We are pleased to introduce the J. Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency program’s 2024-2025 Chief Resident group! These rising Chief Residents were selected from an exceptionally strong class based on input from residents, faculty, and stakeholders across the Department of Medicine.

We look to our chiefs as exemplary resident role models who exude intellectual curiosity, inspire curiosity in others, provide top-notch patient care, and invest in our program and our people. This group’s outstanding leadership and enthusiasm for resident education will enrich the legacy of our training program.

Please see below for additional information and hospital assignments for the 2024-2025 Chief Residents

Kylie Anthony: Grady Memorial Hospital

Medical School:  McGovern Medical School (UT Health Houston) | College: Baylor University | Hometown: ​​​​​​​ Temple, TX

Why did you choose to train at Emory? 

I knew when looking for a residency program that I wanted to work in a place that had a public hospital site so that I could learn not only medicine, but the barriers to care that frequently come with caring for the underserved. When I interviewed at Emory, it was clear that not only did Emory provide that within the four walls of Grady, but that they frequently put that mission into action outside of it with advocacy and service throughout the Atlanta area.

What is your favorite thing about our program?

Absolutely the people! I could see even through a Zoom screen on interview day the camaraderie between the residents and amongst the attendings. My co-residents have been incredibly supportive through the ups and downs that occur in residency, and I am so grateful to work and learn alongside them every day.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

The Great British Baking Show is one of my favorite TV shows and has inspired me to bring several forms of baked goods to wards teams over the years.

 

Daniel (Dan) Barboto: Emory University Hospital Midtown

Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine | College: The University of Tampa | Hometown: ​​​​​​​Tampa, Florida

What is your favorite thing about our program?

The people — and not just my amazing co-residents that impress me every day and inspire me to be better, but also everyone from the attendings, nurses, clerks — you name it — that make me feel at home day in and day out. Being surrounded by a community that is so uplifting and positive makes getting through residency that much more enjoyable.

What are you most excited about for your chief year?

I’m most excited to continue fostering a community where everyone feels heard, respected, and valued coming to work each day!

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

Big soccer guy! When I’m not in the hospital, you can find me playing soccer all over Atlanta in one of the many leagues the city has to offer.

 

Irtiqa Fazili: Atlanta VA Medical Center 

Medical School: University of Tennessee College of Medicine | College: University of Pennsylvania | Hometown: ​​​​​​​Nashville, TN

What is your favorite thing about our program?

The people! From the attendings to the fellows to the co-residents, I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to learn, grow, and laugh with (and sometimes vent to).

What are you most excited about for your chief year? 

Teaching! Learning as a team is my favorite part of residency, and I’m excited to continue to learn as I teach, whether it’s on the wards or through didactics. I also can’t wait to meet the new interns and rising residents as everyone settles into their new roles.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

So far in 2023, I’ve visited five national parks – Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, Zion, and Great Smoky Mountains.

 

Mackenzie Garcia: Ambulatory Chief Resident

Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine | College: Colorado State University | Hometown: ​​​​​​​Evergreen, Colorado

What is your favorite thing about our program?

There are a lot of things I love about our program, but the best part is the genuine, equity-minded, caring, and fun humans that I get to call colleagues and friends. There are a lot of people here who are passionate about equity and justice which is exactly what I was looking for in a program. I am constantly inspired by my peers and have never felt alone here.

What are you most excited about for your chief year?

I am really looking forward to the opportunity to teach and support residents. I love learning about people’s strengths and am grateful when I can support them in some way as they navigate challenges.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I recently acquired a hobby of building LEGO creations. It’s not something I did much as a kid so it’s a new-found joy!

Jim Pennoyer: Emory University Hospital

Medical School: Medical College of Georgia | College: University of Notre Dame | Hometown: ​​​​​​​East Providence, Rhode Island

What is your favorite thing about our program?

The genuine kindness of our residents is just amazing. Whether it’s hanging out on Grady night float, taking time to have team dinner after a busy month of wards, or just a smile passing through the hallways our community has a knack for uplifting and supporting each other both inside and outside the hospital.

What are you most excited about for your chief year?

I’m most looking forward to honing my teaching and leadership skills while supporting this special program and the people in it. The passion to learn and practice medicine is an important cornerstone of Emory IM, and I am so excited to help foster that growth.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I played the trumpet in the Notre Dame marching band as an undergraduate. I may not have been the most talented trumpet player, but I was the loudest!

 

Suyu Zhang: Grady Memorial Hospital

Medical School: New York Medical College | College: Tufts University | Hometown: ​​​​​​​Sendai, Miyagi, Japan & New Haven, Connecticut

What is your favorite thing about our program?

The people. Emory people are resilient, hilarious, compassionate, and brilliant. They are people that you get excited to go into an ICU call day with, who are there for you after the highest of highs and also the lowest of lows. I knew that coming to train here, especially at Grady, would be an awesome experience. I didn’t know that all the human moments I’d share with my co-residents would be just as important for my personal growth. From the program leadership, attendings, residents, to students, everyone embodies a shared passion for mission driven medicine that is unique to Emory. I wouldn’t trade my “Emory people” for the world.

What are you most excited about for your chief year?

I can’t wait to help others grow and flourish in the same way that those who came before have done for me. My time at Emory has taught me that medical training goes beyond a simple transmission of knowledge, but consists also of the cultivation of character, and the development of professional identity. To that end, I can’t wait to work hard to become a better teacher, listener, and confidant, in order to best empower our residents. I’m also beyond excited to help amplify why I have loved training at Grady Memorial Hospital: bringing conversations about the growth mindset, social medicine, and humanism to the forefront of my daily routine. There truly is no place like Grady!

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

When I had to have my meniscus repaired in medical school, I asked the anesthesiologist for an epidural block instead of general anesthesia so I could watch the surgery.

 

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We would also like to reintroduce the 2023-2024 Chief Residents, who will assume their positions in July. We are excited to see how they lead and grow in their new roles!

Alisha Arora– Ambulatory Chief Resident
Charlie Fortin-Leung – Emory University Hospital Midtown
Martin Campbell– Emory University Hospital
Alex Matelski– Atlanta VA Medical Center
Alvaro Ceballos – Grady Memorial Hospital
Deanna (Dee) Gill – Grady Memorial Hospital