Train in a high-volume environment serving patients from a broad range of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Thank you for considering the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center.
The mission of our graduate medical education program is to deliver exceptional and personalized training to develop the next generation of physicians to provide the highest quality of care for our community.
We are proud of the culture of learning, patient care and camaraderie we have created since our program began training its first residents in July 2016. We built this program to help each resident thrive as they learn both the art and science of the practice of internal medicine.
Our residency program has been designed to provide our trainees with an exceptional and personalized learning experience so they can gain the knowledge, experience and skills needed for a successful, meaningful and fulfilling career in medicine. Our program provides learning opportunities across the spectrum of internal medicine and includes experiences in each of the key subspecialty areas.
It is our desire to foster each resident’s professional and personal development as a complete physician. This training will occur in one of the top-ranked hospitals in Georgia with a long history of outstanding patient care. The program is led by individuals who are not only dedicated and passionate about your learning experience, but who also have a wealth of experience in medical education.
Whether you are interested in a career in hospital medicine, primary care or a subspecialty of internal medicine, our program provides a training experience that will foster your success. We also help our residents to excel as scholars and have an impressive track record of resident success with publications and both regional and national presentations. Our cumulative board exam pass rate for all graduates since 2019 is 92%.
Undergraduate Medical
Program Coordinator
(contact for medical student rotations)
Our mission is to train providers in the specialty of internal medicine so that they can practice independently, with a focus on providing care in keeping with the six Institute of Medicine aims for improving healthcare. With this aim, we strive for each of our residents and faculty to provide safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centered care to all the patients we serve.
Facilitate each resident’s and faculty member’s growth as an individual and as a physician by the promotion of:
Enhance the patient care experience for people in the community served by our residents and faculty members by training providers to deliver evidence-based, high-value, world-class quality patient care with compassion.
Decrease population health disparities by empowering residents and faculty to proactively work to address the needs of individual patients in the context of the social determinants of health.
Increase the number of internal medicine physicians who train and ultimately practice medicine in the state
of Georgia.
Coach each resident to achieve their full potential, aligned with their personal career goals.
All residents also receive five days off each year during the December holiday season.
None of our rotations utilize 24-hour in-house call.
All residents also receive five days off each year during the December holiday season.
None of our rotations utilize 24-hour in-house call.
Our didactic curriculum provides opportunities for residents to augment their clinical experience and perfect their public speaking skills. These are considered protected times to maximize education. Conferences are broadcast on Microsoft Teams so that residents working outside the hospital may participate. We also maintain recordings of didactic sessions so that residents working at night may watch them asynchronously.
Mondays and Wednesdays,
7AM Ambulatory Morning Report
Monday, Wednesday and Friday,
Noon Conferences
Board Review Series
Mondays and Fridays,
1-2PM Intern Report
Thursdays, 12PM-1PM Grand Rounds
Social Determinants of Health Curriculum
Each program has their own research opportunities. This may include case reports, quality improvement, clinical research and patient safety projects. Most research collaborates with the Wellstar Research Institute and all follow IRB (Institutional Review Board) guidelines.
Perfectly positioned between the north Georgia mountains and the city of Atlanta, Marietta is the ideal place for young professionals and growing families. Equal parts hip and hometown, it’s a bustling city with a small-town feel.
Marietta’s historic downtown square is alive with activity, hosting regular farmers markets, concerts, and festivals. The Battery and Truist Park (home of the Atlanta Braves) provide entertainment for everyone in the Vinings neighborhood. Marietta is also a short drive to Downtown Atlanta and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport.
Dr. Headrick is board certified in internal medicine. She joined Wellstar in 2017 and has played an instrumental role in the program since June 2018, when she was recruited to become the associate program director for ambulatory services and the medical director of the Wellstar GME Internal Medicine Clinic in Marietta. She is a decorated educator, having received several awards since joining the faculty, including Ambulatory Teacher of the Year (2018) and recognition for the Grand Rounds Presentation of the Year for her presentation on medical cannabis in 2020. She was recognized by the Georgia Chapter of the American College of Physicians as the Early Career Physician of the Year in 2019.
Originally from Cleveland, Tennessee, Dr. Headrick is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis. She completed her internal medicine residency training at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville in 2009, where she also served as chief resident. She is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and is also a member of the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine, the Society for General Internal Medicine and the American Medical Association. Prior to joining Wellstar, Dr. Headrick practiced primary care general internal medicine in Waco, Texas, and Knoxville, Tennessee, for eight years. Her clinical interests include hypertension, diabetes and social determinants of health.
Dr. Arinze is board certified in internal medicine and infectious disease. She received her undergraduate degree from Kennesaw State University and graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine, chief residency and fellowship in infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Arinze’s academic interests include graduate medical education, mentorship, HIV medicine and social determinants of health.
Publications:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=arinze%2C+folasade
Dr. Choi is board certified in internal medicine. She is also a clinical assistant professor for Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Dr. Choi obtained her undergraduate degree at Georgia Institute of Technology and received her medical degree from Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. She completed her residency and chief residency at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, where she received Ambulatory Teacher of the Year. In her free time, Dr. Choi enjoys photography, cooking, baking and community service.
Dr. Jones-Foster is board certified in internal medicine. She is a hospitalist and the associate program director for inpatient services for the internal medicine residency program. In addition, she is the medical director for hospital medicine and the chief of staff of Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. She works closely with hospital leadership and physician leaders and is heavily involved in throughput, length of stay, quality improvement and patient experience. She is also integral to resident education and expansion of graduate medical education at Wellstar.
Dr. Jones-Foster has a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and behavioral biology and a master’s degree in healthcare policy and management from Emory University. She received her medical degree from the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University. Prior to joining Wellstar, Dr. Jones-Foster was employed as a healthcare consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers. She is a graduate of the Wellstar Physician Leadership Academy, has a Six Sigma green belt certification and has presented at both regional and national Society of Hospital Medicine conferences. She was Wellstar Health System’s Working Mother of the Year in 2016 and lives in Marietta with her husband, Andel, and their three children—Seniya, Nasani and Zavier.
