PL2 Pediatric Residents
Jared H. Barkes
Brody School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him
Hi everyone, my name is Jared Barkes and I am one of the child neurology residents at UVA! I was born in the small town of Wilson, NC but grew up in Apex, NC, outside of Raleigh. I attended college at UNC Chapel Hill where I majored in Mathematics and Biochemistry before going to medical school at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine.
Raised in a family of teachers, I have always had a passion for teaching and working with children. Heading into medical school, I knew I wanted to become a pediatrician and medical educator. I decided to pursue a career in child neurology because of the impact my father’s epilepsy has had on my family’s life.
I knew I wanted to find a training program that offered both an outstanding general pediatrics program as well as great child neurology training. While doing a rotation at UVA as a medical student, I was struck by its commitment to excellent patient care, resident education, and service. The learning environment at UVA is truly one of a kind! My partner, Catherine (a UVA family medicine resident), and I are excited to explore all that UVA and Charlottesville have to offer. I hope you will fall in love with the area and program as much as I have! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions.
Lena Bichell
UVA School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her
Hi! Welcome to Charlottesville and UVA Peds. My name is Lena Bichell and I’m a UVA Peds superfan. I grew up moving around the country but consider Nashville, TN, and La Jolla, CA, home. I studied Environmental Biology at Georgetown University and, after soul searching and trying out a myriad of careers (ask me about studying wild bottlenose dolphins in Australia, management consulting in DC, and ski bumming in Jackson Hole), decided it was medical school for me. Next came a post-bac year then a year as a research fellow at the NIH Clinical Center. I came to Charlottesville for medical school at UVA and loved it so much that I had to stay.
I had an inkling I’d go into Pediatrics but my third-year rotation in the UVA Pediatrics department sealed the deal. The residents were all so mutually supportive and cared as much about each other as their patients. The attendings and residents alike clearly wanted every trainee — from medical students through to fellows — to succeed and took the time to help us learn what we needed to learn. I am thrilled to now pay it forward to the next cohort of students. I’m not sure whether I will specialize or in what but I know that I will get exposure to everything I could imagine as a UVA Pediatrics resident.
Outside of the hospital, I love running, biking, hiking, walking my dog, Jolene, along the Rivanna River, and trying out new restaurants with my husband, Chris. Charlottesville is unique in that you can just as easily go on a world-class hike, attend a concert, browse a local thrift store, or sip vino at a nearby winery. There is really something for everyone here and it’s all so accessible! I wish you the best on your residency path and would love to answer any questions you may have. Good luck!
Julie Evans
University of Vermont
Hi, I’m Julie. I’m from Acworth, Georgia – so basically Atlanta. In undergrad,
I studied microbiology at the University of Georgia (go dawgs). I then headed up to Vermont for medical school at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont. While in Vermont, I got to experience a lot of winter and ski for the first time ever. It took a while but I made the best decision to become a pediatrician. For residency, the only thing I was certain I wanted from a program was a highly supportive, educational, and friendly environment. UVA was my first interview of the season and wow was the bar set high! No one beat it and I could not be happier to be a part of UVA pediatrics! Even though virtual interviews can be a little weird, I could feel the warmth, support, and genuine friendship between the residents. I knew that these were the people I’d want to work all night and spend holidays with. The educational opportunities and diverse patient population are just the icing on the cake!
Since we’re on the topic of cake, outside of work I love to bake, run, hike (Shenandoah is right down the road and absolutely beautiful), read, and hug my cat, Eloise. With the help of my co-residents, I’m discovering how much Charlottesville has to offer, like floating down rivers, so many restaurants, and Fridays after 5. Good luck in your search, and if you have questions about UVA Pediatrics please feel free to reach out!
Nicole Gardner
East Tennessee State University
Hi everyone! My name is Nicole! I was born and raised in the great state of Tennessee, right outside of Nashville, in a town called Murfreesboro. I went to undergrad at the University of Alabama (roll tide!) where I studied Biology and Psychology. At Alabama, I also ran cross country and track and field. For medical school, I headed back to Tennessee where I attended East Tennessee State University. There, I fell in love with Appalachia and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. I knew I wanted to stay relatively close to this region for residency, which is one of the many reasons I picked UVA. Currently, I am interested in inpatient Pediatrics, potentially Hospital Medicine or Critical Care, but am excited to explore all of my options over the next three years.
Outside of medicine, I love to run, hike, bike, and do basically anything the outdoors has to offer. Charlottesville has a 21-mile loop called the Rivanna Trail that is super easy to access from basically anywhere in the town. There are more trails a little further away, including the Appalachian Trail and Shenandoah National Park, which are both less than an hour away.
