Internal Medicine Residency

Our Internal Medicine Residency Program has been in existence for over 50 years and offers you an outstanding environment in which to become a well-rounded internist.

Through a flexible curriculum structure, we offer residents the opportunity to focus their training in specific areas that are of most interest to you, such as Primary Care, Hospitalist Medicine, or Subspecialty Fellowship areas.

Highlights

Well-balanced curriculum focused on academics with a strong emphasis on caring for the critically ill
Strong balance between clinical experience, didactic learning, and outstanding quality of life
A socio-economically, ethnically, and culturally diverse patient population with a wide range of clinical pathology
Flexible elective scheduling in PGY-3 lets you explore areas of special interest
Osteopathic Recognition Accreditation by the ACGME is available for all interested residents
A team approach to floor medicine, offering the best environment for learning and practice
Ambulatory training provided at modern, state-of-the-art facilities
Gain competency performing board-required procedures, and extensive training with ultrasound guided procedures
Opportunities in clinical research activities including participation in regional poster sessions
A wide range of core faculty including teaching hospitalists, intensivists, subspecialists, and primary care
Eligible for a faculty appointment as Clinical Assistant Instructor of Upstate Medical University
Comprehensive board certification preparation
Ambulatory training provided at modern, state-of-the-art facilities including telemedicine
A 4+1 continuity clinic schedule that allows for more consistent outpatient care and no overlap of inpatient and clinic responsibilities

Fellowships After Residency

2023	Fellowship
Farid Khan, MD	Cardiovascular Disease, UHS Hospitals
Altif Muneeb, MD	Cardiovascular Disease, UHS Hospitals
Hatem Najar, MD	Nephrology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Gowthami Ramar, MD	Gastroenterology, UHS Hospitals
Usama Sakhawat, MD	Gastroenterology, UHS Hospitals
Laurene Tuider, MD	Nephrology, UT Health Houston McGovern Medical School
2022	Fellowship
Maie Abdullah, MD	Hospice & Palliative Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine
Towfiqul Chowdhury, MD	Nephrology, University of Rochester Medical Center
Kareem Ebeid, MD	Pulmonary/Critical Care, St. Joseph’s University Medical Center
Sadia Hussaini, MD	Nephrology, University of Rochester Medical Center
Alyssa Raghu, MD	Nephrology, Rutgers University Hospital
M’Hamed Turki, MD	Gastroenterology, Marshall University School of Medicine
Khadija Raza, MD	Gastroenterology, UHS Hospitals
Aasiya Haroon, MD	Geriatrics, UHS Hospitals
2021	Fellowship
Minhaz Ahmad, MD	Gastroenterology, UHS Hospitals
Sirri Atanga, MD	Infectious Disease, Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida
Christine Del Prado-Rico, MD	Pulmonary/Critical Care, West Virginia University
2020	Fellowship
Pranava Ganesh, MD	Cardiovascular Disease, UHS Hospitals
Maliha Ahmed, MD	Nephrology, University of Rochester Medical Center
2019	Fellowship
Nabil Braiteh, MD	Cardiovascular Disease, UHS Hospitals
Nada Mohamed, MD	Pulmonary & Critial Care, West Virginia University
Jeffrey Rico, MD	Endocrinology, Marshall University Medical Center
Vincent Skovira, MD	Cardiovascular Disease, UHS Hospitals
2018	Fellowship
Bilal Ahmed, MD	Cardiovascular Disease, United Health Services Hospitals
Nazif Chowdhury, MD	Gastroenterology, United Health Services Hospitals
Saif Bella, MD	Gastroenterology, United Health Services Hospitals
2017	Fellowship
Robert Borowski, DO	Endocrinology, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Nazia Mashriqi, MD	Critical Care, Mt. Sinai, New York, NY
Mouhamed Amr Sabouni, MD	Cardiovascular Disease, United Health Services Hospitals, Johnson City, NY
2016	Fellowship
Noor Al-Asady, DO	Vascular Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Nick Changizzadeh, MD	Hematology Oncology, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI
Eva Vaishnav, DO	Cardiology, Coney Island Hospital, Brooklyn, NY
2015	Fellowship
Wojciech Blonski, MD	Gastroenterology, University of Southern Florida, Tampa, FL
2014	Fellowship
Jenna Cooley, DO	Rheumatology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ
Spencer Eisenberg, DO	Geriatrics, United Health Services Hospitals, Johnson City, NY
Jerry Pudusseri, DO	Cardiology, Arnot Health, Horseheads, NY
David Wisa, MD	Pulmonary and Critical Care, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY
2013	Fellowship
Bridget Akel, DO	Endocrinology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY
Scott Legunn, MD	Rheumatology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
2012	Fellowship
Ari Frenklel, MD	Infectious Disease, Eastern Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2011	Fellowship
Andrea DellaValle, DO	Cardiology, Arnot Ogden Medical Center, Elmira, NY
Nassar Hajar, MD	Gastroenterology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY
Ngozi Mezu-Patel, MD	Infectious Disease, Louisiana State University Hospital, New Orleans, LA
Shivani Purohit, MD	Rheumatology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

