Chief Residents

Welcome! We are excited that you are considering the University of Virginia Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Training at UVA has been a great experience and has equipped us with the tools to become leaders in medicine. Our program perfectly balances hands-on patient care, dedicated faculty educators, and cutting-edge research opportunities.

As chief residents, we are proud that our program is resident-centered and unequivocally resident-run. From service structures to conference schedules, residents are involved with the design of every aspect of the program.

We look forward to meeting you and introducing you to our residency program during interview season.

Welcome Message from Chief Residents

Chief Residents 2024 - 2025

Thompson Barr, MD

If there is a theme in my bio, it is that I have apparently gravitated towards places with good food which, though unintentional, has been quite enjoyable. I grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, followed by college at the University of Mississippi, where I majored in International Studies with an interest in political science and Latin America. I met my wife, Annie Kate, while working at a summer camp near Chattanooga and, after getting married, settled down in Charleston, South Carolina. While I was studying for the MCAT, applying to medical school, and generally enjoying the beach and great food, I worked as a patient care tech on an inpatient medicine floor and the emergency department at MUSC, where I would go on to completemedical school. I developed my interest in Internal Medicine, and specifically my calling as an Academic Generalist, as I watched my attendings and mentors engage their intellects to thoughtfully approach their patients’ disease processes without forgetting to care for them as fellow human beings. I aspire to do the same in my career.

When I set about looking for a residency, I was interested in finding a training program that would continue to form me as a physician in that vein, where I would be exposed to world class patient care, teaching, mentorship, and research opportunities while also prioritizing resident wellness. It’s no surprise, then, that I ended up at UVA! My interview cycle was the first of the Covid years and, even over Zoom, I was struck on my interview day by the quality of the education, clinical exposure, and research opportunities available here. More than anything, though, I remember that everyone I talked to, from interns to Dr Uthlaut, our PD, exuded a genuine sense of wellness. A culture like that is very difficult to cultivate and is sustained only by intentionality and hard work. After 3 years of training at UVA, I can confirm that everyone puts in the effort to develop a healthy culture and esprit-de-corps. I have received excellent clinical training, wonderful mentorship, and great opportunities to develop myself personally and professionally here, and I am so thankful that I matched here.

Charlottesville has great food, too, so it is clearly fate that I ended up here. There is plenty to do, among them outdoor activities (hiking for me) in town or in the mountains close-by, great restaurants,wineries, and breweries, and fun concerts, all while living in a smaller city where the farthest you drive to get anywhere is 15 minutes. Cville has been a special place for us; my wife and I have made great friends and started a family here. We have 2 young children, Susan (2 years old) and Peter (1 month old), and I will be the first to tell you that our program is among the most family friendly in the country.

If you are looking for a program, I hope you consider Internal Medicine at UVA! I am beyond thankful that I had the opportunity to train here and would love to answer any and all questions you have. Please reach out and see you soon!

MARCUS ELLISON

Marcus Ellison, MD

Hey y’all!! I am originally from Summerville, SC, which is just outside of Charleston, SC where both of my parents were stationed in the Air Force. I got my undergraduate degree at Wofford College, home of the Terriers (we’re tiny but mighty!) which is in Spartanburg, SC. I took a gap year in between undergrad and medical school and worked as a patient care technician on a med/surg floor at Roper Hospital back in Charleston, then stayed in Charleston for even longer for medical school at MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina). I met my wife Echo during my first year of medical school, and she is currently one year below me in the family medicine program here at UVA (she is also completing a chief year and planning to pursue academic family medicine). Outside of work I enjoy basketball, playing music (piano), traveling with my wife to various concerts, wineries, etc.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here in Charlottesville! Prior to residency I didn’t have any connections to Virginia, but after a few months I found what I would now consider life-long friends within the program. In addition to being my friends, the people here have helped me to grow personally and professionally. I acquired my first National Park pass for Shenandoah, and exploring the park and the different hikes has been one of my favorite things to do with my wife. We’ve also been able to check out a few UVA football and basketball games along the way with some of the free tickets Dr. Uthlaut gives to the residents periodically! I’ve also been surprised by the quality and selection of restaurants here, especially given the size of the city. Overall, I’ve found that living in Charlottesville has been both fun and relaxing, and has been the perfect complement to excellent work environment at UVA.

