Kennestone ER: High volume, high stakes, high reward
Welcome to the Wellstar Kennestone Emergency Medicine Residency Program. Our program was founded in 2017 with one goal: training outstanding emergency physicians who would be prepared to work in any environment anywhere taking care of everyone. Since then, we have developed an exceptional clinically intensive training program with a track record of success.
The Wellstar Kennestone emergency department is one of the busiest in the country, seeing approximately 150,000 patients annually. Our patients comprise a unique mix of high acuity trauma and medical presentations, with a diversity that can only be experienced to be appreciated. Our community hospital is one of the busiest stroke centers in the Southeast, as well as a high volume ECMO and Level I Trauma Center. We draw patients from all over North Georgia and training at Wellstar Kennestone provides the opportunity to learn the breadth of emergency medicine, providing care for people in their time of greatest need.
Residency highlights include:
Living in Atlanta, one of the country’s most culturally rich and historically important metropolitan areas, with easy access to a multitude of outdoor recreational activities. Our team at Wellstar Kennestone is composed of the best and brightest in emergency medicine, and we provide an unparalleled clinical training environment coupled with a dedicated faculty committed to the needs of our patients. We are proud of what we have done and excited for our future, and we welcome you to join us.
At Kennestone we believe that a robust, hands-on emergency medicine curriculum bolstered by a foundation in the breadth of medicine is critical to being an outstanding emergency physician. In your first year, you’ll spend over half of your time at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center in the emergency department, with six months in the adult ED, two in the pediatric ED and one on an ED-based orthopedic and procedures rotation. Off-service rotations include MICU, anesthesia and EMS, which are designed to augment your emergency medicine experience by providing training in key resuscitation skills and pre-hospital care. In recognition of the ever-increasing importance of bedside ultrasound in the emergency department, you will spend a month working shifts in the ED focused on performing educational ultrasounds under the guidance of faculty. This rotation will also include a weekly didactic review session with our ultrasound faculty and will allow you to become fully competent in the performance of ED ultrasound.
As a second year, our focus turns to critical care and resuscitation. You will complete rotations in the pediatric intensive care unit at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) and in the trauma intensive care unit at Wellstar Kennestone. EM2 residents will complete eight months of emergency medicine, seven in the adult ED and one in the pediatric ED, this time at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite (CHOA-SR). During your shifts, you will be directing the initial resuscitation of multiple critically ill and injured patients, including primary assessment and airway management.
During the third year, residents at Wellstar Kennestone will continue to hone their patient care while developing leadership in emergency medicine. During your eight months in the emergency department, you will function as the lead physician in your care zone, assessing and managing all patients in your area. You will also have the opportunity to precept medical students and junior residents, developing your bedside teaching and supervisory skills. Pediatric emergency medicine shifts at CHOA will be integrated throughout these months where you will be able to take a leadership role in the care of children in the ED. You will complete your OB/GYN rotation during this year at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center. You also start a longitudinal course on the business of medicine, discussing job recruitment, billing and coding, and much more.
We offer an intensive 4-week rotation where students function as sub-interns with our ABEM certified faculty to manage all aspects of care for both ambulatory and acutely ill or injured patients. The rotation is clinically focused, with the majority of learning occurring in the emergency department, supplemented by didactic and procedural training. Our volume, acuity, and expert faculty affords rotating students the opportunity to participate in recognition, acute stabilization, management, and disposition of some of the most time sensitive pathophysiology that presents to emergency rooms anywhere.
Students will complete 14 to 16 10-hour shifts, working directly with residents and faculty. They work in both high-acuity and fast-track areas in order to manage a variety of patient complaints and pathology. The rotation also includes a pre-hospital experience with our local EMS services.
Students will attend weekly Thursday morning resident lecture series as well as monthly journal clubs and will also have focused student lectures. A SLOE will be provided as requested.
Applications are accepted through VSLO. For additional information, please contact Samantha.Dance@wellstar.org or WSKEMChiefs@gmail.com
During your emergency department months, you will work 10-hour shifts side-by-side and one-on-one with our faculty. You will see patients for the first eight hours, with the last portion of your shift reserved for finishing dispositions for active patients as well as completing your charting. Our residents work on average 16-19 shifts per month. You will work in both our high acuity and fast track areas all three years in order to gain broad patient exposure and a comprehensive clinical and educational experience.