Amy has been responsible for overseeing and facilitating the educational activities and accreditation requirements of residents for over 10 years. She is a liaison between the program director, faculty and trainees by supporting the training program’s various aspects. She is passionate about continuous improvement, professional development and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. She is a member of the Pride Collective Business Resource Group, a founding member of the GME DEIB Dialogues and a member of the Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.
A native of Mississippi, Karen is passionate about healthcare and education and has a love of continued learning. She has a Master’s in Public Health and a BS in Kinesiology. Her most recent professional experience before joining Wellstar was in Clinical Data Analytics and EHR Training for a federally qualified healthcare center (FQHC). She is also proud to have years of experience as a Medical Assisting and Massage Therapy Program Manager/Career Service Director/Instructor. She has a niche for building positive business relationships, professional development, analysis of data quality metrics, and quality assurance.
Dr. Albano is board certified in internal medicine. He is a core faculty member with the Wellstar Kennestone Internal Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Albano received his medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine. Since graduating from Wellstar Kennestone Internal Medicine Residency Program in 2021, he accepted a position at one of the oldest standing medical practices in Cobb County, Internal Medicine Associates of Marietta, and assumed the care of Dr. Charles Crabbe’s former patients. He has continued to work closely with the residency program, having our residents come through his clinic and helping the program grow in any way he can. His interests include fitness, nutrition and dancing.
Dr. Anand is board certified in internal medicine. She serves as a core faculty member with the Wellstar Kennestone Internal Medicine Residency Program and teaching attending for the inpatient wards rotation at Wellstar Kennestone. She graduated from JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research) in Pondicherry, India. She completed internal medicine residency training at St. Vincent’s Hospital, University of Massachusetts Medical Center. She also holds positions as director of perioperative medicine, Program Evaluation Committee member and clinical associate professor of medicine at Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University. She has received the Teaching Faculty Hospitalist of the Year Award for outstanding dedicated service, Outstanding Peer Reviewer for Annals of Internal Medicine (2020) and Top Doctors in Georgia Trend magazine. She is passionate about teaching and resident scholarly activity, mentoring numerous resident abstracts and posters that have been presented at regional and national meetings. She is also an active member of the Society of Hospital Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Anand’s interests include painting, music, gardening and spending time with family and friends. She is also a mom of three boys and a fur baby.
Dr. Doss is board certified in internal medicine. He is a core faculty member with the Wellstar Kennestone Internal Medicine Residency Program and attending physician in Wellstar GME Internal Medicine Marietta Clinic. Dr. Doss also holds appointments as a clinical associate professor of internal medicine, clinical track at Mercer University School of Medicine and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Medical College of Georgia. He completed his undergraduate training at Dartmouth College and his medical training at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science/Chicago Medical School. Dr. Doss completed his internal medicine residency at the Emory University School of Medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Within the Wellstar Kennestone Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Doss serves on the Core Faculty Committee and Core Competency Committee. He was awarded the Teaching Award, Emory Section of Hospital Medicine in 2009 and the Outstanding Ambulatory Faculty Award, Wellstar Kennestone Internal Medicine in 2020. His interests include medical education, evidence-based medicine and perioperative medicine. Publications include the chapter “Peri-Operative Management of Diabetes” in the textbook “Comprehensive Hospital Medicine: An Evidence-Based and Systems Approach.”
Dr. Lucas Hopkins is board certified in internal medicine. He earned his undergraduate degree at East Carolina University and his medical degree at St. Georges University. He completed his residency at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center and became board certified in Internal Medicine. He serves as core faculty in the GME Internal Medicine Clinic in Marietta and is also the Medical Director for Simulation for Wellstar Health System. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, fishing, hunting, playing video games and spending time with his newborn baby and family.
View Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26369283/
Dr. Rachel M. Johnson is proud to be a core faculty member and alumnus of the Wellstar Kennestone Internal Medicine Residency Program. After getting her bachelor’s in microbiology at the University of Georgia, she attended the UGA/MCG Medical Partnership campus where she was a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. During her internal medicine training, she found her passion for evidence-based medicine and medical education. She took the job of a lifetime as chief resident for the Kennestone IM program, after which she joined the hospital medicine group and core faculty. She currently serves as the clerkship director for inpatient wards at Wellstar Kennestone.
Dr. Johnson’s interests are in efficient and effective bedside learning, evidence-based medicine and resident wellness. She is a proud wife and mother of two boys. In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis and singing.
Dr. Kamran graduated from Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan. After completing his residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Bronx Program he stayed there for another year as a chief resident. He subsequently completed his fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. He came to Georgia in 2007 and started the first rheumatology clinic in Wellstar. Currently he serves as the chief of the specialty. He also serves as a core faculty member for the Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center internal medicine and transitional year residency programs.
Dr. Kamran’s interests are treating complex autoimmune diseases, especially lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, interstitial lung disease and scleroderma. He is an author of multiple peer-reviewed journal articles. When he is not treating patients, he enjoys reading, traveling, running and spending time with friends and family.
Dr. Nuguru is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary disease and critical care medicine. He is a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Medical College of Georgia, as well as an intensivist and pulmonologist with Wellstar Pulmonary Medicine. He graduated from Osmania Medical College, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India and completed internal medicine residency and pulmonary fellowship at Saint Peter’s University Hospital. He completed his critical care fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Nuguru teaches our residents in the Intensive Care Unit and on the inpatient pulmonary service. His non-clinical interests include history, mythology, painting and travel.
Publications:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=shashank+Nuguru
Dr. Rao is board certified in internal medicine. He has been a member of our core faculty since the first class of residents in 2016. He is a hospitalist and serves as the associate director of the clinical decision unit at Wellstar Kennestone. One of his clinical passions is the use of point of care ultrasound. He completed medical school and internal medicine residency training at KMC Mangalore, India, and completed internal medicine residency training at Lincoln Medical Center in New York. His interests outside of medicine include astronomy and music—he was a student at Trinity College of Music in London.
