Michael Yeh

Email: myeh@wpahs.org

Medical School:  SUNY at Buffalo

Undergraduate: SUNY at Stoney Brook

Hometown: Jamaica, NY

Brief Narrative: 

One could say that I took the scenic route to medical school and
residency. In college, I initially planned to pursue a career in
marine biology but explored a variety of interests. I did biochemistry
research on the mechanism of marijuana action, and became a critical
care EMT (EMT-CC) with the Stony Brook Volunteer Ambulance Corps. But
soon I fell in love with journalism and its cliched mission, to
"comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable," as they say.

I went on to graduate school for journalism and received a master's
degree with a concentration in new media. I worked as an online news
producer for Newsday.com, where I coordinated multimedia coverage of
breaking news stories for a daily newspaper on Long Island, NY. I also
ventured into broadcast media at "Democracy Now!" with Amy Goodman &
Juan Gonzalez, a daily radio and TV public affairs program.

But my passion for science soon prompted me to seek new adventures by
starting medical school in 2001. After completing my preclinical
courses, I sought a deeper understanding of research methodology by
pursuing graduate study in epidemiology. My goal was to become a
physician-scientist who provides compassionate patient care while
contributing to medical knowledge through clinical investigation. I
took a four-year leave of absence and did research on nutrition and
cancer, while learning about study design, basic statistical analysis,
and evidence-based medicine.

As I returned to my clinical clerkships, I realized that I truly
enjoyed every core rotation. This solidified my conviction to choose a
field of medicine with a broad scope of practice, and the combined
EM/IM program seemed like a perfect choice.

Everyone at Allegheny General has been incredibly supportive and
friendly, and the faculty are very dedicated to teaching. We have a
department full of fun-loving people who not only work hard, but play
hard too! Our patients present with a wide variety of pathology, with
lots of "zebras," as many people travel to AGH from surrounding
communities and neighboring states for tertiary care.

Pittsburgh is a fun place to live, with many opportunities for outdoor
activities. There are many easily accessible bicycle trails that
connect the North Side with other neighborhoods. We also have amazing
museums and a vibrant arts community. One of my favorite ways to
unwind after a long shift is to rent a kayak at the waterfront a few
blocks away and paddle down the Allegheny River.

Interests: 

I enjoy hiking, landscape photography, and urban exploration. There's
also something about railroads, abandoned factories, and gritty
industrial landscapes that I find charming and photogenic! I also love
cooking and trying new ethnic recipes.

On the academic side, I am interested in international public health
and tropical medicine, as well as addiction medicine and drug policy.
Someday I would like to draw on my background in journalism to write
about medical topics for a lay audience.