Internal Medicine Residency Program

About Us

The Cleveland Clinic Akron General Internal Medicine Residency Program is approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the American Board of Internal Medicine. Twelve (12) Categorical Internal Medicine (3-year program) and four (4) Preliminary (1- year program) positions are available each year. Residents are Board-eligible for certification in Internal Medicine upon completion of the Categorical program.

Teaching Modalities
During residency training, learning occurs primarily by providing direct care to patients. We pay utmost importance to the clinical learning environments and offer high-quality patient care experiences in all areas of residency education. This clinical learning is supported by high-quality teaching rounds and conferences (faculty lectures, case presentations, diagnostic testing, journal club, patient safety and quality, wellness, and other topics in clinical medicine). We conduct weekly board review sessions, as well as simulation-based training for procedures, rhythm management, ACLS protocols, and point-of-care ultrasonography.

Ambulatory medicine (primary care) is provided at the Internal Medicine Center of Akron (IMCA), where resident continuity clinics are held. Residents longitudinally manage the health of their own panel of patients under faculty supervision. The curriculum is structured to provide for increasing autonomy, approaching independent practice at the end of residency training. In addition, residents work with subspecialists in their clinics in select areas as part of their ambulatory training.

Inpatient Rotations

• Core Rotations are where residents admit patients and manage their care as the primary team. These include the hospital medicine service, as well as the medical and cardiovascular intensive care units. Here, the senior residents are team leaders who guide the interns and acquire semi-autonomous responsibility for the care of their patients. They get ample opportunity to perform procedures. These rotations are designed to exponentially enhance patient care skills and decision-making capabilities for our residents.
• Subspecialty/Elective Rotations are experiences in several subspecialties in medicine, other specialties, and research opportunities. Our residents can choose from a large list of rotations based on their preferences and career aspirations to further advance their knowledge and skills in medicine.

All of our teaching faculty are Board-certified in their specialty/subspecialty.

Cleveland Clinic Akron General is a 532-registered-bed teaching and research medical center in downtown Akron. The health system also includes several ambulatory care and wellness centers, emergency departments, Lodi hospital (a critical access hospital), and a rehabilitation center. We serve as a referral center in this area for higher-level care. Cleveland Clinic Akron General is recognized regionally and within Ohio for its expertise and care. We offer a comprehensive list of medical and surgical services. Our residents are exposed to a wide variety of illnesses and pathology, thus making us an ideal center for learning clinical medicine and fertile grounds for research and scholarly activities.

Training facilities include:

• The Heart & Vascular Center is the first accredited Chest Pain Center in Summit County (Certified in diagnostic testing, treatment, and research).
• The McDowell Cancer Center (the largest inpatient unit in the area) provides patients with access to the newest therapies, diagnostics, and surgical techniques.
• We are the first Primary Stroke Center in the area designated by the Joint Commission with active reperfusion and stroke team protocols. This allows Akron General to serve as a regional referral center for many area hospitals. In addition, we provide epilepsy care, neurocritical care, and neuro-interventional services. 
• The Simulation Center is a state-of-the-art venue for a broad spectrum of applications. Hands-on simulation helps teams and individuals develop preparedness and insight that is best learned and practiced in realistic conditions. 
• Additional training opportunities are available in specialties such as emergency medicine, pathology, radiology, and anesthesiology. Other areas for exposure are our Hemodialysis Unit, Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, Wound Center, Neuroscience Institute, Endoscopy Lab, Pulmonary Function Lab, Respiratory Therapy and Sleep Lab. 

Please review Research and Innovation for details in this area.

Our formal Advisor Program transitions medical students to residency. Residents meet with core faculty two times per year to discuss career-building, well-being, and mentorship opportunities.

Residents as Teachers
Our residents receive a formal appointment as Clinical Instructors of Internal Medicine at the North East Ohio Medical University. They routinely work with medical students and are actively engaged in activities to enhance their teaching skills.

Learning & Teaching in Medicine Series
The new curriculum starting from 2023-2024, will focus on teaching fundamental learning & teaching skills that will help Internal Medicine residents become effective self-directed learners and resident teachers by the end of the residency.

Clinician-Educator Track (CET)
Our new CET was started in 2023 within Internal Medicine residency and is designed for the residents who aspire to be teaching physicians in the future. CET aims to provide a learner-centered curriculum to understand and apply adult learning principles, teaching tools, and effective evidence-based strategies in various clinical settings.

Check out the latest on Cleveland Clinic Akron General’s Facebook page.

Welcome

A Letter from the Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program

Thank you for your interest in the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. Our program has existed since 1946 and has a long-standing history of providing excellent education to our students and residents. We have a strong and committed faculty who are actively involved in resident education and research. The atmosphere at Akron General is one of the friendliest and most supportive in my personal experience, and I have seen many others express the same.

