News

Internal Medicine Residency Program celebrates Match Day

March 24, 2026

Athens, GA – The Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership Internal Medicine Residency Program (IMRP) at St. Mary’s Health Care System celebrated Match Day on Friday, March 20, as the program matched its eleventh class of residents.

“We are honored once again to have received so many truly exceptional applicants to our program,” said Dr. Lela Ward, program director for the IMRP. “The supportive medical community, dedicated volunteer faculty, exceptional staff, and commitment of St. Mary’s Health Care System to quality care truly make this an excellent program to learn and to train physicians in Northeast Georgia.”

The IMRP Class of 2029 and the schools at which they completed their medical education are:

  • Edem Ankudey, MD – St. George’s University School of Medicine
  • Grant Capps, MD – Mercer University School of Medicine
  • Sristi Das, DO – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Nicholas Kostromin, MD – Mercer University School of Medicine
  • Niyati Patel, DO – Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Ashley Pineiro, MD – University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts
  • Lourdes Quintana Acevedo, MD – Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
  • Naga Reddy-Mallu, MD – St. George’s University School of Medicine
  • Kayla Rojics, DO – Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Oudhay Sohal, MD – American University of the Caribbean
  • Helena Traverso Frankel, MD – San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
  • Noah Woford, DO – Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

The program also matched a preliminary year intern, Edwine Coulanges, MD, from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.

“This is another exciting year in the history of the Internal Medicine Residency Program,” said Stonish Pierce, president and CEO, Trinity Health of Georgia, which includes St. Mary’s. “We are confident this next class will continue the tradition of compassion and excellence demonstrated by their predecessors. St. Mary’s is proud to be an integral part of the IMRP and its success in bringing more physicians to Georgia and the Northeast Georgia region.”

The new residents will begin practicing at St. Mary’s Health Care System on July 1.

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