Hello! My name is Phu Dang, and I am a Transitional Year resident at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC). Originally from Oklahoma City, I chose NGMC for my intern year for many reasons, including its location.
Gainesville offers the best of both worlds: a welcoming community with easy access to Atlanta, which is just 30 to 45 minutes away. As someone who appreciates good food, especially Vietnamese cuisine, I quickly discovered that Atlanta’s diverse culinary scene was a major bonus. If reading this is making your stomach growl, I apologize!
Beyond the location, what has made the biggest impact on me has been my training experience. During my first three months as a Transitional Year resident, I completed rotations on the Internal Medicine inpatient service, and I’d like to share what that experience has been like.
A typical day began early. I usually arrived at the hospital between 6:30 and 6:45 a.m. to review my patients’ charts before our 7 a.m. handoff. After handoff, we attended morning report, which provided valuable learning opportunities and discussions of interesting cases from across the service.
My patient census generally ranged from five to seven patients, depending on the size of the team. After reviewing charts and preparing for the day, I spent the morning seeing patients and developing care plans before rounds began. Team rounds usually lasted until late morning and involved a lot of walking, so a comfortable pair of shoes is important to have.
Following rounds, we attended the noon conference, where residents and faculty presented educational sessions on a wide variety of topics. Whether discussing thrombocytopenia, hyperlipidemia or preparing for board exams, these conferences reinforced what we were learning on the wards and provided practical knowledge we could immediately apply to patient care.
The remainder of the afternoon was dedicated to patient care responsibilities, including placing orders, coordinating consultations, writing notes and following up on test results. Like many residency experiences, the pace could be demanding, but each day offered new opportunities to learn and grow.
Call days brought a different rhythm. On short-call days, I typically handed off my patients in the late afternoon and was able to leave around 5 p.m. Long-call days extended into the evening as I assisted with admissions and covered additional patient care responsibilities. While these days were certainly busy, they provided valuable experience in managing new admissions and strengthening clinical decision-making skills.
The Internal Medicine wards can be challenging, especially during the first month when everything feels new. However, one of the things I appreciated most about my experience at NGMC was the support of the Internal Medicine residents. Their camaraderie, sense of humor and willingness to teach made even the busiest days enjoyable. They created an environment where learning felt approachable and where questions were always welcome.
Looking back, my time on the wards has been both challenging and rewarding. If you’re willing to work hard, you’ll gain invaluable clinical experience, build confidence and form lasting friendships along the way. For me, that combination has made the experience well worth it.
To learn more about the Transitional Year residency at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, please visit https://www.ngmcgme.org/programs/transitional-year/