Family Medicine

When I was a medical student, I rotated through Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center for multiple rotations and was struck by how invested the entire community was in my future success. Both the residents and faculty would stop me in the hallways to see how I had been since I last saw them months prior, and everyone had an open-door policy. The Family Medicine residency program truly feels like a family of people who care deeply about you and who will support you through the next three years and beyond.

HackensackUMC Mountainside Family Medicine Residency Program is exactly what I need to be a competent and successful Family Medicine physician. As early as my interview I recognized that I connected deeply with the program because of the diversity of the residents in each class and the culture of collegiality, good fellowship, and support. As a resident, I now get to experience this first-hand. I also appreciate the guidance and goal-oriented collaboration each resident receives from every faculty member, senior and co-resident.

What appeals to me about the specialty of Family Medicine is the emphasis on caring for patients holistically. To care for a patient is to understand the person: who they are, where they come from, what’s important to them. That’s what it means to truly care. HackensackUMC Mountainside Family Medicine Residency Program stands out to me because it is a program that truly cares. Everyone in the program cares deeply about their patients, and equally as important, they care about each other.

Having been born and raised in NY my entire life, I knew I wanted to stay close to home. But after my interview with HackensackUMC Mountainside Family Medicine Residency Program, I immediately knew this would become a second home. Despite the challenges of virtual interviews, I could instantly appreciate how supportive and welcoming the staff, faculty and senior residents were and that support only became more apparent after starting my residency.

From online research and word of mouth, I knew Mountainside had a lot to offer in terms of medical and professional training. Additionally, during my time there as a medical student, I saw that in addition to excellent training they had genuinely supportive attendings, residents, and staff who truly wanted to see everyone succeed. I am also glad to be close to my family and friends in NJ for these next 3 years, and happy to have found a new family in the HackensackUMC Mountainside Family Medicine Residency Program.

Although the interview was virtual, choosing the HackensackUMC Mountainside Family Medicine Residency Program was very easy. It is one thing to know the amount of knowledge and experience of the faculty, but quite another to realize their level of commitment to the residents’ training and growth. This was obvious when I spoke with the current residents who were genuinely very happy with their training at Mountainside. I was impressed by this well-organized program, and how it incorporated the residents’ wellness into its curriculum.

“Since part of my family is in New York City, location was important to me. I chose Hackensack Meridian - Mountainside Family Medicine Residency because of its proximity to New York City and because of the welcoming and supporting environment I felt during the interview. Despite the interview being virtual, I could tell that the residents really felt at home here and really put an emphasis on being a family together. The camaraderie among the residents, attendings and staff members was something I really sensed about the program.

"HackensackUMC Mountainside Family Medicine Residency Program stands true to the name "Family". From my interview day till to this date, both faculty and staff members have been tremendously helpful in guiding me through this intern transitional period. The environment is nurturing, peaceful and still challenging enough to bring out the very best in me. The wealth of knowledge from faculty members is unmatchable. I am confident that I will become a well-rounded physician with the comprehensive training and patient care offered here.

My medical school clerkship year marks an importance reference point in my decision to pursue family medicine (FM) as a career path. For me, I chose FM because there is much emphasis on preventive medicine: So you are not just a physician, but also serves as teacher and advocate for your patients and community as a whole. Moreover, I chose Hackensack Mountainside Family Medicine residency program because inclusive – diversity is welcomed and appreciated.

I chose Mountainside Family Medicine because of how supportive the faculty are of their residents. Even through my virtual interview, I could sense the genuine care of the residents’ well-being. The program is well-established and offers the diverse opportunities perfect for me to learn and grow as a physician. Faculty, staff, and residents are like family, and I’m glad to be part of the community.