Piedmont Athens Regional is pleased to announce that 30 physicians from the hospital’s graduate medical education (GME) residency program recently celebrated their graduation. Most of the graduates are going into practice, while others will continue their training in a fellowship program. Many of the recent graduates going into practice have chosen to stay in Georgia. Twelve graduates have accepted positions within the Piedmont system, with seven of the 12 staying at Piedmont Athens in either inpatient or outpatient positions.

“Graduation is an exciting milestone for the residents who have worked hard and been dedicated to their training for a long time,” said Catherine Apaloo, M.D., F.A.C.P., the Designated Institutional Official for the GME program at Piedmont Athens Regional. “While at Piedmont Athens, they have provided compassionate care to so many patients, making a positive difference in the lives of many in our community.”

Piedmont Athens began its GME program in 2016 with 15 internal medicine residents and 10 transitional year residents. The program has grown, with more than 70 residents now in the program.

The length of training in residency programs varies according to specialty. Internal Medicine is a three-year program, while the Transitional Year program is an intern year, which is designed to be a foundation in preparation for an advanced residency completed elsewhere in specialties such as radiology, ophthalmology, or dermatology.

“Our purpose is to train physicians who are excellent healers, engaged colleagues, and thoughtful professionals,” said Piedmont Athens Regional Transitional Year Program Director James Appiah-Pippim, M.D. “These graduates are already demonstrating that they are each of those things, already making an impact in the lives of others, and will continue to do so for years to come.”

Although Piedmont Athens Regional is a large, 427-bed hospital, residents are able to work under direct supervision from their attendings. Residents practice medicine at the hospital and at the outpatient Community Care Clinics. The mission of the Piedmont Athens Regional Internal Medicine residency program is to train the next generation of physicians throughout the state of Georgia.

“We are honored that these graduates chose to complete their residency at Piedmont Athens Regional,” Dr. Apaloo said. “We wish them only the best as they move on to the next steps in their careers.”

On July 1, the Piedmont Athens Regional GME Program will welcome 31 new doctors to its roster to begin their training.

2024 Graduate Medical Education graduates:

Afua Dufie Addo Vanderpuipe, M.D.

Walter Yaw Agyeman, M.D., MPH

Olawole Akinboboye, M.D.

Martin Mandela Baxter, MBBS

Danhely Cruz-Vasquex, M.D.

Tayla Elizabeth Greene, MBSS

Wilayneth Rubistein Gonzalez, M.D.

Julian Matthews Hawkins, M.D.

Advija Ibrisimovic, M.D.

Sahar Karim, M.D.

Osahon Nekpen Idolor, M.D.

Raissa Nana Sede Mbakop Forlemu, M.D.

Kikelomo Olaosebikan, M.D.

Isaac Amponsah Opoku, M.D.

Grace Olatunji, M.D.

Christian Rajiv Seedarnee, M.D.

Hawwa Reesha, M.D.

Sheri Patrice Walls, M.D.

Olukemi Abike Alegi, M.D.

Clare Cooper, M.D., PhD

Neil Doshim, M.D.

Andrew Favre, D.O.

Daniel Nathan Glodener, M.D.

Emre Evan Guvenli, M.D.

Dylan M.Y. Hewlett, M.D.

Alexandra Kershteyn, D.O.

Alex Kumi, M.D.

Amanda Myles, M.D.

Onoriode Kesiena, M.D.

Shreyas Narsimha Singireddy, M.D.