We use the problem-based curriculum Foundations of Emergency Medicine monthly with once monthly simulations. We also have themed multimodal day four times per year, which is a day of procedures (including self-defense station, ultrasound, competitions/games, etc.). Topics are interesting and relevant, and we also have guest speakers. We keep the lectures as short as possible and provide free lunch.
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.
This year we received ACS Level One trauma certification for the first time. We have 24-hour in-house coverage of all specialties, including neurosurgery, trauma, cardiothoracic, vascular, and orthopedics. You run the traumas as an intern with the trauma team, with whom we have a great relationship. We have over 2500 trauma activations annually, and this has steadily increased in the last 5 years. EM residents in collaboration with our surgical colleagues oversee trauma airways, chest tubes and vascular access.
>150,000/year
Pediatric ICU PGY2 at MCG in Augusta. A nice apartment is provided about 10 minutes from the hospital.
Yes, but only under the right circumstances – residents in good standing may be eligible for appropriate moonlighting opportunities.
We are a very procedure-heavy program, as we do not have ophthalmology, ENT or anesthesia residencies. Many people finish their required ACGME procedure minimums by the end of intern year (except OB deliveries, which is a third-year rotation).
All residents are excused from clinical duties to attend Thursday didactics, with the exception of certain ICU months.
We have 3 ultrasound faculty who teach a standardized ultrasound curriculum. Additionally, a senior resident functions as an assistant ultrasound director. Together they supervise and provide QI for scans during your intern ultrasound month. Multiple scanners in the department are readily available. Ultrasound is encouraged for use on all patients. There is also training with radiology techs for more complex scans offered.
Yes, in a covered parking deck.
Approximately 50% live around Marietta and the hospital. Areas include downtown Marietta, various suburban areas and The Battery, which is where the Atlanta Braves play at Truist Park. Another 25% live in the city of Atlanta for an urban environment. The remaining 25% live in the outskirts like Dallas or Cartersville for a more rural feel.
We take resident concerns seriously. There is an anonymous feedback form to submit complaints. You have an attending mentor and a PGY class advisor and class meetings during didactics. Our program leadership is great about discussing tough subjects with us openly, and our faculty and hospital give lots of mental health resources (wellness e-mails, free Calm app membership and counseling sessions).
PGY-1 = $61,549, PGY-2 = $63,587, PGY-3 = $66,282.
No overnight shifts in the third trimester. No sick call and no more than three shifts in a row in the four weeks prior to or after your due date. We provide up to 6 weeks of paid parental and family leave.
You receive three weeks of vacation per year (taken one week at a time), plus five days off for either New Year’s or Christmas on most rotations. We provide 6 weeks of paid parental and family leave.
You receive three weeks of vacation per year (taken one week at a time), plus five days off for either New Year’s or Christmas on most rotations. Dedicated days off once per month for girls/guys night, PGY class night and whole residency off.
You’re allotted $3,600 per year, and the cafeteria offers good food with a vegetarian option and salad and soup bar. They are open Monday through Friday 6 AM to 8 PM and 11:30 PM to 3 AM, and open weekends 7 AM to 7:30 PM and 11:30 PM to 3 AM.
Yes. You rank your desired faculty mentor intern year and get matched up. You also have a separate family with a PGY-1, PGY-2 and PGY-3.
We have each other’s backs. Seniors assist and give away procedures to interns. We joke around—a lot, even with attendings on shift too. Diversity is big at our program (ethnicity/race, hobbies, gender orientation, marital status, age, religion or lack thereof, etc.) including with our ancillary staff.
Dr. Stettner is a displaced Californian, having been born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. After high school, he moved east and obtained his bachelor’s degree from Amherst College in Massachusetts. He slowly began to migrate south, completing his medical training at Jefferson Medical College, followed by residency at Temple University, both in Philadelphia. Upon graduation from his training in 2003, he moved to Atlanta to begin his academic career as emergency medicine faculty at Emory University School of Medicine.
While at Emory, he served in numerous educational roles, including clerkship director, and spent his final few years as associate program director. In 2017 he was recruited to Wellstar Kennestone to develop the emergency medicine residency program and has served as program director since then. He is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine and the Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine. Notable leadership roles have included the Wellstar Kennestone Medical Executive Committee, the Georgia College of Emergency Medicine Education Committee and the CORD Match Task Force.
