Macon, Ga. (June 12, 2024) –Thirty-seven physicians are set to graduate from Piedmont Macon Medical Center’s residency program later this week in a downtown Macon ceremony.
The commencement is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, June 14, at Fall Line Station, 567 Plum St.
Seven years ago, Piedmont Macon’s Graduate Medical Education program began with 10 Internal Medicine residents and four Psychiatry residents. The program now includes 83 residency spots in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry and Transitional Year.
Each of the four residency programs has training that ranges from one to four years, depending on the specialty. Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine are both three years, and Psychiatry is four. Transitional Year is a single year designed to be a foundation for a resident to prepare for an advanced residency that’s completed at another hospital in specialties such as Dermatology, Anesthesiology and Radiology.
Jonathan Smith, M.D., the Designated Institutional Official for the GME program at Piedmont Macon, said it’s exciting to see resident physicians graduate and head to their next adventures.
"Piedmont Macon continues to excel at training the next generation of doctors to serve the people of Middle Georgia and beyond,” he said. “We are honored to play such a pivotal role in each of their careers and wish them only the best as they continue on to the next phase of their respective paths."
Piedmont Macon Chief Medical Officer Gary Bernstein, M.D., said the main goal of the residency program is “to graduate physicians who are excellent healers, engaged colleagues and empathetic with patients and families. We fully expect they will impact the lives of Georgians for many years to come.”
Not counting the Transitional Year graduates who are all moving on to specialty residency programs, more than 40 percent of this year’s graduating residents plan to practice medicine in Georgia, including at least four who have been hired by Piedmont Macon.
“These physicians are well-equipped to live the Piedmont Promise to make a positive difference in every life they touch,” Dr. Bernstein said.
INTERNAL MEDICINE
Sarah Akbani, M.D.*
Sebastien Bataille, M.D.
Peter Fadoul, M.D.
Samira Ibrahim, D.O.
Whitnee Otto, M.D.*
J. Seth Psomiadis, M.D.*
Aaron Puebla, M.D.
Scott Rowland, M.D.
Grant White, D.O.
Mathew Wright, D.O.
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Brewer Carter, D.O.
Tommy Chau, M.D.
Ian Griffith, D.O.
Nathan Murphy, M.D.
John Parker, M.D.
Collin Patterson, D.O.*
Casey Underhill, M.D.*
Kasey Wright, D.O.*
PSYCHIATRY
Christopher Denham, M.D.
Sarah Gilmore, M.D.*
Sue Muggar, M.D.**
Rahul Prasad, M.D.**
Hana San Esteban, M.D.*
Ara Scott, M.D.*
TRANSITIONAL YEAR
Cameron Bailey, M.D.
Gabriel Beltran, M.D.
Raquel Bruinsma, M.D.
Sheena Chatrath, M.D.
Angela Chieh, M.D.
Poonam Dalwadi, M.D.
Rex Esochaghi, M.D.
Ashwinn John, M.D.
Hari Lakshmanan, M.D.
Keng Moua, M.D.
Ahraz Rizvi, M.D.
Michael Schneider, M.D.
Vasu Sheel, M.D.
*Chief Residents
**Fast Track to Child & Adolescent Psychiatry