Akron General has been recognized many times by the U.S. News & World Report. This accomplishment is a result of our performance in advanced treatment guidelines, the incorporation of evidence-based medicine into patient care, technological advancements in information processing, and research at this institution.

As the largest regional hospital within the Cleveland Clinic Enterprise, Akron General provides excellent educational experiences in a bustling clinical environment. Being a Level I Trauma Center, we offer the opportunity to provide comprehensive care for severely ill patients. Our residents perform a variety of procedures and interact one-on-one with the teaching faculty. They lead their teams and achieve progressive independence in patient management and procedural skills. The majority of our residents go on to subspecialty training, as evidenced by our high fellowship placement rate. Those interested in primary care or hospital medicine are prepared for a successful career in medicine. They are guided further to develop themselves in the fields of education, research, administration, information technology, quality and patient safety, and other areas related to the field of medicine.

I strongly believe in respecting our students and residents as adults and providing learning environments that are stimulating enough for growth but not uncomfortable. I am also a strong advocate for resident well-being, and we have built a comprehensive wellness program to support our residents. Akron General offers each of its residents a learning environment that is academically challenging and personally rewarding. We will provide you with the skills to become an excellent physician, no matter what field you choose.

I encourage you to review the information on our website. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. I look forward to meeting you during the interview season.

Sincerely,

Amit Diwakar, MD, MEd
Program Director
330.344.1543
diwakaa@ccf.org

Jennifer Hayes
Program Manager
330.344.6140
hayesj2@ccf.org

Taylor Hart
Program Manager
330.344.2098
hartt3@ccf.org

Resident Life

A Day in the Life of an IM PGY-1 at Cleveland Clinic Akron General

Rachel King, DO

5:55 AM: I pull open the door to the residents’ lounge, and I am inevitably bid a cheerful “Good morning!” by the night team, and they relish their accomplishment of managing the floors for the last 13 hours. I snag my multi-colored pen from my locker and turn on my pager.

6:00 AM: My colleagues that covered overnight provide the day team with any updates—I learn that one of my patients had to be transferred to the ICU for increased oxygen requirements. They also sign-out any new admissions they received over the course of the night, and I pick up a new case of hepatic encephalopathy. I claim a computer and begin to chart review my patients for the day.

6:30 AM: The team heads downstairs to grab a bite to eat. While my breakfast food choices may vary, my staple is always a hot tea. As I check out, the cashiers greet me by name and ask about my “flavor of the morning.” Now that my fingers are warmed up by a cup of chamomile, I’m ready to begin prepping my notes and repleting low potassium in my patients.

7:30 AM: I grab my white coat, stethoscope, and head out to see all my patients—encouraging myself to take the stairs (have to get those steps in!) to the various floors where my patients are currently residing. I speak with each nurse to gather any other overnight events or concerns and throw in a couple of last-minute laboratory tests.

9:00 AM: Time to gather for rounds! My team is consisted of one attending, one senior resident, two interns, at least one pharmacist, and multiple medical students.

12:00 PM: After rounds, I stop into the cafeteria to make a quick salad and bring my lunch over to the Eva P Craig auditorium for Noon Conference. Today, one of my colleagues is sharing a case from their time in the CVICU while incorporating some teaching on cardiomyopathies.

1:00 PM: I make my way back to the residents’ lounge to follow up on changes made to patient management on rounds, call families, and connect with consultants regarding medication adjustments and pending procedures. Sometimes, serious issues arise with our patients—I get paged that a rapid response is called on my patient for tachycardia, and I run up to the floor with my senior to stabilize them. The patient is in SVT, and 5 milligrams of IV metoprolol does the trick.

Later in the afternoon, the admitting senior receives a few new admissions, and I take one of them—so I head out to evaluate the patient but take a moment to bask in the sunlight flooding the bridge that leads to our newly-built emergency department. I daydream about putting on my running shoes for my after-work trail run on the Towpath in Akron, with the evening sun filtering through the leaves. A “Sepsis Alert” over the loudspeaker brings me back to reality, and I jog down to the ER to ensure that the new admission is stable.

5:00 PM: The night team arrives, renewed and refreshed. We gather around the table for sign-out, and I make sure I communicate anything that needs to be followed up overnight. I also take a moment to scroll through my patient list and ensure all my progress notes and new H&P notes are signed. I hang up my white coat, wave to the night float team, and let out a big satisfying sigh—I’ve conquered another day.

Disha Peterson, DO - PGY3

When I think of my residency experience, the first thing that comes to mind is the resident’s lounge. At first glance, the resident lounge is just a work room for residents and medical students. However, for the residents in our program it has always been our safe place to unwind.

