Unlock your potential with exceptional clinical training in a supportive community.
Welcome to the Transitional Year Residency Program — a vital and pivotal step in your graduate medical education.
Our program strives to offer a well-balanced curriculum in multiple clinical disciplines designed to facilitate the choice of and preparation for a specific specialty that requires a year of fundamental clinical education as a prerequisite.
We are dedicated to providing a tailored and uniquely constructed curriculum to the resident physicians pursuing specialties including, but not limited to, anesthesiology, dermatology, radiology, radiation oncology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and more. The graduates from this program will be well prepared in clinical skills, caring for diverse patient populations with complex disease processes, professionalism, leadership qualities, and interpersonal communication.
In addition, we offer training in quality improvement and patient safety, social determinants of health, and physician resiliency and wellness. Our residents will have the opportunities to teach medical students, get involved in clinical research, and engage in local physician networks. Our didactics include weekly medicine grand rounds, noon conferences and intern reports, monthly journal club, quarterly mortality, morbidity and improvement, specialty conferences such as tumor board and ethics grand rounds.
It is our desire to recruit highly qualified candidates from various educational and personal backgrounds with excellent medical school training, dedication to the profession of medicine, strong interpersonal skills, and leadership qualities.
Fundamental clinical skills rotation (7 mos.)
Electives may include (5 mos.)
*All content is subject to change without notice. Please check back often for updated information.
Our program encourages and supports various research activities. 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.
Class of 2024
Class of 2023
Class of 2022
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.
Sherwin and I had lunch today and we reflected on how well the TY’s internal medicine curriculum helped us make the mental jump from medical students to confident physicians. Particularly among my ophthalmology peers, I feel that the electives like rheumatology, anesthesiology, and others helped immensely during categorical residency, giving me invaluable perspective to understand another side of things I do every day in ophthalmology. As I begin this next chapter, I will always appreciate TY 2018–2019 as one of the best years of my adult life.”
I had the opportunity to do my transitional year at Kennestone, and I would say that the experience was invaluable. Not only did I get excellent training in medicine but I was also able to immerse myself in many of the other specialties including anesthesiology, neurosurgery, pediatrics, and pathology. As an anesthesia resident, I appreciated the hands on experience I gained from my time spent in the ICU. The rotation that I did with the anesthesiology group at Kennestone gave me exposure to a hybrid academic/private practice model, which ultimately led me back to Kennestone after graduating from anesthesia residency to work with many of these same anesthesiologists. Now as the vice chair of the department of anesthesiology, I get to work with those who I met during my transitional year and the connections that I built during that time have certainly enriched my current role.
The TY year provided the perfect balance. I feel very competent as a PGY-2 but did not experience the burnout that a lot of my fellow classmates had, which allowed me to hit the ground running with my PGY-2 duties.
The further out of TY year I get, the more I appreciate the experience I had at Wellstar. The great variety of electives have been helpful in diagnostic radiology (especially the surgical electives). I had a well-rounded inpatient experience while still maintaining a solid work-life balance. Thanks to Dr. Zhu and the rest of the Wellstar team for a great experience!
I am so grateful for Rosa and Dr. Zhu! My Transitional Year was a time of considerable growth in a safe and encouraging environment. Looking back, I am so glad that I did my Transitional Year at Wellstar Kennestone, and I still recommend it to any and all medical students who rotate with my derm program.
I loved my TY year. I am very thankful to have trained at Wellstar under Dr. Zhu and all of the other wonderful staff.
TY year at Wellstar was excellent. Better preparation for residency than many, if not most, prelim years in discussion with my colleagues.
Wellstar TY program allowed me to transition from a student to a physician in a supportive environment that allowed me to accelerate my professional growth. Thank you, all.
Thank you so much! The Wellstar TY was an incredible experience. I am blessed to have been able to learn with y’all in Marietta.
Given this being a one-year training program, we are not able to provide any visa sponsorship.
Yes, our residents have opportunities to work with medical students and participate in peer teaching.