After my chief year, I am looking to pursue a career in academic hospital medicine. I am thankful every day for the opportunity to train here. To any interested applicants out there I hope that you will consider UVA for your training and I’m happy to discuss further how we can help you reach your career goals!

Shaina Hasan, MD

I grew up in in a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona called Chandler, where I quickly learned “it’s a dry heat,” was not a euphemism—cooking eggs directly on the asphalt or baking cookies in the car was a normal summer activity for me. I moved to southern Arizona to attend the University of Arizona for undergrad where I developed an even greater love for the desert landscape and became a very mediocre hiker.

Afterwards, I spent some time doing research at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, and I started to appreciate what it’s like to experience the four seasons. Although I’m biased and will always feel that Arizona has the best sunsets, I am always in awe of how a fall sunset looks in the Shenandoah valley. I met my husband while I was based out of DC, before heading back to Arizona to start medical school at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine as part of their first class in Scottsdale.

When I was applying for residency, I looked into programs back in the DMV and mid-Atlantic area, and UVA quickly came to the top of my list. Even through virtual interviews it was apparent to me how happy the residents were and genuinely enjoyed their experience. Three years later and I can easily say the same for myself, where I not only feel like I received excellent training, but I also look forward to seeing my coresidents daily while exploring all that Charlottesville has to offer (beautiful sunsets included). I have been blessed with a community that I never knew I needed and continuing to work alongside some of the most kind, talented, and compassionate individuals in a program I have grown to love was an easy decision. After chief year, I am planning to pursue a gastroenterology fellowship, and I am very excited to see where life takes us next!

For any potential applicant looking to learn more about our program, we welcome you and hope you consider us as part of your future. Please reach out with any questions, and we are always willing to provide our open and honest opinions for how our program can best help you achieve your career goals.

Kiarash Salafian, MD

I grew up in Santa Barbara, California, a small town nestled between the beach and mountains. I then ventured north to attend college at UC Berkeley (go Bears!), where I met my now wife, Samantha. From there, I attended Wake Forest for medical school (after a brief stop in Philadelphia where I did clinical research during my gap year).

When it came to choosing a residency program, I knew almost instantly that UVA was the ideal fit (even over a Zoom interview day)! I was blown away by the Clinical Medicine Conference (CMC) where it was readily apparent that this was not just an impressive residency program, but also a family who knew and supported one another. I was thrilled to find out I had matched at UVA and was so excited to get started.

Since arriving, UVA has surpassed my highest expectations. I truly believe that the combination of education, clinical training, research, and camaraderie are second to none. Despite the challenges of residency, I have constantly felt supported by my co-residents, faculty, and mentors. The program has also allowed me to maintain a great work-life balance where I have been able to eat at the countless phenomenal restaurants, hike the nearby trails in Shenandoah National Park with my wife, Samantha, and our pug, Daisy, and spend time with my co-residents at breweries and wineries. My co-residents have become some of my closest friends and I could not be more grateful that I matched here.

The culture and esprit-de-corps at UVA are unparalleled and it starts from the top with our PD, Dr. Uthlaut. The faculty are dedicated to our clinical training and both professional and personal development. It is no wonder why so many who train here stay afterwards and become lifelong Hoos!

After chief year, I look forward to pursuing a fellowship in Hematology and Oncology and I know I am extremely well prepared for fellowship after completing my residency here at UVA. Charlottesville has been a wonderful place to call home for the past three years and we look forward to showcasing UVA to you!

We hope you consider joining our family at UVA! Please feel free to reach out with any questions — we are more than happy to provide open and honest answers.