Dr. Stettner is committed to balancing resident education and wellness, with the goal of preparing each graduate of the program to practice in their ideal job environment and location. A dedicated city dweller and life-long foodie, he lives in intown Atlanta with his wife and son and can often be found at local restaurants, wine shops and coffee bars.
Dr. Derrick Ashong is an emergency medicine physician, assistant program director and ultrasound faculty at Wellstar Kennestone. Originally from Oklahoma City, he found his way to the east coast for an undergraduate degree in chemistry at Yale University. Following undergrad, he trained at Emory School of Medicine before serving as chief resident in emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
At Hopkins, Dr. Ashong found a passion for understanding the social determinants of health and worked with mentors to create a violence intervention program in Baltimore. He also led conversations with staff, residents and faculty at Johns Hopkins Emergency Department about how social determinants of health immediately impact patient care. It is this hope for a more holistic and human approach to medicine that Dr. Ashong hopes to continue as an assistant program director. He also serves as a fellow in the American College of Emergency Physicians. Despite building deep roots in Georgia, Dr. Ashong remains an avid Sooners fan. With his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, travel and reading.
Dr. Juron Foreman is from Philadelphia. He attended Temple University for his undergraduate education, then University of Pennsylvania for medical school. He completed his residency at Emory University. Dr. Foreman’s academic interests include simulation and bedside teaching.
Dr. Dilani Weerasuriya earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Biology and Psychology at Stanford University. She received her medical degree at Emory University, where she also completed her residency in Emergency Medicine. She then joined Wellstar Kennestone in 2014. She helped start the Emergency Medicine Residency as one of the Assistant Program Directors, a role which she continues to enjoy. She is also a Fellow in the American College of Emergency Physicians. Her clinical interests include HIV and social determinants of health, topics in which she has given grand rounds talks in other programs and regional meetings. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time and traveling with her husband and small children.
Dr. Dany Accilien earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami, medical degree from Florida International University and completed residency at the University of Chicago. Following residency, he completed an Administrative Fellowship with ApolloMD while obtaining an Executive MBA from Emory University. Dany is passionate about healthcare technology, operations, leadership, education and entrepreneurship.
Daniele Bourget Simon was raised in Atlanta, GA, her family originally from Haiti. She attended undergrad and medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her EM residency training at Temple University Hospital. Throughout medical school and residency, she developed a passion for working in underserved communities, both locally and abroad. Daniele was course director of Temple’s Global Health elective course, provided mentorship as a preceptor for the Doctoring course and as faculty liaison for Physicians for Human Rights and also served as chair for Temple’s Medical School Admissions Committee. Outside of the hospital, Daniele is passionate about dance, music, traveling and cooking. She was excited to relocate back to Georgia with her husband and her 2 daughters last year.
Dr. Ryan Brandt grew up in the Atlanta area. He attended Vanderbilt University for his undergraduate degree before completing medical school at the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Brandt completed his Emergency Medicine residency training and subsequent Medical Education Fellowship at the University of Florida – Jacksonville.
After residency, he returned to Atlanta and joined the Wellstar Kennestone Emergency Medicine program as a faculty member in 2022. Dr. Brandt currently serves as the Director of Emergency Medicine Residency Simulation and is the head of the Trauma-Orthopedics rotation.
He is excited to be back in the Atlanta area and spends much of his free time enjoying local restaurants and sport events with his wife and two daughters.
Dr. Michael J. Nitzken is a residency-trained, board-certified emergency medicine physician who has been providing emergency care at Wellstar Kennestone since 1994. Afterearning his bachelor’s degree in his hometown at the University of Louisville, he remained there for hismedical degree, serving as president of hisclass. He completed residency training in emergency medicine at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. andwas elected as a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (FACEP) in 1997. He is currently completing a fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) and has been a flight physician with Phoenix Air, based in Cartersville, since 2007.
Currently the Director of Emergency Medicine Medical Student Education with the Wellstar Kennestone Emergency Medicine Residency Program, he has received several faculty teaching awards acknowledging his dedication to prioritizing both medical student and resident education. His academic interests include wilderness medicine, wellness, advanced airway management, medico-legal analysis and anything that encourages, fosters or supports inclusivity and equity for the program and its members His personal interests include hiking, backpacking and all things wilderness. He also enjoys cooking, travel, music, reading and spending time with his family. Dr. Nitzken continues to view life as a constant learning experience.
