Joseph Marchese, MD ’13

Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery

Hometown: Scranton, PA

When asked what it’s like to be a first-year resident, Joe Marchese, MD ’13, stated, “It’s an incredible personal sacrifice, yet indescribably gratifying. Every single decision at first is shrouded in uncertainty and fear of causing harm. Slowly, but surely though, you become more comfortable handling once-doubtful situations, and eventually you begin to develop a reliable decision-making process. As I’m starting to adjust to this new life, I’m realizing the fun and satisfaction that come with taking care of people. There have been so many instances already where I actually laugh out loud during the drive home thinking about events from the day.”

Dr. Marchese matched at University of Connecticut Health Center, CT, specializing in orthopaedic surgery. Dr. Marchese feels that medical knowledge is only a pre-requisite to being a healer. He stated, “Beyond this, one must be able to motivate others and communicate effectively, understand the complete impact of illness on an individual’s well-being and know how to tactfully utilize resources in the challenging healthcare world. These attributes, among many others, were heavily emphasized and realized throughout my years at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, starting from the very beginning of first year.”

Advice for current students according to Dr. Marchese: “There is something to learn from every patient that’s encountered. Strive to show the same level of interest and compassion for your attending physician’s patients as if they were your own. If you adopt this mindset early, you will certainly become an outstanding physician by the conclusion of your training.”

The one thing Dr. Marchese wished he would have known about residency before he started? “How firm the call beds are!”