It’s a place where colleagues become friends over many shared meals of cafeteria food or DoorDash. Where we discuss our patient’s cases and learn from our peers. It’s the place where in between consults at night, we have movie nights, potlucks or bond while watching the latest Netflix show. It’s the relationships that start in lounge that transcend into close friendships. People often stay after their shifts to hangout in the lounge and catch up with friends. The residents in our program enjoy attending Cavs games, going to dinner, and playing pickup basketball with the other residencies.

What makes our program truly special is the camaraderie between the residents. We are always in touch with our program WhatsApp group that in between helpful reminders has plenty of memes and inside jokes. My experience in residency has been defined by the amazing friends I have made and the wonderful people I have worked with.

Resident Wellness

At Cleveland Clinic Akron General, we strongly believe that resident wellness is essential for effective learning. We ensure our residents have activities and resources to help support their physical and mental wellness. We provide gym memberships to our world-class health and wellness centers. Residents have access to the Caring for Caregivers program, which offers access to behavioral health counselors and resources. We also host annual retreats and events throughout the year. In addition, Cleveland Clinic’s GME Department hosts “Resident Appreciation Day” every year with activities and giveaways.

The Internal Medicine Residency Wellness Curriculum provides sessions during the academic year to educate residents on the importance of work-life balance and to offer opportunities to enjoy fun activities with colleagues. These include:

• Yoga, narrative medicine writing workshops, meditation, and holiday celebrations
• Didactics on topics such as mindfulness, resiliency training, managing energy, work-life balance, nutrition, fatigue management, and finances
• Grief and bereavement discussions facilitated by our palliative care team

Resident Fun Day

Each year, Cleveland Clinic’s GME and Medical Staff Departments hosts a Fun Day Retreat where residents are excused from clinical duties for an afternoon of fun and activities. This opportunity offers the residents a chance to relax and get to know each other in a more social setting.

Resident Wellness

1 of 7

• American College of Physicians (ACP) Doctor's Dilemma group.

• IM residents on Wellness Day at a local metropark.

• Didactic group picture of IM residents.

• IM residents picking apples on a local farm.

• IM residents participating in a yoga class.

• IM residents gathered for a group dinner.

• IM Residency Program Graduation 2021

Clinical Rotations

PGY – 1

• Inpatient Medicine: 20 weeks
• MICU: 4 weeks
• CVICU: 4 weeks
• MICU Nights: 4 weeks
• Selective: 6 weeks
• Research: 1 week, another week can be requested if needed
• Continuity Clinic: 12 weeks

PGY – 2

• Inpatient Medicine: 4 weeks
• MICU: 4 weeks
• MICU Nights: 4 weeks
• Night Float: 4 weeks
• Elective: 18 weeks
• Continuity Clinic: 12 weeks
• Away rotation (optional): 4 weeks

PGY – 3

• Inpatient Medicine: 8 weeks
• CVICU: 4 weeks
• Night Float: 4 weeks
• Elective: 14 weeks
• Emergency Medicine: 4 weeks
• Geriatrics: 2 weeks
• Neurology: 4 weeks
• Continuity Clinic: 12 weeks

Preliminary Internal Medicine Program

Cleveland Clinic Akron General sponsors four positions for a one-year residency in Preliminary Medicine. This residency is for students whose career specialty requires one year of fundamental clinical experience.

Prelim Clinical Rotations

• Inpatient Medicine: 20 weeks
• MICU: 4 weeks
• CVICU: 4 weeks
• MICU Nights: 4 weeks
• Selective: 6 weeks
• Research: 2 weeks
• Elective: 12 weeks

Teaching Faculty

Allergy

• Roula Altisheh, MD
• Bela Faltay, MD
• Anuja Kapil, MD
• Anthony LaCava, MD

Cardiology

• David Cutler, MD
• Deepakraj Gajamama, MD
• Anubhav Garg, MD
• David Hedrick, MD
• Vinayak Hegde, MD
• Indiresha Iyer, MD
• Anmar Kanaan, MD
• Kamalesh Karthikeyan, MD
• Zenab Laiq, MD
• Yassar Nabeel, MD
• Vinay Pai, MD
• Robert Schweikert, MD
• Khaled Sleik, MD
• Sergey Vitebskiy, MD
• Faisal Matto, MD

Critical Care

• Jorge Bleik Ataucuri Vargas, MD
• Marcela Azevedo, MD
• Anthony Cucci, MD
• Donald Decoy, MD
• Amit Diwakar, MD
• Sarah Duda, MD
• Andrew Garrow, MD
• Randall Harris, MD
• Hussein Hussein, MD
• Zachary Jerusalem, MD
• Ann Leano, MD
• Abdelaziz Mohamed, MD
• Michael Passero, MD
• Alan Rudick, DO
• Mona Turakhia, MD
• Lokesh Venkateshaiah, MD
• Samuel Wiles, MD

