Meet Ramya Sampath, MD, from Sunnyvale, CA. She attended University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and is a PGY-1 in the Traditional Internal Medicine Residency Program.
What led you to pursue a career in medicine?
I changed careers in my mid-20’s to pursue medicine. This was driven by the compassion, potential for lifelong learning, and accompaniment that I witnessed at Yale New Haven Hospital actually! Drawing on my prior work in anthropology and education, I wanted to chart a path to caring for patients with an attention to their social world, while working to address the structural barriers to their care.
What are your goals after you complete internal medicine residency? Where do you see yourself?
I envision integrating the care of patients with cardiovascular diseases and palliative care to develop new models for addressing complex symptoms, needs, and goals that older patients may have as they progress through life. I also plan to continue my work advocating for cardiovascular and palliative care equity in global settings. I envision combining these goals into a meaningful career as an academic clinician, researcher, educator, and writer.
Why did you choose Yale IMed for your internal medicine residency?
I was drawn to Yale IM for the values the internal medicine residency program espouses, which I felt to be kindness, mentorship, and well-roundedness. From the time I interviewed to now–even in the first few months of residency–I have found mentors and kindred spirits who have encouraged me to pursue what matters to me while learning to be a well-trained, well-rounded clinician.
Describe your experience at Yale IMed in 3 words.
Supportive, meaningful, and joyful.
What is your fondest memory at Yale thus far?
Watching the Great British Baking Show with co-residents on a calm night on the Peters service interspersed with teaching about glucose management while bolusing ourselves with ample glucose!
Who has had the greatest influence on you, and why?
Dr. M. R. Rajagopal, the founder of Pallium India and a pioneer in global palliative care. He has modeled for me a tireless commitment to addressing the plight of socially vulnerable populations and the humble perseverance to enact social change.
If you could say anything to your younger self, what would you say?
Be patient with your process of discovering your path. Your path will make sense because you find it meaningful and will use the skills you are gaining to shape the environment around you.
What's a fun fact about you?
I have over 100 houseplants that originate from 5 continents!
What is one piece of advice you'd give someone who is applying for internal medicine residency?
Look for an internal medicine residency program with the people and culture you want to surround yourself with. As the interview season progresses, many of the details of the each program you apply to may become more or less relevant, but over the next years of training, what matters most is how the culture you are steeped in will support and shape you into the clinician you want to be.
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, visitInternal Medicine.