SGMC Health welcomes its newest cohort of resident physicians as they begin their clinical training, representing a significant milestone in the continued advancement of the organization’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) program.

This year, SGMC Health welcomes its largest class to date, with 32 resident physicians—7 in Family Medicine, 15 in Internal Medicine, and 10 in the Transitional Year program—including the organization’s first matched class of Family Medicine residents. With this addition, SGMC Health will now have a total of 55 resident physicians training across its programs.

Now in its fifth year, the GME program—developed in partnership with Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM)—continues to expand its impact by providing high-quality training opportunities for future physicians while strengthening access to care throughout South Georgia. With the addition of Family Medicine, SGMC Health further reinforces its role as the region’s leading academic medical center. 

“This is an exciting moment for our organization as we continue to grow and evolve our Graduate Medical Education program,” said Pankaj Agrawal, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at SGMC Health. “Welcoming our first full class of Family Medicine residents is a meaningful advancement in our efforts to build a strong, community-focused physician workforce. We are honored to support these residents as they begin their careers in medicine.” 

The Family Medicine Residency Program, led by Program Director Madison Hill, DO, in collaboration with Associate Program Directors Pankaj Agrawal, MD, and Erin Parker, DO, provides comprehensive, full-spectrum primary care training for all ages. The curriculum includes obstetrics, pediatrics, and adult medicine, with clinical experiences across inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings. The program is designed to prepare physicians to deliver high-quality care, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

In addition, SGMC Health welcomes new resident physicians into its Internal Medicine and Transitional Year programs. The Internal Medicine Residency Program offers in-depth training focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of complex adult medical conditions, preparing physicians for careers in primary care, hospital medicine, or subspecialty practice. In contrast, the Transitional Year Program provides a broad, one-year, rotating clinical experience across multiple specialties, serving as a foundational year for physicians pursuing advanced training in fields such as radiology, anesthesiology, dermatology, and other specialties that require a preliminary year. 

This year’s residency classes were selected through a highly competitive process, with more than 2,600 applications reviewed and over 400 interviews conducted by GME leadership. Selected candidates demonstrated strong clinical aptitude, professionalism, and a clear commitment to patient-centered care. 

Resident physicians at SGMC Health benefit from dedicated mentorship by experienced faculty and access to the academic resources of MUSM. Training includes comprehensive rotations across multiple disciplines, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience and a strong foundation for future practice. 

As a clinical campus of MUSM, SGMC Health also plays an integral role in the education of third- and fourth-year medical students, contributing to the development of a strong regional pipeline of future physicians. This partnership supports the training of highly skilled clinicians prepared to serve communities across South Georgia and beyond.  

The continued expansion of SGMC Health’s GME program underscores a sustained investment in physician education, workforce development, and improved access to care—ensuring that patients throughout the region benefit from high-quality healthcare close to home.  

For more information about SGMC Health’s Graduate Medical Education programs, visit sgmc.org.  

Internal Medicine residents: 

• Ogechukwu Ariwodo, DO 
• Ndiya Emeaba, MD 
• John Erhabor, MD 
• Obeng Fordjour, MD 
• Haley Elliott, DO 
• Roberto Ortiz, DO 
• Jay Patel, DO 
• Priyank Patel, MD 
• William Pruitt, MD 
• Karamvir Randhawa, MD 
• Paul Reese, MD 
• Henna Singh, MD 
• Nick Taylor, MD 
• Sharon Ann Thomas, MD 
• Yaw Bader, MD  

Family Medicine residents:  

• Mashaal Bakhtiar, MD 
• Alexander Cohen, DO 
• Rohail Jameel, MD 
• Teighlor Ashburn, DO 
• Umesh Mudireddy, MD 
• Cynthia Okoro, MD 
• Rommel Ramesh, MD  

Transitional Year residents:  

• Adebola Afolayan, MD 
• Musa Ayyad, MD 
• Mirza Baig, MD 
• Katherine Bannykh, MD 
• Jennifer Damolekun, MD 
• Xianzhen Deng, DO 
• Brendan Mahoney, MD 
• Indu Meena, MD 
• Umar Shaikh, MD 
• Andrea Viruet Pantoja, MD