Dermatology

• Carl Barrick, DO
• Valerie Fuller, DO
• Angela Funovits, MD
• Eliot Mostow, MD
• Jennifer Popovsky, MD

Endocrinology

• Daniela Ciltea, MD
• Nicole Dombroski, DO
• Kevin Miller, MD
• Michael Morocco, MD
• Yassin Mustafa, MD

Gastroenterology

• Faris El-Khider, MD
• Jeffrey Neher, MD

General Internal Medicine

• Daniel Chapa, MD
• Tala dela Paz, MD
• Brian Harte, MD
• Peter Kunze, MD
• Matthew Kwon, MD
• Shawn Lotfian, MD
• Simranjot Sahota, MD
• Jeffrey Solomon, MD
• Alan Wiggers, DO

Geriatrics

• Kathleen Rogers, MD
• Fangfei Xiao, DO

Hematology/Oncology

• Fang Liu, MD
• Weiquan Lu, MD
• Laurie Matt-Amaral, MD
• Judy Peih-Ying Tsai, MD
• Ariel Sindel, MD

Hospice/Palliative

• Pritika Scantling, MD 
• Molly Scantling, MD

Hospital Medicine

• Firas Ibrahim, DO 
• Kavitha Subramanian, MD
• Christine Wang, DO

Infectious Diseases

• Anthony Leung, DO
• Kasturi Shrestha, MD
• Vansha Singh, MD
• David Watkins, MD
• Ken Wong, MD

Nephrology

• Darryl Anderson, MD
• Andrew Chiao, DO
• Jayaprakash Dasari, MD
• Datinder Deo, MD
• Charina Gayomali, MD
• Thomas Kayani, MD
• Rajat Maheshwari, MD
• Vinh Nguyen, MD
• Pranjal Sharma, MD
• Mansumeet Singh, MD
• Tom Tan, MD
• Olga Voroshilova, MD

Neurology

• Samer Abubakr, MD
• Dhimant Dani, MD
• Abeer Farrag, MD
• Joao Gomes, MD
• Sidonie Ibrikji, MD
• Ahmed Itrat, MD
• Gwen Lynch, MD
• Yousef Mohammad, MD 
• William Novak, MD
• Andrew Russman, MD
• Yonaan Spolter, MD
• Ted Weissfeld, MD

Obesity Medicine

• Shweta Diwakar, MD

Pharmacology

• Melanie Boros, PharmD
• Amy Fanous, PharmD
• Larry Frazee, PharmD
• Patrick Gallegos, PharmD

Pulmonary Medicine

• Jorge Bleik Ataucuri Vargas, MD
• Marcela Azevedo, MD
• Anthony Cucci, MD
• Donald Decoy, MD
• Amit Diwakar, MD
• Sarah Duda, MD
• Andrew Garrow, MD
• Randall Harris, MD
• Hussein Hussein, MD
• Ann Leano, MD
• Abdelaziz Mohamed, MD
• Vimala Rapaka, MD
• Alan Rudick, DO
• Mona Turakhia, MD
• Lokesh Venkateshaiah, MD

Rheumatology

• Nikita Hegde, MD
• Niharika Sharma, MD
• Inderprit Singh, MD

Otolaryngology

• Cassie Carney, DO
• Bruce Sterman, MD

Application

We appreciate your interest in Cleveland Clinic Akron General and hope that we've provided you with the information you need to choose the residency program that best suits your needs. Akron General is able to offer an exceptional medical education experience because of our knowledgeable and hard-working staff.

Cleveland Clinic Akron General is recognized regionally and within Ohio for its expertise and care. We maintain a standard of excellence that promises nothing but the best care for our patients and therefore, nothing but the best education for our medical students and residents.

• Residency applications and the additional items below must be submitted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
• Application Deadline: Mid-September (exact date changes yearly)
• Interview Dates: October to January (exact date changes yearly)
• Expected Program Length: Three years

Application consists of:

• Medical School Academic Transcript
• USMLE 1&2: Minimum 1st pass rate or Satisfactory Scores
• COMLEX 1&2: Minimum 1st pass rate or Satisfactory Scores
• Must have successfully completed USMLE Step I, Step II CK and/or Comlex 1 and Level 2 CE prior to Rank List deadline.
• Three LOR's
• Dean's Letter

All information must be submitted through ERAS before an application can be reviewed.

Interviews are by invitation. If you have been selected to interview, we will reach out to you by email and/or online scheduling software using the contact information you have provided.

We cannot check the individual status of each application. Once you have applied via ERAS, you will be contacted within two to three weeks if you have been selected for an interview. Due to the number of applicants, we cannot send letters of regret if you are not selected for an interview.