Originally from Gainesville, FL, Dr. Punja attended the University of Florida for his undergraduate work. He slowly migrated north, first at the University of Virginia for medical school, followed by his EM residency at Mt. Sinai-Beth Israel. He flew south to Atlanta to complete his medical toxicology fellowship at the combined Emory University/CDC/Georgia Poison Control program and now serves as toxicology faculty for Kennestone. His academic interests include Medical Toxicology, simulation in medical education, and Pediatric emergency medicine.
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Interest: EMS and sports medicine
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I love going to the gym, hanging out with my dogs, and doing anything outdoors.
Hometown: Lynchburg, Virginia
Medical School: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Interest: I enjoy learning about ultrasound and improving my ability to read EKG’s and radiology studies.
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I enjoy gardening as we have multiple tomato and pepper plants, playing video games, and have recently started picking up golf. I also enjoy going to breweries and wineries with my wife.
Hometown: Suwanee, GA
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical Interest: Bedside procedures, ultrasound
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I enjjoy going to the gym, cooking and fishing. I also enjoy going to breweries, watching the NBA and UFC, and a good thriller movie/show.
Hometown: Alpharetta, GA
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine- GA Campus
Clinical Interest: Community medicine
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I enjoy going to the gym, playing soccer, and recently picked up golf. I also value spending time with my family and friends.
Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon
Medical School: Philidelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Georgia
Clinical Interest: Administration
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I enjoy playing soccer, traveling, and watching Manchester United.
Hometown: Corona Del Mar, California
Medical School: Philidelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Georgia
Clinical Interest: Prehospital Emergency Care and Emergency Medical Services, Disaster Medicine, Critical Care Medicine
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I enjoy fly fishing, spending time with my wife and newborn daughter, kayaking, and running.
Hometown: Gray, GA
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Ultrasound and pediatrics
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I enjoy reading, running, playing pickle ball, watching movies, and spending time with my friends and family
Hometown: Modesto, CA / Fayetteville, GA
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Global Health, Wilderness Medicine
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my family and dogs, baking, crocheting, and anything outdoors.
Hometown: Warner Robins, GA
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Ultrasound
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I enjoy traveling, watching football, learning about cars and golfing.
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical Interest: Simple (but quality) community medicine.
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Cooking (transitioning from watching cooking shows to making amateur dishes), intro to piano (my nephew and I are at the same level), sleeping, and reading.
Hometown: Mars, PA
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Sports Medicine, Ultrasound
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I enjoy taking my dog on adventures, skiing, hiking, and cooking.
Hometown: Visalia, CA
Medical School: California Health Sciences University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Interest: Anything I have the opportunity to learn about/experience.
Personal Interests and Hobbies: I am a water baby, so I enjoy anything to do with a body of water. One of my personal favorite pastimes though is eating. I also enjoy getting lost in a good book and game nights with family/friends.
Hometown: Mableton, GA
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Community EM, global health
Personal interest & hobbies: Soccer, running, yoga, spending time with friends, playing with my dog, travelling
Why emergency medicine?
EM is really fun. There’s rarely a dull moment. You get to see such a wide variety of problems and also get a good mix of procedures. I also had a lot of different injuries from soccer in addition to other medical emergencies growing up, so I like the idea of treating someone when they are likely having one of the worst days of their life and just helping them through that experience.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I’m from Atlanta, so that was the initial appeal. However, when I rotated through here as a medical student for my audition rotation, I loved it. The residents and attendings are all great, and you see so much acuity and interesting cases. You also get to do a lot of procedures. I just felt like it would be a great place to train, and the people here are all amazing. I’m so happy that I chose this residency program and would definitely make the same decision again if I had to do it over.
Hometown: Fort Myers, Florida
Medical School: University of Central Florida
Clinical Interest: Trauma and critical care
Personal interest & hobbies: Raising my Australian Shepard, Bentley; bourbon tasting; hiking; and Atlanta United and Falcons games
Why emergency medicine?
