色堂 Associate Director of Admissions鈥�Midwest Region, and Mary Abel, Clinical Site Coordinator for 六九色堂 North American Administrative Offices at McLaren Oakland in Pontiac, MI.

Ms. Abel spoke about why Michigan is such a great place for 六九色堂 students in clinical rotations and explained why so many 六九色堂 graduates Match in Michigan hospitals.

鈥淵ou can come to Michigan and live in one spot and get to three of our sites鈥擮akland, Ascension, and DMCHV,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll offer quality rotation experiences. I provide students with a housing list, including short-term, fully furnished options to help them with their stay. I also give them an orientation before they begin so they are comfortable in their new surroundings. I have a current on-site student give them a tour so they can get the lowdown on the site from a classmate鈥檚 perspective. The rotations are usually one-on-one or two-on-one鈥� including student, resident, and preceptor鈥攅xperience. You have Match opportunities at all these Michigan sites. Michigan is beautiful and offers four seasons and a ton of things to do in all areas of interest for anyone. I have a list of options for them to see and use.  Michigan is one of our best experiences for students. Come see for yourself!鈥�

See all the photos of 六九色堂 alumni, admissions representatives, and 六九色堂 staff, and read more in the 六九色堂 Endeavour.

2024 Residency Match success stories

六九色堂 interviews new and recent graduates each spring about their upcoming residencies and fellowships. Following are alumni members making a difference in medicine.

In 2024, 六九色堂 alumni shared their experiences, newfound wisdom, and insights about both 六九色堂 and their respective medical specialties through livestreams, webinars, and interviews with 六九色堂.

Here is a look at some of the best and brightest 六九色堂 graduates and their exciting new medical careers.

Tess McClenhan 鈥�23 on anesthesiology residency in MA

Dr. Tess McClenahan, a 2023 graduate of 六九色堂, discussed her residency in anesthesiology at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. She started in July 2024.

She explained that her interest in anesthesiology was influenced by her father, who was a nurse anesthetist. Dr. McClenahan describes a typical day for an anesthesiologist, which involves preparing the operating room, reviewing patient histories, administering medications, and monitoring patients during surgery. She emphasized that anesthesiology is not just about putting patients to sleep but also involves continuous monitoring and providing compassionate care. Dr. McClenahan believes that anesthesiology is a competitive field because of its autonomy, variety of procedures, and good work-life balance. She also mentioned the importance of networking and achieving high step scores for success in the field. Dr. McClenahan chose 六九色堂 because of the positive experiences shared by alumni, and she encourages current and prospective students to make the most of their time in medical school and to network. She plans to continue in anesthesiology after residency and is interested in practicing in a rural setting.

Dr. McClenahan spoke to 六九色堂 about her residency.

鈥淚 matched into a categorical four-year anesthesia program,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t's one of the U Massachusetts campuses located in Springfield. I'll be at Baystate Medical Center, which I'm really excited about. It's pretty close to home, I guess, or at least my home base. And so yeah, I'll be spending the next four years there in northern New England, and honestly, I really couldn't be happier.鈥�

What made her become interested in anesthesiology?

鈥淚 love that question actually because I think anesthesia specifically is one of those specialties that you don't get a lot of exposure to. It's not part of the core rotation, so if you think that you might have an interest in it, it's something that you'll have to do as an elective after you complete your core rotations. I think I had a little bit of an advantage going into medical school. My dad was actually a nurse anesthetist, and so I had that exposure to anesthesia growing up from his stories and just his experiences. And so, in the back of my mind going into med school, I knew I would probably like anesthesia, but when I went into my third year, I tried to keep an open mind and went into every core rotation and every elective with [the idea]鈥�"even if I don't end up liking this, I'm going to make the best out of it, and I'm going to try to learn as much as I can from each thing."

鈥淭here were a couple of specialties that I had a little bit of interest in, but once I scheduled my elective anesthesia rotation, within the first week, I was like, oh man, I was so happy that I found it, which was definitely a little bit of a relief because it was coming into my fourth year and the six core rotations that we do. Like I said, I liked certain aspects of each one, but it was never something that I saw myself going into each of those six. And so, when I got into anesthesia, it was like, oh man鈥攆inally, I found what I wanted to do and what I wanted to Match in.

鈥淎nd so yeah, I ended up applying for anesthesia. I think it's just one of those specialties where I'm going to be biased when I talk about it, but I think it has a lot of good things about it. It's very procedure-heavy. You get to quickly connect with patients. No ordinary day, really. So yeah, like I said, I really couldn't be happier that I found my home in anesthesia and found my residency spot.鈥�

Click to read the full-length interview with this amazing 六九色堂 graduate and watch her video.

