Family Medicine Residency

Wellstar Douglas Medical Center

Developing the next generation of family health physicians.

Welcome from Program Director, Dr. George Brown

Welcome to the Wellstar Douglas Family Medicine Residency Program page!

Our recent move from Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center to Wellstar Douglas Medical Center has been a wonderful change for us. We will soon have a clinic that is only two blocks from the hospital and most of our outpatient rotations are now on the hospital grounds. The Wellstar Douglas staff has welcomed us with open arms.

We serve a very diverse community in Douglas as the county has an overall shortage of primary care. We are glad to be able to serve the needs of this community.

Our program became the first family medicine residency in Atlanta when we took our first residents in 1994. We are a small program, but our residents have done big things. For example, one resident represented all family medicine residencies on the national board of the American Medical Association, and our residents have held many positions and won several state research competitions. While we believe that good test-taking skills do not always correlate with being a good doctor, we take preparing for the boards very seriously. Our 100% first-time board pass rate for the last 10 years attests to that.

Our residents are taught full-breadth family medicine, and current residents are giving us great feedback on the attendings they work with. We believe it is easy to drop skills after graduating from residency, but very hard to pick up new skills. Most of our graduates practice in the Atlanta area, but we frequently have residents who go to a small town and practice full-breadth family medicine. Our graduates who go on to fellowships have always gotten their first choice in a range of specialties, including sports medicine, geriatrics, palliative medicine, obstetrics and adolescent medicine—and we continually get great feedback from the directors of those fellowships.

We believe in the “family” of family medicine, which has built an excellent culture for our residents. They support each other and work very well in a team setting.

Please let us know if we can help with any questions.

George Brown, MD
Program Director
George Brown
Program Contacts
George Brown
MD

Program Director

LaKeisha Borum

Program Coordinator

lakeisha.borum@wellstar.org
Samantha Dance
MBA, MHA

Undergraduate Medical
Program Coordinator

samantha.dance@wellstar.org

About Our Program

  • First family medicine residency in Atlanta, which has now transitioned to Douglasville
  • Newly renovated continuity clinic with examination rooms, procedure rooms and family counseling rooms
  • Learn by doing. Residents treat many patients with diverse and challenging conditions.
  • 100% board pass rate for the last 10 years
  • Resident and Faculty Together (RAFT) activities quarterly
  • Free access to hospital gym, on-call meal reimbursement and free parking

Program Tracks, Clerkships and Clinics

  • LGBTQ+ primary care clinic on site
  • OB/GYN clinic in Palmetto, GA
  • Robust longitudinal behavioral health curriculum
  • Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) curriculum
  • Anti-racism curriculum

Curriculum

  • Rotations
  • Didactics
PGY-1
  • Internal/hospital medicine (2 mos.)
  • Medical ICU (1 mo.)
  • Emergency medicine (1 mo.)
  • General surgery (1 mo.)
  • Family medicine inpatient service (2 mos.)
  • General pediatrics at Children’s Scottish Rite Hospital (2 mos.)
  • Family medicine obstetrics (2 mos.)
  • Behavioral medicine (1 mo.)
PGY-2
  • Family medicine inpatient service
    (2 mos.)
  • Family medicine outpatient clinic (2 mos.)
  • Outpatient cardiology (1 mo.)
  • Neurology (1 mo.)
  • Gastroenterology (1 mo.)
  • Emergency room (1 mo.)
  • Ambulatory pediatrics (2 mos.)
  • Orthopedics & sports medicine (1 mo.)
  • Elective time (1 mo.)
PGY-3
  • Family medicine inpatient service  (2 mos.)
  • Family medicine outpatient clinic (2 mos.)
  • Dermatology (2 wks.)
  • Geriatrics (1 mo.)
  • ENT (2 wks.)
  • Urology (2 wks.)
  • Diagnostic imaging (2 wks.)
  • Advanced behavioral medicine (1 mo.)
  • Elective time (4 mos.)

