Dr. Jimmy Truong, a recent graduate of SBH’s five-year
combined emergency medicine/family medicine residency
program, credits hard work and what he learned at
Starbucks for his success.
Jimmy was on the fast track at Starbucks, advancing from
barista to shift supervisor to manager of its Rockefeller
Center store, while simultaneously earning a Master’s
degree in chemistry and later working as an EMT. In
addition to the highlight of once serving a mocha to Jimmy
Fallon and reaping the many benefits Starbucks provides
its employees, he says the experience made him more
confident and outgoing, and a better communicator and
team player. It ultimately convinced him to pursue his dream
of attending medical school and becoming a doctor.
During his residency at SBH, Jimmy scored a number of
both personal and group achievements. He participated
as part of a team that brought SBH victory in the maiden
Bronx Sim Wars (see page 24) and finished in the top 16 in
this year’s SonoGames (a national ultrasound competition).
He published in an emergency medicine journal, wrote grant
applications, and won a national competition run by EMRA
(Emergency Medicine Resident Association) and HippoEM
for an entry he submitted for resident appreciation day on
“why my residency program is the best program.”
He is one of a number of outstanding residents – from as
far away as India and as nearby as Brooklyn, in Jimmy’s
case – who comprise SBH’s 2017 graduating classes.
Some like Dhaval Desai, chief resident, Medicine, was
admittedly “a little scared” coming to the Bronx. He quickly
got over his fears, eventually starting a cricket club that
includes hospital residents and attendings and plays
throughout the metropolitan area. This year, after accepting
a job at SBH, he even bought a house here. Meanwhile,
his co-chief, Muralidhar Idamakanti, liked the experience
so much that this summer his wife started at SBH as a
1st year PGY. The graduating residents featured, as well as
the other 200-plus residents who finished this spring, now
move on to the next chapter in their professional careers.
LACEY BETH ELWYN, DO
RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Chief Resident, Dermatology
HOMETOWN
Chester, Illinois
NEXT STEP
Dermatopathology fellowship,
Larkin Community Hospital,
Miami, FL
LONG TERM PLAN
Private practice (splitting time
between reading slides and general
dermatology patient care)
ABOUT THE RESIDENCY
“It was a well-rounded education
and I really enjoyed it. New York
City is at the heart of dermatology,
the population is very challenging.
The pathology you see here you
won’t see anywhere else. And the
patients are so grateful for your
care. SBH is like a family.”
ABOUT THE RESIDENCY
“It was full of challenges, good
challenges, that I think have
helped make me a better surgeon
in the long run. It’s taught me to
be able to think outside the box, to
be able to deliver effective and safe
patient care.”
ABOUT THE RESIDENCY
“I had been in the Bronx for
rotations [during medical school)
and the chiefs and third and fourth
years I saw were just so smart and
talented and I said I wanted to
one day be those guys. It’s helped
me develop a tool chest for good
patient care.”
ABOUT THE RESIDENCY
“All my fears [of the Bronx] were
gone within a few months. It’s been
a very good experience where you
see many different kinds of patients.
I made a lot of friends here and feel
well prepared to take the next step.”
ALBERT PAVALONIS, DO
RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Chief Resident, Surgery
HOMETOWN
Powhatan, VA
NEXT STEP
Vascular surgery fellowship, NYU
Lutheran Hospital, Brooklyn, NY
LONG TERM PLAN
Return to Virginia as a vascular
surgeon
MICHAEL SMITH, DO
RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Chief Resident, Surgery
HOMETOWN
Scranton, PA
NEXT STEP
Surgical Critical Care, Westchester
Medical Center, Valhalla, NY
LONG TERM PLAN
Don’t have any
DHAVAL DESAI, MD
RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Chief Resident, Medicine
HOMETOWN
Surat, India
NEXT STEP
Critical Care Hospitalist, SBH
Health System, Bronx, NY
LONG TERM PLAN
Possibly do a critical care fellowship
SUMMER 2017
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