Pictured above (L-R): Annie Yang, Chris Lewis, Irene Zhang, Cynthia Ramazani and Wang Pong (Sean) Chan
UW Medicine Graduate Medical Education welcomes more than 525 new residents and fellows today, the largest group ever.
Under the supervision of attending physicians, UW Medicine residents and fellows learn and work primarily in UW Medicine hospitals and clinics, Seattle Children’s Hospital and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, and also at training sites throughout the WWAMI region.
To celebrate, we spoke to residents and fellows on the cusp of completing their training, some still in the thick of it and a couple of new arrivals too, to find out what makes the UW Medicine Graduate Medical Education experience so special.
Annie Yang, MD
Fifth-year General Surgery Resident
It’s true what they say about residency — the days are long, but the years are short. Five years of training passed in the blink of an eye, and I’m beyond grateful to have grown up in the UW surgical community. At its core, UW Surgery is more than just unparalleled training and a wide breadth of clinical exposure — it’s a community of deeply passionate individuals, committed to one another and to something greater than themselves. It was the deep mentorship and lifelong relationships I found here that carried me through the toughest moments of training and helped shape me into the surgeon I am today.
To the incoming trainees: My one piece of advice is simple — be good. To be a good surgeon, you must first be a good physician, and above all, a good person to those around you. Let your community invest in you — and when your time comes, invest in your community and those who follow. I hope you have fun — because I certainly did! Best of luck!
Chris Lewis, MD
Clinical Informatics Fellow, Joining UW Medicine Faculty in the Fall
I grew up in Seattle so coming back for my clinical informatics fellowship was a dream come true. Working with folks from the departments of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education as well as Rehabilitation Medicine showed me the effort and care everyone puts into their work (from the administration to clinicians). Be humble and stay curious — and you will be surprised by how much you can accomplish. Just like when backpacking in the Cascades, try to leave everything you touch better than you found it.
Irene Zhang, MD
Minimally Invasive Surgery and Foregut Fellow
I am (at last) finishing training at UW this summer, having come here for general surgery residency and then stayed for fellowship. I grew up in New England and remember visiting for interviews. I was immediately impressed with the people — down-to-earth and humble, even as they were very accomplished — and the breadth of patients and experiences. The program director was also supportive of couples matching, which was important to me. Reflecting back on it, I think those initial impressions held true. The residency program here can be tough and very busy at times, but I think we come out well-trained, able to problem-solve and confident. I also love Seattle and think that’s a big draw. My advice for incoming interns is always: Write everything down and never worry alone — help is only a call away, and it’s much better to call early than to get in over your head. Also, the coffee out here is excellent.
Cynthia Ramazani, MD
Incoming General Surgery Resident
What drew me to UW Medicine was the month I spent on an away rotation here. During that time, I witnessed firsthand how deeply UW values both patient care and education. I was especially inspired by the dedication to serving vulnerable populations, from the safety net mission at Harborview to the system-wide commitment to equity and access. The residents and attendings I worked with were not only technically skilled but also compassionate, humble and truly invested in the communities they serve. I left that rotation knowing I wanted to train in a place where the care is excellent, and the mission is grounded in service. Looking ahead, I hope to grow into a surgeon who centers humanity in every aspect of care, from the operating room to the bedside. I want to continue learning from patients and colleagues who challenge me to do better, and to carry forward the same culture of excellence, curiosity and humility that drew me to UW in the first place.
Wang Pong (Sean) Chan, MD
Incoming General Surgery Resident
UW was my top choice because my mentors did their training here and I really look up to them. There is a really robust data science program especially in natural language processing, and the surgical training is unparalleled. I hope to build good friendships (love my cohort), become a really good surgeon and contribute to the field of artificial intelligence-surgery research.