LOWER BUCKS HOSPITAL CELEBRATES THE GRADUATION OF ITS MEDICAL RESIDENCY CLASSES OF 2026

BRISTOL, PA (06/29/2026) Lower Bucks Hospital proudly celebrated the graduation of its newest cohort of medical residents on Friday, June 19, 2026. This prestigious ceremony, held at Georgine's, honored the dedication, hard work, and outstanding clinical achievements of the graduating class, marking a significant milestone in their professional medical journeys.

The evening began with a warm welcome from Michael Motte, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Lower Bucks Hospital, who recognized the graduates for their resilience, clinical excellence, and unwavering commitment to patient care throughout their training.

"This graduation reflects the dedication of our residents and fellows, who have tirelessly provided high-quality, compassionate care to our community," stated Michael Motte, MBA, CEO of Lower Bucks Hospital. "At Lower Bucks, we take pride in cultivating an environment of academic excellence and clinical rigor. These graduates embody the future of medicine, and I am confident they will carry our values of integrity, empathy, and excellence into their future practices."

The event underscored the collaborative spirit of the Graduate Medical Education (GME) department, emphasizing the robust support system that guides these emerging physicians.

"Our residency and fellowship programs are designed to develop well-rounded, compassionate, and highly skilled clinicians," remarked Michelle Buado, Residency Programs Manager at Lower Bucks Hospital Graduate Medical Education. "Watching this cohort transform from eager interns into confident, independent practitioners has been immensely rewarding. Their passion for learning and commitment to their patients have left a lasting impact on our institution, and we are incredibly proud of their achievements."

The ceremony acknowledged the essential role that educators and nursing staff play in shaping the next generation of physicians. Awards were presented, including:

• Teaching Faculty Awards: Recognizing educators who demonstrate outstanding commitment to residents and fellows' education.
  • Shahzad Ahmed, MD, received the award for his dedication to cardiovascular disease education in GME.
  • Radhika Pathalapati, MD, received the teaching award for her exceptional commitment to resident education in the specialty of nephrology.

• Teaching Faculty of the Year Award: Presented to Shahzad Ahmed, MD, for his exceptional teaching standards, approachability, and leadership within the GME program.

• Nursing and Healthcare Team Award: Awarded to William Urban, RN, for his outstanding commitment to resident education, with Renee Stewart, CNO of Lower Bucks Hospital accepting the certificate on his behalf.

The evening also featured prestigious awards celebrating individual accomplishments in clinical care, teaching, research, and leadership:

• Resident Appreciation Award by Nurses: Mithil Doshi, MD, for exemplifying collaboration, accessibility, and proactive communication with the nursing staff.

• Resident Award of Excellence - Outpatient Medicine: Presented by Dr. Umar Farooq to Neha Karna, MD.

• Resident Award for Intern Teaching: Awarded to Fenil Gandhi, MD (Family Medicine); Mohammad Ayub Yaser, MD (Internal Medicine); Samuel William Belsky, DPM (Podiatry); and Pejmahn Eftekharzadeh, DO (Physician Trainee Teaching, Cardiology).

In-Service Exam High Achievement Awards: Presented by Katrina Plachta, Family Medicine, Podiatry, & Medical Student Coordinator to:

• Family Medicine (ABFM): Atiq Sheikh, MD (PGY1); Sajjeel Ahmed, MD (PGY2); Fenil Gandhi, MD (PGY3).

• Internal Medicine (ABIM): Prasun Rajbhandari, MD (PGY1); Smita Adhikari, MD (PGY2); Neha Karna, MD (PGY3).

• Cardiology: Madeeha Subhan Waleed, MD (PGY4); Pejmahn Eftekharzadeh, DO (PGY4).

• Resident/Fellow Scholarly Activities Award: Presented by Dr. Angelo J. Ratini to Madeeha Subhan Waleed, MD, for her strong commitment to academic research.

Recognition was also given for Lower Bucks Hospital's Research Day Poster Presentations, with Jatminderpal Bhela, MD, taking First Place; Neha Karna, MD, Second Place; and Alexandra Brown, MD, Third Place.

• Resident Award for Compassionate Care: Awarded to Sushan Bogati, MD, recognized by the nursing department for his exceptional bedside manner and genuine connection with patients.

• Resident of the Year Award: Awarded to Mithil Doshi, MD, for his outstanding leadership, peer support, and accessibility across all GME programs.

Recognition of Graduates, Interns, and Fellows & Next Destinations

The highlight of the evening was the formal acknowledgment of rising interns, incoming cohorts, and graduating physicians across four specialized programs. As these talented individuals complete their training at Lower Bucks Hospital, they are poised to embark on notable fellowships, hospitalist roles, and primary care positions throughout North America.

Recognition of Graduates, Interns, and Fellows & Next Destinations

Podiatry Residency: Presented by Dr. Albert Giagnacova on behalf of Dr. Steven Boc to:

• Samuel Belsky, DPM - Practicing as a Podiatrist in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Internal Medicine Residency: Led by Dr. Radhika Pathalapati, recognizing current interns and graduates:

• Intern of the Year: Moeed Bin Abdul Ghaffer, MD

Recognized Interns: Moeed Bin Abdul Ghaffer, MD; Sushan Bogati, MD; Iqbal Hussain, MD; Mustafa Malik, MD; Prasun Rajbhandari, MD; Maleeha Saquib, MD.

• Noor-Ul-Huda Arshad, MD - Joining Canton-Potsdam Hospital in New York as a Hospitalist.
• Shreema Basnet, MD - Entering Primary Care practice at Montefiore Medical Center in New York.
• Mithil Neelesh Doshi, MD (Chief Resident) - Entering a Nephrology and Critical Care Fellowship at SUNY Upstate Medical University.
• Neha Karna, MD - Joining Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut, as a Hospitalist.
• Pratyusha Muddaloor, MD - Joining SUNY Upstate Medical University in New York as a Hospitalist.
• Dhrushi Patel, MD - Joining Wynn Hospital in Utica, New York, as a Hospitalist.

Family Medicine Residency: Led by Dr. Christopher Belletieri, celebrating its rising talents and departing graduates:

• Intern of the Year: Mahnoor Bakhtiar, MD

Recognized Interns: Mahnoor Bakhtiar, MD; Shaan Chaudhari, MD; Mahmudul Hasan, MD; Atiq Sheikh, MD; Shakhnoza Zaynieva, MD.

Jatminderpal Bhela, MD - Entering Primary Care practice in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

• Alexandra Brown, MD - Entering Primary Care practice at Summit Health in Plains, New York.
• Fenil Gandhi, MD (Chief Resident) - Pursuing an Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
• Arushi Mohan, MD - Entering Primary Care practice at Dedicated Senior Medical Center in Fort Myers, Florida.
• Sydney Rotman, DO - Entering Family Practice with the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship: Led by Dr. Shahzad Ahmed, recognizing its specialized trainees:

• Fellow of the Year: Pejmahn Eftekharzadeh, DO

Recognized Fellows: Shuja Malik, MD; Madeeha Subhan Waleed, MD; Pejmahn Eftekharzadeh, DO; Talha Bhatti, DO.

Celebratory Highlights and Closing

This graduation was not merely a formal ceremony; it was a celebration of community and talent. The evening included tributes to the graduating class, featuring a musical solo performance by Diaivat Shah, MD, and an energetic dance performance by Prasun Rajbhandari, MD.

After heartfelt final remarks and gift presentations from the graduating seniors, attendees enjoyed a nostalgic "Down Memory Lane" video showcasing the graduates' residency journey. The memorable evening concluded with closing remarks by Shahzad Ahmed, MD, followed by a formal group photography session to capture this historic milestone.

This special occasion, along with the continued success of the residency and fellowship programs at Lower Bucks Hospital, is supported by a vital educational partnership. Lower Bucks Hospital's Graduate Medical Education programs are proudly sponsored by New York Medical College (NYMC), committed to fostering academic excellence and training the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Lower Bucks Hospital extends its warmest congratulations to the Class of 2026 and wishes them continued success as they embark on their medical careers.

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About Lower Bucks Hospital: Lower Bucks Hospital is a community hospital, serving the Lower Bucks County region with medical, surgical, and emergency care. Located in historic Bristol, Pennsylvania, the hospital is well-known for its knowledgeable medical staff, including cardiology, orthopedics, radiology, wound care, and general surgery. The hospital has more than 200 physicians on staff, as well as another 700 employees. As part of Prime Healthcare, headquartered in Ontario, California, Lower Bucks Hospital is focused on becoming one of the leaders in technology.

About Prime Healthcare and the Prime Healthcare Foundation: Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system operating 55 hospitals and more than 360 outpatient locations in 15 states, providing over 3.0 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation's leading health systems, with nearly 60,000 employees and physicians. Twenty-one of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Based in Ontario, California, Prime Healthcare is nationally recognized for award-winning quality care and has been named a 10 Top and 15 Top Health System by Truven Health Analytics. Its hospitals have been named among the nation's "100 Top Hospitals" 69 times and have received more Patient Safety Excellence Awards from Healthgrades than any other health system in the past eight years. To learn more about Prime Healthcare, visit: www.primehealthcare.com. To learn more about Prime Healthcare Foundation, visit: www.primehealthcarefoundation.org or visit https://www.primehealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Prime-Healthcare_FACTS_04-14-2026.pdf

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