Program Directors

Muhammad Imran Ali, MD

Title: Program Director, Internal Medicine
Medical School: King Edward Medical University
Residency: Mercy Hospital St. Louis, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
Fellowship: St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center
Specialty Areas: Critical Care / Pulmonary Medicine

Dr. Ali earned his medical degree from King Edward Medical College in 2004. After working for some time in Pakistan, he did his Internal Medicine residency at St. Joseph Regional Medical center in Paterson NJ from 2007 to 2010. In 2012 he completed his fellowship in Pulmonary Medicine from Seton Hall University School of Health and Medical Sciences Program in Paterson, NJ followed by a fellowship in Critical Care Medicine from Mercy Medical - St. Louis University, MO in 2013. During this time, he was a two-time recipient of the St. Joseph's Excellence in Research Award.

From 2013 to 2017 he provided pulmonary and critical care services at Faith Regional Hospital Norfolk, NE where he was the co-chair of the Critical Care Committee. During this time, he taught Family Practice residents from the University of Omaha. In 2017 he joined UHS Wilson Hospital in Johnson City, NY as a pulmonary and critical care attending and as an Assistant Professor of Medicine for the Binghamton University campus of SUNY upstate.

Dr. Ali has a keen interest in teaching activities. In 2020 he was appointed as faculty at UHS Internal Medicine Residency and became a member of the UHS Medical Executive Committee. In 2021 he became the Medical Director of Pulmonary and Critical Care and the Associate Program Director of Internal Medicine Residency at UHS. In September 2023, he took the office of the Program Director of Internal Medicine.

His hobbies include sports such as tennis, soccer and cricket.

Abdelhamid Ben-Selma, MD

Title: Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine
Medical School: Faculte de Medecine de Sousse
Residency: United Health Services
Specialty: Hospitalist Medicine

Shahid Mughal, MD

Title: Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine
Medical School: Allama Iqbal Medical College
Residency: Raritan Bay Medical Center
Fellowship: Health Partners in Hospital Medicine
Specialty: Hospitalist Medicine

Faculty

Michael W. Chisdak, MD
Title: Internal Medicine Faculty
Medical School: Hahnemann Medical College - Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Robert Packer Hospital/Guthrie Clinic - Sayre, PA
Fellowship: Pulmonary Medicine - Cleveland Clinic Foundation - Cleveland, OH
Specialty: Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care

Amine Hila, MD
Title: Internal Medicine Faculty, Designated Institutional Official (DIO)
Medical School: Faculty de Medecine de Tunis - Tunis, Tunisia
Residency: Graduate Hospital - Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship: Medical University of South Carolina
Specialty: Gastroenterology

Domingo Jimenez, MD
Title: Internal Medicine Faculty
Medical School: University of East R. Magsaysay, Philippines
Residency: United Health Services, Johnson City, NY
Specialty Areas: Primary Care

Afzal ur Rehman, MD
Title: Director, Cardiology Rotation, VP Infomatics, Internal Medicine Faculty
Medical School: King Edward Medical College, Pakistan
Residency: United Health Services, Johnson City, NY
Cardiology Fellowship: Medical College of Georgia - Augusta, GA
Specialty Areas: Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology

Mark Speicher, DO
Title: Internal Medicine Faculty
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: University of Rochester, NY
Specialty: Hospitalist Medicine

Olyainka Wilhelm, MD
Title: Internal Medicine Faculty
Medical School: Ogun State University - Nigeria
Residency: Mount Sinai Medical School - Jersey City Program
Endocrinology Fellowship: Washington University - St. Louis, Missouri
Specialty Areas: Endocrinology and Metabolism