Important Information for International Medical Graduate Applicants

• Applicant must be ECFMG certified before NRMP Rank Order List deadline.
• Must have successfully completed USMLE Step I, Step II CK and/or Comlex Level 1 and Level 2 CE prior to Rank List deadline.
• H1-B and J-1 Visas are accepted.
• Must have graduated from medical school within the past 5 years.

Interested in rotating?
Akron General Medical Center uses VSAS, the Visiting Student Application Service to process visiting student applications. To apply for an internal medicine rotation, please complete and send a VSAS application with your preferred dates.

Current Residents

Meet our Current Internal Medicine Residents

PGY-1

Fatima Abdulle, MD

• Hometown: West London, London
• Medical School: Near East University Faculty of Medicine, Cyprus
• Interests/Hobbies: Massive foodie, loves exploring different culinary cultures, running, hiking, yoga, and photography

Ahmed Abushamma, MD

• Hometown: Khartoum, Sudan
• Medical School: University of Medical Sciences & Technology Faculty of Medicine (UMST), Sudan
• Interests/Hobbies: Hiking, swimming, camping and a multitude of sports, interests include languages and literature, humanitarian work, and travel

Sushmitha Boppana, MD

• Hometown: Dublin, Ohio
• Undergraduate: University of Akron, Ohio
• Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), Ohio
• Interests/Hobbies: Painting, journaling, henna art, exploring National Parks, bicycling, and trying new recipes

Heloni Dave, MD

• Hometown: Vadodara, India
• Medical School: Medical College Baroda, India
• Interests/Hobbies: Tennis, gardening, cooking, and traveling

Theresia Davita, MD

• Hometown: Yogyakarta, Indonesia/Somerset, PA
• Medical School: Universitas Pelita Harapan Fakultas Kedokteran, Indonesia
• Interests/Hobbies: Gym, yoga, body pump, body combat, traveling, diving, thrifting, and organizing social events

Bijal Desai, MD*

• Hometown: Clifton, New Jersey
• Undergraduate: Lehigh University, Pennsylvania
• Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Ohio
• Interests/Hobbies: Figure skating, home improvement projects, baking, and skiing

Ali Ejaz, MD*

• Hometown: Multan, Pakistan
• Undergraduate: University of Cambridge, Pakistan
• Medical School: Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry, Pakistan.
• Interests/Hobbies: Break dancing, close-up parlor-style magic, working out, cooking, video games, and technology

Vasu Gupta, MD

• Hometown: Jalandhar, India
• Medical School: Dayanand Medical College, India
• Interests/Hobbies: Photography, brewing coffee, watching Sci-Fi movies, playing mixed doubles in badminton, swimming, world history, and theories about light and time

Daniel Pastel, MD*

• Hometown: Garfield Heights, Ohio
• Undergraduate: Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio
• Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), Ohio
• Interests/Hobbies: Bird watching, paddle boarding, rock climbing, biking, cross-country skiing, board games, camping, hiking, and reading

Suchi Shah, MD

• Hometown: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
• Medical School: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Medical Education Trust Medical College and S.B.K.S. Medical Institute and Research Centre, India
• Interests/Hobbies: Numismatics, hosting dinner parties, experimenting with low-oil recipes, teaching communities of children to skateboard and Bollywood dance, hiking and exploring unknown terrain, and adventure sports

Bana Shawareb, MD

• Hometown: Amman, Jordan
• Medical School: University of Jordan Faculty of Medicine, Jordan
• Interests/Hobbies: Reading, hiking, playing the violin, knitting, watching movies, and baking

Emily Shuffstall, DO

• Hometown: Meadville and Cochranton, Pennsylvania
• Undergraduate: Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania
• Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio
• Interests/Hobbies: Crocheting, beach glass hunting, baking, horseback riding, learning Japanese, golfing, hunting, and fishing

Salam Taraben, MD*

• Hometown: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
• Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University, Ohio
• Medical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, Connecticut
• Interests/Hobbies: Traveling internationally, biking, drone videography, spending time with my cats, watching psychological thriller movies, and watching documentaries

Taylor Tharp, DO

• Hometown: Lake Milton, Ohio
• Undergraduate: The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
• Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio
• Interests/Hobbies: Exploring the underwater world with scuba diving, taking peloton classes with Cody Rigsby and Ally Love, staying active with yoga, snow skiing, and lake surfing, caring for two rescue cats, and making holiday cookies

Rita Marie Zak, MD

• Hometown: West Lafayette, Indiana
• Undergraduate: Purdue University, Indiana and Cleveland State University, Ohio
• Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), Ohio
• Interests/Hobbies: Tennis, piano, cooking, spending time with family

