Immerse yourself in our comprehensive program featuring personalized, hands-on instruction in one of the country’s most popular cities.
Welcome! We appreciate your interest in the Wellstar Cobb Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Training Program. Our program was established in 1953 and has since graduated more than 1,500 residents. Our fully accredited three-year program recruits a diverse group of residents each year. These residents train in a supportive and inclusive environment while learning from talented faculty who are outstanding clinicians.
Our trainees see a diverse patient population in both the ambulatory and inpatient settings. Here, you will gain experience in a wide range of pathology, which promotes the development of necessary clinical and diagnostic skills in internal medicine. The residency program also offers clinical research opportunities and encourages participation in scholarly activities.
We support and provide mentorship to residents so they can achieve both personal and professional goals. Residents receive education, resources and support for mental and physical well-being. The expectation for our residents is that they dedicate themselves to being leaders, educators and excellent clinicians. We encourage them to be lifelong learners.
Our program is committed to training the next generation of physicians. At the completion of their training, we are confident they are prepared to provide excellent patient care to our communities.
This historical program began in 1953 and currently resides at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center. Wellstar Cobb is a 387-bed facility with Level III Trauma Center and a Level II Emergency Cardiac Care Center. The hospital is also home to a burn unit and a 34-bed behavioral health inpatient unit. The hospital is designated a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and the Georgia Department of Public Health and houses spine surgery, as well as knee and hip replacement programs certified by The Joint Commission.
Our residents learn in an advanced environment with the latest technology, including a fully integrated electronic medical record with remote access capability and a new state-of-the-art simulation center equipped for training and education. The center focuses on enhancing residents skills, interdisciplinary collaborations, and patient safety. The program also provides clinical research opportunities with a designated statistician who provides education on statistical analysis.
Each program has their own research opportunities. This may include case reports, quality improvement, clinical research and patient safety projects. Most research collaborates with the Wellstar Research Institute and all follow IRB (Institutional Review Board) guidelines.
Perfectly positioned between the north Georgia mountains and the city of Atlanta, Cobb County is the ideal place for young professionals and growing families. Take Marietta for example–equal parts hip and hometown, it’s a bustling city with a small-town feel.
Marietta’s historic downtown square is alive with activity, hosting regular farmers markets, concerts, and festivals. The Battery and Truist Park (home of the Atlanta Braves) provide entertainment for everyone in the Vinings neighborhood. Marietta is also a short drive to Downtown Atlanta and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport.
Dr. Louis Lovett is a board-certified internist and pulmonologist who has spent most of his professional career in academic medicine. In 2012, he joined the staff at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center in Marietta. In July 2013 he became the designated institutional official of graduate medical education and held the position until October 2022. He helped start and develop the graduate medical education program at Wellstar Kennestone, which began in July 2016.
In September 2023, he assumed the role of program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Wellstar Cobb. He is an adjunct clinical professor in the department of medicine at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Dr. Lovett has earned multiple Outstanding Educator Awards through his work as a teacher in graduate medical education.
Dr. Lovett earned a doctorate in medicine from the University of Turin School of Medicine in Turin, Italy, in 1988. He completed his primary care internal medicine residency in 1993 and his fellowship in pulmonary and critical care in 1996 at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He then completed a fellowship in lung transplant at Emory University School of Medicine in 1997. Dr. Lovett is a fellow of the American College of Physicians.
After completing her internal medicine residency at Atlanta Medical Center, Dr. Haddad focused her career on leadership and academic medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, where she served as assistant professor. Dr. Haddad was the associate program director of hospital medicine, director of education and director of the accountable care unit at Emory Johns Creek Hospital. Dr. Haddad won the award for the best teaching attending in 2020-21. She won the director’s award twice during her tenure at Emory. Her main focuses as an associate program director are the residents’ education and well-being, as well as patient safety.
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Dr. Bsmah Abdalslam joined GME at Wellstar as a full-time internal medicine faculty member in 2022. Dr. Abdalslam graduated from the University of Al Fateh (Libya) in 2003 and after much clinical experience in her country of origin, completed residency training at Atlanta Medical Center. She subsequently joined Southeast Health Hospitalist Department as an academic hospitalist. She was awarded Patient Advocate of the Year 2018-19 and was subsequently appointed as an assistant professor by the Alabama College of Medicine in 2018. Dr. Abdalslam’s medical background is supplemented by a Master of Public Health earned from the Albert Einstein School of Medicine in Bronx, New York. She has a passion for teaching evidence-based medicine and making research accessible to learners.
