Congratulations to the 2024 J. Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency Program graduates

As the year concluded for our residents, two annual events were held to commemorate the chiefs and residents for their incredible achievements during their residency program at Emory. Congratulations!

Annual Chief’s Roast and Toast

The J. Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency recently hosted the Annual Chief’s Roast and Toast to celebrate the 2023–2024 Chief Residents, Alisha Arora, Martin Campbell, Alvaro Ceballos, Charlie Fortin-Leung, Dee Gill, and Alex Matelski. Throughout this year, we commemorated the dedication and growth of the residents as they advanced in their training and education. Reena Hemrajani, MD, Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, delivered opening remarks, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the chief medical residents for their profound influence on the program. Faculty and fellows were acknowledged for their pivotal contributions to the residents’ educational and professional journey. The evening culminated in laughter and sincere tributes during the cherished ‘roast and toast’ tradition, honoring the chief medical residents, followed by closing remarks.

See below for a full list of award recipients.

Juha P. Kokko Teaching Award

This award represents the single most outstanding teaching attending the residents work with at any of the hospital sites.

• Mahmoud Abdou, MD (Cardiology)

Joyce P. Doyle Award

The award is presented by the chiefs, at the Roast, to an individual you all feel has shown exceptional dedication toward Dr. Doyle’s vision of tirelessly working on behalf of residents to make this the best program in the country.

• Meghan Lane, M. Ed

Golden Apple Award

This award recognizes the most outstanding inpatient attending and subspecialist attending at each hospital.

Emory University Hospital:

• Inpatient attending: Daniel Hunt, MD (Hospital Medicine)
  Subspecialist: Kunal Bhatt, MD (Cardiology)

Emory University Hospital Midtown:

• Inpatient attending: Audrey B. Jernigan, MD (Hospital Medicine)
  Subspecialist:  Jason Cobb, MD (Renal Medicine)

Grady Memorial Hospital:

• Inpatient attending:  Colin Washington, MD, MPH (General Internal Medicine); Michael Gallagher, MD (Hospital Medicine); and Patricia Cheung, MD, MPH (Hospital Medicine)
• Subspecialist: Sarah Johnson, MD (Renal Medicine)

Atlanta VA Medical Center

• Inpatient attending: Jason Williams, MD (Hospital Medicine), and Caroline Coleman, MD (Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine)
• Subspecialist: Ethel Weil, MD (Renal Medicine)

Most Outstanding Fellow Award

This award recognizes the most outstanding fellows who engage our residents with teaching and enthusiasm for their subspecialty.

• Jonathan Huang, MD (Infectious Disease)
• Luke Hedrick, MD (Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine)
• Albahi Malik, MBBS (Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine)
• Melroy D’Souza, MD (Cardiology)

Laurence Sperling Outstanding Research Mentor Award

This award recognizes faculty mentors and fellows who most deeply supported resident involvement in research. 

• Faculty: Modele Ogunniyi, MD, MPH (Cardiology)
  Fellow: Muzamil Khawaja (Cardiology)

Outstanding Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Award

This award recognizes the most dedicated and impactful APPs in our system who play instrumental roles on teams and in teaching.

• Viva Snowden, NP (VAMC)

Outstanding Nurse Award

This award recognizes the most dedicated and impactful nurse in our system who play instrumental roles on teams and in teaching.

• Bonnie Huff (Ambulatory; Grady Hospital, Green Pod)

Outstanding Resident Teacher

Awarded to one resident in the PGY2 class and one resident in the PGY3 class who have distinguished themselves with their commitment to teaching and inspiring learning in our residency program, through bedside and ward teaching and engagement with program didactics and events.

• PGY2: Brett Montelaro, MD
• PGY3: Youssef Saklawi, MD

Golden Stethoscope

Awarded to residents with superior clinical skills, judgment, and use of evidence to support practice.

• PGY1: Daniel Matthew, MD
• PGY2: Joseph Colarelli, MD, Nidhi Patel, MD, and Sanjay Chandrasekhar, MD
• PGY3: Zachary Owens, MD

Compassionate Resident Physician

Recognizes the residents from each class who represent exemplary humanism towards patients, colleagues, and all members of the health care team, serving as role models for integrity, altruism, respect, empathy, and service combined with clinical excellence.

• PGY1: Russell King, MD, and Ryanne Lehenaff, MD
• PGY2: Maya Patel, MD, and Nidhi Patel, MD
• PGY3: Youssef Saklawi, MD, and Mohamad-Ali Tfaily, MD

Citizenship Award

This award is bestowed by the chief residents upon the residents from each class who most exemplify program engagement and citizenship throughout the year.

• PGY1: Keerthi Reddy, MD, and Kathryn Sharma, MD
• PGY2: Harshita Jain, MD, and Noah Newman, MD
• PGY3: David Dorcius, MD, Stephen Haff, MD,
• PGY4: Elizabeth Chang, MD 

These chief resident-selected awards recognize residents throughout the categorical and transitional year program residents who have made a meaningful impact on the Emory Community. 

Yogi Bear Award

• Kristina Bortfeld, MD (PGY3)

Bobb Ross Award

• Danielle Llanos, MD (PGY3)

Good Noodle Award

• Idris Ali Amghaib, MD (PGY1)

Emperor of All Jeopardy Award

• Alexander Pressman, MD (PGY3)

Dynamic Duo

• Veena Agusala, MD (PGY1), and Ishwar Chuckaree, MD (PGY1)

Energizer Bunny Award

• Daniel Mathew, MD (PGY1)

Resident Celebrity Baker Award

• Rachel Warnock, MD (PGY3)

Ted Lasso Award

• Justin Liu, MD (PGY1)

Best Slogan Award

• “Grady runs on Gary” (Suyu Zhang, MD (PGY3), and Gary Price, MD (PGY1))

Outstanding Residents in Primary Care Award

These awards recognize the residents who display leadership and excellence in primary care, as well as respect, accountability, and integrity.

• Grady PCC: Priscilla Kim, MD (PGY1), Gabrielle Gunderman, MD (PGY2), Phillip Anjum, MD (PGY2), and Catherine Bennett, MD (PGY3)
• 1525: Gary Price, MD (PGY1), Noah Newman, MD (PGY2), and James Pennoyer, MD (PGY3)
• MOT: Ryanne Lehenaff, MD (PGY1), Patrick Rizk, MD (PGY2), and Eric Caliendo, MD (PGY3)

 

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2024 Senior Banquet

On Thursday, June 20, the residency program hosted its Senior Banquet to honor the Residency Class of 2024. The event celebrated the culmination of the years this class has dedicated to becoming exceptional internists and was one of the rare occasions when they had the opportunity to gather as an entire class in the past few years. Having to embark on their journey as resident physicians while squarely in a pandemic, this class has demonstrated outstanding perseverance. The evening provided the opportunity to rejoice in the myriad achievements of these individuals and the exciting new pursuits that lie ahead. Throughout the evening, residents consistently expressed gratitude for the profound sense of community forged among their peers and faculty in the Department of Medicine. In reflecting on the past few years and looking to the future, the group affirmed that whether they choose to remain at Emory or embark on new journeys across the country, this cohort will maintain enduring bonds with one another and with Emory’s nurturing community.

“This class has demonstrated incredible dedication,” says Reena Hemrajani, MD. “We’re thankful for the time they spent with us, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”

Please join us in celebrating and congratulating this accomplished group of physicians as they finish their residencies.