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Christiana Agbonghae
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
College: University of Georgia
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia
Why you chose CMC: Before interviewing, I loved watching how the residents interacted with each other during the pre-interview socials. There was a genuine connection there that I could feel, even through a computer screen. Then when I interviewed, I enjoyed the conversations with the faculty and other residents on the call. I was laughing the entire time, and I was able to relax. I left the interview feeling like this would be a program that would push me, support me, and shape me into the type of Emergency Medicine physician I have always aspired to be. In addition, the patient population here is very diverse, and CMC has the resources available to truly serve its patients. Overall, I felt confident that I would enjoy my time here, and I could not be more excited to move to Charlotte!
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: & I loved all the different vibes of the various neighborhoods in Charlotte. There is always something new to explore, and there is always something to do. I looked forward to exploring the city and building connections with all the new people I would meet.
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: I am not exactly sure what I will be doing in 10 years, but I am very interested in medical education and mentorship and can see myself incorporating both into my day-to-day practice.
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Mark Baumgarten
Hometown: Chesterland, Ohio
College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Medical school: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Why you chose CMC: I love the community in CMC's Emergency Department! The department is filled with incredibly knowledgeable and passionate teachers who create a supportive, collaborative environment to work in.
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: I love the weather, restaurants and breweries, concert scene, greenways, and the whitewater center! Charlotte is such an accessible, lively, and comfortable place to live
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: I see myself practicing emergency medicine here in North Carolina while raising a family.
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Bricey Bayonnet
Hometown: New Franklin, Ohio
College: The University of Akron
Medical school: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Why you chose CMC: So many reasons! CMC is such a strong residency program, and I was excited about the opportunities that I would have during my training if I came here. Their social mission was important to me and gave me confidence that they would train me to be both competent and compassionate. Additionally, when I interviewed here, everyone was so nice and welcoming, and my interviewers were genuinely interested in learning about my interests. It really felt like this was a supportive place to learn and grow. When I met the residents at the social, I loved how outgoing they were and how inclusive the program was to significant others. I wanted to go to a program that would push me to be the best physician I could be and make the most out of the 3 years I have of training. CMC had everything I was looking for in a program and then some.
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: It is such a fun and livable city. On my interview day, everyone said most things are under 15 minutes. It has held true so far. I am lucky enough to live close to the hospital and we still are able to have a yard for our dogs. My co-residents are some of the coolest people I've ever met and it's been so exciting to move to a new city. Also, our garden is thriving here with the warm weather
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: I think I could be happy in so many settings. I love charitable care, addiction medicine, and health policy. I don't think I could ever leave the ER though so I could also see myself working in the community or in academics. I enjoy teaching and hope to stay a lifelong learner!
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Carrie Bissell
Hometown: Norcross, GA
College: Emory University
Medical school: Emory University
Why you chose CMC: I had the opportunity to rotate at CMC as a medical student and loved so many things about it. Most importantly, I felt as though everyone I came across was welcoming, supportive, encouraging, and enjoyed their work. The leadership team, attendings and residents of the program were no exception. I knew it was a place where I would be challenged, learn to be an awesome EM Physician, and have a family around me supporting me through the growing pains.
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: There is so much to do and places to eat and drink in Charlotte with my new friends! I love that so many places have outdoor seating areas, too, and nothing is more than a 15 minute drive away.
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: I would love to be working in an academic setting for the opportunity to teach and mentor students and residents. My relationships with my mentors have impacted me professionally and personally, and I would love the opportunity to continue to build impactful relationships and provide support to others.
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Kevin Black
Hometown: Houston, Texas
College: Baylor University
Medical school: Texas A & M College of Medicine
Why you chose CMC: I was looking for a place that had a large volume of all types of patients with a wide range of pathology and high acuity. I also wanted to train in a program with the reputation for producing the best emergency medicine doctors in the country coupled with residents that genuinely loved going to work and loved spending time with one another. That's what CMC EM is!
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: It's a beautiful city full of trees and greenspace yet has all the perks of a major city. The people are my favorite thing though...they are the nicest! Makes me feel right at home.
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: I see myself working in the emergency department at a large level one trauma center, likely teaching medical students and residents...mixed in with traveling and spending lots of time my family and friends.
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Fernanda Calienes-Cerpa
Hometown: Arequipa, Peru
College: University of Arizona (BEAR DOWN!)
