LUNMBERTON — UNC Health Southeastern celebrated the recent graduation of 28 residents across four residency programs.

These residents marked the 7th graduating class of the health system’s medical education program, as well as continued growth and sustainability for the program which was established in 2015 through a partnership with Campbell University’s Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine.

The health system’s overall medical education program boasts over 90 medical residents in the largest non-university-based residency program in North Carolina. In addition to the four current residency programs of emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, and transitional year medicine, plans are underway to add fellowship programs in cardiology, critical care, and sports medicine in the coming years.

Medical Residents support the health system’s existing medical staff by extending their coverage and providing additional perspectives and insights from current medical school research and training. These doctors receive hands-on, bedside training in settings including the hospital and medical clinics, while learning about the dynamics of rural health care.

UNC Health Southeastern hosts a graduation ceremony each June for residents completing requirements for their respective programs. This year’s program was held June 21 at the Southeastern Agricultural Center in Lumberton.

UNC Health Southeastern President and CEO Chris Ellington welcomed attendees and thanked the graduates for their service to this community as they honed their skills as physicians. Several graduates decided to remain at UNC Health Southeastern and the region to practice while others will depart to pursue jobs around the county. Several will continue their training through fellowship programs.

During Pediatrician Dr. Joseph Bell’s commencement address, he emphasized the importance of integrity and trustworthiness, as well as work/life balance and mental health wellness as resident’s journeys continue in the medical field. He imparted personal wisdom from his 30-year career in medicine, most of which has been spent serving the residents of Robeson County.

Emergency Medicine graduates were Gabrielle T. Gallagher, DO; Benjamin Ross Rohde, DO; K. Nicole Tipton, DO; Neelou Tabatabai-Yazdi, DO and Sara Joy Thompson, DO.

Family Medicine graduates included: Radhika Arumilli, MD; Christopher Dong, MD; Kyle Moran, DO; Melanie Wise, MD; Ravin Jayatissa, MD and Marielle Borom, DO.

Internal Medicine graduates were Krista L. Anderson, DO; Nidhi Bhat, MD; Brian M. Bray, DO; Megan Nicole Cherubino, DO; Reshma Devi, MD; Catherine Kelly, DO; Pooja Mehta, MD; Tanzina Nawrin, DO; Omonigho Sonia Nwoke, MD; Susan Marie Pereira, MD; William Rathell Jr., DO and Christian A. Rodriguez, DO.

Transitional Year Medicine graduates included: Tewodros Asmamaw Adane, MD; Judith Joway, MD; Karen Asya Khattak, MD; Sharathi C. Sirimanne, MD and Dhanya Venugopal, MD.

Some of the program’s residents, attending physicians, and nurses with which they worked, were also recognized with special awards during the graduation ceremony.

The awards were given as follows:

– Emergency Medicine Resident of the Year: K. Nicole Tipton, DO

– Family Medicine Resident of the Year: Kyle Moran, DO

– Internal Medicine Resident of the Year: Catherine Kelly, DO and William Rathell, Jr., DO

– Transitional Year Resident of the Year: Dhanya Venugopal, MD

– Emergency Medicine Attending of the Year: Brianna Crosby, MD

– Family Medicine Attending of the Year: Ricardo Pojol, MD

– Internal Medicine Attending of the Year: Poornima Vinod, MD

– Transitional Year Medicine Attending of the Year: Mustafa Kareem, MD

– Emergency Medicine Nurse of the Year: Brianna Warga, RN

– Family Medicine Nurse of the Year: Wanda Reese, LPN

– Internal Medicine Nurse of the Year: Terri Hunt, RN

– Transitional Year Medicine Nurse of the Year: Derwin Strickland, RN

To learn more about UNC Health Southeastern’s Medical Education program, visit https://www.unchealthsoutheastern.org/residency-program/.