William Ghaul, DO

Get to know William Ghaul, DO, internal medicine resident.

Career goal: My goal is to work in gastroenterology 

“I am truly fortunate to have built such strong friendships with these people that I will carry with me through the rest of my career.”

What makes your Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) training program different from others across the country? 

A unique aspect of our program is the diversity in pathology that we are exposed to daily. On every rotation, you are almost guaranteed to see something you may have thought you would only read about in textbooks. While you still get to master your “bread-and-butter” cases, you are constantly finding yourself reading and learning about these unique patients. As the main hub of the network, we act as a referral center for the surrounding campuses. As a result, we have an opportunity to treat the sickest patients in the northeastern Pennsylvania area and provide care to individuals from various backgrounds. 

What has been the most extraordinary part of your training experience so far? 

A unique part of my training experience so far has been the relationships I have formed with my attending physicians. Whether it has been in our outpatient clinic, medicine floors, ICU (intensive care unit), cardiovascular intensive care unit or specialty services, I have always felt comfortable working alongside each one. In addition to discussing various educational topics, we were also able to discuss life outside of the hospital. I am truly fortunate to have built such strong friendships with these people that I will carry with me through the rest of my career. 

What is one memory from your training so far that will stick with you for your career? 

One memory from my training that will stick with me throughout my career would have to be the first welcome barbecue at the start of my intern year. I had known a few of my co-interns through medical school but was able to meet the rest of my colleagues in a more relaxed light. Everyone was so welcoming, and it was as though I had known them for years. To this day, I stay connected with my now-graduated, former senior residents who took me under their wings! 

What is one piece of advice you would share with someone as they select a training program? 

The best piece of advice I would share with someone as they select a training program is to really consider the resident culture. For the next few years, you will spend most of your time working in the hospital working with your co-residents. You will be asked to count on and trust each other to provide optimum patient care. You want to look for a residency program that fosters a comfortable learning atmosphere with residents who enjoy spending time with one another. It will make those long days that much easier! 

What does it mean to be a resident at LVHN? 

Being a resident at LVHN has been the most rewarding experience of my life. During the many years of working to get to this point, some people tend to lose sight of why they started the journey in the first place: to care for others. This residency program allows me to do just that, with a smile on my face. Now with almost two years under my belt, I still do not feel like I have worked a day in my life.