As a resident physician, are you thinking about where you want to build your future in medicine? Meet AMA member Cuckoo Choudhary, MD, a gastroenterologist and a featured voice in the AMA’s “Finding My Place in Medicine” series.
In this series, physicians reflect on what influenced their decisions when choosing where to work—and what they wish they had known earlier. Explore her journey to help guide your own path toward a fulfilling medical career.
If you are looking for your first physician job after residency, get your cheat sheet now from the AMA. In addition, the AMA Transitioning to Practice series has guidance and resources on deciding where to practice, negotiating an employment contract, managing work-life balance, and other essential tips about starting in practice—including in private practice.
"Following” Dr. Cuckoo Choudhary
Specialty: Gastroenterology (GI).
Practice setting: Academic hospital.
Employment type: Employed by Jefferson Health, in Philadelphia. Jefferson Health is part of the AMA Health System Member Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
Years in practice: 24.
Key factors that led to me choosing to work at Jefferson Health: I did my GI fellowship at Jefferson, which made certain things including looking for a job very easy. I was looking for an institution that offered excellence across all three pillars of academic medicine—clinical care, research and education. Jefferson stood out because of its collaborative culture, commitment to innovation and strong support for physician-scientists and educators. The opportunity to build programs, mentor trainees and contribute to advancing gastroenterology while caring for a diverse patient population made it the right fit for me. I did not have to really look for a job!
What stood out to me during the interview and hiring process: What impressed me most was the collegiality of the faculty and leadership. I knew the place very well with all its pluses and minuses and thought it was the best for me. The conversations were genuine and focused not only on what I could contribute, but also on how the institution could support my professional growth. It was clear that collaboration, mutual respect and academic excellence were core values, rather than just talking points.
How feedback from peers and mentors influenced my evaluation process: My mentors advised me to look beyond compensation and prestige. They encouraged me to evaluate the institutional culture, leadership, opportunities for mentorship and whether the organization genuinely invested in faculty development. That advice proved invaluable because those factors have had a much greater impact on my long-term career satisfaction than any short-term considerations. One of my mentors also asked me to look for an institution that had many strong departments. He said, “You can only be as good as the people around you, so look for the best clinicians.”
Why I chose to work in this practice setting: I love teaching and education and wanted a place that would allow me to combine outstanding patient care with academic scholarship and teaching. I also considered the availability of research infrastructure, opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, institutional stability, leadership support and the ability to make a meaningful impact through innovation and mentorship.
The top three qualities for a great place to work for physicians: A culture of collaboration and mutual respect is a must, along with a high standard of care for patients. Second, leadership that listens to physicians and supports their professional development. Third, an environment that enables physicians to provide high-quality patient care while maintaining a sustainable work-life balance.
How my current practice supports physician well-being and work-life balance: I feel Jefferson recognizes that physician well-being is essential to delivering excellent patient care. Our practice benefits from supportive colleagues, strong administrative infrastructure and leadership that values flexibility, teamwork and professional growth. Having an environment where physicians can pursue their clinical, research and educational interests while maintaining personal well-being contributes significantly to career longevity and satisfaction.
The workplace attributes that contribute most to my job satisfaction at Jefferson Health: The collaborative academic environment, exceptional colleagues, opportunities for mentorship and institutional support for innovation have been the greatest contributors to my job satisfaction. I also value the ability to care for complex patients while participating in research and educating the next generation of physicians.
The biggest challenges I faced when transitioning from residency to practice: I did a fellowship in GI after my internal medicine residency. The transition from training to becoming a faculty involved learning to balance multiple responsibilities simultaneously—delivering outstanding patient care while developing an academic career, building research programs, mentoring trainees and assuming leadership responsibilities. Developing effective time management and prioritization skills was critical during that transition.
What I wish I had known about evaluating a job offer before choosing my first position: I wish I had better appreciated the importance of institutional culture, leadership and opportunities for mentorship. It's easy to focus on salary or title, but long-term career satisfaction depends much more on whether the organization supports your professional goals and provides opportunities for growth.
What I would have done differently when choosing my first job after residency: Overall, I am very satisfied with the path I chose. If I could offer advice to my younger self, it would be to ask even more questions about mentorship, faculty development, available resources and expectations for career advancement. I would have sought mentors earlier in my career and requested some of them to be my sponsors. Those factors often shape long-term success more than the initial job description.
How my current role compares with what I imagined: My current role has been both professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling, allowing me to contribute across clinical care, education, research and leadership in a highly collaborative academic environment. As my career continues to evolve, I aspire to assume a broader enterprise leadership role where I can help shape institutional strategy, advance interdisciplinary collaboration, drive innovation and contribute to Jefferson's continued growth and national prominence.
