PGY-1 | PGY-2 | PGY-3 | PGY-4
Post Graduate Year 2 Residents (PGY-2)
Laura A. Copeland, MD
Email: lcopeland2@ghs.org
Education: Drury University, Springfield MO, BA 2007
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, MD 2011
Leadership and Awards:
Wisconsin Medical Society Fellowship in Government and Community Service
Christian Medical Association--MCW chapter president
Interests in Medicine:
Urban medicine, rural medicine, international medicine (i.e., serving underserved, resource-poor patient populations)
Career Plans:
Be the best doctor I can be, really care for my patients, and who knows where that will next take me?
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds?
As I finished up my interviews, friends and family kept asking if there were any programs that really stood out? Greenville. From the innovation in prep for peds boards to the responsiveness of the program, hospital system, and leadership to resident needs and work hour changes, I was quickly impressed with the real commitment to resident education that is embraced at GHS. Among the med-peds residents, it was easy to talk, get to know them, and imagine working alongside them as colleagues and friends. There is a strong spirit of collaboration and comaraderie, in addition to compassion for patients and commitment to education, and I am honored to join their ranks.
One of the hardest--but maybe most important-- things about choosing a program is trying to discern its true character. Standing out in my memory is my interview with Dr. Tom Philip, an internal medicine hospitalist. We talked about medicine as a calling of service to mankind. I appreciated his enthusiasm for recognizing and caring for the patient as a whole person, and his assurances that this holistic spirit of medicine is common at GHS. I sincerely long to be a physician who cares for whole persons, rather than just diseases and disorders. I couldn't choose a better environment in which to work and train than one where others strive for the same.
Residency is hard wherever you go, but the biggest variable is in the kind of support you have around you as you train. It is actually hard to imagine a more supportive environment. From a hospital system that is committed to its residents, program leadership invested in each person, and fellow med-peds residents who are almost overwhelming in their genuine interest and willingness to help... that support is here. And it has made all the difference to me.
Samuel J. Holdiness, MD
Email: sholdiness@ghs.org
Education:
Undergraduate – University of Mississippi, BS, 2007
Medical Degree – University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2011
Leadership and Awards: Gold Humanism Honor Society, MS State Medical Association Student Board Member, 2009-2011
Interest in Medicine: primary care, adolescent medicine, rural medicine
Career Plans: private primary care practice in underserved communities
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds?
I first heard about Greenville through one of my upper levels on medicine wards which led me to explore the program further. I was very impressed with the Med-Peds website, so I visited for an elective month during my fourth year. I fell in love with Greenville; the people, town, and atmosphere here are wonderful. The residents are great, the staff love teaching, and Russ and Kelli do everything they can to make you feel at home. The program here is strong and is fully accepted by both categorical sides. There is a great mix of residents who enjoy spending time together outside of the hospital, and I felt like this is where I belonged. It is a great place for a med-peds physician to train. It is the perfect blend of academics in a community setting. If anyone is considering visiting or interviewing at GHS, please don’t hesitate to email me. I would love to answer any questions you may have.
Kelly J. Kays, MD
Email: kkays@ghs.org
Hometown: Bardstown, KY
Education: Georgetown College, B.S. 2007; University of Louisville, M.D. 2011
Leadership:
GLOH free clinic student director
Walking Works pediatric obesity program child advocate
Interests in Medicine:
International medicine, primary care
Career Plans: undecided
Why I chose Greenville for Med-Peds:
As I embarked on the interview trail as a fourth year student, I had in mind a solid list of essentials I was looking for in a residency. This included a dedicated program director with a strong vision for the program, an administration that enthusiastically supported their house staff, a tight-knit group of residents with whom I would enjoy working, and a great place to live. I found all of this and more at GHS! I was so pleased by the academic culture that is very much present in this “combined” community/university program. The friendliness of all of the residents and staff is unmistakable, and Greenville itself has so much to offer. Now, as a new intern, I am thrilled with my med-peds cohort, and have found that all the great things I heard about GHS during the interview process were true. This is a great place to live and train, and I am looking forward to the next 4 years.
Senthuran "Sen" Ravindran, MD
Email: sravindran@ghs.org
Hometown: Shallotte, NC
Education:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – BS Biology (Go Heels!)
East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine
Leadership and Awards:
Annual Brody School of Medicine Student Award (2010, 2011) – Selected by classmates, recognizing student service and class advocacy
2012 Lily M. and G.D. Jackson Award - Presented to three most outstanding interns across the entire Greenville Health System
Interests within Medicine:
Primary care, preventative medicine, community and international medical outreach, academic medicine, transitional care
Career Plans:
Most likely, primary care med-peds with frequent community outreach projects and annual short term medical missions. After accruing clinical experience, I would love to pursue academic medicine.
Why I chose to come to Greenville for Med-Peds:
GHS Med-Peds far exceeded the three criteria I was looking for in a program – a great team, a fun place to work and live, and balanced, rigorous med-peds training. The program coordinator, program director, and residents are so affable and fun! My interview with the program director here was unbelievable. The interview topics somehow shifted to the hip-hop band, “The Roots,” the local music scene, and UNC basketball. He also plays basketball with the residents! As for location, Greenville’s beautiful with an amazing, award-winning downtown area with great dining, nightlife and concerts, and a remarkable pedestrian suspension bridge (you’ve got to see this)! The hospital itself is stunning with floors encircling a central atrium and an open food court which has a Chic-Fil-a, Subway and Starbucks! The med-peds training here is excellent with approachable, friendly faculty who love to teach. With my interest in academic medicine, I’m excited that this community program will soon transition to be an official academic institution after the launch of the Greenville site of the USC Medical School. Feel free to email me with questions!
Jill M. Sullivan, MD, PhD
Email: jsullivan@ghs.org
Hometown: Reading, PA
Education:
Undergraduate: Coastal Carolina University, BS biology and marine science
Graduate: East Carolina University, PhD microbiology and immunology
Postdoctoral: Duke University, Tisch Brain Tumor Center
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Leadership and Awards:
Greenville Health System, Outstanding Student in Family Medicine Award 2011
American Society of Clinical Pathology Medical Student Award 2009
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Independent Learning Award 2008 for the paper entitled, “Role of the Primary Care Physician in Prevention of Comorbidity in Adult Survivors of Pediatric Cancer”
Greenville Health System LCME Education Self-Study Committee Member
Interests within Medicine:
transitional medicine, clinical/translational research, hematology/oncology
Career Plans:
hematology/oncology fellowship with a focus on adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients and continuity of care for adult survivors of pediatric cancer
Why I chose to come to Greenville for Med-Peds:
I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to complete my final two years of medical school in the GHS system. During this time, I was truly impressed with the quality of teaching, support and enthusiasm displayed by the med-peds residents and attendings, as well as the cohesiveness with their categorical counterparts. While training at GHS has been regarded, in the past, as a community-based approach, GHS as a flagship health system and burgeoning medical school campus is acquiring qualities of larger academic training facilities. In this regard, I feel I am getting the best of both training philosophies and am encouraged by the opportunity to impact the next generation of medical professionals and the quality of health care in South Carolina. Additionally, the quality of life in Greenville is fantastic. It has a vibrant downtown with theater, sports venues, and countless outdoor dining spots all within walking distance of each other; it is also home to 5 Fortune 500 companies which is attractive when relocating the family for your training. Lastly, for those of us who like to spend our time off away from the hospital, there is a large park system with 35+ miles of safe running and biking trails, a beautiful zoo, and countless places to visit within a 2-hour car ride.
Main Med-Peds Page