Welcome from the Program Director
I am excited to be transitioning into the role of Program Director for our Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship program. I have been at VCU since medical school and have completed my residency, chief residency, and fellowship here. I have served as Associate Program Director since joining faculty. I am excited for the opportunity to lead our incredible fellows.
What makes our fellowship special is first and foremost the people. The overall culture of VCU is one where everyone works together to take the best care of our patients. It’s one of the reasons that I have stayed at VCU for so long! Our fellows are treated like junior faculty and provided with graduated autonomy in the care of our patients. We create a safe space for our fellows to learn and grow. We are also able to tailor electives to help our fellows become the physicians they want to be, whether that means preparing for an academic appointment, private practice, or something in between. Our fellows are always well prepared to practice after training.
VCU Health is one of the largest hospital systems in the state and our VA Medical Center is one of the largest in the nation. These two facilities provide our fellows with ample exposure to diverse patients and disease states which are key to being well-rounded physicians.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about Richmond. I never expected to fall in love with a city I had barely visited before moving here, but it has certainly become my home. As an outdoor enthusiast, I love having the ability to trail run, raft, kayak, swim, or bike all within a few blocks of my house. The food and drink scene here is also fantastic. We have great museums, music venues, festivals, botanical gardens, and parks. Overall, Richmond is a wildly underestimated city that is finally getting recognized and becoming a tourist destination. As a traveler, it’s easy to get all over the world by plane, train, or automobile; Washington, DC, Shenandoah National Park, and Virginia Beach are easy day trips.
Michael L’Heureux, MD
Program Director, Pulmonary-Critical Care Fellowship
Email: michael.lheureux@vcuhealth.org