Dr. Zhu graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. She then completed residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of North Carolina Hospitals. She has been practicing Hospital Medicine since 2005, and joined Wellstar more than 10 years ago. In addition to being the program director for Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center Transitional Year Residency Program, Dr. Zhu is one of the teaching faculty for Inpatient Medicine at Wellstar Kennestone. She is the immediate past president for Greater Cobb County Medical Society for 2023. Currently, she is serving on the board of directors for the Association of Hospital Medical Education (AHME). She is also the chair for Council of Transitional Year Program Director at AHME. Her other professional interests include developing curriculums for QIPS and perioperative medicine, healthcare advocacy and physician wellbeing. Dr. Zhu is a clinical assistant professor at the Medical College of Georgia.
As the medical director of Critical Care and ECMO at Wellstar, Dr. Saberi leads a team of dedicated and compassionate professionals who provide lifesaving care to patients with complex and advanced conditions. He completed his undergraduate degree at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College in Mumbai, India, and his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Buffalo. He also attended the University of Utah School of Medicine for his training in Pulmonary and Critical Care.
In addition to his clinical role, Dr. Saberi serves as an associate professor of medicine at the Medical College of Georgia. He is a certified physician executive with an Executive MBA from the University of Tennessee and is passionate about teaching, learning and innovating in the field of critical care. He strives to improve the quality and outcomes of our ICU services, operations and research.
Dr. Watson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. He obtained his medical and surgical degree from the University of Sydney in Australia. He completed his general medical and surgical residency at Gosford District Hospital in New South Wales, Australia, then completed his internal medicine residency at Emory University School of Medicine.
In 2012 and 2013, he received the Golden Apple Award from Emory University for excellence in teaching. In 2018, he received the Exemplary Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Medical Education from the Medical College of Georgia. In 2019, he received the Inpatient Teacher of The Year from Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Dr. Kamran received his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Khyber Medical College, University of Peshawar, Pakistan. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he also served as chief resident. He completed his fellowship in Rheumatology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. In 2019, Dr. Kamran won the Ambulatory Teacher of The Year award from the Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Dr Rahman is a graduate of King Edward Medical University, Pakistan. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine, followed by a fellowship in Pulmonary/ Critical Care at West Virginia University Hospitals, Morgantown, WV.
He joined Wellstar as an Intensivist in 2013 and had an integral part in the initiation of the ECMO program at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. He is the Co-Medical Director of Critical Care at Kennestone Hospital and currently serves as core faculty for the Transitional year program
Dr Rahman has a special interest in ECMO management, critical care, end-of-life care and health care costs. In his spare time, he plays pickleball and tennis.
Dr. Hampy is an anesthesiologist at WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, where she serves as Vice Chair and Assistant Medical Director of the Department of Anesthesiology. A Georgia native, she grew up in Alpharetta and earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry and biology from the University of Alabama. She completed medical school at the University of Alabama Birmingham, followed by a Transitional Year at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center and an Anesthesiology residency at Emory University.
Dr. Hampy’s professional interests include quality improvement, residency training, and continuing medical education. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, playing tennis and pickleball, and spending time with her husband, two daughters, and their goldendoodle.
Before joining GME, Emily spent seven years at the Wellstar Foundation as a Project Coordinator, where she played a key role in driving impactful initiatives. Her journey began at Kennestone, where she served as an Executive Assistant from 2013 to 2018, mastering the art of organization and operational efficiency.
What truly sets Emily apart is her 20+ years of service as an Aeromedical Technician in the United States Air Force. This unique background gives her a strong foundation in clinical knowledge, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to thrive under pressure.
Dr. Gilbert earned his medical degree from Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia, and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon.
He currently serves as a member of the Graduate Medical Education Teaching Faculty. In addition to his teaching role, Dr. Gilbert is a member of both the Transitional Year Clinical Competency Committee and the Transitional Year Program Evaluation Committee.
Dr. Arinze earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Kennesaw State University and her Medical Degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine, served as Chief Resident, and pursued a Fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Currently, Dr. Arinze serves as a member of the Research Faculty and is the Chair of the Wellstar Graduate Medical Education Research Committee. Her leadership experience also includes serving as the Former Chair of the Transitional Year Program Evaluation Committee and as a Former Member of the Transitional Year Clinical Competency Committee.
Hometown: Woodstock, GA
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Dermatology (Chronic Inflammatory Skin Disorders, Health Disparities, and Psychodermatology)
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Cooking, Pilates, hanging out with friends/family, Traveling, and Trying new restaurants in the city
Specialty: Dermatology
Advanced Program: Emory University School of Medicine
Hometown: Buford, Georgia
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical Interest: Anesthesiology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: hiking, yoga, making seasonal lattes, attending live music events, and curating the perfect road trip playlists
Specialty: Anesthesiology
Advanced Program: UC San Diego Medical Center
Hometown: Columbia, Maryland
Medical school: University of Florida College of Medicine
Clinical interest: Surgical dermatology, Rheumatology-dermatology
Personal interests and hobbies: Trying new restaurants and coffee shops, walking, reading, reality TV, painting
Specialty: Dermatology
Advanced Program: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Hometown: Moultrie, GA
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Dermatology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Yoga sculpt, jewelry making, going on walks, spending time with family
Specialty: Dermatology
Advanced Program: Emory University School of Medicine
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: General Physiatry
Personal Interests and Hobbies: My puppy, trail running, cooking, cafes
Specialty: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Advanced Program: Emory University School of Medicine
Hometown: Buford, GA
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Clinical Interest: Diagnostic Radiology, Neuroradiology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Fashion, food, sports, running, playing basketball, spending time with friends and family
Specialty: Radiology
Advanced Program: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Dermatology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Trying New Restaurants, Walking on the Beltline, Tennessee Sports
Specialty: Dermatology
Advanced Program: Emory University School of Medicine
Hometown: Canton, Georgia
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical Interest: Radiology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Golf, cooking, reading, and spending time with my family
Specialty: Radiology
Advanced Program: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Hometown: Kennesaw, GA
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical Interest: Diagnostic Radiology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Wakeboarding, Waterskiing, Bouldering, Dumplings
Specialty: Radiology
Advanced Program: Boston University Medical Center
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Medical School: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Body Imaging, Cardiothoracic Imaging
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Event decor, interior design, hair braiding, cat fostering
Specialty: Radiology
Advanced Program: Johns Hopkins Hospital
Hometown: Marietta, GA
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Clinical Interest: Dermatology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Hiking, board games, tennis, history/archeology. Aspiring connoisseur of soft serve ice cream.
Specialty: Dermatology
Advanced Program: University of Florida College of Medicine, Shands Hospital
Hometown: Lawrenceville GA
Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Anesthesiology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Tennis, cooking, long walks, and interior decorating!
Specialty: Anesthesiology
Advanced Program: Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education
Hometown: Agulu, Nigeria
Medical School: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine – AZ/FL
Clinical Interest: pediatric dermatology, skin of color dermatology, hair loss
Personal Interests and Hobbies: watching k-dramas and reality tv, spending time with family particularly my niblings
Specialty: Dermatology
Advanced Program: Boston University School of Medicine
Hometown: Alpharetta, GA
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical Interest: Diagnostic Radiology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Piano, Boba, and Board Games
Specialty: Radiology
Advanced Program: University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor
Hometown: Loveland, OH
Medical School: Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Interventional Radiology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Running, hiking, and the Cincinnati Bengals
Specialty: Interventional Radiology
Advanced Program: Emory University School of Medicine
Hometown: Roswell, GA
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia, SouthEast Campus
Clinical Interest: Radiation Oncology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Skiing, Baking, Being Outside, Trying New Restaurants
Specialty: Radiation Oncology
Advanced Program: Emory University School of Medicine
Hometown: Pompano Beach, FL
Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Diagnostic Radiology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Video games, film appreciation, hiking, reading
Specialty: Radiology
Advanced Program: AdventHealth Florida
Hometown: Chicago / Shanghai, China
Medical School: Emory University
Clinical Interest: Diagnostic Radiology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Basketball, weightlifting, yoga, hiking, poker, anime
Specialty: Dermatology
Advanced Program: Zucker School of Medicine Northwell NS/LIJ-NY
Hometown: China
Medical School: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Clinical Interest: Dermatology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Traveling, Art History, Film Studies, Baking/Cooking, Gardening
Specialty:Dermatology
Advanced Program: Tufts Medical Center
Hometown: Plano, TX
Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Diagnostic Radiology
Personal Interests and Hobbies: Lifting weights, stacking coupons, sewing, reading, hanging out with my two cats
Specialty: Radiology
Advanced Program: NYU Grossman School of Medicine
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.