I have only lived here one month and Charlottesville already feels like home. This town has so much to do, especially considering its small size. There is always a run club or karaoke night or farmer’s market to attend. Not to mention the unfettered access to all things outdoors! I have been blown away by how fun and accessible this town is. If you are interested in UVA, even just a little, I hope you have a chance to check it out! Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions at all! I hope to meet some of you and best of luck with the interviews!
Victoria Giammattei
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/her
Hi, I’m Victoria! I was born in El Salvador, grew up in Florida, and moved to North Carolina during high school. I went to UNC-Chapel Hill for undergrad (go Heels!) and Wake Forest for med school. It only made sense to continue my journey through the ACC and come to UVA for residency! I took three years before med school completing a post-baccalaureate program, doing research in pediatric nephrology, and interning at a pediatric weight management clinic which cemented my desire to pursue pediatrics. When picking a residency program, I knew that if I were to move away from my family and friends I wanted a program that could be that surrogate family. Even in the virtual setting, I felt the passion and support from everyone at UVA that I spoke to. And as one of my first interviews, I found myself comparing all the rest to UVA. So even without ever visiting, I knew Charlottesville was the place for me!
In my free time I love getting outside and being active with my dog, but I will also never say no to staying in and bingeing some Netflix. I love trying new restaurants and you will definitely find me cheering on the Heels during basketball season. I am so excited to explore all of what Charlottesville has to offer! Please feel free to reach out with any questions and I wish you all the best on the interview trail.
Erica Licari
SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
Hey everyone! I am so excited that you are interested in UVA pediatrics! My name is Erica and I am from Long Island, New York! For undergrad, I attended The University of Scranton in Pennsylvania (majoring in biology and philosophy) and played on the women’s soccer team. I then returned to NY to attend medical school at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in New York City.
While researching programs to apply to for residency, I was immediately impressed by the excellent academics offered at UVA, the immense amount of resources provided to residents during their training, and, of course, the beautiful location of Charlottesville, VA! During my interview day, I could really tell that the program had fostered a wonderful work environment in which residents, attendings, and staff all supported each other and genuinely valued their relationships with one another. And with all of this in mind, I had a feeling that UVA would be an amazing fit for me!
My fiancé and I already absolutely love living in Charlottesville so far! There are so many beautiful vineyards, hiking trails, and golf courses close by, and the Downtown Mall and local breweries are always having fun events going on as well! Thank you for your interest in UVA, and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
Lucy Merriam
University of Vermont
She/her
Hey everyone, welcome to UVA! Before applying for residency, I had never been to Virginia. I grew up in the green mountain of Vermont and attended undergrad and Medical School at the University of Vermont. I love my home state, but I wanted to use my time in residency to explore a new place. When I was applying to residency programs, I followed the Appalachian trail south along the map and looked for programs that were close to the mountains. I found UVA. I loved that it had easy access to the outdoors and was a small vibrant city. I researched the program and really liked the size and focus on advocacy. For me working to create a medical system in which everyone feels welcome and respected is what gets me out of bed in the morning. I wanted to find a program that did not just share these values but actively worked to make them a reality. During the resident happy hour and interview day I really appreciated how kind and enthusiastic everyone was. Residency is really challenging, and I wanted an environment where we build each other up and support one another. The moment I arrived in Charlottesville residents were reaching out, inviting me to events and introducing me to the community. My co-interns already feel like family, and I am so excited to have them with me on this journey.
In my free time I love to listen to audiobooks, do puzzles, facetime with friends and family, go to the farmers market, and explore outside. I love animals and if I did not pursue medicine, I likely would have a job training dogs or working on a farm. I have a black lab mix named Bluebelle who I adopted when she was 7 months. When I have a tough day, she can always put a smile on my face.
My advice to medical students is to really be yourself in interviews and to remember that you are interviewing the program as well. You want to find the program that is best for you. Cheers, and I look forward to meeting you!
Anastasia Mosby
University of Mississippi
Hey y’all, I’m Anastasia Mosby! I was born and raised in the city best known for soul music and BBQ: Memphis, TN. I attended Mississippi State for college and majored in Kinesiology. I then continued my education at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, Mississippi. My hobbies include watching SEC sports, eating Charcuterie boards, and adventuring with my dog, Maddie!
During interview season, I was looking for a program that would feel like family. UVA immediately stood out to me in that respect. During the interview social, the residents were welcoming and I knew they were close friends from their goofy and genuine conversations. During my interview, I quickly learned how supportive the staff is of residents and their individual needs. I knew it would be a fantastic place to train and become a well-rounded Pediatrician!
Abra Roberts
Virginia Tech Carillion School of Medicine
“Hi everyone!
