Only four leading candidates are accepted each year
We are delighted that you’re interested in the Wellstar Kennestone Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program. Since its inception in 2016, our program has rapidly ascended to become one of the premier residency programs in Georgia, earning a distinguished reputation as “THE” community program.
Wellstar Kennestone extends care beyond the local community, welcoming patients from hospitals across Georgia, as well as from Tennessee and Alabama. Serving as a transfer center for high acuity obstetric and gynecologic patients with complex presentations, our program has developed a reputation for providing exceptional ancillary services and top-notch care.
Our diverse patient population spans ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Through the Wellstar financial assistance plan, we ensure access to care for indigent patients, with many receiving services either free of charge or at significantly reduced prices. This dedication means that no patient is ever turned away, reinforcing our position as a healthcare provider with a heart for the community.
We ensure our residents receive comprehensive training opportunities that encompass the entire spectrum of obstetrics and gynecology. With a focus on evidence-based care, our program seeks to decrease maternal mortality in Georgia while adhering to the most up-to-date standards. Residents collaborate with maternal-fetal medicine specialists to care for high-risk obstetric patients, gaining invaluable experience in managing complex cases.
We’re committed to advancing surgical skills through training in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, with residents operating alongside urogynecologists and gynecologic oncologists. From the emergency department to the operating room, our OB/GYN residents emerge as leaders in the field, equipped with the skills necessary to navigate diverse clinical scenarios.
The Wellstar Kennestone Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program extends a warm invitation for you to explore the possibility of training at our institution. If you seek a training environment where patient-focused care is paramount and your impact is assured, we invite you to join us here at Wellstar Kennestone — “THE” community program.
Our mission is to create an exceptional and personalized training environment to develop future physicians who will provide the highest quality of care for our community.
OB/GYN Residency Program Goals
• To train the next generation of physicians who will practice up-to-date, evidence-based, comprehensive obstetrics and gynecology
• To produce excellent clinicians and surgeons who will provide care to help alleviate the physician need in Georgia
• To cultivate capable, dedicated and, ultimately, board-certified OB/GYNs
Additionally, our program features the following:
• Duration: four years
• Community-based
• Research requirement
• FLS/EMIGS certification
• Robotic surgery certification
• Preparation for board certification
• Continuity clinic
Our residents have their own continuity clinic patients over four years of residency. Obstetric and gynecologic ultrasounds, hysteroscopy, colposcopy, LEEPs, saline infusion sonography (SIS), IUD and Nexplanon insertions and removals, and other minor gynecologic procedures are performed on-site in the resident clinic. Residents see a variety of patients from different socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. Wellstar provides indigent care, and patients who are uninsured and underinsured are able to get comprehensive care through our resident OB/GYN clinic. We provide care to patients with Medicaid, Medicare, and traditional insurance.
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PGY-4
Beginning PGY-1 year, residents rotate through obstetrics, gynecology, family medicine, clinic, and night float. Each year rotations are added to include reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI), maternal-fetal medicine (MFM), family planning, urogynecology, and gynecologic oncology.
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.
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Perfectly positioned between the north Georgia mountains and the city of Atlanta, Marietta is the ideal place for young professionals and growing families. Equal parts hip and hometown, it’s a bustling city with a small-town feel, and less than 10 miles away from the Atlanta perimeter.
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.
You must apply through Residency CAS. Our program is not using the ERAS platform. See the How to Apply button at the bottom of the page.
Yes, Residency CAS does allow program signaling
Yes, you will need to apply to OBGYN programs using Residency CAS. But you will need to apply to the other specialty using ERAS.
Yes, the match process is the same. Our program will participate in the NRMP Match.
Dr. Teresa T. Byrd is a native of Los Angeles. She received her undergraduate degree in biology/pre-medicine from Florida A&M University and her medical degree from Meharry Medical College. Dr. Byrd completed residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas at Houston Health Sciences Center.
After residency, she returned to serve on the faculty at Meharry Medical College. Before coming to Wellstar, Dr. Byrd advanced to the rank of associate professor at UT Health at McGovern Medical School, where she served as both residency program director and clerkship director. She has numerous institutional and national teaching awards and has presented at many national meetings.
Dr. Byrd’s clinical focus as an academic generalist has been in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, office gynecology, and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. She currently serves on the ACOG District IV Committee on Health Equity and Respectful Care, CREOG Executive Council, the Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society Advisory Board, and on the Georgia Perinatal Quality Collaborative as the maternal co-chair and health equity liaison. Her most recent initiatives are aimed at reducing black maternal mortality through focusing on cardiac disease. Dr. Byrd is dedicated to improving the training of future OB/GYN physicians and working diligently to create a more inclusive work environment while eliminating disparities in healthcare.
Miah Hagans, MD, MPH is a new GME OB/GYN attending. She has strong research interests in maternal morbidity, mortality, and health disparities. Originally from Columbia, SC, Dr. Hagans has spent the last nine years in Georgia.
She completed her undergraduate studies at Howard University in Washington, DC, and earned her medical and public health degrees from Emory University School of Medicine and Emory Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Hagans completed her residency at Wellstar Kennestone, where she cared for patients as an OB/GYN resident for four years.
