Unlocking Success: IMGs Match Big in Emory’s Endocrinology Division!

This year, the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids celebrates a phenomenal achievement: seven of their international medical graduates (IMGs) matched into residency programs in the United States last week during Match. These talented individuals have been the backbone of their division, serving as both clinical coordinators and postdoctoral fellows, all while dedicating themselves to the fight against diabetes. Their expertise and unwavering commitment have been invaluable to our team.

Matching into residency is a HUGE win for IMGs. It’s the culmination of years of hard work, resilience, and dedication. It’s a testament to their skills and a major step towards their dream of becoming practicing physicians in the U.S. Their endocrinology colleagues are incredibly proud to see them continue their journeys in internal medicine and family medicine residencies and believe they will all make incredible contributions to patient care.

Pictured above from left to right:

Farbod Zahedi Tajrishi, MD, is an international medical graduate from Iran. He is currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Emory University Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids . He successfully marched to Tulane Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Bobak Moazzami, MD, is a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University’s Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids. After completing medical school in Iran, he moved to the U.S. to join Emory and was accepted into the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Northside Hospital Gwinnett. Beyond medicine, Dr. Moazzami has a black belt in Taekwondo, competes in triathlons, and participates in long-distance running competitions.

Lizda Guerrero Arroyo, MD, is an international medical graduate(IMG) from Mexico where she graduated from the Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango. She is currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids of Emory SOM. She will be completing her Internal Medicine residency at Yale New Haven Health Bridgeport Hospital. Lizda is hoping to return to Atlanta and pursue an endocrinology Fellowship.

Zohyra E. Zabala, MD, an international medical graduate(IMG) from Venezuela, currently serves as a Post Doctoral fellow at the Emory Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids. She earned her medical degree from La Universidad del Zulia, Venezuela, and was recently accepted into a residency program in Internal Medicine at St. Barnabas Hospital, NY. In addition to her medical career, Dr. Zabala is also a professional Flamenco dancer.

Maria Agustina Urrutia, MD, graduated from Universidad del Salvador School of Medicine in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and completed her fellowship in endocrinology at Hospital Alvarez, Universidad de Buenos Aires. She served as Chief Resident and instructor for the Endocrinology residency at Dr. Cesar Milstein Hospital before joining the Endocrinology Faculty at Hospital Universitario Austral. After a postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University, Maria now works as a Clinical Coordinator III in inpatient trials. She recently matched into Internal Medicine Primary Care at the University of Connecticut.

Walkiria Zamudio Coronado, MD, is an international medical graduate(IMG) from Mexico at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, and she did her Fellowship in Endocrinology at Hospital de Nutrición Salvador Zubirán. She is currently working as a coordinator in the Emory Diabetes Training Academy. Walkiria matched in Internal Medicine at Medstar Washington D.C.

Eduard Castejon, MD, Is an international medical graduate(IMG) from La Universidad del Zulia in Venezuela. Eduard moved to Atlanta after graduation and worked as a medical assistant in different primary care clinics, he volunteered in screening of chronic diseases in underserved communities in Atlanta and worked as a research coordinator at the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids at Emory/Grady before Matching in the Family Medicine program residency at Emory University.