Testimonials – Jacobi IM Residency

Exceptional POCUS Training: Boosting Confidence

"The longitudinal POCUS curriculum run by the chiefs was one of the best parts of my intern year. Not only did it help me better manage patients almost every single day, it also made me feel more confident in interpreting echocardiograms by myself. Additionally, this served as a springboard in launching my interest in Cardiology🫀"

Sriram Sunil Kumar (Class of 2026)

Jacobi’s Robust POCUS Curriculum: From Basics to Advanced Skills

"Jacobi has an extremely strong POCUS curriculum. It became my 5th vital sign for my patients. We had formal POCUS lectures every Thursday which starts with basic techniques and views and by the end of the year we are taught advance calculations like VTI, TAPSE (for LV/RV failure), how to rule out pneumothorax, lower extremity DVTs etc. Besides the formal teaching, every floor team had their own POCUS equipment to utilize for patient care. Peer to peer POCUS teaching also really added towards enhancing my skills."

Amrin Kharawala (Class of 2024)

Cardiology Fellow, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Welcomed, Valued, and Supported: Exceptional Community at Jacobi

“From day one, I felt welcomed and valued as part of a close-knit community. The residents here are not just colleagues but friends who genuinely care about each other's well-being and professional growth. The collaborative environment fosters learning and encourages us to achieve our best while knowing we have a solid support system. This unique blend of professionalism and friendship makes Jacobi an exceptional place to grow both personally and professionally.”

Elif Karatas (Class of 2023)

Dermatology Residency, Montefiore Medical Center

POCUS Training: Enhancing Patient Care and Cardiovascular Expertise

“Our POCUS course was excellent. We had dedicated teaching faculties and accessible equipment. This training not only helped me deliver better patient care in residency but also was fundamental to my echocardiography learning in my cardiology fellowship.”

Li Pang (Class of 2022)

Cardiology Fellow, West Virginia University

Training at Jacobi: Supportive Autonomy and a Strong Sense of Purpose

"My training at Jacobi/AECOM was exceptional in many ways. The diversity of patients provided a unique opportunity to learn while caring for underserved populations, allowing us to make a real impact. Working with such a varied patient population not only enhanced our clinical skills but also allowed us to make a tangible impact on the lives of our patients. This experience fostered a strong sense of purpose and dedication during my training. Training at Jacobi, you will encounter a wide range of medical conditions, from the most common to the exceedingly rare, each presenting its own set of challenges and learning experiences. Supportive autonomy is a cornerstone of the training at Jacobi, where we learned from both the dedicated attendings and the brilliant residents who are part of the Jacobi family. It's an experience I would eagerly choose again if given the opportunity."

Cesar Berto (Class of 2021)

Assistant Medical Director, Immunocompromised Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama

Transformative Experience: Shaped My Professional & Personal Growth

“I joined Jacobi Medical Center as an intern in 2018, fresh out of medical school. I can honestly say with conviction that Jacobi has made me a better physician than I could ever have hoped! The people here within the IM program are truly among the smartest and most humble people I have ever come across, and working alongside them for 4 years, has changed my professional and personal identity for the better. I feel proud to have worked with the population of the Bronx - a truly underserved population, and gained an insight into healthcare struggles and disparities. The program is fast paced, and many of my goals prior to joining - with regards to medical knowledge, confidence and autonomy were met passively, just by being a part of every day life at Jacobi! Overall, it was one of the best decisions I ever made, and if I were to do it again, I would a hundred times over!”

Anika Nair (Class of 2021)

Pulmonary & Critical Care Fellow, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio

Living Diversity Daily: Jacobi’s Unmatched Global Exposure

"Residency at Jacobi is one of the best ways to experience diversity, both in terms of housestaff and patients. There are many institutes that talk a good talk about diversity but do not have it in their ranks. In Jacobi, the diversity is so manifest, it doesn't need to be talked about in an intellectual reason, rather lived as a matter of fact which I believe is a more fruitful and useful learning experience. Being exposed to people from countries all over the world has definitely made me a more respectful person and given me some amazing friends that I wouldn't have met otherwise."

Ankit Kushwaha (Class of 2021)

Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, West Tennessee Healthcare

Unmatched Clinical Experience: Jacobi Shaped My Medical Career

“I had an exceptional residency at Jacobi Medical Center. The unparalleled clinical experience, combined with true autonomy, was fundamental in preparing me for my medical career. This high level of training is well-known and respected by fellowship program directors in New York City and beyond. Additionally, Jacobi offers outstanding support for research opportunities, significantly enriching my academic development. The incredible support from our chief of medicine, Dr. Faillace, was particularly beneficial for those of us interested in cardiology.”