Mohammad Zeineddine, MD

• Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon
• Undergraduate: American University of Beirut, Lebanon
• Medical School: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine, Lebanon
• Interests/Hobbies: Martial arts (boxing), soccer, top golf, horse-back riding, hiking, swimming, civilization studies/philosophy (Greek methodology and religion-Monotheism, Polytheism, Homer, Nietzsche)

*Preliminary Residents

PGY – 2

Andrew Ackerman, DO

• Hometown: Canton, Ohio
• Undergraduate: Walsh University
• Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Interests/Hobbies: musician who enjoys playing drums, guitar, and piano in my band, Black Roads, avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, camping, and fishing, passion for cooking, baking, and sharing food with my friends and family

Wesam Aleyadeh, MD

• Hometown: Kingston, Ontario
• Undergraduate: Queen's University Kingston, Ontario, Canada
• Medical School: Hashemite University Faculty of Medicine
• Interests/Hobbies: Cooking, Writing, Indoor gardening

Loai Dweik, MD

• Hometown: Amman, Jordan
• Undergraduate: American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
• Medical School: Alfaisal University College of Medicine
• Interests/Hobbies: Exploring Zoos, Disc Golf, Traveling, Volleyball, Cycling, Baking, Collecting monumental coins, Historic documentaries

Gwendolyn Kuzmishin, DO

• Hometown: Akron, OH
• Undergraduate: The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH
• Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Interests/Hobbies: Live music, especially alterative, rock, and classical music; judging high school speech and debate tournaments; golfing and playing volleyball; needlepointing and crafting; working out on the Peloton; and spending time with my two cats

Ragavi Lanka, MD

• Hometown: Sylvania, OH; Detroit, MI
• Undergraduate: The University of Akron, Akron
• Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
• Interests/Hobbies: Weight-Lifting, participate in NEOMED's adrenaline club activities and recreational Volleyball, Tennis, Listening to Music, learning about music history, Cooking and Baking, Reading

Guy Leonard, DO

• Hometown: Mars, Pennsylvania
• Undergraduate: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
• Medical School: Edward Via COM
• Interests/Hobbies: Golfing, reading, skiing, traveling, cooking, singing

Olga Lytvynova, MD

• Hometown: Cleveland, OH
• Undergraduate: Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH
• Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
• Interests/Hobbies: Organizing events in the community, Participating in fundraising events, Preparing baked sweets for events, Attending events and exhibitions, Volunteering at local organizations

Rohan Prasad, MD

• Hometown: Bellefontaine, Ohio
• Undergraduate: Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO
• Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
• Interests/Hobbies: Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts, Tennis, Chess, Watching sports

Pratik Rath, MD

• Hometown: Surat, India
• Undergraduate:
• Medical School: Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research
• Interests/Hobbies: Lawn Tennis, coaching tennis, hiking, football, volleyball, cricket, backpacking trips, read and research about health and nutrition

Judson Sprandel, DO

• Hometown: Green, Ohio
• Undergraduate: Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, Ohio
• Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Interests/Hobbies: Die hard Cleveland sports fan, Soccer, Bodybuilding, Travel, Shoe collecting, Skiing, prolific gamer

Raj Jessica Thomas, DO

• Hometown: Northeast Ohio
• Undergraduate: University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio
• Medical School: Edward Via COM
• Interests/Hobbies: Photography, Visiting Museums, Ornamental Gardening, Antique, Enthusiast, Pottery, Avid Podcast Listener, Cooking Indian cuisines

Jashanjit Kaur Turka, MD

• Hometown: Patiala, Punjab, India
• Undergraduate:
• Medical School: Government Medical College Patiala
• Interests/Hobbies: Prolific writer, Reading, Cycling, Athletics, cross-country, half-marathons, Amateur swimmer, Avid watcher of various OTT series and movies, Music

David Vavrinak, DO

• Hometown: Hubbard, OH
• Undergraduate: Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN
• Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Interests/Hobbies: baking (especially cake decorating!), cooking, running, hiking, Python coding, traveling around the world, and spending time with my partner, family, friends and pets

PGY – 3

Hussein Awada, MD

• Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon
• Undergraduate: American University of Beirut
• Medical School: American University of Beirut
• Interests/Hobbies: Soccer, basketball, nature, music, history

Andrei Hastings, MD

• Hometown: Westmoreland, Jamaica
• Undergraduate: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
• Interests/Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my family. I love cooking and discovering new things about different cultures through food. I like playing chess and once competed in the Jamaica Open. I love reading novels and attempt to read a few pages each night. I enjoy physical exercise and sports.

