Please join us in congratulating the six energetic and talented residents who have been selected as the J. Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency Program’s 2022-2023 Chief Residents. They were selected from an exceptionally strong class based on input from residents, faculty, and stakeholders across the Department of Medicine. Each year, our chiefs serve 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 2022-2023 Chief Residents.
Alex Galloway
Location: Ambulatory Chief Resident
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
College: Rhodes College
Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN
Why did you choose to train at Emory?
“So many reasons! First, was the genuine commitment from residents and faculty to work towards health equity both on individual patient and systemic levels. Second, the community of residents, and in particular the primary care track community. Third, Atlanta! Being from the southeast, Atlanta has it all with a big city vibe with events/sports/etc but also has the parks and greenery (and weather) to enjoy the outdoors! Fourth, women of color in leadership. Emory’s commitment to health equity and justice permeates throughout the program but is most visible through our courageous leaders. Fifth, Emory had the clinical training that would push me to be best physician I could be.”
What is your favorite thing about our program?
“My co-residents without a doubt. I am continually inspired and challenged to be a better person, doctor, and activist by their example. I am extremely honored to be a chief primarily because I know how special and incredible every one of my colleagues are. We’ve worked on the frontlines together in the midst of COVID. Our experiences in the hospital make for a special bond, but it’s the community that I have when I leave work that makes me even more thankful.”
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
“I am a proud plant parent and have somehow managed to keep several alive.”
Jonathan Huang
Title: Emory University Hospital Midtown
Medical School: University of Maryland
College: University of Maryland
Hometown: Potomac, MD
What are you most excited about for Chief Year?
“I’m so excited to advocate for our residents to maximize their experiences during residency whether that’s at work or outside in ATL! I’ve had the opportunity to work with our social-wellness group to coordinate brewery activities and formals which I hope to continue during chief year. I look forward to teaching, running didactics, and most importantly deciding food for conference!”
Why did you choose to train at Emory?
“Having spent all of my life in Maryland, I looked for a program based in a large, affordable city for young professionals and Atlanta was honestly the perfect fit. It was also impossible to beat the wealth of opportunities including research, mentorship, social/community engagement, and strong clinical training at Emory. I still recall the warmth and candidness of the residents I met on my interview day which truly reflects the strong bonds that are formed here!”
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
“Since college, I’ve kept a collection of sentimental polaroids from formals/weddings with friends and family.”
Sindhu Prabakaran
Location: Emory University Hospital
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
College: University of Georgia
Hometown: Duluth, GA
Why did you choose to train at Emory?
“When applying for residency I knew I wanted strong, diverse clinical training at an academic institution. Being from the area, Emory was always on my radar, and between the four hospitals and strong subspecialty network I felt I would have the comprehensive training I was looking for. Beyond that, when I interviewed, I was so surprised at how welcome I felt. There was an ease about my interactions with residents and a sense of purpose and care in both the details my interviewers knew and in those they wanted to hear more about. I felt at home then and I do now (and having my family close by certainly helps!)”
What’s been your favorite residency experience?
“No one likes to admit that they care about their birthday (especially at this age), but let’s face it, we all do. As a brand new PGY2 in the middle of a two week stretch of night float, I was sitting on the 16th floor of Grady the night before my birthday feeling very sorry for myself when I caught sight of three special friends (who happen to be co-residents) out of the corner of my eye. They were dressed in their scrubs on their night off, singing happy birthday, with cake and balloons in hand—the best surprise.”
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
“I was born and spent my early childhood years in Australia and as a result currently hold dual citizenship. (Honestly, this being my go-to “fun fact” is the only perk of dual citizenship I have identified thus far).”
Kevin Shah
Location: Atlanta VA Medical Center
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
College: Baylor University
Hometown: Houston, TX
What is your favorite thing about our program?
“By far, my favorite thing about our program has definitely been the people! There are so many examples I can think of that exemplify the cameraderie embedded into the culture of our program. In just the last few weeks, as winter storms struck in Texas, I got countless texts and phone calls from thoughtful co-residents checking on me and my family back home. It has been a true pleasure getting to know so many of my co-residents and building friendships with them that will last a lifetime.”
What are you most excited about for Chief Year?
“I am most excited about working alongside my co-chiefs to improve the overall experience of our residents in areas including clinical rotations, research, mentorship, and wellness.”
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
“The closest I have gotten to fulfilling my childhood dream of playing basketball in the NBA was air-balling a free throw at a home Houston Rockets game when I was ten years old.”
Shub Agrawal
Location: Grady Memorial Hospital
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
College: NYU
Hometown: Athens, GA
What’s been your favorite residency experience?
“One of my favorite experiences during residency has been meeting regularly with my APD; she’s an amazing mentor and role model and she’s helped me navigate the challenges of residency and life.”
Why did you choose to train at Emory?
“I wanted to be at a clinically rigorous training program that also had a commitment to service.”
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
“My favorite band of all time is Outkast. When I got to see them live, I got to the stage 6 hours before the concert to see them front row – at Outkast ATLast and in NYC!”
Joey Sharp
Location: Grady Memorial Hospital
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
College: University of Georgia
Hometown: Decatur, GA
What is your favorite thing about our program?
“The things I love most about Emory exist because of Grady. The culture of the program, the people and the clinical training are all directly impacted by Grady Memorial Hospital and its patients. My incredibly co-residents inspire me with their compassion and intelligence every day and many of them choose Emory because of the opportunity to train at Grady. I continue to be humbled by the work of my peers to advocate for their patients both in the hospital and in the community and this work is motivated by patient interactions at Grady. Finally it is the formative clinical experiences at Grady that have allowed me to evolve from a layperson to a medical student to an intern and finally to a resident.”
What are you most excited about for Chief Year?
“I am most excited to see the intern class develop throughout the year. Intern year is a transformative year and I am excited to play a small part in the growth in confidence, knowledge and leadership that defines intern year. It is my goal to help foster these positive changes and simultaneously minimize the imposter syndrome, compassion fatigue and emotional exhaustion that can accompany residency. I am also excited to cultivate teaching programs that harness the incredible potential of our residents to teach each other and to further engage and teach medical students.”
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
“Because of COVID, my legal wedding was a 70s-themed ceremony in Piedmont Park with no guests and ring pops for wedding rings. 2020 sure came with some surprises.”
We would also like to reintroduce the 2021-2022 Chief Residents, who will assume their positions in July. We are excited to see how they lead and grow in their new roles!
Dylan Baker – Ambulatory Chief Resident
Lakshmi Katta – Emory University Hospital Midtown
Melroy D’Souza – Emory University Hospital
Sarah Wondmeneh – Atlanta VA Medical Center
Matt J. Brown and Layal Sayegh – Grady Memorial Hospital
Top row (L-R): Dylan Baker; Lakshmi Katta; Melroy D’Souza
Bottom row (L-R): Sarah Wondmeneh; Matt J. Brown; Layal Sayegh
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