Family Medicine Department of the University of Virginia

 Resident Class of 2005

Jennifer McLean, MD
 George Washington University

I grew up in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains in rural Massachusetts, surrounded by a large extended family. Desiring an escape from the small town life, I went to Clark University in nearby Worcester, Massachusetts for undergrad and graduated without ever considering medical school. After various jobs as a bakery manager, nanny, veterinary assistant, waitress and chemistry teacher, I returned (penniless) to Worcester and took the first job I could find...as a counselor at a GYN clinic for uninsured women.  I loved it!! 

Two years, later, I started medical school at George Washington University in D.C. Throughout medical school, I developed a strong interest in delivering health care to the underserved and joined the National Health Service Corps.

UVA was my first interview for residency and became the program that I compared all others to along the interview trail. From the beginning, I was very impressed by the sense of community among faculty and residents!! I was also drawn to the quality of teaching and the variety of clinical experiences (academic here at UVA and community based rural opportunities elsewhere). 

And Charlottesville is a fun place to be!! Lots of restaurants, excellent nearby hiking trails, beautiful weather and NO beltway traffic!! I felt that I was surrounded by a department that would encourage me both to grow professionally and allow me the time to do the things I enjoyed outside of medicine (hiking, kickboxing, and spending time with my husband Nate).

Best of luck as you begin the search for a residency program!