Madison Phillips, DO, is a third-year anesthesiology resident at the UK College of Medicine. In the following Q&A, part of our “Why UK?” series, she shares how she knew UK was the right fit for her when she applied to residency programs.
Q: Why did you pursue a residency at UK?
A: Choosing the right institution for residency training is a difficult decision for every fourth-year medical student; however, I felt my decision came easy in picking UK.
UK was my No. 1 choice for residency because it was the program I felt would best challenge me and fit my individual needs. Academically, UK anesthesia had the legends of Dr. Randall Schell and his YouTube channel, Dr. Robert Gaiser and his role in the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), and Dr. Annette Rebel, the fearless leader at the helm.
We have an extremely sick patient population that allows for challenging cases, a great location in a bustling college town, and a palpable feeling of camaraderie amongst all specialties. Ultimately, the people at UK sold me on the program. I came for an interview dinner and immediately knew this was the place for me. They were welcoming, kind team players who made me want to be a part of the UK family.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about your experience?
A: I knew UK anesthesia could provide me excellent training, but I wasn't expecting it to also introduce me to lifelong friends. I have enjoyed getting to know my fellow residents, attendings, and trainees from other specialties. We have experienced crazy call shifts together, cheered the ‘Cats to victory under the stadium lights, and sampled all the tacos in town. I immediately felt the support and family atmosphere from day one and am hopeful myself and my department will continue this legacy for years to come.
Q: How is UK preparing you for your future career goals?
A: Because of the strong foundation and breadth of cases we experience on a day-to-day basis at Chandler Hospital, I am able to know with confidence where I would best fit into the anesthesia world after graduation. I am pursuing a fellowship in obstetric anesthesia following my four years here at UK and hope to be involved in resident education at an academic center after that.
UK has taught me how to be a teacher, to feel comfortable leading a team, to manage difficult conversations, and to advocate for patients. What more could you ask for?!