Didactic Schedule

Daily morning rounds for our inpatient service. Ambulatory care rounds Wednesday – Friday mornings. Tuesday afternoon didactics.

  • Faculty and resident lectures
  • Guest lectures (specialists, practice management, anti-racism experts)
  • Journal club
  • Balint groups as part of the behavioral health curriculum
  • Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) lecture/hands-on practice sessions every 3rd Tuesday
  • Resident and Faculty Together (RAFT) time quarterly

Research Opportunities

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 follows IRB (Institutional Review Board) guidelines.

Program Success

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Where Our Residents Live and Work

Douglasville is a charming suburban community 20 miles from downtown Atlanta and just 6 miles from Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park.

Douglasville offers a rich tapestry of experiences, from roller coasters and water parks to quaint downtown shopping and dining with lots more in between. Movie and TV buffs love the Douglas County Film Trail, where you can visit filming locations for “Stranger Things,” “The Walking Dead,” “The Hunger Games,” “Avengers: Infinity War” and many more.

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What Our Residents Say About Us

This program was my first choice. I love the city of Atlanta and I wanted to end up here, so naturally this put the program higher on my list. One of the biggest strengths of this program is that it is an unopposed program. This makes it the only one in this area with this huge strength. Most importantly, the people drew me to this program. I have made lifelong friends and mentors among my fellow residents and attendings. I am so thankful for my experience and the time I spent at this program.

Dr. Amir Antonios Wellstar Douglas Family Medicine Residency Alumni

What I love most about my program is the culture. All of our attendings are approachable and it’s evident that they love their job – teaching residents. They care not only that we excel in becoming excellent physicians, but also that we are excelling in our personal lives. What I think is unique for our program is the different clinics that we rotate through. In our program, you will be exposed to a full breadth of family medicine by working directly with several specialists. I’m truly blessed to have matched into such an amazing program.

Dr. Paula Bugg-Wrenn Wellstar Douglas Family Medicine Residency Alumni

Program Leaders & Faculty

  • Program Leaders
George Brown
George Brown
MD
Program Director
George Brown
George Brown
MD
Program Director

Dr. George Brown has been the program director of the Wellstar Family Medicine Residency Program since 2010. He received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he was an AOA graduate. Dr. Brown completed his family medicine residency at the University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville, where he received the Mead Johnson national award of excellence for family medicine residents. He has his boards in both family medicine and geriatrics. Dr. Brown has been voted “Top Doc” about 20 times in the past; most recently in Atlanta Magazine and Medicine and Doctors magazine.

Antonio Williams
Antonio Williams
MD
Associate Program Director
Antonio Williams
Antonio Williams
MD
Associate Program Director

Dr. Antonio Williams grew up in south Georgia. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Cellular Biology from the University of Georgia and is a die-hard Bulldogs fan. He attended medical school at Morehouse School of Medicine, receiving his MD in 2003. Dr. Williams completed his internship and residency at Atlanta Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident. After residency, he went into private practice for five years, serving rural Georgia. Dr. Williams joined the faculty at Atlanta Medical Center in 2011 out of a desire to give others the experience he felt during training. He loves the family atmosphere of the program that makes training in an intense environment enjoyable.

Cierra Allen
Cierra Allen
MD
Core Faculty
Cierra Allen
Cierra Allen
MD
Core Faculty

Dr. Cierra Allen has been with the Wellstar Family Medicine Residency since 2013. She served as Chief Resident of the program and ultimately decided to stay on as faculty after graduation due to her dedication to teaching and serving the community.  She received her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine. She is passionate about women’s health, pediatrics, and social determinates of health. Dr. Allen has been awarded the “New Faculty Award” by The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. She was also recently voted “Top Doc” by Castle Connolly.

