Dr. Chase Uter, a UMHS Class of 2026 graduate, matched into a preliminary surgery position at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. A former collegiate baseball player from Atlanta, he brings a strong sense of teamwork, discipline, and leadership into his medical career.
In his UMHS Endeavour interview, he reflects on his experience at UMHS, including the impact of the fifth semester, mentorship, clinical rotations, and the importance of small class sizes. He also shares insights into his path to surgery, representation for African American doctors, the value of bedside manner, AI in medicine, and advice for future medical students.
Dr. Chase Uter on UMHS Match Day, March 20, 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Uter.
Background and early path
UMHS Endeavour: Tell us about yourself and your journey to medicine.
Chase Uter: I’m originally from Atlanta, Georgia, so go ATL. The Hawks are in the playoffs right now, so I’m rooting for them. I went to the University of West Georgia, where I played baseball all four years. I was a student-athlete with aspirations to play professionally, so that was my main focus early on.
I wasn’t always set on medicine. I was a biology pre-med student, so I considered different paths like PA school, PT school, and medical school. After undergrad, I took a couple of gap years to figure out what I really wanted to do. That’s when I found my way to St. Kitts and started medical school at UMHS. From there, everything really clicked.
Finding purpose in surgery
UMHS Endeavour: What sparked your interest in surgery?
I came into medical school open-minded, especially since I’m a first-generation doctor and did not fully understand what surgery involved at first. What drew me in was the teamwork. Coming from a sports background, I was used to that kind of camaraderie, and I saw the same dynamic among surgical teams, with residents and attending physicians working together and teaching students.
Another major factor was representation. As an African American from Atlanta, I recognized that there are not enough minorities in surgery. That realization motivated me even more to pursue this path and contribute to change.
Dr. Chase Uter with (from left) Nick Fernandez, Dr. Madison Berman, Christian Rodriguez, and Pedro Padro. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Uter.
Clinical rotations and hands-on training
UMHS Endeavour: How did your clinical rotations shape your decision to pursue surgery?
That was the biggest factor for me. I did my surgery rotation at DMC and had an incredible experience with both residents and faculty. They were supportive, engaged, and really invested in teaching.
Being in that environment and getting hands-on opportunities both inside and outside the operating room solidified my interest. I learned a lot and felt encouraged to grow. That rotation confirmed that surgery was the right path for me.
Dr. Chase Uter in his UMHS white coat. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Uter.
Matching at St. Agnes Hospital
UMHS Endeavour: Tell us about the hospital where you matched and what drew you to their program.
I matched into a preliminary surgery position at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
I discovered the program through social media. The program director, Dr. Kang, shared helpful content about residency preparation, which caught my attention. I looked into the program more and found that it has a strong emphasis on teaching.
That was important to me. I wanted to train somewhere that values education, supports residents, and actively develops future surgeons. St. Agnes stood out in that regard.
UMHS Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Sudhir Ambati presents an award to Dr. Chase Uter. Photo: Courtesy of G Vision Photography.
Fifth semester preparation
UMHS Endeavour: How did the fifth semester prepare you for residency?
The fifth semester is something you do not fully appreciate until you look back on it. Academically, it provides a strong, focused review of basic sciences that helps with STEP preparation. It is also one of the last structured academic experiences before transitioning to independent studying.
Clinically, it was just as valuable. Through standardized patient encounters, we learned how to communicate effectively, gather information, and build rapport with patients. Those skills translated directly into my clinical rotations and made a noticeable difference in how I approached patient care.
Beyond the Classroom: Top left: Dr. Chase Uter in St. Kitts rainforest. Top right: UMHS students Anthony Serici, Linda Ukago, & Dr. Chase Uter in La Garita Costa Rica on a medical mission trip in 2023. Bottom left: Dr. Chase Uter with UMHS students Linda Ukago and Anthony Serici in Costa Rica receiving Volunteer award. Bottom right: Dr. Chase Uter headshot photo. Photos courtesy of Dr. Uter.
Mentorship and faculty support
UMHS Endeavour: Which mentors or professors had the biggest impact on your journey?
I had many great professors at UMHS, but Dr. Nagappa stands out because I spent a lot of time working with him. One of the advantages of UMHS is the smaller class size, which allows you to build meaningful relationships with faculty.
We had access to professors beyond the classroom through office hours and ongoing communication, which made a big difference. I also participated in a medical mission trip to Costa Rica with Dr. Nagappa. That experience strengthened those relationships while allowing us to give back and serve others.
Medical Moments: Top left: Dr. Chase Uter at SNMA Annual Medical Education Conference in St. Louis. Top right: Dr. Chase Uter at SNMA Annual Medical Education Conference in Pittsburgh. Bottom left: Dr. Nicole Outten (UMHS ’25), Dr. Chase Uter, Dr. Sh'Ronda Ross, Fedny Agelus at SNMA Regional Medical Education Conference at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Bottom right: Dr. Chase Uter, Nurse Holly, Nurse Selena at Internal Medicine rotation in Augusta, Georgia. Photos courtesy of Dr. Uter.
Building strong patient communication skills
UMHS Endeavour: What skills helped you stand out when preparing for residency?
One of the most important skills for me was bedside manner. That is something UMHS emphasizes early on, especially during the fifth semester with standardized patient encounters.
Being able to communicate effectively, build trust, and connect with patients made a strong impression during my rotations. It also helped my application, because program directors value feedback from patients and colleagues. Being someone people trust and enjoy working with goes a long way.
AI in medicine
UMHS Endeavour: Did you encounter AI during your rotations, and how do you see it impacting medicine?
Yes, I saw AI in use during a sports medicine rotation in Detroit. It was used to assist with documentation during patient encounters by capturing conversations and helping generate the history of present illness.
It made the process much more efficient. Instead of spending extra time on documentation, physicians could focus more on patient interaction. I think AI will continue to grow as a support tool in medicine, helping streamline workflows and improve efficiency while keeping physicians at the center of care.
Advice for future UMHS students
UMHS Endeavour: What advice would you give current and prospective UMHS students?
The biggest advice I can give is to focus on the present. Do not get overwhelmed thinking about STEP exams, rotations, or residency too early. Take things one step at a time, one lecture, one slide, one day.
If you build that foundation consistently, everything else will follow. You will be better prepared for exams, clinical work, and ultimately matching into residency.
Also, take advantage of the UMHS community. Build relationships with your peers and faculty. Do not isolate yourself. There are strong support systems in place, and leaning on that community can make a big difference throughout your journey.
Contact Dr. Chase Uter at cuter@umhs-sk.net
Top photo: Dr. Chase Uter. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Uter.
Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at UMHS and editor of the UMHS Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about UMHS students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and UMHS research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.
