Our Residents
The Primary Care Residency is composed of twelve residents, four at each level of training. Our current residents come to us with varied backgrounds, represent 12 medical schools from ten states, and are just delightful!
FIRST YEAR RESIDENTS
West Virginia University School of Medicine – Charleston
University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health (MPH Leadership Concentration)
West Virginia University (Industrial Engineering)
Why did you choose UNC for residency?
I choose UNC for multiple reasons, both personal and professional. From a personal standpoint, my wife and her family are from Hillsborough, NC. We wanted to get back closer to family to set down roots and invest ourselves in a community. From a professional standpoint, I was especially drawn to the Primary Care Track. I have a life-long goal of being able to marry primary care pediatrics and public health. The Primary Care Residency was extremely attractive because it met that interest of achieving a community-centered role. The other main aspect was that UNC Pediatrics and the Primary Care Residency has a real family feel. After practicing independently in the Navy these last few years, having a healthy and supportive atmosphere to grow was really important to me.
Fun Fact(s):
I first learned how to drive on a tractor! I have always wanted to visit New Zealand, and especially Hobbiton (LOTR nerd). Skiing is my favorite outdoor activity (who wants to book a residency ski trip now!!??).
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Wesleyan University (Neuroscience and Behavior & Psychology)
Why did you choose UNC for residency?
I was so excited about the Primary Care residency to help train me to become a thoughtful, advocacy-focused, and well rounded pediatrician. The opportunity to work within a community that I am serving is so exciting! I had such a wonderful interview day as everyone was so friendly and I got the sense that I really would be joining a family! My partner grew up in North Carolina and he will be returning with me to start his family medicine residency with the army, so we are excited to be near his family as well!
Fun Fact(s):
I like to crochet blankets and small animals, my biggest success so far is a dinosaur! We have a Bernadoodle named Bruno (inspired by Encanto), aside from playing with him, I enjoy doing puzzles, gluten free baking, and playing board games (some times too competitively) 🙂
Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
Campbell University (MS Biomedical Sciences)
Guilford College (Chemistry and Health Sciences)
Why did you choose UNC for residency?
I have always called North Carolina home and it is where my family and friends reside. I had the opportunity in my 4th year of medical school to spend a month with UNC pediatric residents and faculty and loved every second of it. The entire experience was filled with support, kindness, laughter, and fun. Finally, add on the fact that they offered a primary care track, and I knew where I belonged and wanted to spend the next three years of my journey!
Fun Fact(s):
Coffee is my love language. I am obsessed with Dachshunds but prefer to adopt from local shelters! One day, I would love to have a farm with chickens, ducks, goats, and maybe a cow, who knows? I convinced my fiancé, Kelly, that she also wants a farm one day.
Ohio State University College of Medicine
University of Southern Indiana (Biology)
Why did you choose UNC for residency?
I chose UNC for residency first because of how kind and genuine everyone at the program was during every interaction I had with them. It was so evident to me that this is a program that values, encourages, and supports every resident. Second, I loved the opportunities to work both at a high-acuity academic pediatric hospital and at community hospitals so that I can have ample hands-on experience in a wide variety of clinical settings. Lastly, having lived in the Midwest my entire life, I decided it was time to move somewhere with a little more sunshine and a little less snow and ice!
Fun Fact(s):
I earned 3 high school varsity letters as a football manager.
SECOND YEAR RESIDENTS
University of Illinois College of Medicine
Duke University (Sociology)
Give me an A, give me an L, give me an E, give me an X! This two-time World Champion Allstar cheerleader enjoys reading, brunch, and time with friends. She was immediately drawn to the Primary Care Residency for its ability to train well-rounded, advocacy-oriented, and passionate general pediatricians. She also had the opportunity to speak with multiple residents and had an amazing interview day, through which she could sense the “family-feel” of the program. Alex grew up in North Carolina and is excited to be closer to family and serve her community!