Alida M. Gertz
Alida M. Gertz
MD, DrPH, MSc, MPH, DTM&H
Part-time Faculty
Alida M. Gertz
Alida M. Gertz
MD, DrPH, MSc, MPH, DTM&H
Part-time Faculty

Alida earned her MD from Cleveland Clinic, MPH from Case Western, MSc from LSHTM, and her DrPH from USF. She completed two years of internal medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital and two years of family medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She previously worked in local public health (Seattle King County), in global health (South America, the Caribbean, and Southern Africa), and currently works at CDC during the week. She supports the WDH FM program by covering the hospital service on nights and weekends. In her spare time, she loves traveling with her two daughters, partner, and her elderly mother. She adores working with the incredible residents and amazing faculty and staff in the WDH FM program and is very grateful they allow her to stick around.

Publications:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%22Gertz%2C+Alida%22+or+%22gertz%2C+am%22&sort=date

Lisa Le
Lisa Le
MD
Core Faculty
Lisa Le
Lisa Le
MD
Core Faculty

Dr. Lisa Le served as chief resident and graduated from Wellstar Douglas (previously AMC) FM residency in 2021. She chose to continue working at this program because it satisfies her dedication to teaching while also allowing her to provide excellent care for underserved populations alongside such passionate and knowledgeable faculty. Her clinical interests include providing comprehensive preventive care, treating acute and chronic conditions, as well as women’s health for medically underserved populations. Outside of medicine, she enjoys cooking, trying not to overwater her plants, and spending time with her children.

Gabriella Maris
Gabriella Maris
MD
Director of LGBT+ Primary Care Clinic
Gabriella Maris
Gabriella Maris
MD
Director of LGBT+ Primary Care Clinic

Dr. Gabriella Maris received her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina, College of Medicine in Charleston, SC, and completed her family medicine residency at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.  She is passionate about LGBTQIA Primary Care, serving as the Medical Director for Wellstar’s LGBT+ Primary Care.  She is also dedicated to medical student education, serving as WellStar Douglas Family Medicine’s Clerkship Director. Her current faculty appointments include Clinical Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Georgia (Augusta University) and Clinical Preceptor for Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is mom of two, avid exerciser, lifelong vegetarian and loves teaching!

Patrice Pearson
Patrice Pearson
MD
Medical Director/Team Lead Continuity Clinic
Patrice Pearson
Patrice Pearson
MD
Medical Director/Team Lead Continuity Clinic

Dr. Patrice Pearson graduated from Emory University School of Medicine and completed her Family Medicine Residency here at Wellstar. She is currently serving as the Clinic Medical Director and is dedicated to providing a high-functioning Family Medicine clinic for our residents. She and her husband have four children — all UGA grads!  She loves traveling and spending time with her family.

Michele S. Smith
Michele S. Smith
PhD, LMFT
Director of Behavioral Health
Michele S. Smith
Michele S. Smith
PhD, LMFT
Director of Behavioral Health

Dr. Michele Smith performs roles in teaching, resident support, and patient care. Dr. Smith  received a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy/Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia and completed a doctoral internship in the Family Medicine Residency at Duke University, completing research in pediatric oncology and family effects. She has worked as behavioral health faculty in FM residency programs at Emory University and the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Smith also taught in MFT programs at the University of San Diego, CA, and Mercer University, Macon, GA. Outside of work she loves hiking and backpacking, fun restaurants, travel, and especially spending time with family!

Publications:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10503674/

Davon Thomas
Davon Thomas
MD
Core Faculty
Davon Thomas
Davon Thomas
MD
Core Faculty

Originally from Elmsford, NY, Dr. Davon Thomas received his medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine where he was inducted into the AOA Honor Medical Society and graduated summa cum laude. He completed his medical training at Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center’s FM Residency Program and joined the faculty soon thereafter. He has earned the Faculty of the Year award from 2019–2022. In addition, he was peer-selected as one of Georgia’s Top Doctors in Family Medicine from 2021–2023. Outside of work, he is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and serves as the advisor to his former college chapter at Emory University. His most important positions, however, are husband to a beautiful lawyer/financial coach and dad to two busy boys.

