March 20, 2026 —Lee Health is set to welcome the largest residency class in its history this July, as 63 new physicians and 5 new pharmacists matched to the health system this week during Match Day 2026. Chosen from a competitive pool of more than 5,000 applicants worldwide, this record-breaking cohort includes 63 physician residents training through Florida State University College of Medicine programs in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, along with the first classes of Transitional Year and Obstetrics and Gynecology residents and the longstanding pharmacy residency program.

This is the first class of residents for both the Transitional Year and the OB/GYN programs based at Cape Coral Hospital. Those classes will join the Internal Medicine residency program, which is in its fourth year and will be accepting twenty new residents for a three-year training period. The Family Medicine residency program, based at Lee Memorial Hospital, increased its class size to eleven new residents annually following continued growth since its inception..

After graduating from either an allopathic medical school, which awards an M.D. degree, or an osteopathic medical school, which grants a D.O. degree, physicians are required to complete residency training in their chosen specialty to practice medicine independently.

“We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional and diverse group of resident physicians to Lee Health,” said Alfred Gitu, M.D., Chief Academic Officer for Lee Health. “Training the next generation of outstanding clinicians is at the heart of our mission, and we are grateful to our community for embracing these learners as they begin their journey. Their dedication and talent will not only enrich our health system but also strengthen the care we provide across Southwest Florida for years to come.”

The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) announced 2026 as another record-breaking year with over 53,000 applicants registered in the match, an all-time high in the program’s 70-year-plus history.

Lee Health also continues to invest in the next generation of pharmacists through its pharmacy residency program, which began 17 years ago, and plays a vital role in patient safety, medication management and interdisciplinary care across the health system.

“Our pharmacy residents are essential members of the care team and make a meaningful impact on patient care every day,” said John Armistead, vice president of pharmacy services at Lee Health. “Pharmacy residents work alongside physicians, nurses and care teams to support better patient outcomes throughout Southwest Florida. By training pharmacists here at Lee Health, we are strengthening our workforce and ensuring our community has access to knowledgeable, compassionate medication experts who understand the unique needs of the patients we serve.”

By investing in comprehensive residency training across disciplines, Lee Health is helping ensure patients across the region have access to high-quality, compassionate care now and in the future.

The new physician residents were announced at the annual Match Day celebration on Friday, March 20. At noon Eastern time on the third Friday in March each year, graduating medical students across the United States are allowed to open their envelopes to learn where they “matched” for residency. The pharmacy residency matches were announced on Wednesday, March 18. The matched residents at Lee Health are:

 Family Medicine:

  • Amanda Onyeke, D.O., Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Bonnie Wilt, M.D., FSU – Ft. Pierce Campus, Fla.
  • Camila Dominguez, M.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
  • Elyssa Hernandez, D.O., Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, Alabama
  • Gabriella Dunemann, D.O., Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Jhesenia Rodriguez Victoria, D.O., Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pennsylvania
  • Madison Klim, M.D., University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson, Mississippi
  • Marisa Luz, D.O., NSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, Davie, Florida
  • Millena Rodrigues De Moura, D.O., Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Monica Aspra Rubi, D.O., Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Veronica Angelo, D.O., Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

 Internal Medicine:

