Hi there….welcome to the exciting and confusing reality of applying for internship and residency. My name is Mike Gurian and I’m here to tell you that you can get into your top programs this year with nothing other than your strong application that got you an interview and by being yourself on interview day, it’s that easy. And if you’re here at Memorial interviewing for a position in the Transitional Program, you’re already that much closer to being involved in an amazing program that is unlike any internship program around the country. Let me first tell you a little bit about my background…

I grew up in West Caldwell, New Jersey, about 30 minutes outside of NYC, and moved on to the University of Rochester where I graduated with a degree in Public Health Policy. Prior to starting my internship at Memorial, I attended UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ, where I discovered that I was best suited for a career in Diagnostic Radiology. After flirting with the notion of leaving my entire life behind and moving to Hawaii or Miami, I came to realize that NYC was the only place I wanted to live, work, and play for the next five years of my life. I am thrilled to have been chosen to start my medical career as an intern at Memorial and look forward to starting my training next year as a Radiology resident at Cornell.

It was clear to me after my interview day at Memorial that it would be my top choice for internship for many reasons. The name alone brings with it the integrity and respect of the international medical community and as an intern you will have the opportunity to work with faculty that are the most well-known and gifted physicians in their field. After having visited over 30 hospitals during my interview season, Memorial has the most sophisticated computer order system and patient database that I have ever come across. One central database controls every aspect of a patient’s hospital stay and you will never have to wonder when a result becomes available by checking multiple times throughout the day, due to a unique flagging system. The ancillary staff is unbelievable and are always on top of their patients’ delicate needs, you will not have to wonder if your orders are being followed. Lastly, Memorial has the best housing in the city!! The rent is cheap and is taken out of your paycheck pre-tax…..I paid more to live in suburban NJ per month last year than I do to live on the Upper East Side this year. There’s so much more to discuss and I look forward to elaborating more when I meet each of you on interview day.

So relax, enjoy your fourth year of medical school, and remember that you’ve already accomplished so much by being offered an interview that it’s really up to you to decide where you would like to begin your career as a doctor.