The Pod System

The pod system is one of the best aspects of training at Columbia. I have learned so much from my podmates, whose diversity of subspecialty interests complement my own. We have also formed a tight-knit bond as a pod through having formative clinical experiences together and have supported each other through more challenging rotations. I can already say my podmates have become great personal friends of mine.

Preeti Kakani, PGY-1

The Pod System is a unique and beloved part of our program. When residents arrive as new interns, they are grouped into “pods” of 4, and as pod-mates they rotate through the entirety of each year together. Members of a pod share the experiences of residency training, and form a bond that can only be forged through intense common experiences. The wider community at Columbia is tight knit, and the pod system brings that feeling of belonging to a personal level. It fosters a unique level of support, camaraderie, and friendship that is so vital in training.

Pods also form a core part of the residency’s social network, with pod-mates regularly arranging post-work get-togethers, and residency-wide happy hours.

Perhaps most importantly, pod-mates always have your back, and the experience of going through such a formative time of your professional life together forges life-long bonds.

Pods take the shared experience of residency to the next level and give you friends to lean on and ask silly questions of from day one.

Nickolas Dreher, PGY-3