Dr. Rowe works full time as an attending physician in the resident continuity clinic, paying forward the knowledge and opportunities he was given in this same program. He was voted by his peers as the Distinguished Resident of the Year for the 2021-22 academic year. Dr. Rowe graduated medical school from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Suwanee, Georgia, where he was selected to serve an additional year as a teaching scholar in the department of osteopathic manipulative medicine. Prior to this, Dr. Rowe completed a Bachelor of Science degree in physics with an emphasis in astrophysics from the University of Alabama. He loves spending time with his wife, Janie, and two kids, whether by traveling, walking to the Marietta Square farmers market on the weekend or building pillow forts at home. In his own free time, Dr. Rowe enjoys tennis, bouldering, hiking, reading, board games, college football (Roll Tide!) and making everything a game either to amuse himself or because he is too competitive.
Dr. Kamran graduated from Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan. After completing his residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Bronx Program he stayed there for another year as a chief resident. He subsequently completed his fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. He came to Georgia in 2007 and started the first rheumatology clinic in Wellstar. Currently he serves as the chief of the specialty. He also serves as a core faculty member for the Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center internal medicine and transitional year residency programs.
Dr. Kamran’s interests are treating complex autoimmune diseases, especially lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, interstitial lung disease and scleroderma. He is an author of multiple peer-reviewed journal articles. When he is not treating patients, he enjoys reading, traveling, running and spending time with friends and family.
Dr. Giuseffi is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University and medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and served as chief medical resident during her senior year. Dr. Giuseffi went on to a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at Vanderbilt University and served as chief cardiology fellow. Her special interests include women and heart disease, cardiac intensive care, aortic disease, prevention and cardiac imaging.
Dr. Giuseffi is currently on staff at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center with her outpatient clinical practice at Wellstar East Cobb Health Park. She leads the ECG course for our residency program and teaches residents on the CCU rotation and the cardiology consult service. She is a member of the American College of Cardiology, the American Medical Association and the American Heart Association. Dr. Giuseffi is married with two children.
Dr. Saberi is board certified in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine. He earned his medical degree at the LTM Medical College of Bombay University in Bombay, India. Dr. Saberi completed his residency at the Buffalo Medical-Dental Consortium Internal Medicine Program at the State University of New York in Buffalo and his fellowship at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
He is a fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the American Thoracic Society and the American College of Physician Executives. Dr. Saberi practices with Wellstar Pulmonary Medicine. He serves as medical director of critical care and ECMO at Wellstar Kennestone.
Dr. Adeel is board certified in internal medicine and endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism. She received her medical and bachelor’s degrees in medicine and surgery from Fatima Jinnah Medical College for Women in Lahore, Pakistan. Dr. Adeel completed her residency in internal medicine at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She completed her fellowship in endocrinology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. She is a member of the Endocrine Society and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
Dr. Asfandiyar is board certified in gastroenterology. He completed medical school at Khyber Medical College in Peshawar, Pakistan, then did post-doctoral research training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He completed both his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Dr. Asfandiyar has co-authored several publications and is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America.
Dr. Omatsone is board certified in internal medicine and infectious disease. She graduated medical school at Oba Okunade Sijuade College of Health Sciences Igbinedion University in Nigeria. Dr. Omatsone then completed internal medicine residency training at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in 2018 where she also served as chief resident. In 2020, she held an infectious disease fellowship at Mercer University School of Medicine/Navicent Health. She teaches residents on the inpatient infectious disease service at Wellstar Kennestone.
Dr. Nath is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology. He completed medical school at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. This was followed by internal medicine residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland and nephrology fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital. In addition to his clinical work as a nephrologist with Georgia Kidney Associates, Dr. Nath is medical director for nephrology and dialysis services at Wellstar. He also serves as the medical informatics inpatient physician champion.
Dr. French is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology. He joined the cancer care team of Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers in September 2016 upon completion of his fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Dr. French completed his internship and residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville in 2013 and received his MD from the Medical College of Georgia in 2010.
He is actively involved in cancer research and clinical trials to provide his patients with the most advanced cancer treatment available in Georgia as an investigator of the William S. Gibbons Cancer Research Institute. Dr. French provides patient-centered cancer care at NGOC’s Marietta Cancer Center. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and an active board member for the Georgia American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Dr. Hirani is board certified in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine. He has been teaching residents in our program since 2016. Dr. Hirani received his medical degree at Deccan College of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad, India, and completed his residency at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Connecticut, and Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. He then completed his residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
Dr. Nurpeisov is board certified in family medicine and geriatric medicine. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta and received her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. She completed her residency at Atlanta Medical Center in Atlanta. Her commitment to excellence led her to complete a geriatric medicine fellowship at Emory University, earning dual board certifications in family medicine and geriatrics.
She is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She also is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Geriatrics Society.
She is currently in practice at Wellstar Family Medicine GME Smyrna Clinic and serves as the program director of Wellstar Kennestone Family Medicine Residency Program, as well as the certified medical director of Cobb A.G. Rhodes Nursing Home. Her passion lies in stress management, group facilitation and educational programming focusing on physician well-being. Beyond her professional life, Dr. Nurpeisov enjoys deep-sea fishing, gardening and cherishing moments with her family.
Dr. Anand is board certified in neurology. He specializes in general neurology and headache medicine. He has been part of Wellstar since 2006 and has been teaching residents in our program since 2016. Dr. Anand pursued medicine at a young age to serve others by becoming their health advocate and listening to their concerns with empathy. While earning his medical degree from the University of Madras in Chennai, India, Dr. Anand found himself drawn to the challenges of the neurology specialty. Following his passion for the field, Dr. Anand completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, studying alongside expert neurologists. Dr. Anand is board certified by the American Board of Neurology, with added qualification in headache medicine (UCNS). With over 22 years of experience, he currently leads the headache center at Wellstar Neurology & Headache Center in Marietta. He is also a diplomat of the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons and a member of both the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society.
Dr. Routt is board certified in psychiatry. He is a graduate of Butler University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry. He completed medical school at Indiana University School of Medicine, then completed combined internal medicine and psychiatry residency training at Emory University School of Medicine. He currently works as a consultation/liaison psychiatrist at Wellstar Kennestone. His interests are in psychosomatic medicine and community mental health.
Originally from Macon, GA, Dr. Nwoke graduated from Meharry Medical College in 2021. He was excited to pursue internal medicine training at Wellstar Kennestone because he really liked the energy and personalities of the faculty during the interview. It felt welcoming and they had a sincere interest in the wellbeing of the residents in the program. The location was also great. By being Atlanta-adjacent, it was easy to enjoy the amenities Atlanta has while also having a lower cost of living. Dr. Nwoke plans to pursue a career in cardiology. Outside of work, he enjoys camping, music, and deejaying.
