South Georgia Medical Center, in partnership with Mercer University School of Medicine, is pleased to welcome its inaugural class of Internal Medicine residents.

Over the next three years, the resident physicians will complete their training under the guidance of Internal Medicine Program Director Dr. Gregory Beale and a host of skilled physicians and staff. They will see patients both in the hospital setting and in the clinic setting at SGMC Adult Primary Care in Valdosta.

"We are thrilled to welcome our premier class of residents to SGMC and introduce them to the community," said Beale. "Our residency program will challenge these physicians to grow and develop their skills. We look forward to helping them excel in their careers and achieve the SGMC standard of providing the highest level of patient care."

SGMC's inaugural class of Internal Medicine residents includes:
· Rija Chaudhary, MD
· Venkata Gandi, MD
· Priyanka Kalan, MD
· Monica Kovuri, MD
· Dwayne Mohan, MD
· Anum Munir, MD
· Shilpa Reddy, MD
· Rosaida Silverio-Lopez, MD

The program will welcome eight residents each year who will spend three years with the system. Each year another eight will join the program, with a total of 24 when at full capacity. SGMC looks forward to becoming a leader in training and medical education.

SGMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Dawson said that the program exemplifies SGMC's commitment to providing unequaled access to care throughout the region. "Rural Georgia is an underserved area for physicians, including primary care doctors. These providers will fill a need in the community and make a difference in the lives of their patients."

The residency program will also provide a long-term economic impact for South Georgia. Not only will the community have a steady stream of new health care providers each year, but it will also see a boost in the local economy from new job creation and the everyday spending that comes along with it.

SGMC launched its residency program in 2021 with approval from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. It received more than 2,000 applications for the first class, conducted 103 interviews, and ultimately matched with eight physicians in 2022.

To learn more, visit sgmc.org.