Angeline Ti
Angeline Ti
MD, MPH
Part-time Faculty
Angeline Ti
Angeline Ti
MD, MPH
Part-time Faculty

Dr. Angeline Ti received her medical degree from the University of Michigan (go Blue!) and her Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She completed residency in Family and Community Medicine as well as a fellowship in Family Planning — both at the University of California San Francisco. Prior to joining faculty at WDH, she worked on the contraception guidelines at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and provided family planning care through the Emory University Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. She loves many things about being faculty at WDH, but the best thing is the amazing residents!

Residents

  • Chief Residents
  • PGY-1
  • PGY-2
  • PGY-3
  • Alumni
Sanisha Balsara
Sanisha Balsara
DO
Sanisha Balsara
Sanisha Balsara
DO

Hometown: Suwanee, GA

Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Suwanee

Clinical interests: Addiction medicine

Personal interests & hobbies: Game nights, Harry Potter, traveling, dancing, pilates, socializing

Why Family Medicine? I chose family medicine so I can provide longitudinal care for all patients, while being able to explore personal interests like addiction medicine. FM just gives me so many options to go in so many fun directions!

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I did a rotation here during my fourth year of medical school and fell in love with the people and the motto! Everyone here was super great and it was obvious everyone loved coming to work every day despite the stresses of residency!

Christina Dennis
Christina Dennis
MD
Christina Dennis
Christina Dennis
MD

Hometown: Fort Pierce, FL

Medical school: Ross University Medical School

Clinical interests: Family planning

Personal interests & hobbies: Brunching, baking and all things television

Why Family Medicine? I chose family medicine because I love the wide variety of patient care options, and I wanted the ability to see any patient from birth to old age.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I did a sub-internship during my fourth year of medical school, and I enjoyed working with all of the faculty and residents. Everyone was very welcoming, supportive, and made teaching a priority. As a student working in the program, I felt seen and heard and it was an experience I never forgot.

Nimish Biswal
Nimish Biswal
MD
Nimish Biswal
Nimish Biswal
MD

Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Medical School: Xavier University School of Medicine

Clinical Interests: Preventive Medicine, Chronic Disease Management, Addictions Medicine, and Community Health

Personal Interests & Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy traveling and exploring new cuisines. I am also an avid reader and love spending time with family and friends. Additionally, I have started to play golf, but I am not very good at it.

Why did you choose your family medicine? I chose Family Medicine because it allows me to build long-term relationships with patients, providing comprehensive care across all ages and addressing a wide range of health issues. The continuity of care and the opportunity to make a significant impact on community health are what drew me to this specialty.

Why Wellstar? I selected Wellstar Health Douglas for my residency because of its strong commitment to community health, exceptional faculty, and supportive learning environment. Wellstar’s emphasis on innovative patient care and its robust training program align perfectly with my professional goals and values.

HuaMei May Chai
HuaMei May Chai
MD
HuaMei May Chai
HuaMei May Chai
MD

Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan

Medical school: University of Mississippi School of Medicine

Clinical interests:

Personal interests & hobbies: Playing recorders, listening to audiobooks, cycling, sewing, and mentoring

Why did you choose your family medicine? Helping people stay in good health to enhance their quality of life is meaningful to me. I also find the variety in seeing the whole person and the whole community interesting!

Why Wellstar? I chose Wellstar because the people are caring, the program is rigorous, and the hospital is charitable and ranked among the best places to work!

Victoria Glover
Victoria Glover
MD
Victoria Glover
Victoria Glover
MD

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine

Clinical interests: Adolescent Medicine and Preventive Medicine

Personal interests & hobbies: Jigsaw puzzles, Indoor Cycling, and taking a well-deserved nap

Why did you choose your family medicine? Family Medicine is one of the few specialties that allows you to see a patient as a whole. Family Medicine also allows you to develop meaningful relationships with your patients.

Why Wellstar? I had the pleasure of rotating with Wellstar Douglas for my Family Medicine clinical rotation during medical school. I loved the sense of family I received from this rotation, which made learning easier.