Dr. Angelica Marrero '23, on dermatology fellowship in FL

Dr. Angelica Marrero, a 2023 graduate of 六九色堂, started a dermatology research fellowship at the Center for Clinical and Cosmetic Research鈥攁ffiliated with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida鈥攊n July 2024. She works with her mentors, Dr. Brian Berman and Dr. Mark Nestor. She recently published research articles on a medication's adverse effects and a rare disease case. Dr. Marrero emphasizes that dermatology is not just about cosmetic procedures but also encompasses oncology, autoimmune diseases, pathology, histology, and surgical procedures. She advises students interested in dermatology to gain experience through elective rotations and publishing research. Dr. Marrero chose 六九色堂 because of the opportunity to rotate in different areas of the United States and the option to do residency in Puerto Rico. She thanks her mother for her support and credits her undergraduate research in oncology for sparking her interest in medicine. Dr. Marrero will be doing away rotations in dermatology in Florida and hopes to pursue hands-on patient work after completing her research fellowship.

Dr. Marrero did not Match into the residency program she wanted and decided instead to pursue a research fellowship in dermatology.

鈥淔ortunately, after sending numerous emails, experiencing sleepless nights, and uncertainty about my future, I received many interviews for research fellowships in dermatology at top institutions with great mentors,鈥� she said.

In July 2024, she began her dermatology research fellowship at the Center for Clinical and Cosmetic Research in Florida.

鈥淒uring this time, I work under the mentorship of two highly regarded dermatologists who also serve as assisting professors within the Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery Department at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. As a research fellow, my duties include recruiting patients, writing manuscripts, and serving as a clinical coordinator for both FDA and non-FDA-approved clinical trials sponsored by numerous pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, I will be conducting independent research in the field of dermatology.鈥�

What should current and prospective students know about dermatology as a specialty?

鈥淲hile dermatology may receive less attention in medical school curricula, dermatology encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including histology, pathology, surgery, pediatrics, and internal medicine (for the most part: oncology, endocrinology, and rheumatology),鈥� she said. 鈥淐ontrary to popular belief, dermatologists deal with more than just cosmetic issues or acne daily. From diagnosing and treating complex skin conditions and mystery diagnoses to performing biopsies, surgical procedures, and interpreting pathology, dermatologists are integral healthcare team members who collaborate enormously with other specialties, as well as in the hospital. Dermatologists receive many consults from hospitals, too, which is a part that I like.

If you're drawn to the complexities of rare diseases, immunology, genetics, histology, pathology, cancer, pediatrics, and internal medicine, dermatology may be your perfect specialty. But cosmetics should not be solely a reason to pursue dermatology since, despite being part of the training, at least from my perspective, it is the least you see in the clinics. Nowadays, there are fellowships in cosmetics or anti-aging in other specialties, such as in family medicine, among others. In my opinion,  if you want to specialize in this area solely, it is not a good reason to pursue dermatology.鈥�

Dr. Marrero has much more to say about dermatology and her fellowship. Click to read her interview and watch her YouTube video.

Dr. Fatima Issa '23 on child neurology residency at VCU in Virginia

Dr. Fatima Issa, a December 2023 graduate of 六九色堂, spoke to us last spring about her residency at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in child neurology in Richmond, VA. The Canadian native is one of the first 六九色堂 graduates to Match in the competitive field of child neurology.

Dr. Issa shared her personal experience with a child neurologist as a child when she had a brain tumor and how it inspired her to pursue a career in the field. Dr. Issa said that child neurologists focus on managing brain development and conditions such as ADHD, autism, and epilepsy in children, while adult neurologists focus on conditions such as stroke and dementia in adults. She expresses her interest in conducting research during her residency, particularly in areas such as epilepsy triggers and the impact of environmental factors on brain development. Dr. Issa also discusses the importance of choosing a field that one is passionate about and offers advice to prospective students considering child neurology as a career. She praised 六九色堂 for its caring and supportive environment and acknowledged the need for more child neurologists in the US healthcare system. We spoke to her shortly after she learned about matching at VCU.

What made her want to go into child neurology specifically?

