VALDOSTA — SGMC Health has proudly announced the third class of eight resident physicians joining the health system this summer.
With this addition, SGMC Health now boasts a full program of 24 resident physicians dedicated to practicing internal medicine in the heart of South Georgia, the health system said in a press release late last week.
Now in its third year, the Graduate Medical Education (GME) program, in partnership with Mercer University School of Medicine, has been extremely successful and continues to launch additional opportunities for medical training, the health system said.
SGMC Health received more than 1,300 applications vying for a spot in this year’s residency class. GME Leadership evaluated each applicant and completed more than 100 interviews. The process culminated with Match Day on March 15, a pivotal moment for fourth-year medical students across the nation, where the applicants learn where they will train. The health system matched with eight exceptional candidates who will now call SGMC Health home for three years.
“We are thrilled to welcome these talented individuals to our community,” said Greg Beale, MD, program director. “Their dedication to advancing their medical knowledge and serving the people of South Georgia is truly commendable. We are confident that they will thrive in our program, contributing to the high standard of care we provide to our patients.”
Residents are doctors who have completed medical school, have earned a degree such as an M.D. or D.O., and practice under the direct supervision of an “attending,” or senior physician. Physicians complete residencies so that they can specialize and become board-certified or board-eligible in a particular field.
“The collaboration with [Mercer University School of Medicine] further enhances the educational experience offered by SGMC Health, providing residents with access to exceptional faculty and resources,” the press release said. “This partnership underscores SGMC Health’s commitment to fostering the next generation of physicians, who play a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare in the region.”
Outside of the hospital, the residency program operates a continuity clinic at SGMC Internal Medicine on Park Avenue in Valdosta under the direction of Medical Director Joseph Hayes, MD. This allows residents the opportunity to learn how to manage both common and complicated outpatient conditions and to follow patients over time.
Research indicates that residents often establish long-term ties to their training sites, making significant contributions to local communities, SGMC Health said.
SGMC Health’s 2024-2025 Class of internal medicine residents includes:
— Nikolay Gogin, MD.
— Michael Heron, MD.
— Moriamo Jeboda, MD.
— Patrick Joseph, MD.
— Sandhya Lakkireddy, MD.
— Ornob Rahman, MD.
— Rabail Saeed Shaikh, MD.
— Asma Yasin, MD.
For more information, visit sgmc.org.