Yasir Ahmed, MD
Title: Internal Medicine Faculty
Medical School: Khyber Medical College
Internship: Aga Khan Medical College
Residency: University of South Alabama
Specialty Areas: Primary Care

Oneeb Ahmad, MD
Title: Internal Medicine Faculty
Medical School: Allama Iqbal Medical College
Residency: Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital
Specialty Areas: Hospitalist Medicine

Specialty Areas: Critical Care / Pulmonary Medicine

Purushothaman Muthukanagaraj, MD
Title: Internal Medicine Faculty
Medical School: K.A.P. Vishwanathan Government Medical College
Residency: Vidant Medical Center
Specialty Areas: Hospitalist Medicine

Jeffrey Gray, MD
Title: Internal Medicine Faculty
Medical School: New York Medical College
Residency: University of Arizona

Curriculum

PGY-1
Inpatient General Medicine	20 weeks
Night Float	8 weeks
ICU	8 weeks
Emergency Medicine	2 weeks
Elective	4 weeks
Outpatient Clinic	9-10 weeks
PGY-2
Inpatient General Medicine	16 weeks
Night Float	4 weeks
ICU	8 weeks
Elective	14 weeks
Outpatient Clinic	9-10 weeks
PGY-3
Inpatient General Medicine	12 weeks
ICU	4 weeks
Elective	26 weeks
Outpatient Clinic	9-10 weeks

Each resident is expected to participate in didactic learning opportunities including morning report, noon conferences (including board reviews), weekly clinical grand rounds and special teaching days, as well as Research/Scholarly Activities.

Required subspecialty electives include: Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Infectious Disease, Nephrology, Neurology, Pulmonary, and Rheumatology.

Other non-medicine elective options: Anesthesiology, OMM, Pathology, Radiology, Surgery, Procedures, etc.

Special Emphasis Tracks

The Internal Medicine Residency allows the senior resident to tailor their educational needs. Some examples include:

Hospitalist Medicine: Focus on additional training in hospital medicine and is ideal prep for those pursuing a career as a hospitalist physician, with additional blocks on in-patient rotations including Hospitalist Medicine electives as well as ICU and/or CCU.
Advisor: Jeffrey Gray, MD

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine: The hospital is accredited with Osteopathic Recognition, all of our residents have the opportunity to learn Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy techniques. In addition to weekly lectures, you will also participate in multiple weekly outpatient clinics and our in-patient referral service.
Advisor: Marita Powell, DO

Geriatric Medicine: Participate in one focused block rotation in your second year and two blocks in your third year working exclusively with Geriatric patients and physicians certified in Geriatric Medicine.
Advisor: Rana Ahmad, MD

Outpatient Medicine: Rotations in ambulatory medicine, rural health, preventative care and telemedicine are available for those interested in Primary Care.
Advisor: Daniel Chin, MD

Residents

United Health Services Internal Medicine House Staff

PGY-1	Medical School
Israr Ahmad, MD	Saidu Medical College
Muhammad Ahmed, MD	Dow Medical College
Fateh Ali Bajwah, MD	Aga Khan University Medical College
Maheen Irshad, MD	Shandong First Medical University
Joseph Jones, MD	St. George’s University School of Medicine
Maria Khalid, MD	Yusra Medical & Dental College
Moheudin Khan, MD	Aga Khan University Medical College
Lal Muhammad, MD	Liaquat National Hospital & Medical College
Frank Mulindwa, MD	Universiteit Antwerpen Faculteit Geneeskunde en Gezondheidswetenschappen
Hammad Qadri, DO	Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Adarsh Ramesh, MD	Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College & Hospital
Maryam Sardar, MD	Akhtar Saeed Medical & Dental College
Sadia Tabassum, MD	Fatima Jinnah Medical University
PGY-2	Medical School
Kanza Ahmed, MD	American University of Antigua
Wajiha Ali, MD	American University of Antigua
Neelam Asghar, MD	Allama Iqbal Medical College
Afsha Aurshina, MD	Andhra Medical College
Nacir Dhouibi, MD	Faculte de Medicine et de Pharmacie de Tunis
Pooneh Farhangi, MD	American University of Antigua
Zainab Imtiaz, MD	Lahore Medical and Dental College
Anaba Jajja, MD	Quaid-e-Azam Medical College
Ali Javed, MD	Foundation University Medical College
Yassine Mahjoubi, MD	Faculte de Medecine et de Pharmacie de Tunis
Rabia Malik, MD	CMH Lahore Medical College
Assad Marwat, MD	Shifa College of Medicine
Varun Rajagopalan, MD	Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
Ali Shaikh, MD	Dow Medical College
Priyanka Singh, MD	Smolensk State Medical University
PGY-3	Medical School
Tooba Ali, MD	Gujarawala Medical College
Rafshan Amin, MD	American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Ibrar Atiq, MD	Foundation University Medical College
*Kedar Abu Bakr Bajwa, MD	CMH Lahore Medical College
Nadia Iqbal Chaudhary, MD	King Edward Medical University
*Sana Chaudhary, MD	CMH Lahore Medical College
Owais Gul, MD	Dow Medical College
Syed Ali Mehdi, MD	Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Medical & Dental College
Mohammed Faraaz Rahman, MD	Ras Al Khaimah Medical Health & Science University
Muhammad Mubbashir Sheikh, MD	Punjab Medical College
Mark Laurence D. Silva, MD	St. James College of Medicine
PGY-4	Medical School
*Khandokar Talib, MD	Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College
*Co-Chief Residents

