Thomas McCarty loves Blue Bell Ice Cream. Growing up in Brenham, TX, home of Blue Bell, Thomas has multiple flavors in his freezer at all times. “I make it a point to try as many of the new flavors as I can,” he says.
But ice cream isn’t all Thomas enjoys. With a grandfather who was an OB and a mother who was a nurse, he easily found medicine as an opportunity to do work he loves. Being around kids and teaching are high on that list. Pediatrics was a perfect fit for this “big kid at heart.”
When it came time for Thomas to pick a residency, it wasn’t only about his preferences. He had to take into consideration his new bride, also an applicant going into Radiology. They chose to only interview in cities where they were both willing to live. They thought there was “no point in applying up north if you hate the cold!”
After his interviews, it was the people that most influenced Thomas to choose Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He felt comfortable with the residents and could see how closely and well they worked together. He saw that the faculty had an obvious enthusiasm for providing a great educational experience for the residents. And with teaching high on his list of personal interests, he felt it was the perfect fit.
Luckily enough, the couples match process worked out for the UTMB grads. Open communication while making their match lists was key to their success. Thomas believes, “It’s about you, but more importantly it’s about the both of you.”
Arkansas has a lot of new “flavors” for the McCarty’s to try; Razorback fans aren’t exactly a Longhorn’s dream. But with a new house and a backyard for their spoiled dog Bailey to run around in, hopefully it won’t be a rocky road!