Resident Profiles - Tania Babar, MD, PGY-1

Tania Babar, MD

Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine

Choosing a residency stands as one of the most important decisions physicians make in their career. When the time came for me to apply for residency, I had a good idea of the type of internal medicine program I wanted. I needed the opportunity to generate my own research projects, faculty devoted to teaching, a well-balanced clinical experience, and a supportive learning environment. I sought a program that would make me a great internist, and at the same time, lay the foundation for my success in obtaining fellowships. When I started looking at different programs, I realized that I didn't have to go very far – I found everything I could ever ask for at the Cleveland Clinic.

Numerous aspects of this hospital make it the ideal setting for a residency program. Most importantly, it provides its residents resources beyond even my greatest expectations. Its world-renowned faculty and staff value the residents, taking an active role in ensuring our success. They create a positive atmosphere that facilitates education, conducting bedside teaching rounds on a daily basis. Furthermore, they promote independent thinking by encouraging residents to make important clinical decisions early in their training. Eager to act as mentors, they offer residents the chance to join or create research projects. In just my first month at Cleveland Clinic, several faculty members approached me about research opportunities. This atmosphere is what fosters a sense of camaraderie amongst the residents and hospital staff.

Additionally, because of the hospital’s reputation for excellence, it draws the brightest minds in medicine. The hospital consistently ranks among the country’s best, so physicians from around the world seek the opportunity to practice here. It culls staff from many different countries, forming a welcoming environment for people of any background. In addition to treating patients from every state in this nation, we also have the privilege of learning from patients from over 80 countries. During medical school, I noticed that we frequently sent our most complicated patients to Cleveland Clinic, and now that I have experience here, I know why. This hospital has handled every type of ailment, common and uncommon, and the patients here receive exceptional care.

Cleveland Clinic has always stood on the cutting edge of medicine. Its innovative doctors started such famous procedures as human-to-human blood transfusions and coronary bypass surgery. I consider it a privilege to practice medicine here, and I know the skills garnered during these years will set the standard for the rest of my career.