Dr. Israel Orija joined the internal medicine faculty in 2004. A native of Nigeria, he graduated from the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos and after initial postgraduate training in the United Kingdom, he completed both internal medicine and subsequent endocrinology fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic. He currently serves as an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Medical College of Georgia and as a clinical assistant professor of medicine at Emory University. Dr. Orija oversees the endocrinology training of our residents and has a particular interest in diabetes, thyroid, adrenal, pituitary and general endocrinology.
Dr. Jochebed Pink joined internal medicine faculty in 2024 after 10 years of working as a primary care physician in the metro Atlanta area. She attended medical school at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and completed her primary care track internal medicine residency at Emory University School of Medicine. She has always had a passion for primary care and establishing therapeutic relationships with patients over time to improve their health and outcomes. While in private practice, she served as an outpatient preceptor for Emory medical students and offered shadowing experiences for premedical students to gain early exposure to primary care. Now she is continuing her career in the academic setting to share her wealth of knowledge and expertise with resident physicians.
Hometown: Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Medical school: St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Clinical interests: Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology
Personal interests & hobbies: Playing soccer, visiting places
Why I Chose My Specialty:
I chose internal medicine because it is a discipline that serves as an anchor for every medical field. The opportunity to listen to patients’ stories, delve into their medical problems to find solutions, and build strong connections with them is incredibly fulfilling. Internal medicine allows me to engage deeply with a wide variety of medical issues and to provide comprehensive care that addresses the whole patient.
Why I Chose Wellstar for My Residency:
I chose Wellstar Cobb Medical Center for its collegial teaching environment, which fosters both professional and personal growth. This supportive atmosphere is essential for me to become a well-rounded and skilled physician.
Hometown: Islamabad, Pakistan.
Medical school: Khawaja Muhammad Safdar Medical College.
Clinical interests: Cardiology, Hospital medicine, Hematology /Oncology.
Personal interests & hobbies: Cooking, traveling, shopping.
Why you chose your specialty:
Internal Medicine is an incredibly diverse field. The breadth of this specialty offers an extensive and varied learning experience, ensuring that there is always something new to discover and understand.
Why you chose WellStar for your residency:
Wellstar provides an exceptionally welcoming environment for everyone. The faculty is also very cooperative. Additionally, the array of learning opportunities available is outstanding, offering a rich and diverse educational experience.
Hometown: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Medical School: Baroda Medical College, India.
Clinical interests: Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Critical care medicine.
Personal interests and hobbies: Hiking, music, watching Bollywood movies.
Why you chose your specialty:
Internal Medicine not only challenges and excites me by its diagnostic and treatment processes but it also enables me to advocate for my patients and participate in their long-term care.
Why you chose Wellstar for your residency:
Wellstar Health System focuses on providing high quality care for the patients as well as comprehensive resident focused training to build a strong clinical foundation.
Hometown: Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Medical school: North-Western State Medical University
Clinical interests: Cardiology, pulmonology
Personal interests & hobbies: Jym, tennis, learning languages, video games
Why you chose your specialty:
Internal medicine is a cornucopia of puzzles for me to solve and be challenged by and at the same time is a unique opportunity to become a small part of each patient’s personal story.
Why you chose WellStar for your residency:
WellStar Health System was recommended to me by a current resident and I was completely won over by the amiability and professionalism of the interviewers.
Hometown: Amman, Jordan
Medical school: University of Jordan
Clinical interests: Hematology, Endocrinology and Rheumatology
Personal interests & hobbies: Swimming and traveling
Why you chose your specialty:
I’ve always enjoyed understanding medicine in a broad sense, and IM residency provides that as well as the choice of remaining broad or focusing on a specific field. This, I believe, will help me stay focused while improving my knowledge and honing my skills. IM is an area that values flexibility and adaptation, allowing me to pivot and progress in my career as my interests and passions grow.
Why you chose WellStar for your residency:
When I learned about WellStar Health System’s unique services, I was intrigued by their commitment to innovation and eager to be a part of it. My trust that there will always be opportunities for both professional and personal improvement drove me to join here.
