![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/medicine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/945\/2025\/09\/DeWalt-CHief-Letter-Image.png\")
I am pleased to welcome you to the UNC Department of Medicine. The residents you will meet here are outstanding. The University\u2019s commitment to care for the people of North Carolina is unparalleled. These are the reasons I chose UNC for residency back in the 1990s. Admittedly, a lot has changed since then, but these two characteristics remain the same.<\/p>\n
At UNC, we honor the traditions that have made us great\u2014commitments to exceptional education, research, and clinical care delivered with humility and compassion. We also recognize that medicine is always evolving, and it is our responsibility to design new ways to deliver care and make new discoveries that change people\u2019s lives. Residents at UNC are part of this mission. They are both learners and teachers. Many conduct research. All are engaged in how we improve care delivery.<\/p>\n
As a UNC resident, you will practice alongside world-class clinicians across every specialty. Your inpatient and outpatient encounters will challenge you, strengthen your skills, and shape your judgment. After three years, you will be prepared to enter practice as an excellent primary care physician or hospitalist. Many of you will choose to sub-specialize. You will have had the chance to work closely with specialists in your chosen field and participated in research projects that create new knowledge. Others will discover a passion for quality improvement and lead initiatives that elevate care for all North Carolinians.<\/p>\n
Each week, I work with residents in the continuity clinic and can attest to their excellence in clinical knowledge, judgment, and compassion. For over 20 years I have seen the growth in our residents during training, and I continue to feel proud of how much they accomplish in their careers. They have become primary care physicians, hospitalists, specialists, physician scientists, and leaders in health systems, government, and industry initiatives.<\/p>\n
Over the years, I have interviewed many applicants to our residency program. Almost all are curious about what makes UNC special. Although there are many answers to this question, at a fundamental level, residents are valued and appreciated in our department, and most importantly, they feel that. The Department of Medicine feels more like a family where you know you belong\u2014regardless of your career path.<\/p>\n
Medicine will continue to change, but the need for compassionate care and a commitment to improving delivery through quality initiatives and research will remain constant. At UNC, we prepare you not only to provide the best care today, but also to lead and adapt to the changes you will face throughout your career.<\/p>\n