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (MSc Chemistry)
Xavier University of Louisiana (Chemistry)
Chika is a first-generation American born into a multigenerational family whose Igbo roots go back to colonial Nigeria. She considers herself a restaurant aficionado, gastronaut, and self-proclaimed foodie. Chika also loves yoga. When she was putting her rank list together, Chika wasn’t looking for a perfect program but in UNC, she found the one that was perfect for her. As a medical student at UNC, she was nurtured and supported, and she knows that will continue throughout her residency training.
Baylor College of Medicine
Duke University (Psychology with a Minor in Global Health)
Caitlyn loves spending time outdoors (especially at the beach), running, exploring new places, and Duke basketball! Her husband is a Naval Aviator, so they have had quite the adventure as they balance their careers in various locations around the country. They met in undergrad at Duke University and are thrilled to be back in the Triangle! In the whirlwind of a completely virtual interview season, UNC stood out to her as a genuine, friendly, collaborative environment where everyone knew and cared about each-other. At the virtual socials, she genuinely enjoyed hanging out with the residents and faculty due to their welcoming, authentic attitude and enthusiasm. She was drawn to the commitment to advocacy and excellence in primary care, all in a supportive environment that emphasizes teamwork and teaching.
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Georgia State University (Biology)
During undergrad, Aigner won Miss Congeniality in the Miss Georgia State University Pageant. She has spent time in Costa Rica, teaching English to school-age children. For 22 years, softball has been her hobby of choice; however, she has recently taken up Yoga Bright & Salted with Arianna Elizabeth. Her favorite music artists are Zauntee, Wande, and Mali Music! Aigner chose UNC after spending an awesome four weeks completing the Redding-Lallinger Virtual Visiting Rotation. She was searching for a program that would prepare her for a lifestyle serving underserved marginalized children. Patient advocacy and health inequities are important to her, and she knew that UNC would give her the opportunity to work with like-minded colleagues who genuinely care about patient outcomes.
THIRD YEAR RESIDENTS
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine – Flint
Columbia University (MAE English Education)
Oakwood University (English)
Natalie chose UNC Pediatrics for three simple reasons: “the residents, the leadership, and the location.” Prior to medical school, she taught 9th grade English in Washington, DC. She also spent a year living in Mexico to learn Spanish. Natalie loves to cook, enjoys tennis, reading, playing the flute, traveling, spending time with family and friends, embroidery, and going on nature walks.
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Wofford College (Biology)
Catherine Eve chose UNC because she was “thrilled to find a program that provides such strong training in both a community and an academic setting, all while maintaining an emphasis on continuity and preventive care. In addition, everyone I met during my interview day was so genuine in their sense of collaboration. I wanted nothing more than to be a part of this incredibly supportive learning environment!” She loves all things gymnastics and has been a gymnastics coach for the past 11 years! Catherine Eve also loves attending Broadway musicals and plays, and she is one of those crazy people who enjoys early morning workouts!
The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
North Carolina State University (Biology)
Kimberly is an avid golfer – she began learning to play when she was two years old! She and her husband love to go boating and enjoy fishing, and they have two dogs, Finley and Maggie. Kimberly makes a list for absolutely everything and has the goal of running in the Disney Princess half marathon. While on her visiting rotation at UNC, Kimberly fell in love with our program: “Everyone was so welcoming, and the faculty at both UNC and Cone put a huge emphasis on teaching. I thought the Primary Care residency would give me the best training to prepare me to be a general pediatrician.”
Emory University School of Medicine
Washington and Lee University (Neuroscience)
McCauley was raised a TAR HEEL Basketball fan but had never lived in North Carolina…until now! While basketball is a strong draw to Chapel Hill, the real reason she chose UNC was “I genuinely enjoyed meeting the fun, down-to-earth residents who all shared their happiness and love of the program, including and specifically the Primary Care program. I was also drawn to the variety and strength of clinical training sites at UNC and Cone Health. Lastly, living in the Triangle felt like a natural fit for me and my soon-to-be husband, an incoming internal medicine resident—we love to run, take long walks, hike, and recharge outside.” McCauley is currently learning needlepoint as her rainy-day activity.