Eraj Saeed
Eraj Saeed
DO
Eraj Saeed
Eraj Saeed
DO

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, CA

Medical school: Kansas City university

Clinical interests: outpatient private practice

Personal interests & hobbies: I love spending time with my husband and travelling when I can.

Why did you choose your family medicine? I love FM because you get to take care of people from birth to old age.

Why Wellstar? Wellstar serves a diverse population of patients.

Jessie Sarvestani
Jessie Sarvestani
DO
Jessie Sarvestani
Jessie Sarvestani
DO

Hometown: Marietta, GA

Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Clinical interests:  Mental health, women’s health, procedures

Personal interests & hobbies:  Outdoor adventures: hiking, camping, horseback riding, rock climbing, running, and photography. I spend my free time with my family and dogs, out in nature, traveling, and volunteering with local organizations.

Why did you choose your family medicine? I enjoy Family Medicine because this specialty allows for a lot of diversity in patient population/demographics and diseases. It provides the perfect blend of various cases and diagnoses while maintaining care and long-term follow-up on my own set of patients. I really enjoy the continuity of care, and I believe that a stronger bond in the physician-patient relationship can result in better outcomes.

Why Wellstar? I appreciate Wellstar’s inclusive culture and commitment to high quality care. I also love that Wellstar made the Forbes list for Best Employer for Women!

Sami Osman
Sami Osman
MD
Sami Osman
Sami Osman
MD

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine

Clinical interests: Sports medicine, Functional Medicine, Emergency Medicine

Personal interests & hobbies: Sports (Basketball), movies, animals, trivia, gym, food, steam rooms and saunas

Why did you choose your family medicine? I want to become a family physician because this specialty allows for providing care to care to patients in different stages of life that can lead to long relationships. It allows for building trust with patient and working with patients to achieve their health goals. From my experience, family physicians play a vital role in preventing medical conditions and promoting healthy lifestyles. Family physicians see a variety of different cases, offer holistic care and provide consistent personalized continuity of care to each patient.

Why Wellstar? I chose Wellstar Douglasville for family medicine residency due to the positive experience during medical school rotations. The doctors and educators there took the time to really teach and frequently tested our understanding to see if we fully grasped topics. They consistently demonstrated a genuine interest in teaching and mentoring, providing me with valuable learning experiences. I also really enjoyed seeing a diverse groups of patients from the greater Atlanta region. Also, being next to a major city has its advantages as there is something to keep anyone busy all year around in Atlanta.

Brea Fuller
Brea Fuller
MD
Brea Fuller
Brea Fuller
MD

Hometown: Hanover, MD

Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine

Clinical interests: Geriatrics

Personal interests & hobbies: Playing group sports (doesn’t mean I’m good), all things surrounding food, and reading (Romantasy all the way!)

Why Family Medicine? Family Medicine is the specialty for me because it gives me the ability to accomplish my goal of helping everyone who I may come across. As cliché as it may read, I get the opportunity to guide people personally through their health journey, whether that is by creating the plan or holding their hand through whatever may come their way. I love being able to help a kid with a rash, a guy with anxiety, the college student with knee pain, or a first-time mom. I will be forever fulfilled and always on a new medical adventure.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Wellstar was the perfect choice for me as soon as I completed my FM core clerkship as a medical student. I loved the interaction the residents had with the faculty and each other. Additionally, I worked with attendings that were graduates from the program and they exemplified how I envisioned my future career. Long story short: supportive superiors (residents and faculty) as great role models in a comfortable, laid-back environment.

Evan Graham
Evan Graham
MD
Evan Graham
Evan Graham
MD

Hometown:  Decatur, GA

Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, GA

Clinical interests: Social determinants of health, mental health, preventive medicine

Personal interests & hobbies: Baking, fashion, travel, and trying new restaurants

Why Family Medicine? Family medicine is the perfect specialty because I love being able to work with patients of all ages and engage in several aspects of medicine all at once: from mental health to chronic disease management, and public health. Also, I like that each day is different, whether in the hospital or clinic, the variety of conditions we see in the specialty is vast and exciting.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I chose Wellstar for my residency after completing my sub-internship as a fourth-year medical student. I loved the diversity of the program, and with the Atlanta area as my hometown, I felt a strong desire to serve this community. Not to mention, the residents and faculty were all so friendly and welcoming, it truly felt like a family atmosphere!

