Residency Program Alumni

“Hello! I am Michelle Saad, now a pediatric gastroenterology fellow at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Reflecting on my residency training at Driscoll Children’s, I could not be happier with the choice I made to take part in this institution.

As a resident, you will have hands-on experience. I worked with physicians one-on-one in different environments that strengthened me during my journey and gave me more initiative to be inquisitive and operate at a fellow's level. The physicians are very passionate about their patients and aim to improve their health and well-being. The dedication they possess reminded me every day about the impact we have on children's lives.

On a personal level, I could not speak more highly of my residency friends, how diverse and special they all are, and how grateful I am for all the laughter and special moments we shared. In a nutshell, I highly encourage you to apply to Driscoll and become a part of our national and international family. Whether you choose to pursue subspecialty training or primary care, there are plenty of people along the way to help guide you and support you in your decisions.”

Michelle Saad
Class of 2020

“Driscoll Children's Hospital is the backbone of pediatric care in South Texas. It's a referral center for the most complex pediatrics cases in the region. If you are looking for a great education during your training, want to make lifelong friends and strike a healthy work-life balance while becoming the best physician possible—DCH is the place for you.

I chose a non-traditional path and decided to become an anesthesiologist. My program supported me the entire way, helping me achieve my career goals. Also, I love teaching! Students from four Texas medical schools do their pediatric clerkships through our departments and we have very structured didactic time and board preparation which is reflective in our Board passing rates over the last years.

Thank you for considering Driscoll Children's Hospital and the best of luck in your interview trail. Don't forget to look at the pictures of the new Driscoll Pavilion that was opened in July 2020! It's Amazing!”

Zhargal Bimbaev
Class of 2020

“Welcome to Driscoll! As a third-year medical student, I had the opportunity to rotate at DCH and observe many of the features that I love about our program, including the balance of autonomy and guidance that the residents get, the diverse pathology available, and the camaraderie and happiness among the residents. Although I interviewed at other programs in Texas and out of state, Driscoll was easily my first-choice program, and I am happy to have matched here.

At Driscoll, you are given the tools to grow and succeed as a pediatrician. You become very comfortable with general pediatrics and with caring for medically complex patients, as we have a large catchment area. Because there are no fellows, you get to learn directly from the attendings, who are fantastic teachers. In addition, Driscoll’s ABP boards pass rate is superb, an attestation to the quality of our didactics. Your co-residents are a talented bunch and come from all walks of life; we learn from one another and get along wonderfully. Driscoll quickly becomes your second family. And as a native Houstonian, my own family was just a few hours away.

During residency, I was involved in clinical research and had the opportunity to present our work at national and international conferences. Though Driscoll is not a large academic institution, opportunities for research abound; our faculty members are eager to mentor trainees, whether you choose to pursue pediatric primary care or subspecialty training. Through my training at Driscoll, I became a confident and skilled pediatrician, discovered that pediatric nephrology was my calling, and was able to match at my first choice for fellowship training. Currently, I am thriving as a pediatric nephrology fellow at Stanford (Class of 2022) and loving life in the Bay Area.

I hope you consider visiting us and becoming part of the Driscoll Children’s Hospital family!”

Kim Piburn, DO
Class of 2019

“Having read past testimonials about the Driscoll Residency program during my residency search, I immediately thought the experiences shared seemed too good to be true. My first encounter with the Program during my interview however completely changed my perspective as I experienced first-hand what is called the Driscoll way... Friendly smiles that greet you every day, amazing faculty and program directors who appreciate and acknowledge your individual abilities and seek to enhance your potential, and a warm nurturing environment that builds your confidence and helps shape your future career.

As a stand-alone Children’s hospital in South Texas, we get to experience a wide variety of pathologies with a good mix of both bread-and-butter Pediatric cases as well as complex case-report worthy cases. One of my favorite aspects of the program is the fact that because there are no Fellows, you get to act more or less as a Fellow during subspecialty rotations and this enriches the experience in a way that builds confidence for future practice—be it pursuing Primary Care, Hospital Medicine or going into a specific Fellowship.

I also love the protected time for didactics which provides a good balance between clinical work and education. Our excellent ABP board exam pass rate is a testament to this rich educational experience. The program is very family friendly and creates opportunities to form strong relationships that continue beyond the three years. I am definitely thankful for my decision to join the Driscoll family because it indeed is a wonderful family!”

Sharon Antwi-Boasiako, MD
Class of 2019