Dr. Hagans is conversant in Spanish and is passionate about improving healthcare outcomes for underserved populations. She is married and enjoys life with her husband and twin boys.
Dr. Eduardo Estrella completed his Bachelor of Science in biology from University of the Sacred Heart in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He attended University of Puerto Rico Medical School, then completed his OB/GYN residency at San Juan Hospital PR Medical Center, where he served as an attending physician from 2004 to 2007. He worked at Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital from 2002 to 2012 before joining Wellstar in 2012.
Dr. Estrella has been the associate program director of the Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center OB/GYN Residency Program since 2015 and the medical director of maternity and women’s services at Wellstar Kennestone since 2022. He is DaVinci robotic surgeon certified and is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Dr. Marcia Little has been employed with Wellstar since 2006, initially as a private practice OB/GYN. In 2016, she was included in the creation of the OB/GYN residency program to help address doctor shortages in Georgia. She graduated from the Medical College of Georgia and completed residency training at the University of Tennessee-Memphis. Her interests include obstetrics, contraception, perimenopause, and menopause care.
Dr. Little is very involved with institutional quality assurance and leadership. She has held the roles of the department of OB/GYN chairperson and vice chairperson. She leads the Credentials Committee for Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center and is a member of the Medical Care Evaluation Committee (Peer Review). She is also the medical director for the GME Wellstar OB/GYN office.
Dr. Page is from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She then matriculated to Emory University School of Medicine and obtained her Doctor of Medicine in 1999. Dr. Page matched to residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wayne State University/Hutzel Women’s Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. She served as Administrative Chief Resident in her final year, then joining the faculty at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center. Dr. Page was honored to work in medical school administration in Detroit, beginning as Assistant Clerkship Director, and later in Augusta, Georgia. She rose to the position of Associate Dean for Curriculum and the rank of Professor at the Medical College of Georgia and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Page is pleased to be among the teaching faculty for the GME OBGYN residency program at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia. Her research and clinical interests are mentorship of early physicians in training, interprofessional training, curricular innovation, ectopic pregnancy, and office hysteroscopy.
Dr. Karl Steinichen attended the Medical College of Georgia and continued at MCG for his residency. He began practicing at Wellstar Kennestone in 1984. His main interest is general and critical care obstetrics. His duties for the GME program include labor and delivery coverage and occasional call.
Hometown: Oglethorpe, Georgia
Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Currently, I aspire to become a generalist but remain open to the possibility of pursuing fellowship opportunities as I explore each subspecialty.
Personal interests & hobbies: Currently obsessed with Pickleball, spending time with my husband and our fur baby, and indulging in shopping runs to Target and HomeGoods.
Why you chose your specialty:
I chose OB/GYN for the ability to be there for women during their most vulnerable moments offering support and compassion. I love the blend of medical and surgical practice, the opportunity to support women’s health, and the chance to offer compassionate care from adolescence to menopause.
Why you chose Wellstar for your residency:
I chose Wellstar for its proximity to my family, whose support I will value greatly during residency, the diversity within the program, the strong emphasis on education and professional development, the opportunities for hands-on clinical experience, and the program’s commitment to community’s health.
Hometown: Jackson, Georgia
Medical school: Emory University
Clinical interests: Improving maternal mortality rates, transgender healthcare, and increasing access to reproductive healthcare
Personal interests & hobbies: Spending time with my children and partner, cross stitching, crocheting, knitting, and furniture renovation.
Why you chose your specialty:
I chose OB/GYN because I want to support and build relationships with women through all phases of their reproductive healthcare. I enjoy the combination of being a surgeon and participating in providing primary care to patients.
Why you chose Wellstar for your residency:
Wellstar offers me the opportunity to learn in a smaller setting without sacrificing patient volume or complexity.
Hometown: Brentwood, TN
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia
Clinical interests: I am very interested in reproductive health and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries.
Personal interests & hobbies: In my free time I love to bake, cook, and spend quality time with my husband, daughter, and two dogs.
Why you chose your specialty:
I chose OB/GYN because it is the only specialty that satisfies my love for both primary care/preventative medicine and surgery. I am honored for the opportunity to service my community, while also gaining surgical skills.
Why you chose Wellstar for your residency:
I chose Wellstar because of the amazing facilities and the people I met during rotations as a medical student.
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine-Columbus
Clinical Interests: Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy, Pathophysiology and Treatments of Insulin Resistance, Reproductive Microbiome & Disturbances, Urogynecology/Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery.
Personal Interests & Hobbies: Animals (Maltese Owner). Sports: Mercer Bears, Boston Celtics, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Braves. Running/Fitness. Amazon Kindle. Journaling. Hair & Beauty. High-Heeled Shoes & Handbags. Podcasts (Green Room, CREOGs over Coffee, Medical Spanish).
Why you chose your specialty:
I took an interest in Women’s Health, Maternal Health Challenges, and Gender Inequality while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Global Health Studies. I expanded on this part of my degree in graduate school by seeking mentorship with Georgia OB/GYNs. Ultimately, through medical school and mentorship, I had the privilege to be exposed to more clinical experience in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. I immediately loved the wide age range of patient encounters, navigating sensitive health topics with the utmost respect for patient autonomy, and residency training that encompasses a wide variety of skill sets from primary care, obstetrics, and abdominal, pelvic, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery.