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey
Medical school: Istanbul University- Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty
Clinical interests: Cardiology
Personal interests & hobbies: Playing the piano, playing handball, and traveling
Why you chose your specialty:
I love interacting with people and finding solutions by understanding the mechanisms of their diseases, which is very satisfying to me.
Why you chose WellStar for your residency:
The excellent clinical training and dedicated professors, along with recommendations from other doctors.
Hometown: Hossana,Ethiopia
Medical school: Myungsung Medical College
Clinical interests: Critical care medicine, cardiology
Personal interests & hobbies: Hiking,Traveling
Why you chose your specialty:
My passion for internal medicine arises from a love for teaching. I am intrigued by the complexity of diagnoses and find satisfaction in conveying this understanding to patients.
Why you chose WellStar for your residency:
I chose Wellstar for its inclusivity, supportive environment, and excellent professors and clinicians. Guidance from program members confirmed it’s the ideal place for my journey.
Hometown: Birzeit, Ramallah, Palestine
Medical school: University of Jordan
Clinical interests: Gastroenterology, Pulmonary and critical care medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Basketball, table tennis, reading
Why you chose your specialty:
Internal medicine is an ideal fit for me because it encompasses the management of various body systems and emphasizes a holistic approach to patient care.
Why you chose WellStar for your residency:
I chose WellStar Health System because it provides high-quality patient care and training in Georgia, along with a friendly and supportive program environment
Hometown: Tbilisi, Georgia
Medical school: Tbilisi State Medical University
Clinical interests: Critical Care Medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Photography, Learning foreign languages, Pilates
Why you chose your specialty:
The continuous learning, complexity, and the chance to build long-term patient relationships while delivering comprehensive care are what fascinate me in Internal Medicine, keeping me engaged and challenged every day.
Why you chose WellStar for your residency:
I am confident that WellStar provides excellent learning and growth opportunities in my field, alongside a supportive community. The welcoming atmosphere during my residency interview convinced me that it’s a place where I’ll be among friends.
Hometown: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Medical school: Hayat Medical College
Clinical interests: Inpatient care and quality improvement initiatives and research
Personal interests & hobbies: Quality time with family, cooking delicious ethnic cuisine, exploring new places and watching classic movies
Why internal medicine? I found myself more drawn to this field as it is the most challenging and yet the most exciting and rewarding. I am intrigued by the spectrum of cases this field covers and appreciate how it incorporates all the foundational basic science knowledge from the various clinical skills to help you think critically to abate patients’ challenges.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I was looking for a program that would give me the opportunity to experience diverse disease pathology, learn from knowledgeable and motivated teaching staff, and work with residents from different backgrounds—and Wellstar checked all the boxes for me.
Hometown: Paris, France
Medical School: Paris 13 School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Quick-read articles, writing case reports and oral presentation
Personal interests & hobbies: Gym, cooking and running
Why internal medicine? I truly love all the specialties. Being able to treat my patients broadly is my goal. My favorite remains cardiology, but I also love nephrology, hematology and pulmonology.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Wellstar offered me my first experience as a medical student in the U.S., and it’s a great area to learn and for opportunities. I also love the environment, which is very important during residency. Wellstar offers a great balance between learning and being on a good team. On top of that, Atlanta is a beautiful city.
Hometown: Khartoum, Sudan
Medical school: University of Khartoum
Clinical interests: Hematology, oncology, pulmonology and critical care
Personal interests & hobbies: Dancing and meditation
Why internal medicine? Training and knowledge of the entire human body and its organ systems give me a unique perspective of how everything works in unison. We analyze, consider and make connections from multiple data sets and identify solutions for optimal health outcomes.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? It’s the largest and most integrated health system in Georgia.
Hometown: Quito, Ecuador
Medical school: Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador
Clinical interests: Primary care, nephrology and gastroenterology
Personal interests & hobbies: Interpreting contemporary songs on the piano, play as a 7 in soccer, roller skating, improving my international cuisine, learning more about U.S. history and traveling around the world
Why internal medicine? I have been inspired by numerous highly knowledgeable and compassionate IM physicians throughout my life. Witnessing their dedication to understanding the intricacies of the human body and their drive to improve patients’ lives has fueled my passion for this field.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I chose Wellstar for my residency because I wanted an IMG-friendly program that mirrored the world’s vibrant diversity. I found it in Wellstar’s warm embrace of individuality and inclusivity.
