Harry Shi, MD

Get to know Harry Shi, MD, plastic surgery resident.

Career goal: As I explore my interests in plastic surgery and cardiothoracic surgery, I know that regardless of what field I ultimately end in, I want to bring compassionate and evidence-based care to the people in my community.

Being an LVHN surgical resident means learning how to manage patients in a thousand-bed-sized Level I Trauma Center.

What makes your LVHN training program different from others across the country?

At LVHN, our residents get an immense amount of both surgical and trauma critical-care training, which presents as opportunity for early autonomy. I believe we have unique experiences when the PGY-2s learn to run the surgical ICU by themselves and the PGY-3s lead the trauma ICU and all incoming alerts at our Level I Trauma Center. In addition, we will see a high surgical volume by the end of our residency training, which will allow us to feel comfortable and confident in taking care of the patients when we go to the next phase in our career.

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

Having completed the latter portion of my medical school and a surgical preliminary year here at LVHN has practically made me a “local” in the Allentown area. I think the most exceptional experience for me has been learning to become a good role model for the current and incoming medical students, just as the LVHN surgical residents did for me when I was a student. 

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

I’ve learned so much in terms of medical and surgical management from my time in the unit and on our acute surgical service. However, through the highs and lows of residency, I will always cherish the moments with my co-residents, from the Monster Energy drinks and Hot Cheetos birthday surprise to our barbecue get-together.

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

As you set out to become a surgical resident, hard work and long hours are part of the job regardless of where you go. It’s the people in the residency and the culture set by both the residents, faculty and staff that make each program unique.

What does it mean to be a resident at LVHN?

Being an LVHN surgical resident means learning how to manage patients in a thousand-bed-sized Level I Trauma Center. We have faculty with diverse training experiences who love to teach. Most importantly, we have a program director who is not only open to suggestions but also consistently implementing changes based on our feedback.