Hannah Rinehardt, MD

Hometown

Mansfield, OH (but I consider Columbus, OH & The Ohio State University home - go Buckeyes!)

Why I Chose the University of Pittsburgh

UPMC has everything I was looking for in a general surgery program - service to the community/the underserved (Pittsburgh is the largest city in Appalachia), diverse clinical opportunities and sites/high case volumes & complexity, strong trauma experience, amazing people (residents are down-to-earth, and it was clear Dr. Lee genuinely cared about me from the moment I stepped foot in his office), world-class and flexible research opportunities (residents can pursue an additional degree, we can customize # of years in lab, and we can do clinical research, basic science or both), and overall a department that is very forward-thinking and supportive of residents (Dr. Forsythe was excited to talk about my interest in advocacy & the program has some of the best benefits of any surgery program in the country). I wanted to be in a city that was big enough to satisfy my diverse tastes in music, food, and the outdoors, but still small enough to be affordable and liveable. Pittsburgh is that perfect city, plus it only takes a few hours to drive home, which makes it even better. The program exceeded my expectations, even within the first couple months of living here. My co-interns are the most incredible, kind, and talented people I have ever met. Despite the unusual circumstances that 2020 brought, Dr. Lee made sure we all felt welcome when we arrived. The hospital even hosted a Black Lives Matter protest that we were encouraged to be a part of. I can't imagine a better place to train to become a leader in surgery.

Non-Academic Interests/Accomplishments

In my free time I enjoy cooking and baking (especially with local ingredients from Pittsburgh's many farmer's markets), hiking and playing tennis (there are fantastic parks within and just outside the city), and watching live music and sports (excited for the day when concerts & festivals are safe again). My favorite place to eat in Pittsburgh is Madeleine Bakery.