Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital graduated six resident physicians from the Southwest Georgia Family Medicine Residency Program on Sat., June 27, at Doublegate Country Club in Albany. This year’s graduation included a momentous occasion – the 100^th graduate, St. Claire Gitau, MD, received her diploma through the prestigious program and was recognized by Joel Wernick, President and CEO, Phoebe Putney Health Systems.

“The 2015 graduating class brings the monumental achievement of graduating the 100^th resident physician from the program,” said Wernick. “This occasion celebrates the proven success of this established program, which continues to benefit our community and state, by providing well-trained and well-educated family physicians to patients.”

The ACGME-accredited graduate medical educational program was developed in 1993 as a direct response to physician shortages in the region, with the primary mission to train family physicians to practice throughout Southwest Georgia. The program offers physicians the opportunity to develop as strong clinicians capable of delivering high-quality primary care in any setting by blending the primary care orientation of a community hospital with the academic and educational resources of a world-class medical facility.  

While Dr. Gitau was the actual 100^th graduate, it was the significance of the Class of 2015 as a whole that was celebrated. The Residency Program and Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital will dedicate a brick paver in honor of the milestone that will include all six of the graduate’s names as a special way to memorialize the class with visitors, staff and patients. The paver will be located on the exterior walkway between the main hospital entrance and the tower entrance and will be revealed at the annual Spring Dedication Ceremony. 

During the graduation ceremony, the resident physicians were recognized by their advisor and presented with a diploma. Additionally, each graduate was gifted a framed class photograph with the Family Medicine Physician Creed from the residency program staff. 

Seventy percent of the residency graduates are currently practicing in Georgia, with the majority of those practicing in southwest Georgia.

The Class of 2015 and their future practicing location includes Marilyn Chavannes, MD, Albany, Georgia;  Adnan Ekram, MD, Charlotte, South Carolina; St. Claire Gitau, MD, Albany, Georgia;  Sudhansu Kothary, MD, Mexico, Missouri;  Monisola Modupe, MD, Albany, Georgia; and Daryl Remick, MD, Forsyth, Georgia. The resident physicians trained in multiple clinical areas at the hospital and around Albany through Southwest Georgia Family Medicine for three years to become eligible for board certification in family medicine.