A Welcome From the Chief Residents

Welcome to the University of Cincinnati! As chief residents of the internal medicine program, we are thrilled that you are considering joining our UC family. We encourage you to explore this website, as well as our resident-run site The Silver Fridge, to learn more about life as an internal medicine resident at UC. We all loved our time as residents at UC so much that we decided to stay another year as chiefs! These are (some of) our favorite things about the program:

Hannah Dempsey MD

I grew up just outside of Chicago and attended Indiana University for medical school, so I consider myself a Midwesterner at heart. Cincinnati has been the perfect fit for me, offering the opportunities of a city while maintaining the welcoming feel of a hometown. The University of Cincinnati has truly made Cincinnati feel like home. I have enjoyed opportunities to get involved in curriculum, quality improvement, research, and social events while building meaningful relationships with my co-residents and colleagues. What makes UC especially rewarding is the combination of strong clinical education and a culture focused on growth. Our comprehensive ResDash evaluations provide meaningful, longitudinal feedback that helps residents identify strengths, set goals, and continually improve. Caring for a complex patient population in an underserved community also creates invaluable learning opportunities and challenges us to become thoughtful, adaptable physicians. Outside the hospital, I enjoy exploring Cincinnati with friends and finding a new favorite coffee shop or brewery. I ultimately chose to stay at UC because of its deep commitment to medical education, continuous growth, and creating positive change.

Sarah Hoseus MD

What makes UC so special to me is the way it combines exceptional clinical training with a genuine commitment to its residents and to medical education. Throughout my time at UC, I have always felt that residents are at the center of the program. Our voices matter, our feedback is valued, and the program is constantly looking for ways to improve how we teach, learn, and care for our patients. I was challenged to grow clinically, but I never did it alone. You work alongside supportive faculty who are invested in your learning and success. What I have come to value most about UC, though, is the people. There is a sense of collaboration and community here that is difficult to fully appreciate until you experience it yourself. My co-residents became like family and are the people I turned to on the hard days and the times to celebrate. Now as chief, I am excited to continue to foster a supportive, inclusive learning environment that prioritizes residents' learning and success. Overall, if I were choosing a residency program again, I would choose UC without a doubt.

Clara Mao MD

I feel lucky to have trained at UC for residency, where I found a program that centers growth, kindness, and collaboration. In my time here, I formed lifelong friendships with my co-residents and worked with mentors who have shaped my journey as a clinician. Being a chief has given me an opportunity to collaborate closely with program leadership to support our residents, provide exceptional patient care, and advance medical education.

Joshua Musalia MD

I knew after my interview day that this was where I wanted to train. What sold me was how seriously this program takes growth mindset, the shared expectation that we all get a little better every day. Three years in, that held up. My co-residents made me a better physician and a better person, and our faculty gave me training I'd stack against anywhere. My wife and I were young parents at the beginning of residency, and I felt supported at every step. I also fell in love with the city.  The people are warm in a way that surprised me, and I get to care for a patient population that looks like me. The food scene is excellent, and with a young, growing family, there's no shortage of free and cheap things to do with a young family, and the cost of living means you can enjoy them.  I graduated in June 2026, and I'm honored to keep serving here as one of the VA Chief Residents for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety. I would gladly choose UC all over again for residency!

Billy Phillips DO

Cincinnati has always been home, and I have been fortunate to come back home after undergraduate and medical school training. What drew me to Cincinnati was the sense of comradery among the residents that I saw during my interview, as well as the program’s emphasis on medical education and a growth mindset. UC has exceeded my expectations, especially because of the leadership and people. Throughout residency, I felt supported by my chiefs and attendings while being continually challenged to improve as a physician, educator, and leader. The program has it all; from complex clinical cases to didactics and half days, research, and mentorship. You will be challenged during residency, but you will also be supported throughout your growth. But most importantly, what made my residency experience so meaningful were the people I trained alongside. I will never forget the post-nights brunches, gym-sessions, and movie nights with my fellow residents. I am incredibly grateful to have completed my training alongside colleagues who became close friends and am excited to give back to the program as a chief resident.

Abigail Wilmer DO

It has been a privilege to grow as a physician, educator, and leader at UC—a program dedicated to clinical excellence, medical education, community, patient-centeredness, and improving the systems in which we work and care for patients. The most prominent features of our program include collaboration and a shared commitment to growth. Every resident has a voice and is encouraged to participate in improvement efforts. Due to the collaborative nature of our program, most changes in our residency are co-produced by residents, chief residents, and leadership. Similarly, every resident has a team of peers, faculty, and mentors committed to their personal growth. As a chief resident, it is an honor to continue to foster a supportive environment, advance medical education, and contribute to the community that has invested so much in my professional development.

Brandon Zaffuto MD

As a residency applicant, UC impressed me as a program that was not only forward-thinking but also forward-moving. I was attracted to the idea of a growth mindset and the sense of community forged from years of programmatic self-assessment and purposeful (almost relentless) effort towards improvement and innovation. As a resident, my initial impressions evolved into a sense of deep pride in our institution and gratitude for the friends, mentors, and coaches that left me inspired to flourish in the rugged residency training environment. Becoming a chief gave me the opportunity to learn from exceptional medical educators and, in turn, invest in the trainees of the future. Ultimately, I hope to carry forward the culture that first drew me to UC: one that is never satisfied with standing still, but continually seeks new ways to grow, innovate, and better serve the people within it.