I like that it’s fast-paced, has a mix of procedures and clinical reasoning, and the balanced lifestyle.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
It’s a very large and modern emergency department with tremendous volume and variety of patients. Plus, Atlanta is a great place to live, and the residents and faculty are awesome
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Medical School: University of Mississippi
Clinical Interest: community medicine, administration, global health
Personal interest & hobbies: watching sports, traveling, spending time with friends & family, shopping, pool days, reading
Why emergency medicine?
I love the fast pace and variety EM brings. It’s never boring and forces you to always keep learning and be ready for anything at anytime. I also love that we can provide immediate interventions to help make a difference in our patient’s lives.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
Wellstar was the perfect mix of academic and community for me. Large volume, high acuity, and lots of subspecialties available, but also lots of one on one teaching and autonomy. Everyone is super supportive and fun to work with. I also love living in Atlanta!
Hometown: Acworth
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Interest: Point-of-care ultrasound
Personal interest & hobbies: Hanging out with my wife and two dogs, Ramsay and Julia; cooking and watching various cooking shows; building scale models; and miniature painting
Why emergency medicine?
I love the variety of patients I am able to care for in the ED. Not knowing what kind of medical emergencies I could be tasked with from day to day keeps me interested and makes each day uniquely rewarding.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
Wellstar Kennestone is one of the largest emergency departments in the Southeast and boasts an impressive volume and a newly built ED. The acuity of the patients offers fantastic quality of training. Additionally, I am originally from Acworth, and my family still lives in the surrounding area. I appreciate the opportunity to return to and serve patients from my hometown.
Hometown: Valdosta
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia
Clinical Interest: Community ER
Personal interest & hobbies: Spending time with my husband and son, exploring Marietta, traveling, the beach, playing piano and watching football
Why emergency medicine?
Emergency medicine gives me the opportunity to face new challenges and new growth opportunities—every shift. I get to work with all patient populations and see everything from colds to severe trauma. I love that I get to provide care to patients on what could be their worst day and to hopefully make a difference in someone’s life every time I work.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I came to Wellstar after completing an intern year at another facility, and I was welcomed with open arms. I felt right at home here. Everyone from program leadership to residents and staff were excited about what Wellstar offers—and were genuinely invested in the program and the GME community. I feel that the training I am receiving here is second-to-none, and I’m so glad I found a place here.
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Medical School: Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Interest: Global health
Personal interest & hobbies: Swimming, painting, traveling and cooking
Why emergency medicine?
To make a difference in patients’ lives by being a first responder
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
Our program directors truly care about us and our education, and it showed during interviews.
Hometown: Winter Springs, Florida
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine – Bradenton Campus
Clinical Interest: Social medicine, community/rural medicine and global health
Personal interest & hobbies: Exploring ATL (I can’t stop telling people about the Beltline), gym, yoga, going to the beach and attempting to paddle board
Why emergency medicine?
I chose EM because you are continuously challenged, get to interact with a massive variety of people every day and get to make people feel better while initiating their path to getting better. I also love how everyone is valued in the ER—nurses, technicians, environmental services, doctors and APPs.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
Three key factors: volume/exposure, residents/faculty relationships and location. When researching, this program was one of the top 10 busiest ERs in the nation—I knew that kind of volume would leave me feeling like a very well-prepared EM doctor. Secondly, all the residents who I met during social and interviews were great. It never felt fake or forced—we are such a close group and everyone helps each other out. Lastly, Georgia is massive. Our hospital is a 20-minute drive from a beautiful hike, another 20 from downtown or another 20 from a fancy city where you can eat fancy food.
Hometown: Statesboro, GA
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: EMS and rural medicine
Personal interest & hobbies: Hikes with my dog, Scarlett, and baking all the treats
Why emergency medicine?
I love that each patient is coming in with a completely different story and set of problems. There is such a wide variety of pathology that comes into an ER, you can’t ever predict what your shift is going to look like from day to day.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
The people! Everyone made me feel so included, supported and welcomed when I rotated here during medical school. I knew this program would prepare me to practice on my own and help me grow as a physician and human being.
Hometown: Kearney, Nebraska
Medical School: University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Sports medicine and ultrasound guided procedures
Personal interest & hobbies: Reading, writing, rock-climbing and pottery
Why emergency medicine?
