Get to know Carl Levy, DO, medical toxicology fellow.
Career goal: I want to work in an academic setting that allows me to combine both toxicology and emergency medicine.
I’ve really enjoyed the variety of patients that I’ve been able to see. We see everything from addiction to classic emergency medicine toxicology cases to unique and rare pathologies.
Why did you choose to train at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and what was it like to rotate here as a resident?
I had the opportunity to rotate at LVHN as a second-year resident at Geisinger Health System. During those couple of weeks, I was able to work with the awesome faculty and fellows who all seemed to genuinely enjoy both toxicology and their experiences at LVHN. Besides the faculty and fellows, LVHN is unique in how engaging and interactive the didactics are as well as the great clinical experience it offers. The consulting service is busy with a wide variety of pathology which I know will really prepare me for after fellowship. After doing another rotation as an elective during my third year and having another wonderful experience, I knew I wanted to do my training at LVHN.
What has been the most extraordinary part of your training experience so far?
I’ve really enjoyed the variety of patients that I’ve been able to see. We see everything from addiction to classic emergency medicine toxicology cases to unique and rare pathologies. I think this allows for a great educational experience.
What does it mean to be a fellow at LVHN?
It means you get to be a part of a fellowship that focuses on the fellows and their experience. It’s a very supportive faculty and group of fellows here that really want you to be the best possible toxicologist when you come out of training.
What is one memory you have from your training so far that will stick with you for your career?
I cherish meeting many of the amazing people I’ve met throughout residency. There are so many wonderful people in health care, and I can’t wait to meet many more during fellowship.
What makes your LVHN training program different from others across the country?
The consultation service here is strong, and there’s a lot of great bedside learning that occurs during these consults. Because of this great clinical experience, we get to work within all areas of the hospital and get to know a lot of the other staff and faculty at LVHN as consultants. I think it allows for an educational experience that can be applied well beyond fellowship and used in the everyday practice of emergency medicine and toxicology.
What is one piece of advice you would share with someone as they select a training program?
I think applicants should try to identify what they are looking for in a program and try to pick a program that most closely aligns with the kind of experience they want to have. It’s important to go somewhere where you think you are going to get the most out of your training.