Resident Experience and Testimonials
Resident-led Committees and Activities
We are proud of our resident-led committees, which provide a collaborative and empowering environment for all residents who are eager to lead and influence positive change.
These committees serve as dynamic spaces where residents can voice their ideas, address concerns, and actively participate in decisionmaking processes, directly impacting our program’s function in areas such as education, health equity, and community outreach.
Residency Committee
The Residency Committee is composed of representatives from each PGY level and meets monthly. The Committee is responsible for raising and discussing residency-related issues as well as suggesting improvements.
The committee is co-chaired by PGY-2 and PGY-3 representatives elected each year by the residents. Co-chairs meet with the program leadership each month to discuss issues and solutions, which are then communicated during the Resident Town Hall meeting. They are also voting members of the Internal Medicine Program Evaluation Committee and work closely with our BMC Brighton GME Resident Council Representative.
This Committee embodies our belief in open communication between the residents and the program leadership, who work together to generate ideas and create opportunities that bring many positive changes to the program.
Community Outreach Committee
The Community Outreach Committee is co-chaired by three residents from any PGY level and meets at least monthly. During these meetings, the members of this committee discuss various projects that aim to engage our residents in providing resources or services to our local community. This committee also aims to improve our residents’ understanding of social determinants of health through active participation in fundraising walks, engaging in high school teaching, and other activities in a real-world setting.
Women in Medicine Committee
The Women in Medicine Committee is formed by our dedicated group of female residents who strive to advanced gender equality in medicine. They are committed to empower and support women in all aspects of the medical profession, including primarily postgraduate medical education and healthcare leadership.
Resident Education Committee
The mission of our resident education committee is to enhance the didactic experience for our residents, fostering educational diversity and engagement. They hold regular meetings to plan didactics, medical games, review feedback, and support the education of our rotating medical students.
Health and Wellness Committee
The Health and Wellness Committee was established in 2016. The committee is composed of several members from each postgraduate (PGY) level and is responsible for planning and executing the monthly Wellness conferences and after-work activities as well (see Conferences).
Doctor’s Dilemma Team
BMC Brighton is a proud participant of the American College of Physicians (ACP) Doctor’s Dilemma competition. The team consists of three representatives from the internal medicine residency and competes in the annual ACP Doctor’s Dilemma competition (formerly called the Medical Jeopardy).
The 2019–2020 team won the Massachusetts championship, allowing our program to represent the state of Massachusetts at the national ACP competition. We look forward to competing in the future.
Testimonials
Minh Quang Thuan Tran, PGY‑1 (Preliminary)
“I still remember the first time I visited BMC Brighton. I was immediately impressed by its location in a beautiful, peaceful neighborhood, with convenient access to public transportation. It felt like a place where I could both train and explore this lively and vibrant part of Massachusetts. A few months into training, I have found this program to be a great balance between strong clinical training and personal growth. The program leadership and faculty are approachable, genuinely willing to listen, and always ready to provide guidance, both clinically and professionally.
My transition into residency has been much smoother because of the outstanding support from my co-interns and seniors. Clear expectations at each training level allow interns to develop autonomy while still having strong support when we need it. This creates an environment where patient care remains the priority, questions and uncertainties are welcomed, and challenges become opportunities to learn and improve.
What I value most is the diversity of our community. Learning alongside people from different backgrounds and caring for a diverse patient population creates a rich learning environment, with exposure ranging from bread-and-butter medicine to complex cases at a tertiary care center.
Looking ahead, I have no doubt that BMC Brighton is a place where I can continue to develop as a physician and grow as a person. I would wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone looking for a place where education, support, and camaraderie come together to help residents thrive.”
Tessa Marandola, PGY‑2
“Medical residency is difficult but one of the things that has stood out most to me about the BMC Brighton internal medicine program is the camaraderie among co-residents. Long shifts and tough days are so much more manageable when you know the people beside you have your back and are always around to lend a hand, whether it is for work or not. That sense of team extends beyond just getting through the day—it’s shaped how I think about patient care, knowing I can always turn to a co-resident for a second opinion or just a moment of support.
Training in Boston also means working with an incredibly diverse patient population, which has been invaluable to my growth as a clinician. I’ve cared for patients from dozens of different countries, cultural backgrounds, and socioeconomic circumstances, each bringing their own perspective on health, illness, and what it means to receive good care. That exposure has pushed me to think more carefully about how I communicate and build trust with specific patients rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Beyond the hospital, living in a city like Boston has genuinely improved my quality of life during residency. Having access to great restaurants, museums, parks, and an easy walk or T ride to just about anything makes it much easier to actually unwind. The city itself has a rhythm to it that makes even a demanding residency feel sustainable—there’s always something to look forward to outside the hospital walls, which makes all the difference for staying grounded and avoiding burnout. Overall, it’s been a pleasure to learn and grow with my co-residents and am looking forward to the remainder of my time here, making the most of everything there is to offer.”
Elisabed Batiashvili, PGY‑3
“Prior to coming to Boston, I didn’t know much about our program beyond the standard facts you can look up online and a few bits picked up during interviews. But very soon, by complete chance, I met physicians who had trained here years before me, and the stories they shared, and how highly they spoke of this program, made me genuinely excited for my own training. Three years in, I’m starting to understand what they meant.
Every year at BMC-B, I’ve been challenged and pushed to grow in different and unique ways, and our faculty, colleagues, and the rest of the house staff have watched me adapt, change, and progress. My personal highlight has been our Intensive Care Unit training, where I’ve lived through some of my most difficult days professionally and, at the same time, where most of my wins live. Our faculty’s dedication to teaching and their trust in us gave me so much confidence and appreciation for my own skill that a rotation that used to be nerve-wracking no longer is.
There are multiple attendings from whom I’ve learned valuable, unique ways of practicing medicine that I’ll carry with me for life, and it’s that same academic culture that has let my own love for teaching grow alongside theirs. Our mentors have consistently shown us respect, encouraging us to pursue our own paths even when those choices are unconventional—which has meant more to me than I think they realize.
None of this would mean as much without the friends I’ve made here. My co-residents have been the highlight of this program, and the memories we’ve made together, both in the hospital and outside of it, are what I’ll remember most from residency.
BMC Brighton gave me a program with real history behind it, faculty who trust their residents, and colleagues who became so dear to me. If you're considering this program, know that you’ll leave it not just clinically prepared, but shaped by the people around you.”