Media Room

For more information or to schedule an interview, email us.

Piedmont Columbus Regional’s Residency Programs Celebrate Graduations

Columbus, Ga. (July 1, 2024) – Piedmont Columbus Regional is celebrating the graduation of 73 residents across its Nurse, Family Medicine and Pharmacy residency programs.

The Transition to Practice Nurse Residency Program will celebrate 51 nurse residents who have completed their first year as a registered nurse in a ceremony on July 12 at the Midtown Campus Conference Center.

“Through learning and clinical experiences with preceptors, ongoing support from experienced educators, mentors and leadership, residents are integrated into a culture that prioritizes and supports their growth,” said Director of Clinical Practice Andrea Wilkins-Howard.

Twelve physicians recently graduated from the Family Medicine Residency Program, and were honored at a commencement ceremony. Of the 12 graduating physicians, seven will remain in Georgia— including five here in Columbus.

The graduating residents are:

Tyler Marie Davidson, D.O.
Rishikumar “Rishi” Gopinath, D.O.
Arianna Sachi Gordon, M.D.
Pooja Indir, M.D.
Nafeesa Raadia Khan, M.D.
Nguyethang “Hang” Vu Pham, M.D.
Makayla Rae Riles, M.D.
Amina Sadaf, M.D.
Pooja Mayur Sampat, M.D.
Smita Shailesh Saraykar, M.D.
Abla Kafui Sogbo, M.D.
Nimish Sudan, M.D.

“Our primary goal is to graduate physicians who are excellent healers, engaged colleagues and thoughtful professionals who will impact the lives of others for many years to come,” said Director of Medical Education and Family Medicine Residency Program John Bucholtz, D.O. “These physicians are well-equipped to live the Piedmont Promise to make a positive difference in every life they touch.”

When established in 1972, the Family Medicine Residency Program at Piedmont Columbus Midtown became the first of its kind in Georgia and one of the first in the Southeastern United States. More than 1,000 family physicians have graduated from the program.

Ten pharmacists recently graduated from the Pharmacy Residency Program and were honored at a commencement ceremony.

“Graduation marks the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication by these pharmacist practitioners,” said Pharmacy Residency Program Director Jamie Crossman, PharmD, BCACP. “During their time here, each of them helped care for people in the Chattahoochee Valley and have positively impacted our community as a whole.”

The graduating residents are: