SGMC Health celebrated a major milestone in its medical education program on Friday, June 5, with the graduation of 18 resident physicians, including the second class of Internal Medicine residents and the inaugural class of Transitional Year residents.

The ceremony featured keynote remarks from University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, recognizing the continued growth and impact of SGMC Health's physician training programs on healthcare access across South Georgia.

Eight Internal Medicine residents were honored for completing their three-year training program, while 10 Transitional Year residents were recognized as the first graduating class of the program's one-year, broad-based clinical training track.

"This is a proud moment for SGMC Health and for the future of healthcare in our region," said Pankaj Agrawal, MD, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, and Designated Institutional Official at SGMC Health. "These physicians have demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence, and we are proud to see many of them continue their careers right here in South Georgia."

The graduating Internal Medicine residents include:

Anna Ledford, MD; Taylor Martin, DO; James McSweeney, MD; Justin Owens, DO; Brandon Rockwell, MD; Hala Sharma, MD; Kinley Shook-Chacon, MD; and Mariya Tom, MD.

The inaugural 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; and Eunice Yakubu, MD.

Four of the graduating Internal Medicine residents will remain in Valdosta to continue caring for patients within the SGMC Health system, further strengthening the local physician workforce. In addition, three members of the Transitional Year cohort will continue their training at SGMC Health by joining the Internal Medicine Residency Program.

SGMC Health launched its Internal Medicine Residency Program in 2022 in partnership with Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) as part of its transition to an academic teaching hospital, with a focus on strengthening the physician pipeline and improving access to care across South Georgia.

The addition of the Transitional Year Residency Program has expanded training opportunities for physicians pursuing a wide range of specialties, providing a comprehensive curriculum with exposure across multiple clinical disciplines.

SGMC Health's medical education programs continue to grow and now include residency training in Internal Medicine, Transitional Year, and Family Medicine, reinforcing the organization's commitment to education, workforce development, and access to high-quality care. In addition, SGMC Health serves as a third- and fourth-year clinical campus for MUSM medical students.

SGMC Health remains committed to advancing its role as a leading academic medical center, investing in physician training programs that support long-term healthcare access and outcomes throughout the region.

For more information about SGMC Health's medical education programs, visit www.sgmc.org.