Rajshri Joshi, DO

• Hometown: Delhi, India
• Undergraduate: University of Akron
• Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Interests/Hobbies: Travel, gardening, cooking, hiking

Ravenna Kelkar, MD

• Hometown: Jalgaon, India 
• Undergraduate:  
• Medical School: Rural Medical College of Pravara Medical Trust 
• Interests/Hobbies: Badminton, singing, running and fitness, dancing, writing poems, creative work, cooking 

Rachel King, DO

• Hometown: North Canton, OH
• Undergraduate: Malone University
• Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Interests/Hobbies: Irish dance, ballet, running, mandolin, marimba, painting

Ashish Kumar. MD

• Hometown: Aligarh, India
• Medical School: Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, India
• Interests/Hobbies: Guitar, ukulele, writing songs and poetry, cricket and soccer, origami

Rahul Prasad, MD

• Hometown: Bellefontaine, OH
• Undergraduate: University of Toledo
• Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine & Life Sciences
• Interests/Hobbies: Tennis, art museums, travel photography, rock climbing

Faris Shweikeh, MD

• Hometown: Riverside, CA
• Undergraduate: University of California, Riverside
• Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
• Interests/Hobbies: Travel, reading, running, swimming, cinema

Hoang Ta, DO

• Hometown: Columbus, OH
• Undergraduate: Ohio State University
• Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Interests/Hobbies: hiking, biking, soccer, travel, adventuring

Venkat Tondapu, MD

• Hometown: Strongsville, OH
• Undergraduate: Youngstown State University
• Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
• Interests/Hobbies: Cast iron & grill aficionado, computers, tech video games, basketball, dance: Bhangra, Indian traditional, and hip-hop styles

Revanth Yendamuri, MD

• Hometown: Morristown, NJ
• Undergraduate: Emory University, B.S.; Cleveland State University, B.S.
• Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
• Interests/Hobbies: History, writing

Yuhao Zeng, MD

• Hometown: Beijing, China
• Medical School: Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China
• Interests/Hobbies: Travel, food, yoga

 

Alumni

2023 Graduates

• Olayinka Adebolu, MD – Hospitalist at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Muhammad Ali, MD – Oncology Hospitalist/Assistant Professor at Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Nishad Barve, MD – Hospitalist at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton, Ohio
• Jason Close, MD – Chief Resident, CCAG Internal Medicine Residency Program
• Nathaniel Gilbert, MD – Rheumatology Fellowship at University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio
• David Gonzalez, DO – Chief Resident, CCAG Internal Medicine Residency Program
• Abhilash Marakini, MD – Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio
• Mark Metry, DO – Endocrinology Fellowship at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia
• Anjali Nidhaan, MD – Rheumatology Fellowship at Prisma Health/University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina
• Palak Rath, MD – Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York
• Sterling Shriber, MD – Emergency Medicine Residency at Summa Health in Akron, Ohio
• Radisa Tosanovic, DO – Advanced Health Failure & Transplant Fellowship at University Hospital/Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio
• Rabia Ziulfiqar, MD – Endocrinology Fellowship at University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio

2022 Graduates

• Pranav Bollavaram, MD — Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH
• Olivia Hallas, DO — Radiology at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus in Cleveland, OH
• Puneet Kang, MD — Internal Medicine Residency at University Hospitals/Case Western in Cleveland, OH
• Shubham Adroja, MD — Hematology Oncology Fellowship at Houston Methodist in Houston, TX
• Anas Alameh, MD — Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship at MetroHealth in Cleveland, OH
• Hanad Bashir, MD — Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, OH
• Alyssa Carvalho, MD — Endocrinology Fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO
• Ansaam Daoud, MD — Rheumatology Fellowship at University Hospitals/Case Western in Cleveland, OH
• Samer Gobreial, DO — Hospitalist at Ohio Health in Mansfield, OH
• Andrew Goldblum, DO — Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at University of Missouri in Columbia, MO
• Disha Peterson, DO — Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN
• Nicole Mae Lao, MD — Hospitalist at Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI
• Joseph Lim, MD — Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI
• Gauranga Mahalwar, MD — Chief Resident, CCAG Internal Medicine Residency Program
• Tanya Marshall, MD — Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA
• Sujith Modugula, DO — Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA
• Neha Sharma, MD — Clinical Assistant Professor at University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, TX 

2021 Graduates

• Batool Abuhalimeh — MD Vascular Medicine Fellowship, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland,OH
• Hamzah Alfahel, MD — Primary Care, PeaceHealth Medical Center, Eugene, OR 
• Yazan Alhalalmeh, MD — Hospitalist, Ashtabula County Medical Center, Ashtabula,OH
• Hassan Awada, MD — Hematology and Oncology,University of Buffalo/Rosewell Park Cancer Center
• Tajinder Bajwa, MD — Hospitalist,Kaiser Permanente, Modesto,CA
• Ming Han Cha, MD — Hospitalist,Southside Regional Medical Center, Petersburg,VA
• Michael Khabbaza, DO — Primary Care, Cleveland Clinic, Independence,OH
• Phuong Nguyen, DO — PM&R, Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY
• Modupe Oladele, MD — Anesthesiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
• Saher Khalid, MD — Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
• Rachel Powers, DO — Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
• Michaela Randall, MD — Anesthesia, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
• Yeshwanter Radhakrishnan, MD — Nephrology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
• Rami Sabri, MD — Hospitalist, Ashtabula County Medical Center, Ashtabula,OH
• Rashi Sandooja, MD — Endocrinology,Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
• Christopher Yurosko, DO — Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