Originally from Valdosta, GA, Dr. Parrish graduated from Mercer School of Medicine in 2021. He was drawn to the Wellstar Kennestone internal medicine residency program because it truly felt like a close-knit family. He is passionate about evidence-based medicine and plans to pursue a career in nephrology. Outside of work, he enjoys guitar, soccer, and golf.
Originally from Marietta, GA, Dr. Patel graduated from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2021. He chose to complete his residency training at Wellstar Kennestone because he wanted to be a part of a system that gives back to the same community that raised him and believes Wellstar truly strives to bring equitable and compassionate care to the people and communities they serve. He plans to pursue a career in cardiology or hospital medicine. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, dancing, and travel.
Hometown: Ellenwood, GA
Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? Internal medicine provides the ideal platform for combining my passion for intellectual stimulation with the opportunity to develop long-lasting relationships with patients. Getting the chance to solve diagnostic problems, manage severe long-term illnesses, and help patients with multiple, complex chronic conditions will create an avenue for me to leave a lasting positive impact in medicine.
Why Wellstar? Wellstar has a diverse, nurturing, and family-oriented environment that focuses on helping each resident reach their full potential. During the onsite visit, I was able to witness the camaraderie among the residents and the faculty involvement. It truly showed how invested everyone was in the residents and their journey to becoming the best physicians that they could be. Those aspects aligned perfectly with my career goals and aspirations, and made me eager to contribute to the program’s culture of excellence and efforts to decrease population health disparities.
Clinical Interests: Hospitalist/Private Practice
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my wife, family and friends, anything basketball related, reading books, listening to podcasts, watching movies/anime and visiting different art exhibitions.
Hometown: Montgomery, AL
Medical school: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? I loved my internal medicine rotations in medical school. I enjoyed the patient interactions and always felt challenged to learn more to help my patients better.
Why Wellstar? I really enjoyed meeting the faculty and residents on the interview day. I could tell right away I would be a good fit here. The dedicated primary care track put Wellstar over the top.
Clinical Interests: Primary care, diabetes, and hypertension
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Reading science fiction and mystery novels, watching science fiction and mystery tv shows, yoga, hiking.
Hometown: Edina, Minnesota
Medical school: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? The diversity in pathology, long-term relationships with patients and ability to work at the intersection of all the organ systems.
Clinical Interests: Heme/onc
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Hiking, traveling, concerts, spending time with friends/family.
Hometown: Rome, GA
Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? I like the in depth and breadth of knowledge required to be an internist, as well as the opportunity to pursue many different career avenues.
Why Wellstar? During my interview, it was made clear that the residents receive excellent training in a supportive and collegial environment.
Clinical Interests: Pulm-Crit; Hospitalist
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I enjoy traveling to new places, hanging out with friends and family, and starting new arts and crafts projects I’ll never finish.
Hometown: Giza, in the shadow of The Great Pyramids of Egypt
Medical school: Columbus Central University School of Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? Internal medicine is a fulfilling, dynamic, and intellectually stimulating field with numerous opportunities for specialization, continuous learning, and making a significant impact on patient care. This complex world of holistic medicine allows me to diagnose and treat innumerable diseases to help others lead healthy lives.
Why Wellstar? Wellstar Health System offers a comprehensive education with strong clinical training, leadership and research opportunities, and a supportive environment. Wellstar is also known for its state-of-the-art medical facilities and technology, providing residents with a modern and efficient environment to learn and practice medicine, which align with my personal and professional goals.
Clinical Interests: Sports medicine, endocrinology, rheumatology, and lifestyle medicine.
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Traveling, cooking, and photography.
Hometown: Saigon, Vietnam
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? I like how Internal medicine physicians are critical thinkers who use their extensive knowledge of the human body to effectively connect dots, solve problems, and provide the best care. Internal medicine is also a launchpad to an array of fellowships and career opportunities.
Why Wellstar? One of my priority is proximity to family, and Wellstar is at a perfect location where I can visit my parents and hang out with friends on the weekend. What most appealing to me about this program is the supportive learning environment fostered by co-residents, faculty, and staff which will allow both personal and professional growth for me in the incoming years.
Clinical Interests: Hospital medicine, GI
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Trying new restaurants, gaming with friends, planting, trying new cooking recipes.
Hometown: Boston, MA
Medical school: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? Internal medicine is the specialty that allows you to have good grasp of majority of all medical specialties and offers opportunities to collaborate with specialists. I also love the idea of developing long-term relationships with my patients.
Why Wellstar? Simply put Wellstar is amazing. I love how Wellstar has a big focus on wellness and that resonated with me very well during the interview process. I love how accommodating everyone is and the support system is not just on paper but real life too.
Clinical Interests: Critical care, Hospital Medicine
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I love to sing at my local church weekly. I also enjoy going out to brunch on the weekends and trying out new restaurants.
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Medical school: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? Internal medicine allows me to combine my clinical curiosity with my desire for patient advocacy. I enjoy the full spectrum of adult medicine, from disease prevention to specialty exploration!
Why Wellstar? From my first day on my Sub-I, I loved the atmosphere that the residents and faculty created. I felt supported and surrounded by mentorship while being in a high-acuity and diverse setting. I know that whichever clinical route I end up pursuing, I’ll have the resources to get me to my end destination.
Clinical Interests: Everything!
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Reading, hiking, thrifting, cooking
Hometown: Port Saint Lucie, FL
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? What I have come to appreciate the most during my medical education are the intricate relationships between the various systems of the human body. The ways in which our bodies regulate functions and respond to pathological conditions are orchestrated in a fascinating effort coordinated by these systems. Internal medicine enables me to further explore these mechanisms and acquire skills to facilitate the human body’s response to disease.
Why Wellstar? Wellstar Kennestone stood out more than any other program throughout my application process. This program’s extensive learning opportunities, remarkably supportive program leadership, and phenomenal culture were all compelling aspects which led me to rank it at the top of my list!
