Sincerely,
Resident Spotlight
Taylor Martin, DO
Birth place: Central Florida
Fun fact: Have driven 🚗 Route 66
Favorite dish: Beef stroganoff 😋
Interests: Solar panels, Diesel engines & Astronomy
Post-residency plans: Start a medical clinic with my wife. Start a farm 🚜.
Advice to the incoming class: Practice mindfulness during your daily tasks and you'll be surprised how much more you'll notice. Try to keep in mind the mantra 'Slow is steady and steady is fast' if you feel like you're struggling to maintain pace. 🧘🏻
About the Program
Aerial view of SGMC in Valdosta, GASGMC 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.
Farewell Class Of 2025
Celebrating Our Recent Graduates
The graduates-Rija Chaudhary, MD; Venkata Gandi, MD; Monica Kovuri, MD; Dwayne Mohan, MD; Rosaida Silverio-Lopez, MD; Anum Munir, MD and Shilpa Reddy, MDOn Saturday, May 31, we celebrated the graduation of our Class of 2025. As the inaugural Internal Medicine residency class at SGMC Health, Drs. Rija Chaudhary, Venkata Gandi, Monica Kovuri, Dwayne Mohan, Anum Munir, Shilpa Reddy, and Rosaida Silverio-Lopez became the foundation of something extraordinary, proving that when communities invest in the people who serve them, remarkable things happen.
Each graduate brought something unique during their three-year journey, navigating rigorous training while helping build the program that shaped them. Dr. Monica Kovuri's Excellence in Residency Award reflects the compassionate leadership she demonstrated as Chief Resident alongside Dr. Venkata Gandi, mentoring peers with grace and wisdom. Dr. Rosaida Silverio-Lopez's Scholarly Excellence Award highlights her commitment to research and evidence-based medicine, exemplifying the intellectual curiosity that will drive regional medical innovation.
What made this graduation even more meaningful is the knowledge that Drs. Gandi, Silverio-Lopez, and Mohan have chosen to remain and join our GME program as teaching hospitalists. This decision speaks volumes about the residency program. When young physicians choose to stay, they're not just choosing a job—they're choosing to be part of something bigger, to plant roots in South Georgia soil and invest their careers in the communities that invested in their training.
Congratulations, and welcome to the next chapter of your remarkable journey in medicine.
Graduation Highlights
Drs. Kovuri & Gandi 🎉🎉
The Chiefs' Corner
Mariya Tom, MD
Brandon Rockwell, MD
GME Corner
SGMC Health Presents Annual Resident Awards
The 2025 recipients of SGMC Health’s Annual Resident Awards alongside Internal Medicine Residency Program Director Greg Beale, MDSGMC Health's Graduate Medical Education (GME) program, in collaboration with Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM), held its annual Residency Awards ceremony, honoring outstanding residents and faculty members for their clinical excellence, scholarly achievement, and dedication to patient care. The awards recognized individuals who demonstrated extraordinary performance and growth within the health system's rigorous residency training programs.
The 2025 honorees exemplified the values of compassion, curiosity, teamwork, and professionalism that define SGMC Health's commitment to preparing tomorrow's physicians. Award...
The Intern's Corner
Zoha Allahuddin, MD
Byron Reese, MD
Faculty Update
SGMC Health Welcomes Matthew Varn, MD, to the Internal Medicine Residency Program Faculty
Matthew Varn, MD, (Internal Medicine Residency Core Faculty)SGMC Health welcomes Matthew Varn, MD, to its Graduate Medical Education Internal Medicine Residency program as teaching faculty. A board-certified internal medicine physician with deep local roots, Dr. Varn was born at SGMC Health and raised in Valdosta.
Having provided outpatient and inpatient care in the community for the past four years, Dr. Varn brings valuable experience to his new role. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Valdosta State University and medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine before completing his internal medicine residency at Mercer University's Navicent Health program in Macon, where...
House Staff Diaries
Finding Your Footing - A Message to Our Interns
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 sprint—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 ask—these aren't signs of inadequacy. They're the building blocks of the physician...
Podcasts
What Brings You In Today? - Featured Podcasts
Episode #5 - Joseph Hayes, MD
Culturosity
Ghana 🇬🇭 vs Nigeria 🇳🇬: A Feast Of Two Nations
Traditional Ghanaian and Nigerian dishesIn 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
Happy Birthday Dr. Akhtar 🎈
Upcoming Events
- Oct 14-16, 2025 - Sunbelt AG Expo (Moultrie, GA)
- October 24-26, 2025 - ACP Conference (Atlanta, GA)
Birthdays
No birthdays this month 😞
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 MoreValdosta Wake Compound
Open seasonally
Experience wakeboarding and other water sports at this state-of-the-art facility.
Learn MoreSouth Georgia Military Aviation Museum
Open Tuesday-Saturday
Explore aviation history with vintage aircraft and memorabilia.
Learn MoreGrand Bay Wildlife Management Area
Open daily, sunrise to sunset
Hike, bird watch, and enjoy nature in this diverse ecosystem.
Learn MoreValdosta State University Fine Arts Gallery
Check website for current exhibitions
View rotating exhibitions of contemporary art by regional and national artists.
Learn More
News From The Clinic
Melissa Wilkerson
Medical Assistant
Employee Spotlight
Meet Melissa Wilkerson, one of our devoted medical assistants who has been with our clinic since its opening in August 2022. Melissa is passionate about her work and equally dedicated to her family life. When not providing excellent care to our patients, she can often be found cheering on her daughter at softball games. Melissa also enjoys quality time with family and friends. Her long-standing commitment and experience make her an invaluable member of our team.
Wellness Corner
Finding Humor in the Hard Days: A Reminder About 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 fine—it's essential.