Dale Shepard , MD
Cleveland Clinic
Hematology/Oncology Fellow

Medical School: Ohio State University

Dale Shepard, MD

I chose the Internal Medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic after spending three years here as a medical student in a collaborative arrangement with Ohio State University, completed my residency, and am now a second year Hematology/Medical Oncology fellow. The strength of an internal medicine program and an institution rests on the combined strengths of the individual programs and the level of interaction between the medical and surgical subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic has numerous nationally and internationally recognized medical and surgical subspecialties. Throughout my time as a medical student, resident, and now as a fellow, I have found the attendings, who are often leaders in their fields, to be accessible to discuss clinical management of patients or to explain an important principle. There is a research requirement as a component of the residency program and these same physicians are also very accommodating with project. It is no accident that the residents from this program are very actively involved in research and have a tremendous publication record, including first author papers in The New England Journal of Medicine. I was able to publish my research and present at a national meeting. The ability to interact with such high caliber physicians on a regular basis is also invaluable for residents as they decide on subspecialties and for assistance with the fellowship application process.

During my time as a resident, I had the opportunity to give dozens of tours to residency applicants. The Cleveland Clinic was sometimes perceived, initially, as a surgical hospital with too many fellows. The Cleveland Clinic is, without question, a leader in surgical innovation and there are certainly many of us here as fellows, but this provides a very rich opportunity for internal medicine residents. It is very uncommon that a patient comes to the Cleveland Clinic, even for surgery, without many associated medical problems, some of them very unique. This provides a wealth of clinical opportunities for internal medicine residents who see these patients in outpatient clinics or in the hospital, often with specialists who are among the best in their fields. Many of my most interesting patients were ones that came to the Clinic for surgery. The surgical strength of the hospital becomes an opportunity to see a vast array of diseases. The number of fellows here at Cleveland Clinic points to the strength of the medical subspecialties. Residents are given every opportunity to manage patients in the hospital and do procedures, but have the fellows for support and to provide additional teaching.

One of the things I like best about the Cleveland Clinic is that it is in Cleveland. Cleveland is a great city to live in during training. There is a very low cost of living, the people are friendly, and there are plenty of things to do and see. I had 2 of my 6 children while a resident and I find this a great place to live. There are major league sports, a world class orchestra, and an extensive park system. I have been a member of the House Staff Association for 4 years and we work hard to organize activities for residents.

In brief, the Cleveland Clinic is a great place to do your internal medicine training.