Clinical Interests: General medicine, oncology, rheumatology, immunology, gastroenterology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Watching sports, playing video games, painting, and cooking
Hometown: Johns Creek, GA
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Why Internal Medicine? I chose Internal Medicine because it allows me to engage deeply with a wide range of medical conditions and provides the opportunity to build long-term relationships with patients. The field’s emphasis on problem-solving, critical thinking, and comprehensive patient care aligns perfectly with my passion for medicine and desire to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
Why Wellstar? Wellstar has a strong reputation for clinical excellence and truly believes in patient centered care. The hospital offers a supportive learning environment with a diverse patient population, providing ample opportunities to gain experience in managing a wide range of medical conditions.
Clinical Interests: Hospitalist medicine
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I enjoy watching movies, traveling with my family, and reading.
Hometown: Dacula, Georgia
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? My rotations in internal medicine consistently proved to be both the most demanding and intellectually rewarding experiences. The sense of challenge and desire for continuous improvement as well as the vast number of pathologies and critical thinking required to care for and potentially save a patient’s life drew me in. In addition, I love the collaborative spirit and camaraderie shared within IM!
Why Wellstar? During my interview, I felt very welcomed and excited to learn more about the program and team! I love how close I am to home and the diverse community I will be serving.
Clinical Interests: Hem/Onc or Hospitalist
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Running, Anime, Desserts, and True Crime podcasts.
Hometown: Douglas, GA
Medical school: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? During my time in clinical rotations, I had the opportunity to meet a wide variety of patients. However, one has always stuck with me. He was an elderly male with multiple comorbidities who presented with decompensated heart failure. He had little insight into his condition and poorly understood his symptoms. On the Internal Medicine service, in discussion with the residents and attendings, the scope of interdisciplinary knowledge felt truly powerful. Taking the time to sit with him and help him further understand his condition and the importance of compliance was a difficult task. This interaction reminded me of my time with my grandfather. I was able to see how important it is to break down disease conditions and management into understandable language. An Internal Medicine residency offers me exposure to a wide range of adult medical conditions. Internal Medicine offers me the opportunity to combine my interest in outpatient and inpatient settings.
Why Wellstar? As a Georgia native, my goal when applying for residency was to train in my home state, where the support of my family would be invaluable. I sought a program that places a strong emphasis on patient care, cultural competency, and community engagement. During interviews, Wellstar stood out by offering everything I was looking for in terms of residency training, while also being conveniently near my family.
Clinical Interests: Some of my clinical interests include working with patients in the outpatient setting, where I can build long-term relationships and manage their ongoing care. I have a personal connection to conditions like hypertension and diabetes, as they affect my family members. Additionally, I am fascinated by bedside procedures in the inpatient setting and hope to learn as many as possible.
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Some of my hobbies and interests include working out, going on long runs with my dog, cooking, and trying new restaurants. I also enjoy watching TV shows like The Office, Friends, and Yellowstone.
Hometown: Roswell, GA
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? From outpatient practice, to hospital medicine, to continued training via a fellowship program in a number of fields, Internal Medicine offers a breadth of career opportunities that few specialties can match.
Clinical Interests:While I appreciate the level of patient care and the opportunities for continued education made possible by the proximity to other specialties within a hospital setting, I’d like to keep an open mind to the full latitude of career opportunities offered by the specialty.
Personal Interests and Hobbies: In my spare time, I enjoy cooking for my family and friends. Few things build community like preparing a meal for those near to you. Moreover, attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement are qualities shared between cooking and practice of medicine.
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? In choosing a residency, I wanted a discipline that would allow me to continue growing my knowledge of all specialties of medicine and how they work together for each patient and case. Internal Medicine offers that opportunity, providing the intellectual challenge to treat a person as a whole with multiple aspects of medicine playing a role in their case. It also allows for future opportunities of specialization as well as the most opportunity I have seen for patient interaction and mutual decision making.
Why Wellstar? Wellstar Kennestone was the perfect place for me to end up for so many reasons. First is the location, Georgia has been my second home for the last 10 years. From my 4 years at UGA, 2 years working in Athens, and last 4 years at PCOM-GA, Georgia has been my place to call home along with Tennessee. On top of that, my wife’s family has lived in Alpharetta all her life and so being half an hour away from them is a dream come true. Second is the hospital itself. Wellstar Kennestone’s 600+ hospital beds and extensive Emergency Department is one of the biggest hospitals I have worked in, allowing for diverse pathology and cases to come through. Third is the internal medicine program. From the attendings, to the education to everything in between, the program offers the most potential and opportunities to learn and grow my medical knowledge and clinical skills. Lastly and most importantly are the residents. I was lucky enough to work with the program for a month in my fourth year as a medical student and witnessed first-hand the family that Wellstar fosters. Fellow residents are not just colleagues, but friends and family that work together to build individual and mutual knowledge together. Getting to experience how truly incredible the residents worked together was the final cherry on top that made me decide that Wellstar was the perfect home for me.
Clinical Interests: Endocrinology, Cardiology, pushing the boundaries and growing the medical field through research and development, implementation of POCUS.
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Soccer, golf, disc golf, experiencing other cultures through travel, food, and tours; Enjoying time with wife and dog, hiking, walking, being a part of the city we call home.
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Medical school: Morehouse School of Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? I fell in love with internal medicine during my 3rd year internal medicine rotation. I love how the speciality challenges and sharpens my critical thinking skills while managing acute and chronic conditions. I also appreciate the broad spectrum of knowledge it offers as well as its endless career opportunities.
Why Wellstar? I knew I wanted a family oriented program and I felt that energy throughout my Wellstar interview. I love the welcoming environment Wellstar provides and I really appreciate how genuine the program is at supporting their residents.
Clinical Interests: Hospitalist
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Working out, spending time with family/ my toy poodle, trying different restaurants.
Hometown: Taiwan & Canada
Medical school: American University of Integrative Sciences School of Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? To empower adult patients in proactively managing their medical conditions, while minimizing suffering and preventing complications through early intervention.
Why Wellstar? Wellstar is renowned for fostering an exceptional culture that benefits both its employees and patients alike.
Clinical Interests: Preventative health
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Technologies & cats
Hometown: Alpharetta, GA
Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine
Why Internal Medicine? I really enjoy the breadth of knowledge that IM has to offer. Medicine is such a deep and vast field and having the training and knowledge base to help patients in a multitude of different situations is something I really enjoy.
