Internal Medicine

Welcome from the Chiefs

Welcome! We're glad you're interested in the Med-Peds program at UK. Let us show you what we're all about! We both have thoroughly enjoyed our time at UK for many reasons.

Choosing your residency is a complicated process.  Most of us look for educational opportunities, a livable community, and, perhaps most importantly, a group of people we can work around for 80 hours a week and still come away happy.  We believe our residents are our program's best asset.  At UK, we have a program with a true sense of camaraderie that makes our time spent together fun, and makes the inevitable challenging days that will come during any residency much more bearable.  If you choose to visit our program, you will see that we really are a group of friends, almost family.  The sense of pride we feel in our program and in our fellow residents is obvious, and is reinforced by the respect we experience from other programs within the hospital.

UK Med Peds has a rich tradition of producing diverse clinicians – those who continue in academics, choose to pursue subspecialty training, or become respected community practitioners.  Our graduates are well known throughout the community and the hospital for their personalities and critical thinking abilities. This is emphasized by a strong Med-Peds faculty presence in general Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, as well as the respective subspecialties.  In fact, both the current categorical medicine and pediatrics residency program directors are Med-Peds trained.  We are fortunate to have Dr. Curtis Cary as our current Med-Peds program director.  Dr. Chris Feddock remains a very actively involved assistant program director after his promotion to leadership of the categorical Internal Medicine program.  This year has also seen the appointment of Dr. Jenna Ross (Med-Peds trained at VCU) to be the Pediatrics residency program director. While we can't claim that we trained Dr. Ross in house as we claim the two above, she remains well attuned to the particular needs of Med-Peds residents.  In addition to the program leadership, we have a large number of active Med-Peds trained generalists as well as subspecialists practicing both adult and pediatric medicine.  We have found it very valuable to specifically train under so many faculty who really understand our goals and perspective.

We also spend plenty of time together outside of the hospital.  We have yearly spring and fall parties to celebrate the switch from medicine to pediatrics, as well as monthly journal clubs where residents, students, and faculty gather to eat and discuss a relevant topic in adult and pediatric medicine.  In addition to these, we always seem to come up with several other random improvised gatherings throughout the year.   

Finally, the last factor that attracted us to UK was the location. Lexington is beautiful.  There is plenty to do with few big city hassles. You may have heard we play a little basketball at the University of Kentucky, and for a small fee, residents are able to join the student ticket lottery for all the UK basketball games.  Live horse racing at Keeneland happens every spring and fall.  An annual outing is organized by the Internal Medicine department for those who have never been to the track. There is no more beautiful setting to watch a horse race in this country than Keeneland. Outdoor activities abound in the surrounding area including hiking, rock climbing, and white water rafting.  All are easily accessible day trips from the city.  The Lexington music scene has been developing for years and with the continuation of Thursday Night Live downtown as well as numerous small venues and park concert series.  

We have both truly enjoyed our time here and would definitely make the same choice if in your position. Please feel free to email us if there is anything else we can tell you about the program.  We look forward to meeting you when you visit!

Cordially,

Amanda Smith, MD & Mark Wurth, MD

mawurt0@uky.edu
amandasmith@uky.edu