Resident Testimonials

Adnan Halboni, MD
PGY-5

I think the great thing about our program at Henry Ford can be summed up with one word: diversity. We have a diversity of faculty ranging from comprehensive otolaryngology to every available fellowship trained subspecialty. This means as a resident you have the unique opportunity to rotate through a wide range of clinics with different faculty who have different approaches and thought processes. In the operating room, you will be exposed to complex cases in addition to more routine ones, preparing you well for future independent practice. We also work at multiple hospital sites from a busy tertiary care center in an urban setting to smaller community hospitals and outpatient ambulatory surgery centers. The number of attendings in the department is double that of the number of residents, so valuable clinical or operative experience is always available. Finally, as a senior resident, I've greatly appreciated the autonomy the program has afforded the residents, such as creating our own academic schedule for the year, weekly clinic/OR assignments, vacation approval, and call assignments.

One of the great things about Henry Ford is the mix of academic medicine and group practice. There is ample opportunity to engage in research at a high level similar to other traditional academic centers, but you also get the experience of working within a group practice setting that many community hospitals are moving towards, which I think is a valuable resource as you plan your future beyond residency - whether it's academic medicine, private practice or a hospital employed position. Graduates from our program have successfully transitioned into all of these with strong support from our department and hospital system. It's also the people you work with that make it great – I really enjoy working with our OR and clinic support staff, and have become good friends with many other residents in different programs just from the shared experience that is residency.

I was the first class to go through the virtual interview cycle during the pandemic, so I never got to visit Detroit or the hospital before I matched here. I had never even visited Michigan. So I honestly wasn't sure what I was getting into living in Detroit. But I was pleasantly surprised with how much the metro area and Michigan as a whole have to offer. I love living in the Corktown neighborhood and having access to all the entertainment of a major city at my doorstep - all professional sports are located downtown, multiple concert venues, festivals, world class museums (shout out Detroit Institute of Arts), Belle Isle/Detroit River, and a great diversity of cuisine, among other things. And if you need a weekend away, Michigan is gorgeous, especially the northern parts or upper peninsula. Detroit also has a major airport with direct flights to many international destinations, which made travel incredibly easy for me during residency. And as someone who previously lived in San Diego and Charleston, SC before Detroit, I may not be a fan of cold winters, but even I can handle a Detroit winter, especially when the reward is the amazing summers that we get here.

Kyle Leonard, MD
PGY-4

One of the biggest highlights of our program is the culture and the people that make it up. Every single faculty is approachable for advice in every way: optimal patient management, their personal topics of expertise, and career guidance. They are also incredibly friendly and easy to work with, and frankly they make every day both educational and fun. We have a broad range of expertise with no shortage in cases in every subspecialty, and I truly feel like I will graduate with the skills needed to address any otolaryngologic problem in patient care.

Henry Ford Hospital is extremely collegiate and collaborative. Our institution is cutting-edge in so many fields that overlap with ENT, and other services are always willing and able to work together. Apart from professional relationships, I find that the entire staff is so friendly and polite. Every time I walk through the hospital, I am greeted with smiles and hellos from people I work with daily, people I have worked with even only once in the past, and people who I have never met.

Detroit is a metropolitan gem that has so much to offer. There are endless options for unique cuisines, and even more options for cool cuisine fusions. The city is generally safe and walkable with fun restaurants, coffee shops, and bars on nearly every corner. Outside of the city, there are tons of options for recreation. One local highlight is Belle Isle -- a cute island to walk around, spend time on the beach, and enjoy the conservatory and aquarium. Within an hour drive there are tons of state parks for outdoor activities, many even within 30 minutes. Having recently moved downtown, the sports and entertainment scene is also unreal with football, baseball, hockey, and basketball represented as well as many theaters and concert venues.

Abdurrahman Abdurrob, MD
PGY-3

The resident forward role about our program really makes our experience very unique and amazing. This ranges from senior residents guiding junior residents through cases to the autonomy with our scheduling (weekly case assignment, vacations, scheduling each year’s rotations). In addition, I feel like our faculty members are extremely approachable, which makes cases and learning more enjoyable and helps me look forward to work every single day. Finally, I love our resident culture -- we are all extremely close, making working together that much easier.

Henry Ford Hospital cares for a wide range of patients including those patients who otherwise would not get care except through our ED and also taking care of more well-resourced populations at our outpatient centers. For me, taking care of patients who may not get care otherwise and a diverse patient population are very important and something I was looking for when I was looking at residency programs.

