March 23 2022 – Twelve new internal medicine residents and eight new family medicine residents will begin their training at Lee Health through The Florida State University College of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency Program and The Florida State University College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program, respectively.
Medical school graduates are required to complete residency training in their specialty of choice to become independently practicing physicians. These new resident physicians were selected after a rigorous vetting and interview process of the more than 3,100 applications received from U.S. medical students and physicians from around the world.
This marks the inaugural class for the internal medicine residency program, which is based at Cape Coral hospital and accepts 12 new doctors each year for a three-year residency. The family residency program, based at Lee Memorial Hospital accepts eight new doctors each year and is also a three-year residency.
“We are very excited to welcome our first class of internal medicine residents to Lee Health and Cape Coral Hospital,” said Maja Delibasic, M.D., Program Director of the Florida State University College of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency Program at Lee Health Cape Coral. “This group of residents comes to Southwest Florida from all around the globe, representing eight different home countries. We are excited for them to bring their unique perspectives to our area as they continue their medical training.”
The first-year residents were announced at the annual Match Day celebration on Friday, March 18. The new residents include:
Internal Medicine
- Nur Adalier, MD, Koç Üniversites
- Sait Barlas, MD, Koç Üniversites
- Abraham Bell, DO, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
- You Nine Castillo Hernandez, MD, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo
- Ross Huff, DO, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern Univ.
- Arunima Jose, MD, Sree Gokulam Medical College
- Kasia Karpinska-Leydier, MD, Poznan University of Medical Sciences
- Gautam Maddineni, MD, N.R.I. Institute of Medical Sciences
- Stefan Milutinovic, MD, University of Nis Faculty of Medicine
- Marie Morales-Rodriguez, MD, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara Facultad
- Juan Carlos Perez, MD, Universidad del Norte Programa de Medicina
- Kelsey Theriault, DO, Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Family Medicine
- Mawj Al-Ani, M.B.B.ch., Cairo University Faculty of Medicine
- April Burton, DO, Lake Erie COM
- Mark, Fam, DO, Edward via College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Tasnim Hussein, MD, University of Florida COM
- Snigdha Ila, DO, Nova Southeastern University COM
- Antony Mikhail, DO, Edward via COM – Carolinas Campus
- Joanna Greenhalgh, DO, Rocky Vista University COM
- Stephanie Cruz, DO, Lake Erie COM
“Our family medicine residency program continues to have strong interest from graduating medical students around the world,” said Alfred Gitu, M.D., Program Director of the Florida State University College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program at Lee Health. The majority of our residents have stayed here in Southwest Florida following their training to continue to serve patients in our community. We look forward to welcoming our newest class of exceptional residents when they arrive this summer.”
The National Resident Matching Program announced 2022 as its largest residency matching program ever, with a record number of applicants and physicians matched.
Lee Health launched the family medicine residency program in 2012 to address the shortage of primary care physicians in Southwest Florida. Of the 40 Lee Health program graduates, 21 have chosen to remain in Southwest Florida to practice.
About Lee Health
Since the opening of the first hospital in 1916, Lee Health has been a health care leader in Southwest Florida, constantly evolving to meet the needs of the community. A non-profit, integrated health care services organization, Lee Health is committed to the well-being of every individual served, focused on healthy living and maintaining good health. Staffed by caring people, inspiring health, services are conveniently located throughout the community in four acute care hospitals, two specialty hospitals, outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers, primary care and specialty physician practices and other services across the continuum of care. Learn more at www.LeeHealth.org.
