July 2026 – Four new family physicians are beginning the next chapter of their careers after graduating from our Family Medicine Residency Program at Lakeside Medical Center on June 25, 2026.
We celebrated the accomplishments of Michael Bereisha, MD; Anastasia Dihel, MD; Mahmoud Issa, MD; and Nyla Naeem, DO during a ceremony honoring our 14th graduating class.
Throughout their three years of training, the residents completed rotations in emergency medicine, critical care, women’s health, psychiatry, general surgery, inpatient and outpatient medicine, community medicine, sports medicine, cardiology, geriatrics and pediatrics. They also cared for patients at our Belle Glade Community Health Center, located alongside the hospital, where they built lasting relationships with patients and families throughout the Glades.
During the ceremony, our president and chief executive officer, Darcy J. Davis, reflected on what makes training in a rural family medicine program so meaningful.
“Family medicine is about more than diagnosing and treating patients. It’s about building trust. It’s about understanding the people and communities you serve. It’s about showing up consistently and making health care feel personal and accessible. I’m grateful for the care you’ve provided to this community and excited to see where your journeys take you next.”
Our executive vice president and chief medical officer, Belma Andrić, MD, reminded the graduates that while clinical knowledge is essential, compassion is what patients will remember most.
“You have spent the last several years learning how to treat disease. More importantly, you have learned how to care for people. Your patients will not remember every guideline you followed or every medication adjustment you made. But they will remember that you listened, that you cared and that you showed up when they needed you.”
Family medicine is a specialty devoted to providing comprehensive care for people of all ages. Throughout residency, our physicians care for patients with a wide range of health needs, many of whom have complex medical conditions and limited access to care. One of our program’s goals is to prepare physicians to practice in rural and underserved communities like the Glades. Two members of this graduating class will continue caring for patients in South Florida.
Keynote speaker Jose Hernandez, MD, FAAP a pediatrician at our West Palm Beach Community Health Center and pediatric preceptor for our residency program, reflected on how far the graduates had come while encouraging them to continue growing throughout their careers.
“Being a family medicine doctor is a noble calling. You are the front line. As you head into your independent practice, keep learning. Just because you have a diploma doesn’t mean you’re done with learning. Never stop being the curious intern who asks, ‘Why?'”
The ceremony concluded with remarks from Nergess Taheri, DO, MSBI a graduate of our Family Medicine Residency Program who now serves as program director.
“Your perseverance, resilience and commitment to caring for others has brought you to this remarkable moment. We’re proud of all you have achieved and excited to see the difference you’ll make in the future.”
One of the evening’s most meaningful traditions was the White Coat Ceremony, when the graduates welcomed the program’s five incoming residents by presenting each with a white coat, symbolizing the beginning of their own journeys in family medicine.
Supported by a grant from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, our Family Medicine Residency Program trains up to 15 residents and partners with Nova Southeastern University and the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County. The program earned accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in 2020, demonstrating it meets the national quality standards for graduate medical education.
To learn more about our Family Medicine Residency Program, visit https://www.hcdpbc.org/for-patients/hospital/family-medicine-residency.
