It’s a Match: SGMC Health celebrates two classes of resident physicians on Match Day

Published 3:58 pm Wednesday, March 26, 2025

VALDOSTA — SGMC Health proudly announces the expansion of its Graduate Medical Education (GME) program, celebrating Match Day 2025 with an expanded class of 10 Internal Medicine residents and its inaugural class of 10 Transitional Year residents.

Now in its fourth year, SGMC Health’s GME program, in collaboration with Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM), continues to provide exceptional training opportunities for physicians, the health system said in a press release.

This year marks a significant milestone for SGMC Health’s GME program, which has grown to include two active residency classes, with a Family Medicine program set to launch in 2026. The program’s continued growth underscores SGMC Health’s commitment to advancing medical education and enhancing healthcare services for South Georgia residents.

“We are excited to welcome our expanded cohort of residents to SGMC Health,” said Joseph Hayes, MD, designated institutional official at SGMC Health. “Their dedication to learning, combined with our mission to provide excellent patient care, strengthens our community. We look forward to supporting their journey as they contribute to improving the health of our region.”

The Internal Medicine residency program is a comprehensive three-year training experience that prepares residents to diagnose, treat, and manage a wide range of adult medical conditions. This rigorous program emphasizes both inpatient and outpatient care, equipping residents with the expertise required to provide top-quality patient care.

The newly introduced Transitional Year residency program is a one-year curriculum designed to provide residents with broad-based clinical exposure across multiple disciplines. Residents will gain experience in inpatient and outpatient internal medicine, critical care, emergency medicine, and other key specialties. This flexible program is tailored to meet the needs of those pursuing advanced specialties such as anesthesiology, dermatology, radiology, and more. Graduates will emerge well-prepared to excel in their chosen fields with strong clinical skills, leadership qualities, and interpersonal communication abilities, SGMC Health said.

The GME program at SGMC Health continues to attract significant interest, with over 1,400 applications received for its residency positions, the health system said. GME leadership carefully evaluated applicants, conducting more than 200 interviews to identify candidates who demonstrate exceptional potential and a commitment to compassionate care.

Residents at SGMC Health benefit from hands-on training under the supervision of experienced attending physicians and access to outstanding faculty resources through the MUSM partnership. In addition to hospital-based care, residents also manage outpatient cases at a continuity clinic, SGMC Internal Medicine, where they develop skills in treating both routine and complex medical conditions while building lasting patient relationships.

SGMC Health’s incoming class of Internal Medicine residents includes:

— Zoha Allahuddin, MD.

— Issac Brian, MD.

— Anna Margaret Jazayeri, MD.

— Mafaz Mansoor, MD.

— Julio Morciego, MD.

— Genesis Munoz, MD.

— Jan Perez Cajigas, MD.

— Srujitha Ravuri, MD.

— Rawa Awat Hama Rashied Salih, MD.

— Shaleekha Sharma, MD.

SGMC Health’s incoming class of Transitional Year residents includes:

— Amal Akhtar, DO.

— Zubair Akram, MD.

— Irina Barbone, MD.

— Brigita Eichler, DO.

— Ardalan Oraee, MD.

— Jay Patel, DO.

— Karamvir Randhawa, MD.

— Byron Reese, MD.

— Sarah Sabol, MD.

— Eunice Yakubu, MD.