CIFC Health graduated 8 new physicians from its Internal Medicine Residency Program, bringing the total number of CIFC Health trained and graduating internal medicine physicians to 93. Most of these graduates have gone on to practice primary care or a related subspeciality and many have gone on to work in medically underserved areas, two key goals of the national Teaching Health Center program in which CIFC Health participates. Although CIFC Health’s Psychiatry Residency Program will not graduate its first group of residents until June 2027, two additional residents from the CIFC Health Psychiatry Residency Program matriculated into an Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at the University of Texas San Antonio in June, which is a common path for 4th year residents.
CIFC Health remains the only Teaching Health Center in the state of Connecticut and one of only 59 nationwide. Since CIFC Health's Internal Medicine Residency Program's inception, more than 80% of graduates have continued in primary care and about a third have remained in Connecticut, including 6 that have returned to CIFC Health as attending physicians. By contrast, in 2024, the national average of internal medicine residents entering primary care upon graduation was around 12%.
The CIFC Health Internal Medicine Residency Program graduation was a celebration of the residents and their time at CIFC Health. This year's keynote speaker was Dr. Manisha Juthani, M.D., Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health (pictured), the first Indian American to serve as commissioner in the state of Connecticut and an Internal Medicine physician. In addition to welcoming graduates to the profession, Commissioner Juthani also addressed the role primary care physicians play in broader policy and public health.
A Note from the IM Residency Director, Dr. Marhatta:
CIFC is graduating 8 highly qualified residents from our 3-year Internal Medicine Residency Program this year and most are pursuing primary care or a related subspecialty. In speaking with the graduates during exit interviews, I was heartened to hear that they feel well- trained and ready to embark into independent practices. They appreciate the unique exposure to the sheer variety of primary care experiences they received at CIFC Health (e.g. Primary care at the VA, Nuvance/Northwell, Griffin faculty practices, CIFC Health, medical informatics, geriatric practices, and POCUS, among others) and very much appreciate the opportunity to do office-based procedures during their training here.
More than just becoming competent attending physicians, all of the graduating residents appreciate the friendships and camaraderie built during their three years at CIFC Health. I know they are both excited to embark on the next phase of their career journey and saddened by the prospect of departure from their beloved colleagues and the Danbury community. One graduate has decided to stay with us a little longer, Dr. Roha Shahzad will be staying at CIFC Health as the new Chief Resident.
We are very proud of every one of these fully licensable physicians! We appreciate the utmost professionalism and dedication that they demonstrated at CIFC Health, and we wish them the very best!
CIFC Health Internal Medicine Residents'
Post Graduation Plans
- Dr. Fatima Kamal – Olean General Hospital - Olean, New York
- Dr. Brandon Judnarine – Bassett Medical Center - Cooperstown NY
- Dr. Omar Bashir – Rheumatology fellowship at St. Luke's University Health Network - Bethlehem, PA
- Dr. Opeyemi Omosebi – Geriatrics Fellowship at Beth Isreal Medical Center - Brookline, MA
- Dr. Ali Walji – Going back to Canada and will figure out what his next steps are.
- Dr. Ashlyn Augustine – Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT
- Dr. Roha Shahzad – Staying at CIFC as Chief Resident
- Dr. Nallie Thor – Aurora Health Center - Sheboygan, WI
Dr Ivan Gomez and Dr Huda Ijaz are part of the first class of psychiatry residents to train at CIFC Health. In fact, Dr Gomez was the first resident recruited for the program. Although the psychiatry residency is four years, they are both leaving CIFC Health following their third year for an Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Texas San Antonio. Psychiatry is a major shortage area across the country and there is far more demand for adolescent psychiatrists than there are doctors.
A Note from the Psychiatry Residency Director, Dr. Paez:
"We are grateful for all that Drs. Gomez and Ijaz have contributed to our program and proud to have been part of their journey. We wish them every success and happiness in fellowship and beyond, and we look forward to seeing the many lives they will touch in the years ahead. Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement."