I grew up in Montana, and didn’t stray far from home to go to the University of Montana in Missoula for my BA in Biology. During college I took a year off to study Mandarin Chinese in Beijing, and caught the bug for living abroad. I then lived in Piedmont region of Italy and in Shakespeare’s county of Warwickshire in the UK for a number of years before coming back to the US to go to medical school in Oregon. I was looking for a residency program that would provide a supportive yet challenging learning environment, and I have found that and more in the University of Vermont Medical Center. Burlington is a vibrant city on Lake Champlain with a variety of outdoor activities year-round, community and music events, and friendly people who have made me feel instantly welcome. Vermont is a rare place where both quality of life and quality of education are outstanding.