Why Wellstar? I did my Sub-I here and really enjoyed the combination of a fantastic clinical environmental and supportive, family like culture.
Clinical Interests: Hospital Medicine, Cardiology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Soccer, Game of Thrones, and Video games
Hometown: Kennesaw
Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Global and preventative health, cardiology, infectious disease and critical care
Personal interests & hobbies: Soccer, music, reading and spending time with friends and family
Why internal medicine? I chose internal medicine because I enjoy being challenged with a variety of clinical disease presentations and pathology. I have always wanted the opportunity to train in a specialty that would allow for a broad and comprehensive range of disease presentations while I continue to develop my medical expertise.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I choose Wellstar because the program and people have always made me feel heard, valued and respected. The program provides the resources and mentors needed to explore my medical interests and the confidence to practice evidence-based medicine with a diverse patient population.
Hometown: Stockbridge
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical interests: Hospital medicine and rheumatology
Personal interests & hobbies: Crocheting, casual hiking, eating good food and watching horror movies
Why internal medicine? Internists are some of the most well-rounded and knowledgeable physicians I know, and I hope to be like them when I grow up
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? For both the location and the people
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria, and Fort Worth, Texas
Medical school: Oba Okunade Sijuade College of Health Sciences, Igbinedion University
Clinical interests: Hospital medicine and critical care
Personal interests & hobbies: Tailoring and fashion design
Why internal medicine? Internal medicine provides a unique opportunity to positively impact various healthcare settings. The diverse medical knowledge that I hope to gain will enable me to manage a wide range of pathological conditions.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? The culture at Wellstar is inclusive and provides quality healthcare to everyone in the general population.
Hometown: Coral Springs, Florida
Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Administration/leadership, hospital medicine, cardiology, public health, research, critical care and GI
Personal interests & hobbies: Playing basketball, watching the Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins, Netflix, strength training, fantasy football, traveling, finance, reading the NEJM, sleep and dad jokes
Why internal medicine? As a former basketball coach, I have always had a passion for being an efficient game manager while being an educator and tactician. I chose internal medicine to make an impact on my patients’ lives while being on the front line of medicine and care. I take pride in working with people from all walks of life while wearing multiple hats to facilitate care, providing continuity of care, managing a variety of pathologies, thinking critically and having the opportunity to expand my knowledge base daily.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? With Wellstar, I have found a second family. Everyone in the organization exhibits and embraces our family-oriented culture. Additionally, Wellstar offers a wide variety of patient exposure, research opportunities, learning workshops, subspecialty electives and public health initiatives. The organization’s mission, focus and values align with my principles, allowing my work to feel meaningful and impactful.
Hometown: Banning, California
Medical school: Universidad de Montemorelos Escuela de Medicina
Clinical interests: Cardiology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, nephrology and hematology
Personal interests & hobbies: Sports, working out, skating, video games, movies, working on my car, cooking and socializing with friends and family
Why internal medicine? I always wanted to be in a field where I could use my medical knowledge to help people in different situations.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Wellstar is a beacon of health for the people of Marietta, and I have always admired all the health professionals who worked here. Did I mention all my kids were born in Wellstar Kennestone?
Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois
Medical school: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical interests: Endocrinology, hospital medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Cooking, walking on new trails or hikes, watching Indian soap operas and volunteering with my religious group
Why internal medicine? I want to pursue internal medicine because I was initially very drawn to understanding the pathology and physiology of medical conditions. On my rotations, I saw doctors in hospital medicine who got to explore these topics to detail while providing quality care.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? On my interview day, I felt incredibly welcomed by the Wellstar faculty. The genuine kindness of our leadership and our co-residents is what made me want to come here. I ended up ranking Wellstar as my number one and writing a letter of intent to come here.
Hometown: Georgia
Medical school: University of Port Harcourt College of Health Sciences
Clinical interests: Gastroenterology, infectious disease, cardiology
Personal interests & hobbies: Cooking, sewing, movies
Why internal medicine? I love internal medicine because it encompasses a vast array of medical conditions, ranging from common to rare. This wide exposure to diverse diseases allows me to continually learn and adapt. It also aligns with my desire to be well-versed in various aspects of medicine and to stay intellectually engaged throughout my career.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Diverse patient population was one thing that stood out for me. Also, the mentorship and guidance I have received from my attendings and the program faculty, including the program director, is impressive.
Hometown: Roswell, GA
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Interests: Infectious diseases/HIV
Personal Interests & Hobbies: Rock climbing, biking, traveling
Why Internal Medicine? I enjoy interacting with patients and applying critical thinking to diagnosing and managing multi-system problems.
Why Wellstar? I chose WellStar because of its reputation and role in the community I grew up in as well as the opportunities to learn alongside residents of different specialities.
Hometown: Cumming
Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Internal medicine, cardiology
Personal interests & hobbies: Astronomy, engineering, hiking, cooking, science fiction and video games
Why internal medicine? Internal medicine provides a route into medicine that is both broad and deep. The intricate puzzle-solving aspect of internal medicine, where each patient presents a unique challenge and experience, strongly resonates with my passion for problem-solving and continuous learning. I believe it offers a platform to integrate clinical expertise, empathy and evidence-based medicine to deliver holistic healthcare with the ability to provide many pathways further into medicine.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I chose Wellstar Kennestone because of its reputation for excellence in patient care, innovative medical practices and commitment to community health. Wellstar provides a wealth of institutional resources while fostering a collaborative environment that encourages learning and growth. Wellstar’s dedication to advancing medical research and education aligns with my career aspirations, making it an ideal place to further my training. Additionally, Wellstar has strong ties to the community that align with my values of service and advocacy. Wellstar enables me to both enhance my clinical skills and contribute meaningfully to community members’ well-being.