I chose emergency medicine because it allows me the opportunity to work with a diverse group of people in a fast-paced environment. There are few things more rewarding than being able to immediately make a tangible difference in the lives of your patients.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I chose Wellstar because it provided exposure to a broad range of pathology, high acuity and top-tier clinical instruction.
Hometown: Port-au-Prince, Haiti and Atlanta, GA
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas
Clinical Interest: All things critical care medicine (vents, ECMO, trauma etc…), global health, women’s health, health disparities in emergency medicine, teaching
Personal interest & hobbies: Hanging out with my friends/family (especially my niece), Zumba/weight lifting, Wedding coordination/planning, traveling, movies, tennis/racquetball, biking, Health/Young Women’s Ministry, anything to do with being on a lake or body of water.
Why emergency medicine?
Being at the forefront of a patient’s care, procedures (duh), the undifferentiated patient and being there for someone on one of the worst days of their lives.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
Stellar training opportunity and my home away from home
Hometown: Harbin, China
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical Interest: Healthcare administration
Personal interest & hobbies: Basketball, hiking and video games
Why emergency medicine?
I love the variety of pathology encountered in the emergency department and the opportunity to do bedside procedures.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I wanted to train at a large community hospital with high volume and acuity.
Hometown: Cali, Colombia and Greenville, South Carolina
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Academic emergency medicine
Personal interest & hobbies: I like to play soccer, work out, play video games, read stuff outside of medical literature and travel.
Why emergency medicine?
The breadth of pathology encountered, the acuity and the ability to work together with a team—whether it is caring for one patient in an alert or the entirety of a shift
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
The people were the determining factor. The size of the ER and the patient population were also great, but the quality of the people is something I could tell from the pre-interview dinners, interviews and from visiting the area— that sealed the deal for where I wanted to be.
Hometown: Hartville Ohio
Medical School: Cincinnati
Clinical Interest: Medical Innovation
Personal interest & hobbies: Reading, Wakeboarding/Snowboarding, Board Games, Videogames
Why emergency medicine?
I love the fast-paced nature of it, the diversity of complaints, and the procedural aspects
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
It was close to family, has incredible volume so over time you can see almost anything, and the brand-new emergency department didn’t hurt
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
Medical School: Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University
Clinical Interest: Critical care and the innovative use of ultrasound in medicine
Personal interest & hobbies: Enjoying time with family and friends, traveling, rock climbing, playing guitar, diving into the world of coffee and bourbon, building computers and playing video games
Why emergency medicine?
I was drawn to this specialty due to the diverse clinical exposure it offers. EM affords numerous opportunities to perform a variety of procedures and engage in critical care, aspects of medical practice that I am particularly passionate about.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
For its location to a major city, the high volume of patient cases and the extensive procedural experience offered. The program’s direct approach to resident involvement in a range of procedures without graduate responsibility was desirable. My interview experience solidified my decision; the positive interactions with both faculty and residents, as well as the overall atmosphere, left a strong impression, confirming that the program’s culture aligns perfectly with my professional and personal values.
Hometown: Cumming, GA
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: The utilization of bedside ultrasound in the emergency room during stabilization and resuscitation of high acuity patients
Personal interest & hobbies: Golf, watching/attending sporting events, any kind of games, cooking and exploring new foods
Why emergency medicine?
I chose to go into emergency medicine due to the vast blend of pathology and acuity that emergency physicians encounter on every shift. It is also very rewarding and humbling to be on the front lines as the first doctor to encounter patients and their families when they are in need.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I was so impressed with the emergency medicine program here at Wellstar Kennestone when I rotated as a fourth-year medical student. The acuity and pathology were exactly what I was looking for in a residency. On top of that, faculty and residents were incredibly welcoming, and I was very impressed with the residents’ level of training. I knew Wellstar Kennestone was where I wanted to continue my training in emergency medicine.
Hometown: Stockbridge
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Interest: EMS
Personal interest & hobbies: Working out, trivia and chess
Why emergency medicine? The variety of the specialty from day to day
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Because of the great attendings, acuity of patients and location
Hometown: Lilburn
Medical School: University of California at San Diego School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Emergency medicine
Personal interest & hobbies: Hiking, camping and playing guitar
Why emergency medicine? For the variety and life-long learning
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I wanted to be in the Atlanta area.
