Welcome ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿผ to the Azalea Report - where the blooms of South Georgia Health's Internal Medicine Residency program come to life! Like the vibrant azaleas that paint Valdosta in stunning color each spring, this resident-led newsletter showcases the brilliant minds and inspiring stories flourishing in our program. This issue is blooming with excitement as we bring you highlights from our inaugural South Georgia Regional Conference, celebrate beautiful weddings within our residency family, spotlight our featured residents, and share a whole lot more! From program milestones to personal celebrations, we're here to bring you all the buzz from the Azalea City. Get ready to discover the stories of excellence, growth, and community that make our residency program truly blossom! ๐ŸŒธ ๐ŸŒธ

Sincerely,
The Azalea Report team

Resident Spotlight

Kinley Shook-Chacon, MD

Kinley Shook-Chacon, MD

Birth place: Georgia, USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

Fun fact: As a resident physician, Iโ€™ve learned that coffee has become one of my essential food groups.

Favorite dish: Paneer Makhani with Garlic Naan and top it off with Masala Chai afterward โ˜•๏ธ

Interests: Attending church, spending time with my family and our dogs, exploring self-sustainability (gardening, housing, food), enjoying nature, maintaining fitness, Korean beauty products (new obsession), and investing.

Post-residency plans: I plan to dedicate time to my family, travel, and work as a PRN/locum hospitalist for one year while I explore my long-term career direction.

About the Program

SGMC BuildingAerial view of SGMC in Valdosta, GA

SGMC Health's Internal Medicine Residency Program, partnering with Mercer University School of Medicine, delivers academic excellence and hands-on training to address primary care needs in rural and underserved Georgia communities.

Interesting Facts

  • Number of current residents: 37
  • Our diversity: Residents from more than 10 different countries
  • Number of languages: We speak more than 12 different languages
  • Partnership: SGMC's internal medicine residency program is a partnership with Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM)
  • Continuity clinic: The program operates a continuity clinic at SGMC Internal Medicine on Park Avenue in Valdosta.

The Chiefs' Corner

Mariya Tom, MD

Mariya Tom, MD

Meet our Chief Resident, Dr. Mariya Tom, who brings the heart of Atlanta and a dancer's grace to our program. Her journey into medicine began with familyโ€”uncles and aunties whose tireless work in healthcare shaped her understanding of what it truly means to be a physician. Their stories of patient care and the fulfillment found in saving lives became the foundation of her medical calling. A trained professional Indian classical dancer with a...
Brandon Rockwell, MD

Brandon Rockwell, MD

Meet Dr. Brandon Rockwell, our Chief Resident from Warner Robins, Georgia, who discovered his calling at the intersection of his fascination with the natural world and desire to help others thrive. Internal medicine represents the perfect convergence of intellectual curiosity and meaningful human connection, allowing him to channel his analytical nature into creating positive change in patients' lives. An avid sports enthusiast, Dr. Rockwell...

Rounds To Vows

Two Ceremonies, One Community Celebration

Rounds To VowsLeft: Dr. Brandon Rockwell and his wife Kara Hope Hanson. Right: Dr. Sandhya Lakkireddy and her husband Dr. Vinod Solipuram.

This past month brought double the joy as we celebrated two beautiful weddings within our residency family! Dr. Brandon Rockwell and his lovely bride Kara Hope Hanson tied the knot in an elegant celebration stateside, while Dr. Sandyia Lakkireddy's traditional Indian wedding brought vibrant color and rich cultural traditions to life across the globe in India.

From classic Western elegance to stunning South Asian ceremonies complete with intricate garlands and golden dรฉcor, these celebrations remind us that love transcends borders and brings people together in the most beautiful ways. Both couples radiated pure happiness on their special days, surrounded by friends, family, and the promise of bright futures ahead.

Congratulations to both couples! We're thrilled to see our residents beginning this exciting new chapter of their lives. Here's to love, partnership, and many years of happiness! ๐Ÿฅ‚

Intern Spotlight

Genesis Muรฑoz, MD

Genesis Muรฑoz, MD

Straight outta Miami, Dr. Muรฑoz is equal parts beach girl and budding artist โ€” recently bitten by the pottery bug and fully committed to mastering the wheel. ๐Ÿบ Her game plan for the year ahead? Keep it real: survive intern year! But if the white coat life hadn't chosen her, she'd be out in the field as an anthropologist, diving deep into different cultures and probably living her best Indiana Jones-adjacent life. ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ When the shift finally ends,...
Jay Patel, DO

Jay Patel, DO

A small-town Georgia kid at heart (Clayton, population: tiny), Dr. Patel was technically born in Dothan, Alabama before his family settled in the Northeast Georgia mountains when he was just one. Fast forward to residency, and he's become a self-taught chef out of pure necessity and passion. When you're a serious foodie, mediocre meals just won't cut it. ๐Ÿณ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿณ Right now he's laser-focused on matching into Anesthesiology, with the ultimate goal...

GME Corner

Third Annual South Georgia Regional GME Conference

By: SGMC Health (posted originally on September 16th, 2025)
GME CornerMembers of SGMC Healthโ€™s Residency Programs at the 3rd Annual South Georgia Regional GME Conference

SGMC Health hosted its 3rd Annual South Georgia Regional GME Conference on September 13, bringing together resident physicians and medical educators from five regional programs across Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, and Transitional Year specialties.