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Medical school: Jimma University Medical School
Clinical interests: Hospital medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Taking care of my family
Why internal medicine? To fulfill my childhood dream
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? For its friendly working environment and actively involved faculty.
Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia
Medical school: Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy, University of Defense (Belgrade, Serbia)
Clinical interests: Infectious diseases and hepatology
Personal interests and hobbies: Hiking, cycling, swimming and cooking/baking
Why internal medicine? For the endless intellectual stimulation by complexity and diversity of pathologies, fascinating interplay between clinical knowledge and evidence-based medicine and long-term relationships that we are privileged to develop with patients
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? There is not one simple answer. I was drawn to Wellstar for multiple reasons—because of its solid and high-quality training that emphasizes on hands-on experience from beginning, the close mentorship, the diversity of patient population and abundance of opportunities to help those who are underprivileged, and the positive and encouraging environment that makes you feel that you are part of a big family
Hometown: Amman, Jordan
Medical school: The Hashemite University
Clinical interests: Still figuring that out
Personal interests & hobbies: Dancing, going out with friends and family, annoying people with conversations about life and planning for early retirement
Why internal medicine? For its flexibility, variability and good job market
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Atlanta is warm, and the program is friendly.
Hometown: Ethiopia
Medical school: Jimma Medical School
Clinical interests: Interventional cardiology and endocrinology
Personal interests & hobbies: Cooking, baking, visiting new places, meeting new people and new cultures, doing exercises, yoga and Zumba dance
Why internal medicine? I joined internal medicine to serve more diverse populations. For me, nothing makes me happier than helping people to live healthier and happier. I wanted to get to know my patients as human beings, educating them, serving as their health advocate and providing them with the tools to be successful in caring for their health. IM allows me to work as part of a team, face new challenges and engage in lifelong learning.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Most of my friends from medical schools trained at AMC before they all told me that the best program that best fits me is here and that is exactly what I found.
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Medical school: Addis Ababa University, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences
Clinical interests: Hospitalist/endocrinology, preventive medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Traveling and trying new foods/cuisine from different cultures with friends and family, and going to church
Why internal medicine? I have always found joy in helping others, and medicine provides that long-term relationship with patients where you are able to improve their health by addressing various circumstances in their life. I also enjoy the science of medicine and the critical thinking involved in reaching a diagnosis.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I had heard a lot from my friends who are already in the program about all the wonderful opportunities Wellstar affords. We have exposure to varied pathologies and dedicated physicians committed to teaching. The work-life balance here is great, and we have adequate didactics that will ensure we become excellent physicians.
Hometown: Vancouver, Canada, and Tyumen, Russia
Medical school: Tyumen State Medical University, Russia
Clinical interests: Hematology/oncology
Personal interests & hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, yoga and baking
Why internal medicine? For the wide range of pathologies and opportunity to make meaningful connections with patients
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Because of its supportive faculty, who are invested in enhancing our learning experience daily.
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Medical School: Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ethiopia
Clinical Interests: Hospital medicine, critical care, cardiology and gastroenterology
Personal interests & hobbies: Hiking, road trips and visiting national parks
Why internal medicine? I chose internal medicine because it’s like solving puzzles in the human body every day. The challenges keep me engaged, and the chance to help people is truly rewarding.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I chose Wellstar for my residency because it offers decent medical training, a supportive environment and a commitment to diversity, aligning with my values.
Hometown: Khartoum, Sudan
Medical School: University of Khartoum, Faculty of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Internal medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Walking, cooking and enjoying time with family
Why internal medicine? I have been fascinated with internal medicine since medical school, where I observed how detail-oriented the specialty is—and how it emphasized critical thinking, problem solving and comprehensiveness. I also recognized the privilege of being present in my patients’ lives during their most vulnerable periods and identifying their expressed and unexpressed needs. I enjoy learning about their stories and what gives their life meaning, and that helps me to tailor the care plan according to their priorities.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Having friends who graduated from Wellstar’s residency program, I was impressed by their level of training, clinical experience and confidence. I was also looking for a diverse patient population, with different socio-economic backgrounds to satisfy my desire for a variety of clinical pathologies and patient needs. Wellstar provided me with all that I was looking for. I was also looking forward to living in the warmth of Atlanta and to exploring the big city, plus outdoor activities.
