PGY2
Malak Al-Bitar, MD
Medical school: University of Jordan Faculty of Medicine
Favorite thing about the residency: My favorite thing about the program is the constant support from other residents, which creates a safe environment for learning. Intern year is difficult, but knowing that my colleagues were there to help me through it allowed me to do my best to care for my patients and learn from my mistakes.
Why I chose Geisinger: What captured me most about Geisinger was the number of faculty members I met during my interview who had started their training careers here and chose to stay as attendings. That just told me enough about the culture and environment of the program.
Career interests: Gastroenterology and GI/nutrition
Vidya Bollavaram, MD
Medical school: Indira Gandhi Medical College
Favorite thing about the residency: I love the receptiveness and drive for growth in our residency — whether this means the leadership’s effort to listen to ongoing, even small issues to address them with residents in monthly meetings, or the CET program, which allows residents to develop their own educational projects that have been implemented into the residency curriculum. I feel like there is so much enthusiasm to keep making the program better for its residents.
Why I chose Geisinger: I chose Geisinger for its incredibly supportive culture, the clinician-educator track and the outstanding fellowship opportunities it offers. Throughout the interview experience, I learned about how much the program leadership cared about their residents and how invested they are in each resident's growth, success and well-being. I wanted to join a program that not only offered excellent clinical exposure and training but also created a safe and friendly environment where you can always be curious. Ultimately, I knew I could see myself training here for residency, fellowship and beyond!
Career interests: Pulmonary and critical care medicine or endocrinology
Michael Carcella, DO
Undergraduate: Duquesne University
Medical school: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about the residency: My favorite thing about our program is the people that make it up. Regardless of year, all residents within the program are supportive of each other and are an absolute pleasure to work with. Faculty and program administration are kind, supportive, approachable and genuinely have your learning in their best interest.
Why I chose Geisinger: I chose Geisinger because it matched every aspect of what I was looking for in a residency program. The faculty and residents that I worked with on a visiting rotation served as excellent role models for how I wanted to eventually practice. Additionally, having the abundance of opportunities/fellowships that exist at a large tertiary center like Geisinger — while being in a smaller rural PA community — fit perfectly with the type of setting that I was looking for.
Career interests: Hematology/oncology
Diana Crowley, DO
Undergraduate: Susquehanna University
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about the residency: You feel genuinely invested in from every attending and resident you work with at Geisinger, from the commitment to our individual medical education to mentorship tailored to our future career goals.
Why I chose Geisinger: I chose Geisinger because when I rotated through the program, I witnessed the expert mentorship, excellent teaching and unmatched sense of community cultivated here. I knew choosing this program would open opportunities for me to meet my full potential as a physician, a scholar and an educator.
Career interests: Cardiology or hospital medicine with a focus in medical education
Lavanya Garnepudi, MD
Undergraduate: University of Maryland Baltimore County
Medical school: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Favorite thing about the residency: The sense of community and support throughout the program.
Why I chose Geisinger: I chose Geisinger because of the culture, sense of community and commitment to excellence and education. I feel supported to learn and grow as a person and physician.
Career interests: Hematology/oncology
Annum Hayat, MD
Undergraduate: Bloomsburg University
Medical school: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Favorite thing about the residency: The approachability of leadership/attendings and the camaraderie among the residents and the program throughout.
Why I chose Geisinger: The people along with the learning opportunities. Having been part of this environment as a medical student reinforced my desire to remain with Geisinger.
Career interests: Hematology/oncology or critical care medicine
Vyshnavi Kodali, DO
Undergraduate: New York Institute of Technology
Medical school: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about the residency: My co-residents!
Why I chose Geisinger: The welcoming culture of Geisinger and the surrounding community is something that can’t be beaten! Our training is crafted to be well-rounded while still prioritizing our well-being. Everyone here is truly so kind, approachable, encouraging and respectful of our goals.
Career interests: Gastroenterology
Candace Miyaki, DO
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University
Medical school: Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about the residency: Truly love the supportive environment.
Why I chose Geisinger: I chose Geisinger because when I visited, everyone was genuinely happy to be here. Residency is hard, so I knew I wanted to go somewhere where I’d love going to work every day.
Career interests: Hematology/oncology
Favour Nelson, MD
Medical school: All Saints University College of Medicine
Favorite thing about the residency: The warm, welcoming attitude of everyone, including residents, attendings and administrative staff, is incomparable. Working in an environment where your mental well-being is prioritized is very important and the GMC IM residency program has taught me that we can be busy health care providers and still care for ourselves.
Why I chose Geisinger: I chose Geisinger because of the huge emphasis on mental health and wellness in the program. It matters to me that I am in a program that genuinely cares about my well-being as a resident.
Career interests: Interventional cardiology
David Nye, DO
Undergraduate: Penn State University
Medical school: West Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about the residency: I came to Geisinger due to it being an academic hospital in a small town in PA. Now, I want to stay because of the people. It’s such a welcoming place to train. All our faculty really want to see us grow into the best physicians we can be, and it shows.