Medical school: University of Washington School of Medicine
Why you chose CMC: The residents during the social seemed to know the most about each other and everyone was having a blast! It is that energy that drew me in! It was important for me to be in a program that would push/support me but also one where I could see myself making long-term friendships. That gut feeling people talk about is a real thing.
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: There is AMAZING food here and always something fun happening. I have enjoyed the breweries, concert scene, outdoor movies, and the many dog friendly spots. I think my favorite part so far is that I can take a late-night walk and actually enjoy myself vs coming home soaked from the rain and miserably cold (I am from Seattle..)
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: I would like to be teaching, uplifting, and helping shape medical students and residents in a diverse environment! When not at work, I want to be unwinding in a really nice patio and then traveling the world/visiting my family in Peru more often.
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Hannah Corral
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
College: University of North Texas
Medical school: UT San Antonio Long School of Medicine
Why you chose CMC: Oh my goodness, so many reasons. During the interview season, CMC was my favorite interview day by far. In talking with the faculty and residents, I knew that there was a real sense of community here that not only supported its residents professionally but also personally. Before the match, I knew that I wanted to complete my training at a program with significant volume and diversity in patient population that ultimately allowed me to share a tangible impact in the community. In a few short months, CMC has exceeded my expectations. It really is the people - not only our EM leadership (who are incredible by the way) but also the off-service residents, faculty, and staff that make this place so special. In all settings that I've rotated through, I feel supported as a learner and united in the common goal of doing what is best for our patients. The hospital is large enough to see significant volume but small enough to recognize so many friendly, familiar faces on a daily basis. In addition to receiving a top EM education from experts in the field, I also feel incredibly fortunate to begin my career as a physician in such a supportive community.
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: Honestly, life has been so very incredible now that my south Texas sinus allergies have cleared. Spontaneous sinus recovery aside, nearly everywhere I go in Charlotte is just a gorgeous, gorgeous drive on tree-lined roads that can take you to unique and delicious restaurants, out toward the mountains for a hike, or to one of many beautiful greenways within the city. There is no shortage of things to do in this City and I'm eagerly using all of my days off to check out everything it has to offer!
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: No doubt convincing my husband to adopt a third standard poodle, potentially making NC our home, and living my dream of practicing as a community emergency medicine doc!
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Sean Flannigan
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
College: UNC Chapel Hill
Medical school: UNC School of Medicine
Why you chose CMC: The reputation of the Emergency Medicine program at Carolinas Medical Center absolutely exceeds itself with world class clinical autonomy and patient volumes guaranteeing you'll see just about everything the field has to offer. But what truly set this program apart for me was the people. Having had the opportunity to do an AI here, I knew firsthand how fun and supportive the residents truly were. I believe the “work hard, play hard&ldquo mentality ingrained into the core of this program is truly unique, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: I have always loved the beautiful weather North Carolina has to offer. But now I get to enjoy it in a rapidly growing city where there's always something to do or some thing to see on my days off!
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: I’m not out running excessively far distances, you can catch me grabbing beers with friends at one of the many awesome breweries in Charlotte or planning my next adventure abroad!
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Brandon Friedman
Hometown: My family's originally from Connecticut, but I grew up in Thailand, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Medical school: University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Why you chose CMC: I was originally drawn to CMC because of the phenomenal training environment, broad access to sub-specialty opportunities within emergency medicine, the diverse patient population in Charlotte, and the program’s commitment to caring for underserved populations, both locally and abroad. But what solidified CMC as the place I wanted to be was the experience I had rotating here as an MS4. From my first shift as a medical student, I felt incorporated as an integral part of the care team; the faculty, residents, nurses, administrators, and support staff all welcomed me with open arms and took time out of their busy days to foster my growth and education. I knew that the culture, values, and people of this program would help push me to be the best version of myself and I’m thrilled to now be a part of the CMC EM family.
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: I live just off Central Avenue in the eastern part of the city, which is home to an extremely diverse group of individuals from several countries around the world. As such, my neighborhood is home to dozens of immigrant-owned restaurants, markets, and other businesses that gives this part of Charlotte the feeling of an international community. Having spent 18 years overseas, I’ve loved the opportunity to be a part of such a unique community and interact with individuals from places I’ve yet to travel. In my short time in Charlotte, I’ve sought to explore the community around me as best I can and look forward to experiencing the cultural diversity of the area around me and the city as a whole.
