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

2020	Fellowship
Pranava Ganesh, MD	Cardiovascular Disease, UHS Hospitals
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

Thomas Genese, MD

Title: Program Director; Clinic Director
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Residency: Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

Dr. Genese completed his undergraduate degree in Computer Science at Georgia Institute of Technology in 1993. Prior to attending medical school at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, he worked in healthcare business strategy, process design, and technology research and development. After completion of medical school in 2002, he attended Internal Medicine residency and Chief Residency at Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago, Illinois. He served as the Internal Medicine Associate Program Director at the Yale-affiliated Saint Mary's Hospital in Connecticut through 2012 and was on the Department of Medicine faculty at the University of Illinois in 2014. He then provided consultant services to establish a number of new graduate medical education departments and residency programs prior to joining United Health Services in 2017 as the Internal Medicine Program Director, Transitional Year Program Director, and Clinic Director for Internal Medicine. He is married to Dr. Josephine Genese who is on faculty in Family Medicine at United Health Services. They have three children and live in Vestal, New York. Dr. Genese's primary areas of interest are academic general Internal Medicine, preventative medicine, and Primary Care. His hobbies include information technology and physical activities such as hiking and weight training.

Christine Fenlon, MD

Title: Program Director Emeritus; Infectious Disease Specialist
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, NY
Residency: SUNY Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, NY
Fellowship: SUNY College of Medicine, Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, NY
Specialty Areas: Infectious Disease

Daniel Chin, MD

Title: Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine, North Brunswick, NJ
Residency: United Health Services Hospitals, Johnson City, NY
Specialty Areas: Primary Care

Muhammad Ali, MD

Title: Associate 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

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

Ronald Kahn, MD
Title: Internal Medicine Faculty & Didactics Coordinator
Medical School: University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Residency: University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

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

Abdelhamid Ben-Selma, MD
Title: Internal Medicine Faculty
Medical School: Facultede Medicine de Sousse
Internship: Facultede Medicine de Sousse
Residency: United Health Services

Curriculum

PGY-1
Inpatient General Medicine	20 weeks
Night Float	8 weeks
ICU	8 weeks
Emergency Medicine	2-4 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, Women's Health, 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
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
Anaba Jajja, MD	Quaid-e-Azam Medical College
Ali Javed, MD	Foundation University Medical College
Rabia Malik, MD	CMH Lahore Medical College
Varun Rajagopalan, MD	Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
Ali Shaikh, MD	Dow Medical College
Priyanka Singh, MD	Smolensk State Medical University
PGY-2	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-3	Medical School
Vamsi Priya Aravally, MD	Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences
*Ramy Hassan, MD	University of Al-Mustansiriyah College of Medicine
Farid Khan, MD	Aga Khan University Medical College
Altif Muneeb, MD	CMH Lahore Medical College
Hatem Najar, MD	Faculte de Medecine et de Pharmacie de Tunis
Krishna Putcha, DO	NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
*Usama Sakhawat, MD	Akhtar Saeed Medical & Dental College
Sonia Sandeep, MD	Chandka Medical College
Khandokar Talib, MD	Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College
Fariborz Tehraei, MD	American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Laurene Tuider, MD	American University of Antigua College of Medicine
PGY-4	Medical School
*Gowthami Ramar, MD	Sree Mookambika Institue of Medical Sciences
*Co-Chief Residents

Stipends & Benefits

Salary: $58,000 (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.

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.

Internal Medicine Residency

Highlights

Fellowships After Residency

Program Directors

Thomas Genese, MD

Christine Fenlon, MD

Daniel Chin, MD

Muhammad Ali, MD

Faculty

Curriculum

Special Emphasis Tracks

Residents

Stipends & Benefits

Osteopathic Medicine

Links

To Apply

Thomas Genese, MD