Hometown: Atlanta
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical interests: Facilitating joint decision making through simplification of difficult medical concepts
Personal interests & hobbies: Badminton, building Lego supercars and listening to music
Why internal medicine? I’m very interested in pulmonology.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Most collegial and growth-oriented/supportive atmosphere compared to other programs
Hometown: Canton
Medical school: UC San Diego School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Medically underserved populations and frontline mental health
Personal interests & hobbies: Music, film, games, science and spending time with friends and family
Why internal medicine? It is one of the few specialties which is truly broad in scope; you care for the complete patient, not just one system.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? For stellar training, the opportunity to serve my home population, and to be near family and friends
Hometown: Johns Creek
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical interests: Undecided, leaning towards outpatient
Personal interests & hobbies: Arts and crafts, casual video gaming, listening to all types of music
Why internal medicine? Internal medicine provides the continuity of care that I enjoy, and the opportunities to learn and tailor my career are endless given the multitude of subspecialties and varying levels of complexity that the field of internal medicine has.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Wellstar Kennestone provides many opportunities for inpatient and outpatient training, and the camaraderie of the residents is one of its greatest benefits. Additionally, the location of the hospital is close to my hometown as well as to the city, so I have plenty of activities I can do and places to visit when I am not in the hospital.
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Medical school: Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical interests: Inpatient medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Playing sports (tennis, volleyball, etc.) and fragrances (cologne/perfume)
Why internal medicine? I appreciate the wide scope of practicing as the primary advocate/caregiver in an acute setting.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? It’s a big hospital with ample support and a wide variety of diseases but also a fair share of bread-and-butter medicine. It offers good exposure to all pathologies that you may not see in a community or academic hospital.
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Medical school: MyungSung Medical College
Clinical interests: Critical care medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Listening to music and cooking
Why internal medicine? I chose the internal medicine specialty for its comprehensive training, which I believe will equip me with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide exceptional care for my patients. Additionally, it offers the opportunity to explore various subspecialties and fellowship options, allowing me to advance and diversify my career.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Wellstar provides immense support for individual goals and fosters efforts to achieve clinical and academic excellence. The staff is also comprised of vibrant and compassionate teams and cultivates a familial atmosphere. The significant initiative of the program providing healthcare services to underserved communities strongly aligns with my career values and aspirations.
Hometown: Acworth
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical interests: Hospital medicine, palliative care, cardiology
Personal interests & hobbies: Music enthusiast with a love for karaoke, beginner audiophile, basketball and boxing
Why internal medicine? Internal medicine offers versatility with different career pathways to pursue and allows me to specialize in an area that I enjoy or seek intellectual satisfaction with general medicine in a more acute setting in the hospital or primary care in the clinic.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Wellstar was the hospital system that I grew up with, volunteered in and worked in prior to entering into medical school. I enjoyed the work environment and the culture. It is simply close to home in a community that I am proud to be a part of and give back to.
Hometown: Marietta
Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Hospital medicine with a lesser interest in critical care
Personal interests & hobbies: Playing basketball, writing standup comedy and hanging out in midtown Atlanta with friends
Why internal medicine? I chose IM because I wanted to be a “thinker.” I like that IM physicians approach problems from head to toe. I like the idea of being a jack of all trades and enjoy managing multiple organ systems while also knowing I will directly speak to patients every day. There is also lots of flexibility in IM that makes it a unique field.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Wellstar is a not-so-hidden gem anymore—located close to Atlanta. It is a large hospital system with the feel of both a community hospital and a major teaching hospital. You will certainly see a myriad of fascinating cases and an underrated part of Wellstar is the countless perks we get as well.
Hometown: Douglas
Medical school: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical interests: Hospital medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Arts and crafts, reading, spending time with my friends and family and binge-watching Netflix shows
Why internal medicine? Internal medicine is the one field where you get the best of both worlds and can make it what you want. I love being able to treat all systems of the body and have the opportunity to constantly challenge myself and be able to learn from each patient and their diagnoses.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Being away from home for post-graduation and medical school, I realized there is no place like Georgia and Wellstar felt like the perfect place to celebrate Georgia. Since I have started here, I have felt supported every step of the way. Everyone is super friendly and ready to teach/help, and most importantly, coming to work is fun, full of laughter and always a good time—even on the hard days. I am so excited to see where the next three years take me and all the memories I make along the way!
Hometown: Ceiba, Puerto Rico
Medical school: University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts
Clinical interests: Hematology/oncology
Personal interests & hobbies: Beach, paddle boarding, gym, running, fiction books and volleyball
Why internal medicine? It provides a unique perspective of multiple complex diseases along with an opportunity to create meaningful changes in a variety of settings.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Because of its culture, diverse community and opportunities for personal/professional growth
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical interests: Hospital medicine, cardiology and critical care
Personal interests & hobbies: Trying new restaurants and traveling with my husband, reading mysteries and doing yoga
Why internal medicine? The constant puzzle solving and challenge in breadth of knowledge attracted me to internal medicine.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Wellstar had the program culture, constant improvement and foundations I was looking for in a program.
Hometown: Marietta
Medical school: Washington University of Health and Sciences
Clinical interests: Hospitalist and primary care
Personal interests & hobbies: Spending time with my family and friends, traveling, dancing, cooking, volunteering at my church and local community
Why internal medicine? I like the fact that I get to deal with a wide range of medical conditions in adult patients only.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Because of its culture of inclusiveness and proximity to home
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Medical school: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical interests: Hospital medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Spending time with friends and family, exploring new restaurants and watching reality television
Why internal medicine? Internal medicine brings a vast scope of possible cases and pathology that I believe keeps the day-to-day very exciting. The opportunity to work alongside, collaborate with and learn from many physicians and specialists is also something that drew me to the field.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Working in a facility as busy as Wellstar Kennestone brings exposure to a vast variety of pathology and patient populations. I also am so appreciative of the supportive culture between co-residents and with attendings and program leadership.
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Medical school: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Rheumatology and pulmonology
Personal interests & hobbies: Travel, sports, reading, cooking, trying new restaurants, cuddling with my dog and spontaneous trips to the beach
Why internal medicine? The field of internal medicine complements my desire for research, problem-solving and inspiring others to adopt healthier lifestyles for disease prevention. I’m drawn to the challenge of encountering a set of symptoms and identifying their etiology while considering the needs of the whole patient in the management plans, not just the illness being treated.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? The Wellstar Internal Medicine program is extremely collaborative with very approachable attendings. The support and camaraderie at Wellstar are unmatched and I’m so thankful to have made lifelong friendships throughout my time here. Additionally, Wellstar provides a great depth of training with many subspecialty and research opportunities, while also serving a diverse patient population.