Living in Detroit is fantastic. I live right by the hospital, which is incredibly convenient, but also love being so close to a wide range of neighborhoods like Hamtramck, Midtown, and Dearborn. The food and culture are amazing and there is a never-ending list of places and restaurants that I need to visit. It's also great to go outdoors and explore the suburbs and the coasts.

Kyle Leonard, MD
PGY-4

One of the biggest highlights of our program is the culture and the people that make it up. Every single faculty is approachable for advice in every way: optimal patient management, their personal topics of expertise, and career guidance. They are also incredibly friendly and easy to work with, and frankly they make every day both educational and fun. We have a broad range of expertise with no shortage in cases in every subspecialty, and I truly feel like I will graduate with the skills needed to address any otolaryngologic problem in patient care.

Henry Ford Hospital is extremely collegiate and collaborative. Our institution is cutting-edge in so many fields that overlap with ENT, and other services are always willing and able to work together. Apart from professional relationships, I find that the entire staff is so friendly and polite. Every time I walk through the hospital, I am greeted with smiles and hellos from people I work with daily, people I have worked with even only once in the past, and people who I have never met.

Detroit is a metropolitan gem that has so much to offer. There are endless options for unique cuisines, and even more options for cool cuisine fusions. The city is generally safe and walkable with fun restaurants, coffee shops, and bars on nearly every corner. Outside of the city, there are tons of options for recreation. One local highlight is Belle Isle -- a cute island to walk around, spend time on the beach, and enjoy the conservatory and aquarium. Within an hour drive there are tons of state parks for outdoor activities, many even within 30 minutes. Having recently moved downtown, the sports and entertainment scene is also unreal with football, baseball, hockey, and basketball represented as well as many theaters and concert venues.

Zara Sragi, MD
PGY-2

My name is Zara, and I’m currently a second-year resident. One of the things I’ve come to love most about Detroit is the strong sense of community. There’s a welcoming spirit here that makes the city feel like home. I also enjoy exploring all the new restaurants popping up around town; there’s always something new and exciting to try.

Working at Henry Ford has been a great experience. I’ve had the chance to meet and connect with people not just within my program, but across different departments. There’s a culture here that pushes you to be your best, while also trusting you to grow. In our ENT program, I’ve had the opportunity to see really cool cases, and thanks to the trust and support of the staff, I’ve become much more confident in my skills.

Living in Detroit has also been really fulfilling. My neighborhood is lively and diverse. I live next to a park, so I spend a lot of time walking around and enjoying the outdoors. I’m into different sports, so it’s been great to have those spaces nearby.

Overall, both professionally and personally, Detroit and Henry Ford have helped me grow in ways I’m truly grateful for.

Maie Zagloul, MD
PGY-1

What I like about our program are the people. As cliché as it may sound, the culture here is incredibly collaborative and supportive. The residents consistently push me to be the best version of myself — not just clinically, but in how I show up for patients. There's a strong sense of camaraderie, and it’s clear that everyone is invested in each other’s growth. People are always willing to lend a hand, whether it’s managing a tough clinical case or simply offering words of encouragement after a long shift.

The attendings we work with also show a dedicated investment to our education and clinical skills, as well as our well-being. They often go out of their way to check in with the goal of supporting us and it makes a large impact on the culture of the program.

One of the biggest draws of Henry Ford is the exposure we get as a Level 1 trauma center. The volume and complexity of cases we see are incredibly diverse, which ensures that we’re well-prepared for independent practice by the time we leave residency. The range of clinical scenarios we encounter — from high-acuity trauma to complex medical transfers — really sharpen our clinical and operative knowledge.

We also receive frequent patient transfers from outside hospitals seeking higher-level care, which I think speaks volumes about the expertise within our department. Finally, the hospital’s location in Detroit adds another layer to our training. We serve a remarkably diverse patient population — in terms of culture, socioeconomic status, and medical complexity — allowing us to become well-rounded trained physicians.

What I love about Detroit is the balance between city life and nature. There’s easy access to green spaces like the Riverwalk, so you’re never too far from a place to relax and reset outdoors. At the same time, the city offers a ton of energy and character — and great food. I love trying out new restaurants and different foods around the area! Current favorite pizza place: Mootz.