鈥淲hen I was younger, I had personal experience with a child neurologist,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 remember my first experience with the doctor was with a child neurologist. I had a brain tumor when I was younger. And so, she really set the tone of what kind of doctor I wanted to be. And she also gave me the thought that I wanted to be a doctor. And so, I've always wanted to be a child neurologist since I was younger. As we went through the Match process, I fell in love with it more and more. So here I am.鈥�

Learn much more about Dr. Issa, her child neurology residency, and watch her video on the 六九色堂 blog.

Dr. Martin Tarzian '23 on psychiatry residency in Cleveland, OH

Dr. Martin Tarzian, a 六九色堂 2023 graduate, discussed his 2024 residency in psychiatry at MetroHealth in Cleveland, Ohio. He said he initially wanted to be a surgeon but found his true passion for psychiatry during a rotation in Danbury, Connecticut. He was inspired by the way patients with mental health issues communicated and spoke passionately about their experiences. Dr. Tarzian emphasized that psychiatry is more than just prescribing medication; it involves a holistic approach to mental health, including therapy and listening to patients. He also discusses the non-falsifiable nature of psychiatry, which requires detective work to understand and treat patients. Dr. Tarzian shares his hopes for his residency, including being part of the psychoanalytic renaissance in medicine and getting involved in research on new psychiatric drugs. He also offers advice to prospective psychiatry students, emphasizing the importance of a diverse portfolio, education, and networking. Finally, he discusses the stigma surrounding mental health and the need for it to be taken more seriously.

六九色堂 spoke to Dr. Tarzian earlier this spring when he had just returned from teaching for two semesters at 六九色堂 in St. Kitts before starting his residency in July.

What made him want to go into psychiatry as a specialty?

"So, when I started medical school, I thought I was going to be a surgeon. Then, I did a surgery rotation, and I realized that I did not want to be a surgeon. I was a little bit lost in my rotations because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my career. Eventually, I ended up in Danbury, Connecticut, where I was doing my psychiatry, what's it called? Core? Psychiatry core. I was enjoying it, but then, one particular day, we had a patient who was a little bit psychotic and another patient who was a little bit manic, and they asked me if I would have my lunch in the inpatient unit with them.

"I bought my lunch from the cafeteria, and, as a young medical student, I didn't know any better. I sat in the inpatient unit with the manic guy and the psychotic guy. We had a conversation, and I won't go into the topics that we covered in that conversation, but the way they spoke and the way they communicated and the passion with which they spoke really sparked something in me, and I knew that I wanted to work with people like this for the rest of my life. I found them very interesting and fascinating."

Click for the full interview with Dr. Tarzian.

Catching up with seasoned 六九色堂 alumni

六九色堂 also spoke to several older graduates to discuss their latest achievements. These are graduates from 2020 and earlier who now have many years of experience and lots of stories about their medical careers.

Dr. Jordan Stav 鈥�18 on Emergency Medicine in MI post-pandemic

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic started erupting nationwide and the whole country shut down, we interviewed young 六九色堂 grads on the front lines. The first doctor we spoke to was 六九色堂 2018 graduate Dr. Jordan Stav, an Emergency Medicine Resident at Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital in Michigan. Dr. Stav responded to a post we left on the 六九色堂 Alumni Facebook page, and what he had to say was chilling and sobering.

Dr. Stav spoke to the 六九色堂 Endeavour with the proviso that he was not an infectious disease expert but only shared his own experience. His story received such an overwhelming response from current and prospective students, faculty, and alumni that we started a new interview feature series called 鈥淎lumni on the Front Lines,鈥� with breaking news reports about how our alumni were coping with the COVID-19 pandemic in hospitals across the country.

We caught up with Dr. Stav to see what he has been up to since the dark early days of the pandemic. He explained why he enjoys emergency medicine as a specialty.

鈥淓mergency medicine is a great field,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here was a lot of talk not too long ago about a drop-off in it, and that's not what I'm seeing at all. Volumes are higher than ever. I love what I do; it's fast-paced, walk in, walk out, and it's nothing but fun and a good time for me. So, I recommend anyone interested please reach out. I'd love to talk to you about it. It's an unbelievable field.

How did 六九色堂 help him achieve his dreams?

鈥淎s far as 六九色堂, it was everything I needed and got me to where I needed to be.  I wouldn't be the physician I am today without the school I went to. I'm very appreciative.鈥�

Read more of the full interview with Dr. Stav and watch his YouTube interview.