The conference featured a keynote by Will Kemp, Chairman of the Georgia Board of Healthcare Workers, on innovation in medical education, followed by twelve physician-led lectures on topics including AI in medicine, infectious disease, and mentorship.

Highlights included 39 research poster presentations. Dr. Sarah Sabol (SGMC Health) won 1st place for her poster on metabolic pseudolocked-in syndrome, with runners-up including Dr. Asma Yasin (SGMC Health) for "Malignant Cardiac Tamponade as a Complication of Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma." ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ Congratulations to everyone who participated! ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰

Conference Highlights

House Staff Diaries

Finding Your Footing - A Message to Our Interns

By: Samuel Edusa, MD PGY-2
musings-image

Welcome to the beginning of an extraordinary journey. As you start your year, remember that every expert was once a beginner, and every mentor around you was once exactly where you are today.

Learning to Walk Before You Run

Medicine is not a sprintโ€”it's learning to walk before you run. Right now, everything feels overwhelming. Epic seems impossible, lab values blur together, and the responsibility feels immense. This is not just normal; it's necessary. Every uncertain moment, every question you're afraid to askโ€”these aren't signs of inadequacy. They're the building blocks of the physician...

Podcasts

What Brings You In Today? - Featured Podcasts

A Podcast from SGMC Health

Episode #5 - Joseph Hayes, MD

This episode of the podcast features Dr. Hayes, Medical Director at SGMC Internal Medicine and Assistant Professor at Mercer Medical School. From chief resident to program architect, he now leads South Georgia's newest medical residency program, training the next generation of physicians.

Culturosity

Ghana ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ญ vs Nigeria ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ: A Feast Of Two Nations

By: Samuel Edusa, MD
CulturosityTraditional Ghanaian and Nigerian dishes

In the basement classrooms of SGMC Health, an extraordinary cultural exchange unfolded as medical residents gathered for "Culturosity: Ghana vs. Nigeria," transforming a typical lunch hour into a vibrant celebration of West African heritage. The event, far from being a competition as its playful title might suggest, showcased the rich culinary traditions that bind these two influential African nations.

The spread was a visual and aromatic testament to the depth of both cultures' cuisines. Traditional Ghanaian and Nigerian dishes filled the serving tables, from aromatic jollof rice displaying its characteristic orange-red hue to...

Through the Lens: Residency Highlights

Capturing the Smiles, Milestones, and Unforgettable Moments

Upcoming Events

  • Oct 14-16, 2025 - Sunbelt AG Expo (Moultrie, GA)
  • October 24-26, 2025 - GA ACP Conference (Atlanta, GA)
  • October 28th, 2025 - Trunk Or Treat (SGMC Health, Main Campus)

Birthdays

No birthdays this month ๐Ÿ˜ž

Things To Do In Valdosta

  • Wild Adventures Theme Park

    Open year-round

    Enjoy thrilling rides, exotic animals, and live entertainment at this popular theme park.

    Learn More
  • Valdosta Wake Compound

    Open seasonally

    Experience wakeboarding and other water sports at this state-of-the-art facility.

    Learn More
  • South Georgia Military Aviation Museum

    Open Tuesday-Saturday

    Explore aviation history with vintage aircraft and memorabilia.

    Learn More
  • Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area

    Open daily, sunrise to sunset

    Hike, bird watch, and enjoy nature in this diverse ecosystem.

    Learn More
  • Valdosta State University Fine Arts Gallery

    Check website for current exhibitions

    View rotating exhibitions of contemporary art by regional and national artists.

    Learn More
Spotlight

News From The Clinic

Tameshia Footman

Tameshia Footman

Licensed Practical Nurse

Employee Spotlight

Tameshia Footman has been an integral clinical team member at SGMC Internal Medicine - Park Avenue for four years, bringing compassion and dedication to her role as a Licensed Practical Nurse. What drives her is simple yet profound: making a genuine difference in patients' lives through attentive care and a listening ear. Away from the clinic, Tameshia's world revolves around her children, who inspire and energize her daily. She's also an avid bargain hunter with a knack for discovering hidden gems on clearance racks. While Tameshia describes herself as an introvert who values quiet moments, she has a special gift for forming deep, meaningful relationships with patients, families, and colleagues alike. Her blend of thoughtful professionalism and genuine warmth makes her an essential part of our compassionate care team.

Wellness Corner

Finding Humor in the Hard Days: A Reminder About Emotional Well-being

Emotional well-being

Those charming "Emotional Support" plushies you might have spotted scattered throughout our hospital corridors capture the often-unspoken reality of medical residency perfectly. These whimsical crochet creations, shaped like teacups with wisps of steam rising from their rims, hold a telling message: "It's fine, I'm fine. Everything is fine!"

While these delightful companions make us smile, they also open an important dialogue about how we, as healthcare professionals, process stress and emotions. It's a gentle reminder that sometimes saying "I'm fine" three times doesn't make it true, and that's okay.

Remember: Our residency program offers confidential counseling services and peer support groups. Taking care of yourself isn't just fineโ€”it's essential.

ยฉ 2025 Azalea Report - SGMC Health Internal Medicine Residency Newsletter