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Medical School: University of Central Florida
Clinical Interest: Education, Quality Improvement
Personal interest & hobbies: Travel, Hiking, Music, Science and Technology
Why emergency medicine?: I enjoy the wide scope of practice, being able to treat high acuity patients, and the unique camaraderie and culture of emergency medicine.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?: I looked for a high volume, high acuity place to train at with a supportive team and strong sense of camaraderie.
Hometown: Tallapoosa
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: the undifferentiated patient, chest pain, ekg interpretation
Personal interest & hobbies: being with my wife and daughter, our dog, Braves baseball, traveling, skiing
Why emergency medicine? For the variety and acuity
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Location is great. The people are incredible. Kennestone has high volume and acuity. Tons of procedures. This makes for an ideal training environment.
Hometown: Lawrenceville
Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Emergency medicine
Personal interest & hobbies: Hiking, running, outdoor activities, cooking and traveling
Why emergency medicine? I went into medicine to work as an EM physician. The goal was to work in aid relief and in places of greatest need.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? It is an attractive program filled with a great group of welcoming residents and great leadership. There was also the plus of being close to family and friends.
Hometown: Jupiter, Florida
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn
Clinical Interest: Procedural microskills, critical care, on-shift teaching
Personal interest & hobbies: Hanging out with my awesome wife, my newborn daughter (who is my bestie) and my dog, Spud; cooking; baking; mowing the lawn; and getting dubz on Warzone with the boys
Why emergency medicine? I was a Fleet Marine Force Navy Corpsman and all of my medical officers on deployment were EM trained. I loved management of medical emergencies in the austere setting and wanted to pursue a career that let me manage medical emergencies every day.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Wellstar Kennestone EM is a community/hybrid program with crazy volume, acuity, pathology and autonomy, and we are trained by faculty and staff attendings who come from renowned academic programs across the country.
Hometown: Madison, GA
Medical School: Mercer School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Ultrasound
Personal interest & hobbies: Soccer, cooking, hiking, outdoor activities.
Why emergency medicine? Diversity of pathology and patient populations. I enjoy coming into work not knowing what I am going to see each day. We provide the safety net for the community and I truly enjoy the variety of patients and comradery in the emergency department.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I did an away rotation at kennestone and felt this program provided a great training environment due to the volume and high acuity of patients. The faculty were so supportive and I felt I would be well trained while also enjoying my training process here.
Hometown: Dacula
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn Campus
Clinical Interest: Emergency medicine clinical practice
Personal interest & hobbies: Guitar, banjo, mandolin, exercise, hiking, lacrosse and competitive grappling sports
Why emergency medicine? I like the diversity of presentations and training on how to acutely manage any medical condition.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? For the amount of procedural experience and experience with different patient populations, as well as the proximity to Atlanta
Hometown: Lexington, Massachusetts
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Interest: Teaching and ultrasound
Personal interest & hobbies: Soccer, tennis, running, biking, hiking, enjoying new restaurants and breweries, and exploring the Atlanta Beltline
Why emergency medicine? To provide compassionate and sympathetic care for individuals at one of the worst moments in their lives. To be a ‘jack of all trades’ and help patients get to their next step appropriately
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I wanted a busy community program, focusing on volume and high acuity. I wanted to feel comfortable taking care of anyone and wanted a place that saw a diverse range of patients.
Hometown: Greenville, Mississippi
Medical School: University of Mississippi Medical Center
Clinical Interest: Rural medicine
Personal interest & hobbies: International travel, reading and cats
Why emergency medicine? I like the fast pace and that every day is different.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I really enjoyed my interview—I just clicked with the people and the residents seemed well-adjusted to residency life.
Hometown: Greeley, Colorado
Medical School: University of Nebraska Medical Center
Clinical Interest: Critical care
Personal interest & hobbies: Dog mom, playing games, dancing, spending time with family and friends, and walking the Beltline
Why emergency medicine? I never have the same day twice and can help those who are having their worst day.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? The autonomy, acuity, volume and support from faculty and coresident
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
Easy access to the world’s busiest airport, lower living expenses compared to most large cities, multiple sports teams, vibrant nightlife, outdoor activities, delicious food, and cultural diversity make Atlanta a great place to complete your residency.
Cobb Transportation Info
