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Recent Graduate Testimonials
David Song, MD
Cardiology Fellow - New York Presbyterian Queens Hospital
I chose Elmhurst due to its affiliation with Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, close proximity to my family, a close-knit community, caring leadership, and of course, the diverse patient population. Elmhurst offers a great academic community, where you learn from top attendings and work alongside Mount Sinai residents and fellows. The opportunities are endless and help foster your future endeavors. Our program leadership is invested in your learning and career, and the family-like atmosphere and relationships make the long, arduous journey of residency fun and rewarding. The diverse patient population helps us to see the very diagnoses that we were taught by the books. Last but not least, the diverse local cuisine here can't be beat - I've lost count of how many delicious new foods I've enjoyed with friends while in residency.
Judah Kupferman, MD
Gastroenterology Hospitalist - Stanford University Medical Center
Elmhurst Hospital has enabled me to help others in need during my training using the skills and knowledge I have gained. Because we treat a large population of patients who are uninsured and do not speak English, my fellow residents and I embrace the responsibility to not only provide medical care to our patients, but also to advocate for them and educate them about their medical problems, whether their issues are common or extremely rare. As an Elmhurst resident, I am able to formulate a medical plan and to perform procedures alongside attendings and specialists who are passionate teachers and are leaders in their fields. What makes Elmhurst most unique is that it serves as the public hospital for one of the most ethnically diverse communities in the world, and being a physician here is an experience I couldn’t imagine trading for anything else.
Joya Dupre, MD
Over the first two years of residency, I quickly knew that I was exactly where I belonged. I could say I felt this way because I made life-long friendships, or because the best restaurants and food in the world surrounded me. I could even attribute the sentiment to my perfect morning commute. In reality, I aspired to match at a program that served the underserved and did it with respect, grace, and excellence. Elmhurst Hospital of NYC Health + Hospitals not only embodies that, but also revived NYC during the COVID-19 pandemic, set standards for PPE across the nation, and continues to serve this incredibly special community day in and day out. Our unique affiliation with Icahn School of Medicine at The Mount Sinai Hospital also affords us additional opportunities to train at their campuses and work alongside our Sinai co-residents.
Clinical Leadership Fellow - NYC Health + Hospitals
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Jonathan Vincent M. Reyes, MD
Gastroenterology Fellow - Mount Sinai South Nassau
The three most important characteristics of a residency program to me are its fellowship prospects, location, and resident camaraderie. Elmhurst never disappointed with any of these. The program is extremely tight-knit; my co-residents often planned end-of-block events, and with New York City as your backyard, the possibilities are endless. There is truly something for everyone. Elmhurst provided me with unbelievable learning opportunities, and I got to see pathologies some physicians only read about. The program was very supportive of my fellowship aspirations and provided me with all the resources I needed to succeed. As a resident, through an unprecedented pandemic, I worked with some of the most inspirational and supportive co-residents and attendings, all of whom greatly contributed to my growth as a physician.
Chinar Patel, MD
Cardiology Fellow - NYC Health + Hospitals / South Brooklyn Health
After successfully leading several cardiac imaging research projects at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, I was excited to have an opportunity to pursue residency at Elmhurst. One thing that really struck me during the interview was the resident culture of this program, which indeed has proved to be the glue that keeps the program together year after year. I have learned so much from my attendings and co-residents and feel that I could not have gotten such sound training anywhere else.
Branden Ireifej, MD
Rheumatology Fellow - University of Southern California
I chose Elmhurst for a variety of reasons. One is the affiliation with Mount Sinai and its phenomenal resources. The ability to work alongside Mount Sinai residents and faculty offers a unique learning experience. The other reason being the community. Located in the most diverse zip code in the nation, Elmhurst is never short of diverse pathology (as well as some fantastic food). From patients all around the world, you will be seeing diseases most only read about in textbooks. My clinical reasoning has improved tremendously from training here. Lastly, the people are what make everything worthwhile. The friendships I have made here, with fellows, attendings, and co-residents, will last a lifetime and are what gets me through any long shift at the hospital.
Saad Ahmad, DO
Pulmonary / Critical Care Fellow - University of Texas at Austin
This is truly an incredible place to train and grow as a physician. As a resident, I have had the honor and privilege to care for many uninsured and undocumented immigrants at risk for poor health outcomes. Elmhurst has taught me to be resourceful and a determined advocate for improving care. The scope of unique pathology, accomplished faculty eager to provide guidance, and many research opportunities due to our affiliation with Mount Sinai truly make this program unique. I have built many strong relationships in this place, and I consider Elmhurst my second family. I would choose this program all over again.
Ahn Nguyen, MD
Academic Hospitalist - Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL
As a third-year medical student rotating at Elmhurst Hospital, I was amazed by the pathology and complex medical conditions that patients presented with. I had a great experience and learned a lot about medicine from my rotation. For that reason, I wanted to stay at Elmhurst for my residency training. This is truly an incredible place to train and grow as a physician and as a person. The patients from the community at Elmhurst make me feel grateful to be a doctor. The support from the attendings and staff is second to none. Besides that, Elmhurst is a great place for food and culture. Take a walk on 74th Ave where you enjoy Indian cuisine, 45th Ave for Thai food, and the limitless taco stands on Roosevelt Ave, all within a block or two. Every day at Elmhurst is a learning opportunity. Our residency is filled with compassionate people who take care of patients and of each other. We are Elmhurst family!
Noor Shahin, MD
Nephrology Fellow - Mount Sinai Hospital
When ranking programs, my top priorities at the time were my learning and proximity to home. I wanted to go to a program where once I complete my training, I would feel confident in my knowledge and skills as a physician. It’s not enough just to read about diseases in a textbook and answer questions, but the real learning starts when you actually see and treat patients with these diseases. From the routine to the rare, you will see enough to feel like an experienced physician by the time you leave, and will have the tools to continue to learn. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pursue fellowship when entering residency since I had several interests. There are plenty of opportunities to find what you are interested in, and the faculty in each specialty with decades of experience are happy to teach and guide you in the right direction. No matter what program you choose, residency is tough, but what gets you through the day are the people you work with. I’ve made some great friendships here, and when you’re in need, there’s always someone to lend a helping hand whether in or out of the hospital.
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