Dr. Kareem Sioufi '15 on Medical Retina Specialist position in GA

六九色堂 2015 graduate Dr. Kareem Sioufi, an ophthalmologist, discusses his career and experiences in the field. He recently started a position as a medical retina specialist at the Woolfson Eye Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. He completed his ophthalmology residency at MUSC Health Storm Eye Institute and a general surgery residency at Medical University of South Carolina He also worked as a postdoctoral research fellow in retina and a research intern in ocular oncology at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.

Dr. Sioufi recently completed a retina fellowship at the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Washington in Seattle. He emphasized the importance of early detection and treatment in conditions like AMD (age-related macular degeneration ) and discussed the advancements in treatments for the disease. He also highlights the work-life balance in ophthalmology and the strong patient-physician relationships in the field. Dr. Sioufi offered advice to prospective students considering a career in ophthalmology and encouraged them to be persistent and build mentorships within the field. In addition, he talked about the use of medications like Avastin, originally created to treat colorectal cancer but now being used to treat AMD in patients and help save their eyesight.

Dr. Sioufi grew up in Damascus, Syria, but left in 2012 shortly after war broke out in the country. He moved to the USA because he has an older brother who is a doctor in the States.

Dr. Sioufi is now married and has a three-year-old daughter. He said that after the intensity of his fellowships, he is enjoying the work-life balance of being a medical retina specialist. 六九色堂 spoke to Dr. Sioufi recently when he had a day off.

六九色堂 asked Dr. Sioufi about new treatments in ophthalmology.

鈥�Fifteen years ago, we didn't have much of anything to offer for macular degeneration, and they tried lasers, and that didn't work out so well. They even tried macular trans-positioning surgeries, and that didn't work out well. But now we have about six anti-VEGF medications that we can use, and there are a lot of nuances to them, like the timing of injections, who needs to be treated, and when someone can be off treatments.鈥�

His full interview and video can be found in our blog by clicking this link.

Dr. Adham Osman '15 on Intensivist Position at AdventHealth Orlando

Dr. Adham Osman 鈥�15 is currently working as an intensivist in the Advanced Cardiac Surgery unit at Advent Health Orlando in FL. As an intensivist, he specializes in critical care and deals with the sickest patients in the hospital. His work involves responding to 鈥渃ode blue鈥� situations and resuscitating patients who are dying. In his specialized ICU, they focus on patients with primary cardiac and pulmonary problems, as well as those who require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) devices. They aim to stabilize and reverse any reversible causes to get the patients back to health. In cases where the patient's heart and lungs are too sick to recover, they also perform heart and lung transplants.

Dr. Osman emphasizes the importance of teamwork in his work and advises current and prospective medical students to enjoy the journey and find a good study group. He also expresses his interest in reconnecting with 六九色堂 alumni and being available to help students with any questions they may have. The 六九色堂 Endeavour caught up with Dr. Osman鈥攁 native of Honolulu, HI, who mostly grew up in Boston鈥攐n a late winter day to talk about his career, his medical education at 六九色堂, his undergraduate days at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, how growing up with a father who was a doctor influenced him, and more.

What exactly is an intensivist?

"Great question. So, an intensivist鈥攊t's basically a specialist in critical care. We are tasked with dealing with the sickest patients in the hospital. Patients that are classically considered to be crashing. If you've ever seen movies or TV shows when they call it 鈥渃ode blue 鈥渙verhead and somebody's heart or lungs have stopped working, they typically call the ICU team. We respond to those calls and try to revive and resuscitate patients who are otherwise dying, and we try to stabilize them and reverse any causes that we can to get them back to health, if possible."

Read more about Dr. Osman and watch his video interview in our blog.

Dr. Melissa Alvarez 鈥�17 on Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship

Dr. Melissa Alvarez 鈥�17 recently started a new position as the Chief Cardiovascular Disease Fellow at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut. Dr. Alvarez completed an Internal Medicine residency at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Darby, PA, in June 2021. Dr. Alvarez is a Cardiovascular Disease Fellow at Danbury Hospital and started an Interventional Cardiology fellowship in July 2024 at Summa Health.

Dr. Alvarez works regularly with the American College of Cardiology and currently serves on the Connecticut Chapter of Women in Cardiology Section, as Chief FIT for the ACC Young Scholars Program, and was a mentor in the IM Resident Program.