Stipends & Benefits

Salary: $60,890 (PGY-1)

Insurance Coverage:

Health Insurance: UHSH is partnered with Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) to provide our employees with Blue Preferred (UHS PPO). UHSH covers a major portion of the health insurance premiums. Premiums are deducted bi-weekly from your paycheck.
Pharmacy: Prescriptions may be filled through UHS, an Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield network pharmacy or through mail order.
Life Insurance: Provided and paid for by the hospital, equal to your annual salary.
Malpractice Insurance: Provided and paid for by the hospital.
Dental Insurance: Standard and high option dental plans available at shared cost with the hospital.
Vision Insurance: Shared cost with the hospital
Wellness Rewards
Flexible Spending Accounts
Direct Deposit

Personal Time Off: (vacations, interviews, unexpected absences including illnesses): 18 days (PGY-1), 25 days (PGY-2), 27 days (PGY-3). National holidays and Board exams are not deducted from Personal Time Off.

Moving Allowance: A moving allowance of $300 is provided to each resident.

Professional Development Fund: 1st and 2nd year residents are allotted $750/year to be used toward conferences, books, and/or other education expenses (i.e. PDA's, software, stethoscopes, etc.). Required programmatic dues will be paid for out of the fund. This allotment increases to $1,500 in your third year of residency which is designated for board review fees.

Academic Appointments: All residents receive an academic appointment as a Clinical Assistant Instructor at Upstate Medical University (SUNY), Syracuse, New York.

Resident Wellness / Fatigue Management: The hospital sponsors various activities through the House Staff Association for resident wellness.

Pharmacy: On-site pharmacy is location on the Wilson campus and is open 24/7.

Osteopathic Medicine

Few teaching hospitals embrace and support the principles of Osteopathic Medicine as well as United Health Services (UHS).

At UHS, you are given the opportunity to participate in the Osteopathic Recognition (OR) program in addition to your IM residency. This experience includes the following:

Multiple weekly OMT clinics
OMM lectures every week
OMM inpatient service
Our Family Medicine and Internal Medicine programs are accredited by the ACGME with Osteopathic Recognition, so you can become boarded by both the AOA and ABFM or ABIM.

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To Apply

Applications are accepted via ERAS (Electronic Residency Application System). Deadline to apply is December 31. Completed application includes:

Personal Statement
Curriculum Vitae
Official transcript from your medical school
Dean’s letter
Three letters of recommendation – one from your Dean
USMLE and/or COMLEX scores

For the 2022 ERAS® cycle, our program will be participating in the supplemental ERAS application offered through the AAMC's ERAS program. Applicants will be required to complete the MyERAS application, and participation in the supplemental ERAS application is optional.

Application Criteria:

We prefer applicants who have graduated from Medical School within the last five years, or who have not been away from clinical medicine for more than 5 years and /or who have had observerships in the U.S.
Test Scores Preferred minimum:
- USMLE Step 1 (220) and Step 2: (230)
- COMLEX Levels 1 and 2: 550
- First time pass is required. Applicants need to have passed Steps 1 and 2 (both parts) prior to the Rank Order List deadline.
Have applied for and received or are soon to receive ECFMG certification, if applicable.