2020 Graduates

• Ja’far Alzu’bi, MD — Cardiovascular Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Tarik Atassi, DO — Hospitalist/Nocturnist, MetroHealth, Cleveland, OH
• Alibel Bello, MD — Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Weston, FL
• Yashu Dhamija, MD — Allergy/Immunology Fellowship, The University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
• Ahmad Jabri, MD — Cardiovascular Fellowship, MetroHealth, Cleveland, OH
• Taylor Kann, DO — Rheumatology Fellowship, Florida
• Monisha Kumar, MD — Endocrinology Fellowship, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Colin McLaughlin, MD — Internal Medicine Center of Akron, Cleveland Clinic Akron General,
• Jean Mutambuze, MD — Radiology, Case Western, Cleveland, OH
• Joanna Peng, MD — Anesthesiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Kurian Pannikottu, MD — Cardiology Fellowship, Garden City Hospital, Detroit, MI
• Rachel Powers, DO — Chief Resident, Internal Medicine Program, Cleveland Clinic Akron General
• Elizabeth Verghese, MD — Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship, MetroHealth, Cleveland, OH

2019 Graduates

• Ahmad Ababneh, MD — Chief Resident
• Alessandra Boufford, MD — Hospitalist, Aultman Hospital, Canton, OH
• Udit Dhal, MD — Infectious Disease Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 
• Aastha Jasrotia, MD — Hospitalist,Signature Health Care, Brockton Hospital, Brockton, MA 
• Sonika Malik, MD — Endocrinology Fellowship, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Odessa, TX 
• Arrvind Raghunath, MD — Hematology Oncology Fellowship, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX
• Narine Sharkhatunyan, MD — Primary Care, Acton Medical Associates, Acton, MA 
• Komal Thind, MD — Hospitalist, Sound Physicians, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron, OH 
• Rama Vura, MD — Geriatrics Fellowship, Brown University, Providence, RI 

2018 Graduates

• Roulan Abu Hweij, MD — Nephrology Fellowship, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH
• Barbara Amanambu, MD — Geriatrics Fellowship, Summa Health, Akron OH
• Brian Diede, DO — Internal Medicine Center of Akron, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron, OH
• Abhinav Dodeja, MD — Academic Hospitalist, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
• Mayada Ismail, MD — Gastroenterology Fellowship, University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH
• Ravkiran Khurana, MD — Hospitalist, Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital, Medina, OH
• M. Farhan Nasser, MD — Cardiovascular Fellowship, MetroHealth, Cleveland, OH
• Irtsam Shahid, MD — Hospitalist, Aultman Hospital, Canton, OH
• Dharmvir Singh, MD — Hospitalist, Contra Costa County Hospital, Martinez, California
• Tushar Thakur, MD — Nephrology Fellowship, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
• Poornima Vinod, MD — Hospitalist, Aultman Hospital, Canton, OH

Simulation Center

Internal Medicine Residents at Cleveland Clinic Akron General have access to a large state-of the-art Simulation Center where we offer an integrated approach to life-like clinical situations. Here learners can hone their skills in a variety of scenarios and utilize task trainers that provide procedural competence in central line placement, arterial line placement, thoracentesis/paracentesis, lumbar puncture, and endotracheal intubation. In addition to practicing procedural skills, residents participate in a structured ultrasound curriculum with the opportunity to fine-tune their skills on live volunteers; take part in crashing patient/code blue simulations on a high-fidelity, computerized mannequin; and attend cardiovascular intensive care simulations that prepare them for commonly encountered cardiology emergencies.

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Research & Innovation

Through Internal Medicine and Subspecialty research, we take an interdisciplinary approach to moving medicine forward. Residents are involved in research and scholarly activities under the guidance of the Health Scientists and the Biostatisticians within the Department of Research. We offer guidance, support, as well as dedicated time for these activities. Each year, our residents present their scholarly work at local, state, and/or national meetings and have their work published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Involvement in our research program has been instrumental in the immensely successful fellowship placement of our residents year after year.For details, see our Alumni section.  

For more information about resident research in the Department of Internal Medicine, please contact:

Amit Diwakar, MD, MEd
Program Director
330.344.1543
diwakaa@ccf.org

Adina Brett-Morris, PhD
Health Scientist
330.217.0609
bretta2@ccf.org

• View selected Internal Medicine Publications