Welcome to UVA Pediatrics! My name is Abra Roberts and I grew up in New England on the Massachusetts/ New Hampshire seacoast! I went to Boston University for undergrad and studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Most of my volunteer work during that time revolved around making science fun and accessible for kids and was my first inkling that pediatrics was for me! After taking some gap years to work as a clinical research assistant at Boston Children’s Hospital, I attended Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke, VA.
In my spare time, I love to paint/craft and enjoy any opportunity for a wine and paint night! My husband and I love to cook together and have recently gotten into making homemade pasta. We are very excited to explore more of the winery and food scene here in Charlottesville. We have two cats, Greyson and Chester, who keep our lives interesting with their antics.
When applying for a pediatrics residency
I knew that I wanted to be at a program that saw a diverse patient population, with a broad range of acuities, specialty care options, and socioeconomic backgrounds as well as opportunities to get involved with the community. Most importantly, I wanted to be in a program where I felt supported as a person and as a learner. UVA demonstrated all of these qualities, and the excitement that both the faculty and residents had about the program here was infectious. Charlottesville has been incredible so far and I can’t wait to experience all that Charlottesville and UVA Pediatrics has to offer!”
Ryan Visser
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Hey y’all! My name is Ryan Visser, and I was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina. I went to UNC-Chapel Hill for college where I studied environmental chemistry and became a huge college basketball fan (Go Heels!). After graduating, I moved up to Charlottesville to do research at UVA and pretty quickly fell in love with the area. The unmatched access to the outdoors, incredible food and music scene, and the wonderful people I met convinced me to stay in town to scribe and then for medical school for the last four years at UVA.
While looking at programs, I knew I wanted to be in an academic center with a wide range of cases and access to all subspecialties, but also a place where residents were happy and well-supported and where faculty were approachable and invested in residents’ lives and education. Through my rotations and interviews, it was clear that UVA had everything I was looking for in a program and that this was where I wanted to train.
On my days off, you’ll find me hiking, grabbing a bagel from Bodo’s, running on some of Charlottesville’s many trails, or playing some tennis or golf. I’m glad that you’re thinking about UVA pediatrics! Please reach out if you have any questions about the program or Charlottesville in general. This truly is an incredible place to be and I really hope you come check us out!
Sarah Woods
SUNY Upstate College of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her
What’s up y’all! Welcome to UVA Peds!!
I grew up in this little town in Virginia called Charlottesville…you may have heard of it?? I went to UVA for undergrad (roll hoos), majored in psychology, and cried a little (read as *a lot*) when we lost in the first round of the NCAA circa 2018 (we do not speak of such things), before heading to Upstate New York for medical school. I was utterly shocked to discover that the northeast does not shut down for a week with an inch of snowfall and the grocery stores manage to retain their supply of milk and eggs when the weather forecast is calling for snow…shocking I ended up back down here, I know! I positively adore my Peloton (so much so that I joined the chaos and became a certified spin instructor), love wine tasting (Charlottesville is the Napa of the East Coast, I’m telling you), and cooking/baking for others is my love language.
For me, my decision to come to UVA for residency was only partially due to its physical proximity to my family – both the one I was born with and the one that I met along the way. The primary factor in my decision was the people (the residents, attending physicians, program directors…) that truly made me fall head over heels in love with this program. I logged on to the virtual happy hour the night before my interview, met two of our rising third years, and was hooked. That feeling – feeling as if I was surrounded by people who were unapologetically their vivacious, kind, and genuinely caring selves – continued throughout my interviews with faculty the following day. I cannot wait to chat with y’all!
Jenna Zuzolo
Marshall University School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her
My name is Jenna Zuzolo, and I grew up in Dayton, Ohio. I attended Marshall University in Huntington, WV as a Biology major and Division I soccer player and then stayed for another four years of medical school. Though I played soccer in college, I have a love for all sports, whether it be watching games or playing in an intramural league. I also enjoy spending time with my kitten named Malina, reading, and exploring Charlottesville’s wonderful food and outdoor scene! If you need any recommendations, I will happily share my favorites.
UVA is my “Goldilocks” residency program, which sounds cheesy, but it is the truth. Charlottesville is large enough to have plenty of restaurants, wineries, outdoor hiking, etc. to explore, but also small enough to feel as though you are part of the community. More importantly, UVA is a large enough center that enables residents to work with an incredibly diverse patient population encompassing the entire spectrum of acuity, but also small enough to feel like a family. Once I got on the virtual meet and greet with the residents at UVA during my interview, I quickly realized how genuine everyone’s friendship was with one another. After becoming part of the family now as an intern, I’ve realized that my Goldilocks story has come true! I wish you the best of luck on your own journey. Please reach out with any questions and I look forward to meeting some of you soon!