Resident Reflections

Resident Reflections

Keerthivasan Vengatesan, M.D.
PGY 5

I chose Danbury Hospital because it provides a large residency volume in a community setting. Choosing a community residency program offers a unique blend of diverse patient populations, hands-on surgical experience, and close mentorship from seasoned surgeons. I value the opportunity to make a direct impact on my community’s health while developing a broad skill set that prepares me for a versatile surgical career. Additionally, the collaborative environment and emphasis on continuity of care align perfectly with my professional goals of becoming a proficient and compassionate surgeon.

Shaidy Moronta, D.O.
PGY 4

I chose the surgical residency program at Danbury Hospital because I felt a genuine sense of camaraderie between the residents as well as between residents and faculty. There is an emphasis on personal growth and autonomy with a robust volume of clinical experiences, both operative and otherwise that really challenges residents to push beyond their comfort zones and develop their abilities as clinicians and surgeons. Additionally, the location was a plus; being located near the Hudson Valley while also being close to major cities such as New York City and Hartford, ensured that there would be ample ways to spend time outside of the hospital, no matter what your interests are.

Jackie Danisi, D.O.
PGY 3

When applying to residency, I set out to find the “right fit.” Like Goldilocks searching for what was just right, I sought a program that balanced ample operative experience with exposure to a wide variety of pathology, including rare and complex cases. That search led me to Danbury, where I found exactly what I was looking for. This program is special and has the perfect blend of community and academic. There are no fellows, which allows us direct operative time with the attendings and more autonomy on the floor. Additionally, because of the smaller residency size, you not only gain mentors, but become friends with your co-residents and faculty throughout your training. The program’s smaller size, however, does not limit opportunities. Residents are expected to present at local and national conferences, publish research, and pursue additional training in their areas of interest, such as obtaining ATLS Instructor certification. I am truly grateful to complete my residency at Danbury Hospital, as I know it will make me a more competent and empathetic surgeon.

Venus Liu, M.D.
PGY 2

I feel very fortunate to be training at Danbury. One of my favorite things about our program is how much operative experience we get, even early in residency. We are given plenty of opportunities to operate, build our technical skills, and take on more responsibility as we progress, with attendings who are approachable and genuinely invested in teaching us. We also see a wide variety of cases, which makes every rotation a different learning experience. Our schedule has flexibility, giving us room to explore our individual interests and pursue opportunities that are important to us. Most importantly, Danbury is a close-knit program where residents support each other and faculty truly want to see us succeed. I’m grateful to be training in a place where I can grow into a confident and well-rounded surgeon.

Samantha Kobald, D.O.
PGY 1

I have been blown away the sense of community and support from both residents and faculty at Danbury Hospital. Every resident goes out of their way to be a team player, whether that means answering questions and offering advice to junior residents learning how to navigate their new roles, or staying late to help when multiple traumas come in at shift change. There is always someone around willing to lend a helping hand and help you find humor in the trials and tribulations of residency. Additionally, I have been fortunate to experience incredible mentorship from faculty early on. Within my first month of residency, I connected with a mentor who supports my professional growth and helped me get involved with research. The combination of dedicated mentorship, close-knit community, and opportunities for professional development make Danbury Hospital an ideal place to train.

Day in the life of a resident

  • 5am: Wake up, get ready and head to work
  • 5:30am: I get to the resident work-room and chart review all of the patients with regards to vitals,
    ins/outs, labs, and any notable overnight events. I also read up on any new admissions or consults
    overnight (if there are any)
  • 6am: We receive sign-out from the overnight team and then proceed with morning rounds, where the
    resident team (including the chief, myself, the intern, and medical students) efficiently sees all of our
    patients and checks in regarding any issues they had overnight and their progress
  • 7am: We briefly “run the list” (which is going over each patient and quickly discussing our plans for the
    day for each). We then call the attendings and go over their specific patients in detail to solidify the
    plans for those patients. We also split up notes to write as a team and ensure that any low electrolytes
    are replaced
  • 7:15am: After rounds we then split off for our respective duties, for the chief and midlevel residents,
    this often is operative cases for the day. The interns also get to operate however also focus on enacting
    all the discussed plans. I see that I have 2 colectomies today. As I head to the pre-operative holding area
    I recall the anatomy, steps of the operation, and any useful advice I’ve picked up from prior cases. I
    introduce myself to the first patient in the holding area and quickly go over what their day is going to
    look like with regards to the operation. I then head over to the OR we’ll be in and check in with the staff
    there. Usually at this time I also give the scrub tech my sterile gown and gloves for the case
  • 7:30am: The case is underway! The attending and I go over each of the steps as we perform them as
    well as review relevant anatomy that we see and tips and tricks for the next time.
  • 11am: After the first case ends, I write the appropriate post-operative orders and brief operative note
    detailing what we did. Often the attending also rounds on his/her patients between cases so I
    accompany them for rounds at this time. I then check in with the team to sign out the patient I just
    operated on, as well as for any updates and to see how the plans are going and if any help is needed.
    Thankfully, all is under control. I still have 10-15 minutes before my next case soI decide to grab a quick
    bite to eat as I know the next case will also last a few hours and I don’t want to feel hungry during it.
    Lunchtime can often vary during the day depending on the timing of the cases that are going. I feel that
    it’s always better to eat something when you can. I then head back to the OR for the next case.
  • 3pm: After the second case ends, I check back in with the team to run the list again to ensure that all
    the plans were completed during the day and help out where it is needed. We also ensure the list is
    updated for the evening team, and that the patients all have the relevant labs ordered for the morning.
  • 5pm: We sign out to the overnight float team regarding our patients and pertinent issues to follow-up
    on or be aware of overnight. I then head home for the day!
  • 5:30pm – 10pm: Every night I make sure that I prepare for and read up on my cases for the following
    day and do some general studying. All this together takes up about 1-2 hours of my evening. The other
    time is my own! Some of the activities I do on various evenings include going to the gym, hanging out
    with my co-residents outside of work, making dinner, watching TV
  • 10pm: Bedtime!