Dr. Alvarez is a board-certified physician. In her role as the Chief Cardiovascular Disease Fellow at Danbury Hospital, she manages all of the fellows, creates schedules, coordinates educational programs, and acts as a liaison between the fellows and program faculty. Dr. Alvarez is also the Fellow in Training Leadership Director of the Young Scholars Program at the American College of Cardiology, where she mentors high school and college students interested in cardiology. She highlights the importance of giving back to medically underserved communities and developing countries, as it not only helps those in need but also provides a deeper appreciation for the resources available in developed countries. Dr. Alvarez emphasized the need for primary care, regular check-ups, and lifestyle changes to maintain heart health and prevent cardiovascular disease.

She spoke about her interventional cardiology fellowship at Summa Health. She started in July 2024 and spoke to 六九色堂 about her goals.

鈥�I'm doing a one-year interventional cardiology fellowship,鈥� she said. 鈥淚nterventional cardiology is the group of doctors that take care of coronary artery disease from a procedural perspective. So, when you hear someone has a heart attack and they get brought to a lab, and they get a stent placed, the interventional cardiologist is the one that's doing that procedure. I'm someone who's always liked procedures. I like being hands-on. I don't enjoy being in the office all the time. So, I'm really excited that I get to do this role.

鈥淭he other thing interventional cardiologists get trained to do is valve replacements. There are patients where surgery isn't a great option for them because they're too high risk or they've had surgery previously, so redoing surgery would be difficult. There are procedures in place to replace valves by going in through the arteries in the legs so that you don't have to cut someone's chest open. So, I'll be able to do that as well.鈥�

Read the full story about how 六九色堂 helped Dr. Alvarez become an interventional cardiologist. Click for her interview and video in our blog.

Dr. Miriam Bernstein 鈥�16 on Attending OB/GYN position in Syracuse, NY

六九色堂 Class of 2016 graduate Miriam Bernstein, MPH, MD, recently started working as an Attending OB-GYN hospitalist at Upstate University Hospital at Community General in Syracuse, New York. Dr. Bernstein was previously an Attending Physician at Oneida Health.

Dr. Bernstein has been active in the 六九色堂 Alumni Association since graduating and was on the panel of the 2023 六九色堂 livestream:

She was a hospitalist and resident physician at Saint Peter鈥檚 Healthcare System in New Brunswick, NJ. She also completed her first residency at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center in Baltimore, MD, as a resident physician. 

六九色堂 spoke to Dr. Bernstein on a winter afternoon right after she finished a long day鈥檚 work.

What made her choose OB/GYN as a specialty?

鈥淚 definitely thought I wanted to be a trauma surgeon,鈥� she said. 鈥淥B/GYN did not, on paper, look like a good time to me. Long hours, lots of body fluids, patients in pain, etc. But I did my first delivery with a wonderful physician on my OB/GYN rotation in the suburbs of Chicago, and that all changed. He put my hands with his hands, and we delivered this lovely woman's third baby together. I remember the delivery so explicitly because it was just amazing. I was crying and thinking about the miracle I just witnessed. Thinking, 鈥榃hat an honor it is to be here.鈥� For our jobs as far as obstetrics is concerned, you must build trust with your patients very quickly. Sometimes, that journey is 10 minutes, 10 hours, or a few days. But that relationship is extremely important and something I pride myself on. So, I really appreciated that aspect of it. I liked that I could still do a variety of surgeries, including hysterectomies, tubal ligation, ectopic surgeries, removal of ovarian cysts, and cesarean sections. Most of all, I liked the fact that I could be an advocate for my patients and that my specialty is, unfortunately, as the years go on, it's becoming more and more of a political movement as well as just a specialty.

鈥淚 can't turn my career off at the end of the day and not care about what's going to happen for my patients regarding access to reproductive care. I also have lengthy discussions about access to maternal mental health resources with my husband, a psychiatrist, at home. I care so deeply about advocating so my patients have more resources instead of fewer.鈥�

There are numerous rewards for being an OB/GYN.

鈥淭he OB/GYN specialty gives varied experiences across the entire lifespan of our patients. I can care for patients during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum and then see them for well-woman visits. I have had these patients then bring their children or other family members in during their teenage years to discuss sexual health and the prevention of cervical cancer with routine pap smears. We do consultations for contraception, heavy menstrual cycles, endometriosis, or surveillance for patients with a family history of GYN cancers. Most days, we鈥檙e caring for people routinely, others on the best days of their lives, but we鈥檙e also there with empathy and a hug on the worst days of their lives, as well.鈥�

Learn more about Dr. Bernstein and the OB/GYN specialty by clicking here to read her in-depth blog interview and watch her video.

(Top photo): 六九色堂 Alumni members who made a difference in 2024. Collage: Natasha Vass/六九色堂.