Ambreen Khalid
Ambreen Khalid
MD
Ambreen Khalid
Ambreen Khalid
MD

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Medical school: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Clinical interests: Community medicine, preventive care, chronic illnesses

Personal interests & hobbies: Spending time with family/friends, making bouquets, maintaining my aquarium, and traveling

Why Family Medicine? Families build communities. By helping one individual in family medicine, I can impact the community at large.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I chose Wellstar because of its outstanding faculty and rigorous curriculum to prepare me for practice anywhere. The values and culture here at Wellstar align well with me, particularly diversity and inclusivity.

Adeola Okeowo
Adeola Okeowo
MD
Adeola Okeowo
Adeola Okeowo
MD

Hometown: Warri, Delta State, Nigeria

Medical school: Richmond Gabriel University, College of Medicine

Clinical interests: Preventive medicine, chronic disease management

Personal interests & hobbies: Baking, listening to audiobooks and traveling

Why Family Medicine? I chose FM because it aligns with my interests in preventive medicine, which provides the opportunity to be proactive in patients’ health.  Also, the broad scope and diversity of practice FM provides make it even more interesting.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Atlanta has become a home away from home for me since moving to America for my medical school clinical rotations. Thus, the diversity, location of the program, and my interaction with the faculty and residents on interview/in-person days made this program my top pick.

Maria Shaikh
Maria Shaikh
MBBS
Maria Shaikh
Maria Shaikh
MBBS

Hometown: Mumbai, India

Medical school: St. Martinus University

Clinical interests: Women’s health, prenatal care, outpatient procedures

Personal interests: Exploring new cities, food, watching crime thrillers on TV, painting and creative writing

Why Family Medicine? I am drawn to the diverse and dynamic nature of family medicine, where each day presents new challenges and opportunities to make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients. Whether it’s managing chronic conditions, delivering prenatal care, or providing guidance on lifestyle modifications.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? On the day of my interview at Wellstar, it became clear to me that this program is the ideal fit. I felt very welcomed by the residents and faculty. They are very supportive and care for our well-being.

Hari Uppalapati
Hari Uppalapati
MBBS
Hari Uppalapati
Hari Uppalapati
MBBS

Hometown: India

Medical school: St. Martinus University

Clinical interests: Effectively managing chronic conditions, addressing dermatological issues, and providing comprehensive obstetrics and gynecological care

Personal interests & hobbies: Spending quality time with my loved ones, particularly my parents and friends, and immersing myself in the thrill of adventure movies

Why Family Medicine? As a compassionate and dedicated healthcare professional, I find immense fulfillment in providing comprehensive care across all age groups, with a strong emphasis on preventive medicine. I firmly believe that preventive measures such as vaccinations and disease screenings are vital in maintaining optimal health and well-being. I value the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with my patients, fostering trust and understanding. Family medicine uniquely encompasses these aspects, aligning with my holistic approach to patient care.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Choosing Wellstar for my residency was a natural decision, as I was drawn to their supportive and approachable faculty, coupled with the excellent training opportunities they offer. The residency perks only added to the appeal, making it an ideal environment for my professional growth and development.

 

Need to get city in India

Sanisha Balsara
Sanisha Balsara
DO
Sanisha Balsara
Sanisha Balsara
DO

Hometown: Suwanee, GA

Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Suwanee

Clinical interests: Addiction medicine

Personal interests & hobbies: Game nights, Harry Potter, traveling, dancing, pilates, socializing

Why Family Medicine? I chose family medicine so I can provide longitudinal care for all patients, while being able to explore personal interests like addiction medicine. FM just gives me so many options to go in so many fun directions!