Alberto Pinsino (Class of 2021)

Cardiology Fellow, Columbia University

Pride in Serving the Underserved & Learning from the Best: Jacobi Strong

“When I chose Jacobi, I knew that it was going to a be a very clinically strong program that would prepare me in the best possible way for my cardiology fellowship or for any other career path I would choose to follow. Today, as a Jacobi graduate, I feel extremely proud that I took care of a truly underserved population over the past 3 years, while at the same time I had the chance to work with some of the smartest IM residents in the nation.”

Damianos Kokkinidis (Class of 2020)

Cardiologist, Yale New Haven Health

Endless Gratitude: How Jacobi’s Support & Training Shaped My Journey

“It is hard to believe that my journey as an Internal Medicine Resident at Jacobi Medical Center is coming to an end. I feel utmost gratitude to Jacobi Medical Center, to its leadership, and to my mentors. There were countless individuals who helped me grow as a professional and further develop my skills as a physician. Jacobi Medical Center provided a positive environment which was conducive to learning, and offered a nice balance between academic and clinical activities. This balance was beneficial to me as I advanced my medical knowledge and clinical skills. For me, training at Jacobi Medical Center was a privilege. Coming to work to a place where the environment is supportive in challenging moments, and having the opportunity to care for a diverse patient population has been extremely rewarding. It is evident that Jacobi is committed to providing outstanding training in Internal Medicine to all its residents, allowing each of us to achieve our full potential as physicians."

Lilian Bizzocchi (Class of 2019)

Rheumatolgist, University of Missouri

Comprehensive Training: Path to Becoming a Well-Rounded Physician

“From day one, the program will prepare you to become a well-rounded physician with leadership skills, compassion, integrity and critical thinking. By working with a diverse population, and with the right degree of resident autonomy and faculty supervision, very soon you will gain incredible clinical experience. In your personal marathon, you will always find at your side dedicated housestaff whose vigorous enthusiasm for hard work, learning, and teaching is matched only by their collegiality and support for one other.”

Dimitra Papaspyridi (Class of 2017)

Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center

Jacobi: A Second Home That Nurtured My Growth & Fulfilled My Dreams

“Jacobi is the place that makes you a better person and a strong internist. It became very special to me and my family, as I had so much confidence in our doctors that I would take my parents and grandmother to have important tests at Jacobi. It feels like my second home and it is just a nice feeling of warmth and support when you are here. I am very grateful to hour program leadership and everyone whom I met at Jacobi. My dreams came true and I am going to start hematology and oncology fellowship shortly!”

Karine Darbinyan (Class of 2017)

Hematology/Oncology, Altru Cancer Center

Unmatched Support: Why Jacobi Was the Best Career Decision

“Being a tertiary public hospital in the Bronx, Jacobi provided me a fantastic and unique training experience. The variety of pathology was unparalleled and clinical training was solid with the right amount of resident autonomy. In addition, I absolutely loved people that I worked with. Faculty were dedicated to the care for the underserved population, and their teaching was outstanding. Residents with brilliant minds and diverse backgrounds soon became my best friends. The program director and the chairman were truly amazing and really strived to listen to residents’ voice and support each one of hundred housestaff. Research opportunities were vast and I was able to work at malaria lab at Einstein, working on an international project. Soon after arriving at Jacobi I fell in love with the Bronx and Jacobi. After three years of training I feel very prepared to handle any clinical scenario and believe doing a residency at Jacobi was the best career decision that I have made. As many Jacobians say, there is no other place like Jacobi!”

Joowhan Sung (Class of 2017)

Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Top-Tier Hands-On Experience: Jacobi’s Training Made Me Bulletproof

“I was lucky to get really good hands on experience here which allowed me to experience lots of different medical conditions and acuity of illness. It was only when I went to Fellowship at another prestigious university that i realized how lucky i was to have this training. You will come out bulletproof. I also made some amazing friends from around the world and had some excellent teachers who i still think about today. I took all this for granted back then. I don't now and realize most post-graduate education in mediocre at best. Not at Jacobi. VAMOS!.”

Haider Ali (Class of 2016)

Pulmonary & Critical Care Physician, Northside Hospital, Atlanta

Learning and Growing Together: The Incredible Diversity

“I learned so much from my co-residents, some of whom are now my closest friends. The sheer diversity of colleagues from around the world was incredible. Each of us pushed each other to learn and to deliver quality care to patients. We trusted each other, we relied upon each other, and we helped each other. To this day I don't believe I haven seen or worked with a more cohesive group of residents.”