Hometown: Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Medical School: Arsi University College of Health Science
Clinical interest: Cardiology and endocrinology
Personal interests & hobbies: Watching and playing soccer and medical shows
Why internal medicine? I chose IM because it encompasses so many fields, which gives one a great deal of flexibility in choosing a fellowship. The field of internal medicine fascinates me a lot as its subject matter includes everything from pathogenesis to treatment to prognosis.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? The most important reason I chose Wellstar was because I was well-informed that it has a very good training environment to make my residency and U.S.-life adjustment much easier. I found it to my expectations.
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Medical school: Addis Ababa University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Inpatient service and hospitalist
Personal interests & hobbies: Family, indoor games, sport, charity and spiritual activities
Why internal medicine? Because of the variety and continuity of care, the complexity and different management options available in IM and providing holistic care for patients
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? For its variety of pathologies, supportive faculty and residents, and location
Hometown: Mettu, Ilu Abba Bor, Oromia, Ethiopia
Medical school: Addis Ababa University, Black Lion Hospital
Clinical interests: Internal medicine, pulmonary and critical care
Personal interests & hobbies: Watching movies, working out and trying new cuisine
Why internal medicine? I love dealing with different pathologies that are present in every possible way. Despite rapidly advancing diagnostic modalities and therapeutics, it needs your intuition and clinical judgment. I enjoy what it takes to solve each piece of the puzzle. Like Sir William Osler said, “A calling in which your heart will exercise equally with your head.”
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? For the diversity in the program
Hometown: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Medical school: University Estatal of Guayaquil
Clinical interests: Cardiovascular and echocardiography
Personal interests & hobbies: Outdoor activities like attending concerts and trying new dishes at different restaurants
Why internal medicine? I chose internal medicine due to the vast range of pathologies and the opportunity to follow patients across inpatient and outpatient settings.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I firmly believe that this institution is excellent because of its vast size and numerous opportunities for learning across various facilities.
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Cardiology, critical care and preventive medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Spending quality time with loved ones, whether it’s enjoying leisurely dinners, exploring new destinations or simply engaging in meaningful conversations
Why internal medicine? I chose internal medicine because of its broad scope, allowing me to delve deeply into various aspects of adult health while maintaining a focus on patient relationships. This specialty offers the opportunity for comprehensive care, diagnostic challenges and continuous learning, aligning with my desire for long-term patient connections.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I rotated with Wellstar as a medical student and chose Wellstar due to its reputation for excellence in clinical training, supportive faculty and diverse patient populations. Its commitment to innovation and community health resonates with my professional goals, providing an ideal environment for growth and development.
Hometown: Khartoum, Sudan, and Cairo, Egypt
Medical School: Alfashir University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sudan
Clinical interests: Hospitalist, gastroenterology
Personal interest and hobbies: Playing and watching soccer, especially Liverpool; movies; and getting fresh air
Why internal medicine? Internal medicine combines intellectual satisfaction (since you never know all the answers) and provides the fulfillment that comes from ongoing relationships with patients and getting to know them as whole people—not just diseases. It also offers some modest contribution to public health with its emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention.
Why did you choose Wellstar for residency? Wellstar Cobb Medical Center provides an exceptional opportunity to gain the clinical skills, knowledge and experience necessary to pursue a successful career in internal medicine. The program also serves one of the largest and most diverse patient populations in Georgia, which exposes residents to diverse pathology and diseases variety.
Hometown: Adama, Ethiopia.
Medical School: Jimma University
Clinic interest: Critical care/ nephrology-critical care
Personal interest/hobbies: Watching soccer, reading going to the Gym, and hanging out with friends.
Why I chose this specialty:
Internal Medicine combines my love for reading and medicine. I love solving puzzles and I believe in the Medicine field, IM has that.
Why I chose Wellstar for my Residency:
I heard amazing things about this program and WellStar prior to joining. I love the city.
Marietta Square | Truist Park | The Battery | Gone With the Wind Museum | Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | New Theatre in the Square | Ghosts of Marietta Tour | Marietta Square Farmers Market | Hilton Atlanta-Marietta Hotel & Conference Center | Cobb Galleria Centre
Cycling is a popular form of transportation in Marietta. The area is also served by the CobbLinc bus service that connects to MARTA—Atlanta’s light rail and bus network. Drivers also have quick access to I-75 and I-285 to get anywhere they need.