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I did a rotation here during my fourth year of medical school and fell in love with the people and the motto! Everyone here was super great and it was obvious everyone loved coming to work every day despite the stresses of residency!

Christina Dennis
Christina Dennis
MD
Christina Dennis
Christina Dennis
MD

Hometown: Fort Pierce, FL

Medical school: Ross University Medical School

Clinical interests: Family planning

Personal interests & hobbies: Brunching, baking and all things television

Why Family Medicine? I chose family medicine because I love the wide variety of patient care options, and I wanted the ability to see any patient from birth to old age.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I did a sub-internship during my fourth year of medical school, and I enjoyed working with all of the faculty and residents. Everyone was very welcoming, supportive, and made teaching a priority. As a student working in the program, I felt seen and heard and it was an experience I never forgot.

Jeane Khoo
Jeane Khoo
DO
Jeane Khoo
Jeane Khoo
DO

Hometown: Hoffman Estates, IL

Medical school: Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Clinical interests: Preventive medicine, mental health, women’s health

Personal interests & hobbies: Intramural soccer, ultimate frisbee, working out, baking, spending time with my dog Loki, two cats (Leia and Rocky), husband, friends, family, and fellow residents

Why Family Medicine? I love family medicine’s approach to maintaining work-life balance and the wide practice because it enables me to provide a broad scope of care to whatever may cross my path. It syncs with my goal to be a self-sufficient, independent provider to give care to patients of all age groups and backgrounds.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I love the strong camaraderie between the residents and attendings and how it facilitates an enriching learning environment. The program’s diverse range of pathology, procedures, and ability to see and treat anyone aligns with my ultimate practice goals to be a well-rounded family physician.

Iana Malakian
Iana Malakian
MD
Iana Malakian
Iana Malakian
MD

Hometown: Samara, Russian Federation

Medical school: Samara State Medical University

Clinical interests: Chronic conditions in people of all ages, preventive care, and women’s health.

Personal interests & hobbies: Long distance running, traveling, and discovering different cultures and cuisines with family

Why Family Medicine? Family medicine was always attractive to me for its ability to build strong relationships with patients, thus seeing the results of my work, as well as continuity of care.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I wanted to be a part of Wellstar, a national high-quality care provider, to preserve its reputation and learn my profession using vast available resources.

Alanna Perlin
Alanna Perlin
MD
Alanna Perlin
Alanna Perlin
MD

Hometown: Staten Island, NY

Medical school: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Clinical interests: Women’s health, reproductive justice, office-based procedures

Personal interests & hobbies: Strength training, fashion, discovering new coffee shops, reading thrillers, the TV trifecta of true crime/HGTV/reality TV and trying high-protein TikTok recipes

Why Family Medicine? I chose family medicine for its incredibly wide scope of practice. I was nervous to miss out on certain things while considering other specialties, but found that family medicine helps me scratch every itch. No two days are alike, and I look forward to many years of continued learning throughout my career!

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I knew Wellstar was right for me on interview day. Faculty and residents alike were interested in me as a person versus me as an applicant. I immediately felt at home meeting these new faces. Moreover, the expertise of our faculty ensured I would get world-class training throughout my three years in residency. All this time later and I still feel exactly the same way.

Najeeb Siddiq
Najeeb Siddiq
MD
Najeeb Siddiq
Najeeb Siddiq
MD

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Medical school: American University of Integrative Sciences

Clinical interests: Sports medicine, preventive medicine

Personal interests & hobbies: Watching, coaching, and playing sports — especially basketball and football —spending time with family and friends, and enjoying nature

Why Family Medicine? Completing thorough and comprehensive training will ultimately provide valuable knowledge to deliver quality care. I also like the access to longitudinal care — that it’s the most versatile specialty post-training.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I wanted the opportunity to provide care in my home city while gaining experience within a program with a strong reputation, faculty, and a great work environment.