Hometown: Salisbury, Maryland
Medical school: American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Clinical interests: Hospital medicine and GI
Personal interests & hobbies: Puzzles, yoga and hiking
Why internal medicine? I enjoy the flexibility to manage a variety of pathophysiologies and a wide scope of practice.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? For its very supportive administration, coresidents, attendings and staff creating an environment that’s conducive to growth
Hometown: East Texas
Medical school: Trinity School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Critical care and palliative medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Running, reading, basketball and spending time with friends
Why internal medicine? Internal medicine offers the opportunity to delve into a variety of medical conditions, providing a broad understanding of the human body. It’s like being a multilingual detective for your patient’s health, solving complex puzzles, communicating between patients and different specialists with a goal of making a significant impact in people’s lives.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Wellstar focuses on maintaining mental and emotional well-being. They foster a supportive atmosphere where collaboration and growth thrive, ultimately leading to better patient care.
Hometown: Marietta
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical interests: Palliative medicine, underserved populations and quality improvement
Personal interests & hobbies: Board games, fantasy novels, church, adventuring with my husband and two dachshunds and all things Star Wars
Why internal medicine? I chose internal medicine because I wanted to practice bread-and-butter medicine and to have a hand in every aspect of medical care.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Because the camaraderie and support as a resident here are unlike anywhere else
Hometown: Kennesaw
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical interests: Critical care medicine and ECMO
Personal interests & hobbies: Soccer, basketball, concerts, guitar and history
Why internal medicine? Internal medicine is the perfect mix of problem solving. Combining your clinical acumen, diagnostic findings and a patient’s history to formulate and treat a patient is what initially attracted me to internal medicine. The diversity and wide reach of internal medicine keeps the field exciting!
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? The supportive teaching environment, diversity of pathology and great co-residents
Hometown: Johns Creek
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical interests: Primary care and endocrinology
Personal interests & hobbies: Working out, cooking, soccer and traveling
Why internal medicine? I chose internal medicine because it allows me to embrace a diverse range of medical knowledge and maintain ongoing connections with patients throughout their health journeys.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I chose Wellstar truly because of the amazing people that work here, the diverse patient population and the emphasis on wellness for employees.
Hometown: New York City and Atlanta
Medical school: American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Clinical interests: Hospital medicine (rounding) and swing shift
Personal interests & hobbies: Sports, travel, exercise and technology
Why internal medicine? I love internal medicine because you are the jack of all trades. You will see various pathologies from different specialties and always learn something new and never be bored. You are the patients’ quarterback and help them from their start to finish in a hospital setting. In the outpatient setting you see patients for a lifetime and will develop meaningful relationships with your patients, which improves their health over time.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? When I moved to Atlanta as a teenager, I fell in love with Georgia. After leaving for medical school, I wanted to come back and serve this community. Wellstar gives me the opportunity to help a wide range of people.
Hometown: Lilburn
Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Primary care
Personal interests & hobbies: Traveling, anything outdoors, board games, basketball and fashion
Why internal medicine? I chose IM due to the broad knowledge base and scope you get to develop and keep through your career. You get a bit of everything in this field.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Wellstar has a great work culture, close to home and family and acuity/diversity in pathology.
Hometown: Albany
Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Primary care
Personal interests & hobbies: Traveling with my wife, watching the newest movies and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs
Why internal medicine? Internal medicine provides the opportunity to step back and look at the big picture. You get to learn and think deeply about a wide range of topics and how they ultimately affect each other. You get to solve problems on a daily basis.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? The people at Wellstar make it what it is today. You are constantly surrounded by smart and compassionate people who want to see you succeed.
Hometown: Johns Creek
Medical school: University of Queensland School of Medicine
Clinical interests: GI
Personal interests & hobbies: Traveling and boxing
Why internal medicine? It has lots of diverse subspecialties.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I wanted to be close to family.
Hometown: Albany
Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Primary care and ethics
Personal interests & hobbies: Piano, reading, hiking and spending time with family and pets
Why internal medicine? Internal medicine involves a lot of thinking and problem solving on a daily basis, which I find mentally stimulating and a constant challenge for me. In addition, it is fulfilling to use problem solving skills to help patients.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Wellstar is a system that provides a nice blend of academia and a community feel. It also responds to its employees’ needs and provides a positive environment for work.
Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland, and Jonesboro
Medical school: Morehouse School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Imaging and GI
Personal interests & hobbies: Video games, learning about different cultures, foreign languages, traveling and music
Why internal medicine? It’s a vast field with a lot of possibilities. It also allows me to bring my skills back to the underserved community that I’m used to.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I initially chose it because of how close it was to home. I also appreciated that they foster a good work-life balance.
Hometown: Marietta
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical interests: Hospital medicine and general medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: I love hiking, swimming and animals.
Why internal medicine? I’ve always loved the problem-solving aspect of medicine. Internal medicine allows you to dig deep while forming meaningful connections with patients. I love the breadth of IM and felt like I got the most fulfillment out of my IM rotations in med school, so it felt like a natural fit.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I grew up in Marietta, so Wellstar has always been in the back of my mind. I was in Wellstar’s volunteer program back in high school so it’s truly coming full circle now. I wanted to be close to home and family, and being so close to the city is a huge plus too!
Hometown: Macon
Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Cardiology and hospital medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Running, sports, spending time with my wife, travel and good food
Why internal medicine? I chose internal medicine because it gave me the chance to think cerebrally and master all systems of the body.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? It was the best place for my family. I felt like they train you very well to be great at hospital medicine, and I knew other people who attended Wellstar and enjoyed it.
Marietta Square | Truist Park | The Battery | Gone With the Wind Museum | Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | New Theatre in the Square | Ghosts of Marietta Tour | Marietta Square Farmers Market | Hilton Atlanta-Marietta Hotel & Conference Center | Cobb Galleria Centre
Cycling is a popular form of transportation in Marietta. The area is also served by the CobbLinc bus service that connects to MARTA—Atlanta’s light rail and bus network. Drivers also have quick access to I-75 and I-285 to get anywhere they need.