Gavin Harris (Class of 2016)

Assistant Professor, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine & Infectious Diseases, Emory University

Years Later, Still #JacobiStrong: Premier Training at Jacobi

I am 5 years into my attending life and closing in on a decade since I graduated from JMC Internal Medicine. I still on a daily basis draw upon my formative training experiences at Jacobi. Simply put, it is a premier training program where academic medicine is as highly prized as bedside clinical experience. This is a rarity “in the real world” of medicine. Dr. Gutwein and faculty always had our best interests first and foremost and that shows in the caliber of alumni that can claim Jacobi heritage. When I went to NYU for pulmonary and critical care fellowship, they viewed my years at JMC as a major strength/asset in my application. I can proudly say I am #JacobiStrong and #JacobiProud!

Vineet Reddy (Class of 2015)

Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Wellstar Health System, Georgia

Global Connections: My Impactful Journey at Jacobi

“During my 4 years at Jacobi including a very formative year as a PGY-4 Chief Resident I learned many clinical skills from the dedicated teaching faculty & peers that help me to this day in the care I provide my patients. Equally meaningful was the chance to grow alongside, my co-residents who came from all over the globe to train at Jacobi. The countless interactions & experiences shared with them; learning, consoling, receiving support left me feeling a mutual respect and admiration that has helped set me on the career path in academic medicine. Now serving as an IM program director I aspire to ensure future generations of physicians have the fortune of experiencing a residency training as impactful as what I gained in my time at Jacobi.”

Mark Kozicky (Class of 2015)

Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency, St. John’s Riverside Hospital

Excellent Autonomy & Clinical Diversity: Cherishing My Time at Jacobi

"The Jacobi Medical Center internal medicine residency program offered excellent autonomy and a breadth of clinical experience that equipped me to handle any situation. The program leadership genuinely cares for the residents, fostering a supportive environment that felt like a family. I have the fondest memories and immense love for my time there, and I wouldn't change that experience for the world."

Pavlos Msaouel(Class of 2014)

Oncologist, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Exceptional Leadership & Support: Dr. Gutwein Makes Jacobi Outstanding

“Program leadership is one of the most important variables to consider when choosing a residency, and the best PD I have ever met remains at Jacobi Medical Center. Dr. Andrew Gutwein is your primary cheerleader and supporter of all your endeavors. It's nice to have a boss who believes in you, but rarely do you have one who invests in your future. Jacobi made me who I am today, and Gutwein makes Jacobi outstanding.”

Will Wong (Class of 2014)

Program Director, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, UMass Chan Medical School

Jacobi’s Strength: Autonomy, Diverse Pathology, Research, & People

“The Internal Medicine residency training program at Jacobi Medical Center is one of the best IM training programs in the country, for the following 4 reasons:
Autonomy: Perhaps one of the most crucial aspects in the development of a skillful physician, this is not as common a feature in the conventional top ranking IM residency programs as one would think. Jacobi IM offers the right balance of supervision and autonomy, which ensures that the graduating residents are fully prepared for both a career in academia as well as private practice. Procedural competence and confidence comes with practice, not just by meeting minimum requirements set by accrediting organizations. At Jacobi, residents typically far exceed the required number of procedures.
Range of pathology: As a public hospital and given its location, Jacobi Medical Center caters to a wide range of populations, including immigrants from different parts of the globe. This ensures that the IM residents have exposure to a range of pathology that is perhaps unmatched in country.
Research: This is arguably the strongest aspect of the program. When one judges an IM program’s research factor, it is not just the facilities/ opportunities available that should be considered, but also the dedicated time allotted towards research/ electives. As a residency applicant, one has to know that the structure of the program reflects the vision of the program leadership. Jacobi IM residents not only have access to the full range of basic/ translational/ clinical research opportunities at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, but also have more dedicated research time than any other conventional IM program in the country- thanks to the dynamic program director, Dr. Andrew Gutwein. This research/ elective time allocation enables residents to both access the available opportunities and to complete projects in time for their fellowship application. The consistency of the fellowship match success over the last several years speaks for itself.
Work environment: Working with doctors from different parts of the globe, the general camaraderie and the opportunity to learn about different cultures from colleagues are truly enriching experiences.

Niraj Shenoy (Class of 2014)

Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University

Diverse Experiences: Building My Academic Career at Jacobi

“I started training at Jacobi in 2007 and completed research path in 2012. I loved the diversity in the program, both for patients and staffs. I had a privilege to be in research path under Dr. Goldman's mentorship and this laid the foundation of my academic career. ”

Daniel Shin (Class of 2012)

Hematology/Oncology, UCLA

Independent Decision-Making: Preparing You for Any Path

“JMC has an exceptional training program. It provides a breadth of pathology, and hands-on experience. The program cultivated independent decision making which has helped me at as a physician, in starting new programs and in leadership. The program prepares you for any path you wish to take after residency.”

Manish Ramesh (Class of 2011)

Chief, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Montefiore Medical Center