Ask Andy

First off, congratulations to the newly matched residents who will be joining us at UCSF! We’re so excited to welcome you this summer. Enjoy these last few weeks of medical school, you deserve to relax and celebrate after all your hard work getting to this point. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your new co-residents and senior residents as you think about housing, moving logistics, or anything else we can help with.

Welcome to the Bay Area

I have good news for everyone joining us: it is very easy to have a fantastic day off during residency here. San Francisco makes this simple; you are never far from something beautiful, relaxing, or fun. Especially when the work picks up and stress starts to build, this accessibility becomes one of the best parts of living here.

Starting the day with exercise

One recent day off stands out. It was a cheery, sunny Saturday, when I awoke luxuriously without an alarm clock and made some breakfast and tea at home. My partner and I headed over to the Parnassus Millberry Fitness Center for their weekly badminton open gym. The games are fast-paced and intense, and it doesn’t take long to work up a sweat chasing down smashes and trying (unsuccessfully) to keep up with some of the regulars who seem like they must have played competitively at some point.

Mini road trip

We had picked this day to show our friends how to go mussel picking for their first time because low tide fell at just the right time in the afternoon. Picking mussels is something we discovered when we moved here and now love doing. On our way down to Half Moon Bay, we made a necessary stop at In-N-Out, still my favorite burger and, honestly one of the many reasons I was excited to come out West. We also briefly considered the Taco Bell in Pacifica (famously one of the most scenic in the world). 

Sun, sand and sea(food)!

Arriving at Mavericks Beach, it doesn’t look like much from the street, but once you walk along the rocky shoreline towards the headland, the landscape opens up into a panoramic view of the coast, where the misty horizon blends into the ocean in the distance. At low tide, the jagged rocks give way to tidepools filled with sea life, and suddenly the whole place feels alive. We spent the afternoon picking mussels, timing the waves to avoid getting splashed, and having an unforgettable time laughing together in the cold air and saltwater. 

We brought everything back to a friend’s place and cooked the mussels, steaming them in a garlic white wine broth. The meal was particularly satisfying knowing we not only prepared the food, but also found it ourselves. As the evening went on, there may or may not have been some karaoke involved.

It felt like a true reset, going somewhere only a short drive away but experiencing something that felt like a full vacation. It’s days like these, so easily accessible here, that help me recharge and come back the next day ready to give my very best.

When the GME team first reached out to ask whether I would be interested in writing an "Ask Andy" column for fellow trainees, I was hesitant. What exactly could I offer? I am surrounded by so many extraordinary co-residents at UCSF, people whose intelligence and clinical acumen continually impress me, whose research pushes the boundaries of their fields, and whose character and empathy shape the way they care for patients.

The idea of positioning myself as someone with “advice” felt uncomfortable.

But, perhaps, if I do not have sage wisdom to dispense, I can at least offer something more honest: reflections from someone still very much in the process of becoming a better resident, a better physician, a better colleague.

So, who’s Andy?

I am currently a third-year neurology resident at UCSF. We may have crossed paths, perhaps with me as a (hopefully) friendly consultant, or as someone reaching out for your expertise.

I was born in Taiwan before my parents whisked our family away to Canada in search of opportunity. I spent my early years in that snowy wonderland before we eventually returned to Taiwan, where I found myself navigating life as a third-culture kid, reconnecting with an identity that was supposed to feel familiar but initially felt foreign. Over time, I rediscovered my roots and even picked up enough Mandarin to become certified to use with patients.

After that, I spent a formative and fantastic decade in Boston for college and medical school before finally making my way west to UCSF.

This year, I had the privilege of helping with our department’s residency recruitment efforts as one of the chiefs. Sitting on the other side of the table was eye-opening. The applicants were energizing, their accomplishments staggering, and their aspirations bold.

More than once, I caught myself thinking: How did I ever manage to match here?

Applicants asked many of the same questions I once asked:

• What is the culture like?
• Will I find mentorship?
• Will I belong here?

This interview season reminded me of why I love being at UCSF. This is a place of growth and belonging--somewhere you truly could stay forever.

Match Day is quickly approaching on March 20. I am so excited to see where this year’s applicants land, and I hope many will choose to join us here at UCSF. Please reach out and welcome our incoming colleagues into this community that has been such an important part of our lives.

As we begin this column, I would love to hear from you.

• What questions do you have?
• What challenges are you navigating?
• What topics would be helpful to explore together?

If this column becomes anything worthwhile, I hope it will not be because one resident has all the answers, but, rather, because we are all in the process of becoming better together.

Looking forward to the conversation.

Andy