Why I chose Geisinger: I wanted to train at an academic medical center not surrounded by a metropolis of skyscrapers and traffic. I grew up in rural small-town USA, not too far from Danville, and I wanted to receive a world-class medical education while also giving back to a community like the one I grew up in.
Career interests: Pulmonary and critical care medicine or hospital medicine
Shriraj Patel, DO
Undergraduate: University of Richmond
Medical school: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Middletown
Favorite thing about the residency: I greatly value our residency program's emphasis on collegiality, didactic instruction and the opportunities for close collaboration with other specialties. The program provides protected lecture time and promotes evidence-based medicine, allowing us to deliver the best possible care with progressive autonomy. Additionally, the administration is highly supportive of our career goals and encourages further professional development within Geisinger.
Why I chose Geisinger: I prioritized residency training at a tertiary care center and ultimately picked Geisinger after rotating here as a fourth-year medical student. It was clear that Geisinger’s emphasis on education, its culture of kindness, and its focus on patient care are all unparalleled. Beyond this, Geisinger is a unique training environment where experts in their respective fields are also the mentors invested in your personal and professional success!
Career interests: Gastroenterology and pulmonary and critical care medicine
Alejandra Perez-Chapman, DO
Undergraduate: Loyola University Maryland
Medical school: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about the residency: My colleagues. Geisinger has a way of recruiting awesome human beings who have positively affected both my training and happiness. They are constantly supportive, encouraging and continue to help me grow into an excellent physician. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
Why I chose Geisinger: When I began my search for residency programs, I knew I desired certain criteria. I wanted to be closer to home, preferably at an academic program that encouraged research, one that offered fellowship training, and one that fostered a safe learning environment. When I interviewed at Geisinger, all staff, including interns, were very happy in their positions. I knew then that Geisinger fit all my desired criteria and I would also be very happy training here.
Career interests: Gastroenterology. My path to achieving this is not entirely clear to me. I didn’t know I would enjoy hospital medicine as much as I do. I could see myself working for a year while I work on strengthening my application for fellowship. It will all depend on how much I have accomplished by the end of my three years.
Victoria Pierce, DO
Undergraduate: Texas A&M University
Medical school: University of North Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about the residency: My favorite thing about Geisinger is the people. My fellow residents are kind, competent and compassionate. The camaraderie is unmatched.
Why I chose Geisinger: I first became interested in Geisinger because it is a large tertiary care center with many fellowship opportunities. But the reason my husband and I wanted to couples-match to Geisinger was because of the culture. Geisinger is home to some of the friendliest and kindest people we have ever met — and extremely friendly to couples-match!
Career interests: Critical care or hospital medicine
Israa Qureshi, MD
Medical school: Dow International Medical College
Favorite thing about the residency: The sense of community among the residents.
Why I chose Geisinger: While interviewing, I was looking for a program with a supportive work environment and an emphasis on teaching. At Geisinger, there is camaraderie between the faculty and residents. I like that it's a large academic center with a small-town feel. I’m glad to have found a program like this to complete my training.
Career interests: Gastroenterology and endocrinology
Brian Singh, MD
Undergraduate: Virginia Tech
Medical school: American University of Antigua
Favorite thing about the residency: The utility and bonds among our colleagues.
Why I chose Geisinger: As soon as I finished my interview with Geisinger, I called my brother and told him this was the program for me. The faculty made me feel so comfortable during the interview process that I knew they would treat all residents like family, and I was not mistaken in my choice.
Career interests: Interventional cardiology
Abuzar Siraj, MD
Medical school: Khyber Medical College
Favorite thing about the residency: I enjoy coming to work at Geisinger knowing that I am entering a safe, academic workplace where my education is equally as important as patient care. The program has an abundance of resources to help residents excel as clinicians, leaders and educators.
Why I chose Geisinger: I chose Geisinger because of the robust clinical training and the collegial environment. Training in a large, tertiary referral center was a priority for me. The friendly interaction I had with the faculty and residents was unique and genuine and unlike any of the other programs I interviewed at. I knew Geisinger was the right fit for me right after my interview.
Career interests: Pulmonary and critical care medicine
Jonathan Vamadeva, DO
Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame
Medical school: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about the residency: Ted Lasso says, “Be curious, not judgmental,” a quote that perfectly exemplifies my favorite part about this residency. The people in the program are both clinically and personally inquisitive, while also believing in the power of continued support in the face of daily stress. This makes even the most difficult days endurable.
Why I chose Geisinger: I honestly had never heard of Geisinger before my girlfriend rotated through as a med student. Once she matched into the IM program, I wanted my own firsthand experience here, and it did not disappoint; I realized this place offers the perfect balance of complex patient presentations, a focused commitment to resident education, unlimited fellowship opportunities and a family atmosphere that I truly yearned for.
Career interests: Sports medicine or rheumatology