Medical Partnership, St. Mary’s congratulate residents matching for fellowships

The Internal Medicine Residency Program, a joint effort of the Augusta University / University of Georgia Medical Partnership and St. Mary’s Health Care System, is pleased to announce that three members of the initial residency class that began practicing in 2015 have matched in fellowships across the country.

As part of the first class, these physicians will complete their three-year residency program at the end of June. After completing a residency program, physicians may choose to enter practice or continue their education by completing a fellowship in a specific discipline. Fellowships allow for further training and additional knowledge in a particular sub-specialty. After a fellowship is complete, the physician is certified to practice in that sub-specialty.

“We are excited to reach our next milestone in this collaborative effort,” said Campus Dean Shelley Nuss. “The placement of these residents across nationally recognized fellowship programs speaks volumes about the high quality of training the internal residency program is providing our physicians. I could not be more proud of these three residents.”

“It has been great to watch these residents recognize their passions in medicine, then not be afraid to set the goals and do the work to achieve them,” said Dr. Achilia Morrow, program director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program. “I am so excited and happy for them as they prepare to begin the next stage of their career.”

“The Internal Medicine Residency Program truly is an inspiration to St. Mary’s and our medical staff,” said Dr. Bruce Middendorf, St. Mary’s chief medical officer. “It has been such a privilege to be part of the process of helping these physicians grow and transform from new graduates to fully independent practitioners. We are very proud of the whole group and honored to be part of the process of bringing more physician access to our state.”

The following Internal Medicine Residency Program residents are honored with fellowship appointments.

Brian Brewer, M.D. Brewer will be completing a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Kentucky. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia, and then attended medical school the Medical College of Georgia at the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership campus in Athens. Following his fellowship, Brewer wishes to return to northeast Georgia.

Heather Brody, M.D., M.Sc. Brody will be completing a Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at East Carolina University. She completed her undergraduate degree at Tulane University, her graduate degree at the University of South Florida, and received her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. Brody would like to stay in the Southeast following her fellowship.

Tenzing Phanthok, M.D., M.S. Phanthok will be completing a Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. She completed her undergraduate degree at Emory University, her graduate degree at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and received her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. Phanthok wishes to remain in Georgia following her fellowship

The AU/UGA Medical Partnership is a collaborative effort between Augusta University and the University of Georgia to help alleviate a statewide shortage of physicians that threatens the health of Georgians. The AU/UGA Medical Partnership, which enrolled its first class of 40 students in 2010, combines the significant instructional and research resources of UGA, the state’s flagship land-grant research university, with the expertise of AU-MCG, Georgia’s only public medical school.

St. Mary’s Health Care System, a not-for-profit Catholic healthcare ministry, is a member of Trinity Health, Inc. St. Mary’s includes St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro, and numerous affiliated facilities and practices. It offers a comprehensive range of services to the surrounding community and Northeast Georgia and is the recipient of numerous awards for quality of care.