Advising Bio:
Welcome students! As your Smithies College Advisor, I am here to provide mentorship and support throughout your medical school journey. My goal is to create a tight-knit community that each of you feels a part of and ensuring our space remains one of trust and open discussion. Our partnership goes from matriculation to graduation, and I am here to guide you through the ups and downs of medical school—to explore your passions, introduce you to new opportunities, celebrate your wins, support you when setbacks occur, and advocate for your ambitions.
I believe that becoming a physician isn’t just about mastering science and clinical skills; it’s also about grappling with the human experience, the ethical and philosophical complexities of medicine, and the profound narratives of illness and healing that shape physicians in training as they form their professional identities. My personal passion lies at the intersection of medicine, literature, and culture—what we often call the medical humanities. I am especially interested in how medical education shapes not just what you know, but who you become as a physician. Your development in medical school goes well beyond accumulating knowledge: it’s a process of professional identity formation, of discovering what kind of doctor—and what kind of person—you want to be.
A bit more about me: I’m from Virginia and studied English Language & Literature in college and continued my interest in literature and writing through a joint degree in the humanities while in medical school. I love engaging literature and philosophy to help us make sense of the complexities of medicine—the emotions, the ethical tensions, and the unspoken challenges that shape both patients’ and physicians’ lives. I’ve authored essays, longform journalism, and criticism bridging medicine and the humanities. I love asking students what they’re reading and how it’s shaping their sense of self. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, spending time with family, exercise, football (Go Commanders!) and our puppy, Timber!
I’m looking forward to building relationships with each of you—through lunches, regular one-on-one meetings, and social events—and I also encourage you to reach out at any time. My role is to support your personal development, offer advice where you need it, and help you navigate challenges along the way. Whether you’re seeking guidance on the demands of training, thinking about specialty choice, putting together a schedule, struggling with exams, reflecting on your evolving sense of self, or trying to reconcile the ideals of medicine with the realities of practice, I am here to help you think critically and holistically about your growth as both a physician and a human being.
I look forward to connecting with you!
Raj Telhan
Contact Information
Email: raj_telhan@med.unc.edu
Phone: (984) 974-0298
Education:
M.D., University of Virginia
Residency, New York Presbyterian Hospital – Columbia/Cornell, New York
Fellowship, Interventional Spine, University of Virginia
Summary Statement:
Dr. Telhan is an Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. He is committed to delivering the highest caliber of evidence-based clinical care to his patients. He has a passion for interventional spine medicine and musculoskeletal spine rehabilitation. He treats spine and peripheral joint related dysfunction using multimodal treatment regimens that include therapeutic exercise and minimally invasive image-guided injections.