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: I am extremely passionate about global health infrastructure and international medicine, which stems from my time overseas and my parents’ work to in the fields of global infectious disease and counter-human-trafficking. I hope to pursue a Global Health fellowship after residency to gain more exposure to international medicine and plan to use my training to help develop sustainable medical infrastructure around the world. I’d also like to pursue research in the field of global medicine to help identify best practices for developing initiatives that are led by local community members, incorporate local values to identify areas of need, and ultimately become self-sustaining without external intervention.
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Mary Heslin
Hometown: Mount Airy, MD
College: Troy University
Medical school: University of Kentucky
Why you chose CMC: When I was interviewing with programs and going on the virtual social events the CMC resident turnout was huge and all of them were incredibly proud and excited about the program it made them immediately stand out. It was an energy I hadn't seen or felt elsewhere and I definitely wanted to be a part of.
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: I love everything! The city is beautiful with all the tree lined streets. Tons of great restaurants and outdoor activities. But above all my favorite thing has got to be the people! Our new neighbors are wonderful. I couldn’t ask for anything more!
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: Well, In 10 years, I hope to be working at an academic trauma center. I love the clinical practice of Emergency Medicine and can’t wait to work alongside medical students, residents, and fellows and share all that I will have learned over the next 10 years. I am also very interested in pre-hospital/disaster medicine and would love to work as the EMS director for a local service.
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Rosa Malloy-Post
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
College: Fort Lewis College Durango, CO
Medical school: University of Colorado
Why you chose CMC: I was looking for a mix of academic, community, and county with high acuity and a diverse patient population. I was impressed by the level of autonomy and skill the residents had and CMC's contributions to the EM academic community are immense.
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: The food and the trees. Coming from Denver it's nice to have some greenery. The variety and concentration of good food is impressive, I haven't had a bad meal yet.
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: Who knows? I'm opened to exploring fellowship opportunities in toxicology or palliative care. I enjoy teaching so I see an academic career in my future. I'll most likely be somewhere in the mountain west.
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Olivia Paradis
Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
College: Southern University
Medical school: Loma Linda University
Why you chose CMC: I had heard great things about Charlotte and CMC, but the interview day blew me away. Everyone was so kind, energetic and engaging. The residents, even over zoom, seemed to have such a blast together. Everyone here encourages each other in order to maintain an inclusive and supportive culture. Also, the attendings are such amazing teachers and leaders in emergency medicine but are still really down to earth.
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: I have fallen in love with this city! It is beautiful, has amazing places to eat, hiking is only a short distance away, and you can experience all the seasons. You get to be in a big city with all that has to offer but also get a small town feel if you want to live in the suburbs.
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: I am not exactly sure what I will be doing but I hope it involves academic emergency medicine with a focus in toxicology or critical care. Also, I really hope my husband and I will be traveling on the regular.
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Deryan Smith
Hometown: Wells, NV
College: University of Nevada, Reno (UNR)
Medical school: UNR Med
Why you chose CMC: CMC has that close-knit friendly learning environment that I really wanted. The culture is everything to me, and I really felt that CMC offered a positive one that was still going to challenge me at every turn. Not to mention everyone raves about Charlotte, and it really seemed like a place I'd love to be for at least three years!
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: Everything is so green! I grew up in northern Nevada, which is not nearly as desert-y as the Vegas part of Nevada, but this level of greenery and humidity is still majorly different. The food and breweries are also stellar here, and the outdoor options are endless!
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: Soaking up that attending life and traveling with my partner every chance I get. There also may be some rugrats in the picture by then!
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Madison Watts
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
College: UNC Chapel Hill
Medical school: UNC Chapel Hill
Why you chose CMC: I did my 3rd year and the majority of my 4th year at CMC. As a medical student here, I felt like any other member the team. My opinions were valued and I was given a lot of respect and autonomy. Plus, all of the residents, attendings and other clinical staff were just SO NICE. It was a great work environment, combined with an incredibly diverse and high acuity patient population. Throughout the interview trail, I just couldn’t find anything quite like what I experienced here at CMC.
What you love about living in/moving to Charlotte: There's always something to check out. New restaurants and breweries are opening constantly. There’s tons of concerts, festivals, sporting events, etc. that come here. And you’re only 2 hours from the mountains and 3 hours from the beach! Plus, my co-residents are amazing and there’s always a group down to hang.
What you see yourself doing in 10 years: I want to go into academic emergency medicine. I love teaching and mentoring, and I also love the collaborative environment of academic centers. I am particularly interested in multimedia education like podcasting, blogging and videos.
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