Meet Tiffany Hu, MD, from Rockville, Maryland. She attended University of Michigan Medical School, and is a PGY-2 in the Traditional Internal Medicine Residency Program.
What led you to pursue a career in medicine?
My parents instilled in me a strong sense of academic curiosity and appreciation for nuance when I was young, and I always enjoyed learning about things from multiple angles and perspectives. In college, I learned that this translated well to systems thinking. I was fascinated by physiology and the intricate interplay of all the body systems that work together to maintain homeostasis. I loved medical sociology because it dealt with the interplay between patients, physicians, and society, and how society shapes the experience of healthcare. Medicine was a perfect blend of the systems thinking that I sought, with the opportunity to build relationships and connect with people.
What are your goals after you complete internal medicine residency? Where do you see yourself?
I plan to pursue a fellowship in Geriatrics. I can see myself following in the footsteps of some of my amazing mentors at Yale, caring for older adult patients in both inpatient and clinic settings while being heavily involved in medical education. I would like to work in an academic setting because I love working with trainees and learn best by teaching and learning alongside my team. I chose Geriatrics because it is a very big-picture subspecialty that requires us to zoom out from patients’ medical conditions to also consider their social support, environment, and the whole web of multi-complexity that surrounds them. It really exemplifies a holistic biopsychosocial model of care. We get to help patients and their families navigate the process of aging, and sometimes dying, and we learn what is most important to them so that their care can be tailored to their goals and priorities. My older adult patients also have the most interesting stories to tell, with all of the history they have experienced.
Why did you choose Yale for your internal medicine residency?
I loved Yale the moment I Zoom-interviewed here. The people were kind, helpful, super accomplished yet humble about their achievements. My partner and I were couples matching into IM, and Yale embodied the friendly and warm fuzzy spirit we were looking for. Everyone looks out for one another, and we have such a lovely community here that cares about our wellbeing. The program even replaced the mattresses in the call rooms because residents were not getting quality sleep while on call, thanks to an effort led by the legendary PGY-3 Kate Feder. They also recently announced they got rid of 28-hour call because of resident feedback. The program really cares and tries to address our concerns.
Describe your experience at Yale IMed in 3 words.
Fun, supported, growth.
What is your fondest memory at Yale thus far?
My inaugural food cart experience with my MICU team!
Who has had the greatest influence on you, and why?
My parents are my biggest supporters and I am the person I am today because of them. My parents taught me how to think in the gray zone, reconcile conflicting points of view, and treat others with empathy and compassion. They taught me the value and importance of hard work, integrity, and taking responsibility for my actions. They raised me to become a driven, independent thinker who loves learning, has a strong sense of self, and enjoys helping others.
If you could say anything to your younger self, what would you say?
Remember to enjoy the journey and not just focus on the destination. You are where and who you are meant to be.
What have been your biggest challenges and accomplishments?
My biggest challenge has been reminding myself of my purpose in medicine. Residency is hard and the hours are long–it can be easy to get lost in the constant day-to-day and forget what a privilege and honor it is to get to care for and connect with our patients. It’s the shared connections and humanism in medicine that keep me motivated, but sometimes it’s hard to find the energy or the emotional bandwidth to take that extra step and really get to know my patients. I often have to reframe my mindset and remind myself of what brings me meaning and joy in medicine, and also who I am beyond being a resident. One of my greatest accomplishments has been developing healthier habits during residency, including prioritizing my wellness, exercising more, eating more balanced meals, and seeing a therapist (we get 16 free sessions through the residency program)--these have all been instrumental in my wellness journey.
What's a fun fact about you?
My partner and I have two cats! We adopted the first in med school, and the second was from Mew Haven Cat Cafe, where we went with our pet-free co-residents to convince them to get a cat. They didn’t end up getting one, and we somehow ended up with another.
What is one piece of advice you'd give someone who is applying for internal medicine residency?
You will grow roots wherever you’re planted! That said, you will get comparable and rigorous training at a lot of different programs, and residency is hard no matter where you go. What does make a difference is the people. Find a place with your kind of people–people who encourage your passions and are willing to help you out and go to bat for you, and people you would want to hang out with outside of work. The community, support, and culture at the program will make a world of difference in the residency experience.
The Department of Internal Medicine at Yale is among the nation's premier departments, bringing together an elite cadre of clinicians, investigators and educators in one of the world's top medical schools. To learn more about the department, visitInternal Medicine.