“Why I chose Mount Sinai Beth Israel” from our PGY-1s… Erva Khan I chose Mount Sinai Beth Israel (MSBI) largely because I had a really great experience during my interview day. Everyone I met approached me with such warmth, and I could tell there is a strong sense of community at MSBI, especially in the Psychiatry Department. Also, I was interested in the comprehensive behavioral health center that is being built. This transition is creating opportunities to reflect on aspirations for the future of psychiatry and mental healthcare. I consider it a great privilege to be at MSBI, an institution committed to progress and innovative thinking. Paige Staudenmaier My partner and I knew we wanted to be in NYC, both for his work and my training. I ultimately see myself working in a CPEP, especially a child CPEP, and thus felt that training in the city would provide an incredible opportunity. Additionally I wanted a program where I would be able to pursue clinical research and engage in medical education of medical students. There are numerous programs in NYC, but what won Mt Sinai Beth Israel over for me was the familial culture of the program. On my interview day, meeting the current residents felt like hanging out with old friends. While meeting with the program director, Dr. Safin, he asked about my partner and interests outside of medicine, making a clear effort to understand me as a person. Having now started my residency at Beth Israel, the culture of camaraderie and looking out for each other is even more evident. Little questions and concerns are immediately met with concern and kindness. My co-residents and seniors always look out for each other, and prioritize a strong work life balance. Starting residency amid a pandemic was certainly not ideal by any means, but I’m so grateful to have matched at such a supportive and fun program. Alexa Rivera I chose MSBI because I was looking for a strong psychiatry program in NYC that was large enough for me to explore every avenue in psychiatry, but also still develop a strong bond with my fellow residents. In addition, I wanted a program that was going to challenge me, but also allow me to have time to pursue my interests outside of the hospital. I felt very at home during my interview and have felt the same way ever since! Nafiz Mosharraf MSBI became a clear choice for me once I met the residents and attendings during my interview day. This program synergizes the infinite opportunities of New York City and the family feel of a close-knit, nurturing program. As a resident here, you get the best of both worlds, with support and guidance every step of the way. Jessica Plotnikov The main reason that I chose Beth Israel was because of the warm, welcoming environment of the program that I felt on my interview day. The residents I met were genuine, down-to-earth people that I could see myself fitting in with. On top of that Beth Israel had everything I was looking for in a program with the opportunity to train in one of the most diverse cities in the world, colleagues who are passionate about psychiatry, and an environment where the well- being of the residents is a true priority. Finally, it was clear that our program administrator, Kenisha Felix, was remarkably organized and on top of making sure that the residency program runs smoothly and optimizes the experience of its residents. Quentin Reynolds As a southerner, it was originally really difficult for me to imagine living anywhere else because the city can seem terrifying if you're from a small town or just not used to city life. My biggest discovery was that you can make NYC as small or as large as you want it to be. What I loved most about Mount Sinai Beth Israel during my interview season was how much Dr.'s Safin and Casasnovas, Kenisha, and my (now) co-residents and attendings made the place feel so much like a home. They've connected me with directors for my medical education research, my chief resident helped create a schedule that accommodated my wife and I's hectic life, and they are helping to get me the experiences that I want to pursue a Child and Adolescent Fellowship. I can't imagine a better home for me while I train. Connor Hoch Entering the residency application process with a longstanding interest in cultural psychiatry and social determinants of mental health, I was thrilled to interview at a number of programs in arguably one of the world’s most diverse and socially heterogeneous cities, New York City. While each of these programs offered training opportunities addressing the broad spectrum of New Yorkers’ mental health needs, it was the people at Beth Israel that ultimately won me over. While it may sound like a cliché oft-repeated throughout the interview trail, at MSBI the community of residents, faculty, and staff I met through interview day and beyond really felt familial in a way that no other program I interviewed at could match. A month into my intern year, the support, laughs, and mutual growth I’ve experienced alongside my co-interns, upper levels, and MSBI faculty have surpassed even my greatest expectations and made even one of the more difficult rotations of intern year to be something to enjoy rather than to be suffered through. Even after this short time at MSBI, I can’t imagine having trained anywhere else. Tanya Peguero For me, choosing a residency program was all about the overall feel I'd get from the people and the hospital environment. Mount Sinai Beth Israel showed a true interest in my personality and what my goals would be as a psychiatrist. Everyone, including faculty, staff, and residents were very relatable and kind, to the point where it was the residency that I remembered the most names and faces after the interview. It portrayed the feeling of a friendly get-together rather than a work interview. And during the time I've had as a resident, it's proven itself to be a relaxed work environment, where everyone is open to discuss the million doubts you'll have as PGY-1. The program truly cares for each of their residents and the take-home point is that during this time of so much change in life, I feel truly supported in the start of this new journey. Parul Shanker Throughout the emotionally demanding interview season, I felt that MSBI stood apart from the rest for several reasons. Primarily, I felt the residents and faculty at MSBI were engaging, thoughtful, and down to earth. I felt that I could be my best self while also envisioning opportunities to grow. Dr. Safin is extremely receptive to feedback and resident education is a priority, not an afterthought. Additionally, given the location in downtown Manhattan, I was drawn to this program for the diversity and acuity of the psychiatric population. Christina Connolly I applied to MSBI because of the location, but I chose MSBI because of the people I met during my interview day and the “vibe” or “culture” of the program. It's probably the kind of thing that is unfortunately hard to appreciate on Zoom or online. The program staff were all welcoming and excited about the program, and went out of their way to make us comfortable and relaxed on interview day (I still remember the nice touch of having gentle music playing while we had breakfast). And the residents! In addition to the lovely residents I officially met as part of the interview day (assigned to answering our questions or leading the hospital tour), I noticed that many other residents joined for lunch and stuck around to talk to us. From my conversations with them, they seemed genuinely happy, they spent time together socially outside of clinical duties, and all had vibrant lives outside of the hospital (back in those days that meant going to shows, museums, etc.). Everyone I met was friendly and interested in getting to know us, even though I know we were just another batch out of many applicants the residents met every week. Most of all I just felt comfortable, like these were the people I wanted to be around during my four years of residency. Now I'm almost a month in, and I can say I made the right choice! Anshuman Srivastava I wanted to come to Mount Sinai Beth Israel because I felt that the people here were genuinely close to one another and were sincerely invested in each other’s success. The residents seemed like they were actually friends with one another, which is not a feeling I got at every program I interviewed at. Also, I really wanted to be in Manhattan for residency. I think there’s a unique energy in New York City, and I wanted to be a part of that. I’m a month into my residency as I write this, and I’m honestly very satisfied with having matched here. Good luck to all of you on the interview trail, and I hope you all match at a place that aligns with your goals! Kara Krushel I chose BI for a few different reasons. Being from NYC, I always knew that I wanted to come home for residency. BI definitely has the best location out of all the NYC programs. I also felt that it had the best work-life balance of all the New York programs.