Anantratn (Anant) Asthana
Anantratn (Anant) Asthana
MD
Anantratn (Anant) Asthana
Anantratn (Anant) Asthana
MD

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine

Clinical interests: Comprehensive adult medicine

Personal interests & hobbies: Weight lifting, reading and playing video games

Why Family Medicine? I was always interested in pursuing a specialty that would allow for a good work-life balance. The ability to get know my patients through routine regular visits is a bonus.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I was fortunate enough to complete my medical school clinical rotations with Wellstar so I was already familiar with the faculty and some residents. My relationship with them was the main reason I ranked this program first.

Shany Cohen-Sadan
Shany Cohen-Sadan
MD
Shany Cohen-Sadan
Shany Cohen-Sadan
MD

Hometown: Tel-Aviv, Israel

Medical school: Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel

Clinical interests: Pediatric and adolescent medicine, family planning

Personal interests & hobbies: Reading, watching movies and spending time with my husband and kids

Why Family Medicine? I completed pediatric residency and worked in a pediatric outpatient clinic as well as in pediatric ED back in Israel. Life brought me and my family to Atlanta, and I had to choose a new path. I decided to widen my knowledge and experience new adventures, while still maintaining my pediatric experience. Family medicine was the perfect program that allowed me to combine everything I love.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I chose the DH residency program for its amazing people and the faculty members that really care for us and our well-being.

Zihan (Emily) Guo
Zihan (Emily) Guo
MBBCh
Zihan (Emily) Guo
Zihan (Emily) Guo
MBBCh

Hometown: London, Ontario, Canada

Medical school: National University of Ireland Galway

Clinical Interests: Primary care and helping underserved communities

Personal interests & hobbies: Exploring the city of Atlanta with my co-residents

Why did you choose to practice family medicine?

I enjoy seeing patients of all ages and building a therapeutic relationship with them over time. I believe that medicine and health come from a team effort between physicians and patients. It is a pleasure to be on a team with my patients and watch them change and grow.

Why did you choose Wellstar?

I feel very lucky to be part of a program made of attendings and residents who are compassionate, value comradery, and encourage me to always be the best physician I can be for my patients.

Linda Nguyen
Linda Nguyen
MD
Chief Resident
Linda Nguyen
Linda Nguyen
MD
Chief Resident

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Medical school: Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University

Clinical interests: Integrative medicine

Personal interests & hobbies: Learning new creative skills, exploring cities, engaging in adventurous outdoor activities, and trying foods from other cultures

Why Family Medicine? Family medicine allows me to collaborate with healthcare professionals in all specialties to optimize care for patients and their families from cradle to grave.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? The people. Faculty and residents were able to embody a sense of community and belonging even through virtual conferences and interviews. They have exceeded expectations in person.

Kentrez Thompson
Kentrez Thompson
MD
Kentrez Thompson
Kentrez Thompson
MD

Hometown: Elberton, GA

Medical school: Medical University of South Carolina

Personal interests & hobbies: Gym, dancing, music, cooking, reading, and video games

Why Family Medicine? I wanted the opportunity to serve the community in the forefront and provide care to underprivileged communities.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? The people. I felt that the environment was conducive to learning and gave a sense of unity and family.

Lytani Wilson
Lytani Wilson
MD
Chief Resident
Lytani Wilson
Lytani Wilson
MD
Chief Resident

Hometown: Stone Mountain, Georgia

Medical school: Medical University of South Carolina

Clinical interests: Reproductive health

Personal interests & hobbies: Global travel, crochet, social events around the city

Why Family Medicine? I enjoy partnering with patients to help them achieve their best health and family medicine allows me to be that person.

Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? This program allowed me to train within a community I have been living and working in for many years.

The Many Sides of Douglasville

Credit: City of Douglasville

Nearby Attractions

Douglas Co. Museum of History & Art | Foxhall Resort | Arbor Place Mall | L&R Alpaca Haven Farm | Six Flags Over Georgia | Sweetwater Creek State Park | West Pines Golf Club | Downtown Douglasville | Douglas Film Trail | Ike Owings Community Center

Learn More

Getting Around

Connect Douglas offers bus service throughout the county.
View the transportation schedule