Why you chose Wellstar for residency:
Two things stood out about Wellstar: the people and the schedule! I fell in love with those aspects that I prioritized in addition to the academic curriculum. These factors combined with great morale and a beautiful campus just outside of Atlanta, I’m really excited about the next four years.
Hometown: Milledgeville, GA
Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon Campus
Clinical interests: General OB/GYN with a special interest in rural health
Personal interests & hobbies: Reading, Jeopardy, traveling, the Grinch, and yoga
Why OB/GYN? I like the variety in each day — the mixture of surgery and medicine and building relationships with patients.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? The culture of learning and teamwork, the location, the supportive environment, and that it was a program I could see myself growing in — both professionally and personally.
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical interests: Normal and high-risk obstetrics, and underserved populations
Personal interests & hobbies: Traveling, exercising, trying new restaurants, and spending time with my son
Why OB/GYN? It’s a great mix of medicine and surgery. I love women’s health and delivering babies. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? Good vibes during the interview process. I felt like it would be a place where I would get great training and it was close to home.
Hometown: Acworth, GA
Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Routine and high-risk obstetrics, underserved populations, Latinx women’s health, and family planning
Personal interests & hobbies: Baking, traveling, and trying new foods
Why OB/GYN? I’m passionate about advocating for women.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? For the culture and diverse patient population.
Hometown: Cumming, GA
Medical school: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Clinical interests: Routine obstetrics, public health/preventive health, and underserved communities
Personal interests & hobbies: Dancing, exploring new restaurants/coffee shops, reading, and shopping for skincare/makeup
Why OB/GYN?
I want to increase openness and awareness about women’s health and, of course, help deliver babies.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
It was close to home and the smaller program gives more opportunity to build rapport.
Hometown: Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Medical school: Ponce Health Sciences University
Clinical interests: Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery
Personal interests & hobbies: Programming, cooking, and aviation
Why OB/GYN? It’s an excellent mix of primary care in women’s health and surgery, so my days are never the same.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? The location, surgical volume and close proximity of all the facilities we work with.
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical school: Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Adolescent population and global health women’s care
Personal interests & hobbies: Watching YouTube vlogs, outdoorsy activities, and traveling
Why OB/GYN? I want to improve women’s healthcare for all underserved populations.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I knew I would receive impeccable personalized training to be the best OB/GYN given the faculty to resident ratio. Also, the family-oriented culture is unbeatable.
Hometown: Grovetown, GA
Medical school: Mercer University
Clinical interests: Critical care and high-risk obstetrics
Personal interests & hobbies: International travel, exploring Marietta with my dog and partner, fresh pastries, and slow mornings at home
Why OB/GYN? I like the balanced mix of primary care, medicine, and surgery.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? The surgical training and residents’ commitment to providing the best care to patients.
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina
Medical School: Tulane University
Clinical interests: Family planning and medical education
Personal interests and hobbies: Swimming/water polo, home renovations, and spending time with my dogs (they’re the best)
Why OB/GYN? I liked the mix of medicine and procedures. I also wanted to have continuity with my patients. And catching babies is fun!
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I chose Wellstar because I wanted to be closer to home and I liked that opportunities for family planning training were incorporated into our rotations.
Hometown: Conyers, GA
Medical school: Howard University College of Medicine
Clinical interests: High-risk obstetrics, underserved communities, quality improvement, and preventive health
Personal interests & hobbies: Shopping, traveling, aesthetics, and food
Why OB/GYN? I have always been interested in everything women’s health and enjoy creating an environment of comfort and acceptance. I have the ability to do all things including clinical and procedural activities in my day-to-day schedule, which has been very fulfilling to me.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? I chose Wellstar Kennestone for its exposure to high-risk patients, location to my family and friends in the Atlanta area and work-life balance.
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical interests: High-risk obstetrics, substance use disorders, public health, family planning, and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy
Personal interests & hobbies: Traveling, Atlanta United soccer, college football, coffee, and Peloton
Why OB/GYN? I chose OB/GYN for the variety in the day-to-day work, from primary care to complex surgeries, and to join a specialty where advocacy is central to the care we provide.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? For the close-knit group of residents and faculty, surgical experience, and proximity to family.
Hometown: Cumming, GA
Medical school: Mercer University
Clinical interests: Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and PCOS
Personal interests & hobbies: Reading sci-fi and fantasy, crafting, and gardening and houseplants
Why OB/GYN? I want to care for women and gender diverse people who seek reproductive care.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? For its high acuity and excellent relationships with co-residents.
Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas
Medical school: University of South Alabama College of Medicine
Clinical interests: Benign GYN, minimally invasive surgery, high-risk OB, and menopause medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Reading, trying different restaurants, true crime, and hanging out with my dog
Why OB/GYN? I love the variety — the mix of surgery, procedures, deliveries, and continuity of care.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency? For a tight-knit group and excellent clinical training.
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.
Cobb Transportation Info
