Zena Chahine, MD, is a hematology and medical oncology fellow at the UK College of Medicine. In the following “Why UK?” Q&A series, she explains what she loves about pursuing graduate medical education at the University of Kentucky.
Q: Why did you pursue a residency/fellowship at UK?
A: I chose UK because my interview experience was great! The fellows seemed very happy, there are a lot of research opportunities, and I wanted to be somewhere that shared my goals and would support me in reaching them.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about your experience?
A: I genuinely enjoy coming to work. My colleagues are friends I can rely on both in times of need (and to provide snacks constantly).
I have also immensely enjoyed working with patients. Most of our patients belong to the heart of the working class that built our society as we know it, and being able to give back to them has been a privilege. I was not prepared for how humble and kind patients are despite their adversities.
Q: How is UK preparing you for your future career goals?
A: As someone who wishes to pursue a career in academic hematology, treating a wide scope of pathologies is necessary. I can confidently say that I have a more than proficient understanding and comfort in treating complex patients. I also had (and continue to have) the opportunity to build my research portfolio with many ongoing projects.