  • Ezzeldin Abdellatef, M.D., Alexandria University, Egypt
  • Amna Ahmed, M.D., Allama Iqbal Medical College, Pakistan
  • Ahmad Al Toubat, M.D., University of Sharjah College of Medicine, United Arab
  • Jose Barahona, M.D., Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Honduras
  • Johnny Hernandez, M.D., Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de Guantanamo, Cuba
  • Daniel Cuadrao, D.O., Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pennsylvania
  • Patrick Dumitrescu, M.D., Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie Victor Babes, Romania
  • Jose Garcia Rodriguez, M.D., University of Science, Arts, and Technology Faculty of Medicine, Monserrat
  • Lama Hakim, M.D., University of Damascus Faculty of Medicine, Syria
  • Joseph Berling, M.D., Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida
  • Renato Luque Gustavo, M.D., Universidad Cientifica del Sur Facultad de Medicina, Peru
  • Humza Naqvi, D.O, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, Alabama
  • Igor Narciso, M.D., Faculdades Integradas Pitagoras, Brazil
  • Dakota Owings, D.O., Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Parker, Colorado
  • Tashira Persia, M.D., Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra, Dominican Republic
  • Malik Rasool, M.D., King Edward University, Pakistan
  • Hailie Savoie, D.O., Lincoln Memorial University Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harrogate, Tennessee
  • Cindy Sierra Cogollos, M.D., Universidad Libre de Colombia Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Colombia
  • Mariam Tkeshelasvili, M.D., Tbilisi State Medical University Faculty of Medicine, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Alejandra Zelaya, M.D.,  Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Honduras

Transitional Year:

  • Alireza Abdshah, M.D. Tehran University
  • Abdulrman Almeky, M.D. Ross University
  • Elizabeth Brownell, D.O. University of North Texas
  • Gregory Casey, M.D. University of Health Sciences
  • Oscar Chatain, D.O. University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Madison Contour, M.D. University of Queensland
  • Ian Dub, M.D. Florida State University
  • Ashley Ehlers, M.D. University of Antigua
  • Kimya Ghaffarian, M.D. University of Cork
  • Jalal Ibrahim, D.O. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Gabriel Jalo, M.D. American University of Antigua
  • Himavarsha Kancharla, M.D. University of Missouri
  • Rita Khouri, M.D. McGovern Medical School
  • Nimmi Mathews D.O., Nova Southeastern University
  • Kunmilayo Olayeye, D.O. Nova Southeastern University
  • Grace Olsen, M.D. Boston University
  • Noralys Pagan Rivera, M.D. University of St. Kitts
  • Brieanna Perdue, D.O. Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace College of Medicine
  • Jiatian Qu, M.D. Geisinger Commonwealth
  • Giovanni Aponte Rodriguez, M.D. Ponce Health Sciences University
  • Paula Rodriguez Brinez, M.D. Universidad de la Sabana
  • Dante Snaders, M.D. University of South Carolina
  • Jonathan Siegel, D.O. Kansas City University College of Medicine

 OBGYN Medicine:

  • Alexa Alvarez, D.O., Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
  • Mozghan Arman, M.D., Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
  • Kate Gargiula, D.O., Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, Alabama
  • Alexa Jauregui, M.D., Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Mariah McIntyre, D.O., Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pennsylvania
  • Annalyse Sabia, D.O., Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, las Cruces, New Mexico

 Pharmacy Medicine:

PGY1 Pharmacy Residents – Gulf Coast Medical Center

  • Lauren Galbreath, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

PGY1 Pharmacy Residents – Cape Coral Hospital

  • Lylah Oswald, Wilkes University, Nesbitt College of Pharmacy, Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • Madison Bouthillette, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

PGY1 Community Pharmacy Residents

  • Nicole Chediak, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

PGY2 Critical Care Resident

  • Judith Ramos, PharmD, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio (PGY1 – Lee Health)=

PGY2 Emergency Medicine Resident

  • Jessica Lessard, PharmD, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (PGY1 – Wyckoff Heights Medical Center)

 About Lee Health

Lee Health has been a cornerstone of health care in Southwest Florida since opening its first hospital in 1916. As a non-profit, integrated health system, Lee Health is dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate care to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. With a strong commitment to community health and wellness, Lee Health commits to evolving with the growing and changing needs of the region. The system offers comprehensive services through four acute care hospitals, Golisano Children’s Hospital, three skilled nursing locations, outpatient facilities, urgent care centers, and a wide network of primary care and specialty practices. Lee Health supports every step of the health journey, from preventive care to advanced treatment for every member of our community. Learn more at www.LeeHealth.org.