Athens, Ga. (July 11, 2017) – The internal medicine residency program at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center welcomed its second group of residents, who began July 1, bringing the program to a total of 30 residents.

“We are excited to welcome these physicians to assist us in achieving our vision of training healers, coaching leaders and transforming healthcare,” Catherine Apaloo, MD, FACP, director of Piedmont Athens Regional’s internal medicine residency program, said.

The residency program, which began in July 2016, is affiliated with the Augusta University-University of Georgia Medical Partnership. Through the program, residents work under Piedmont Athens Regional physicians who serve as medical instructors. Residents also have the opportunity to conduct innovative research and complete hands-on training in the hospital as well as in the hospital’s Community Care Clinic.

Since the program’s beginning, residents have made an impact on patient care in the area, particularly through their efforts in the hospital’s Community Care Clinic, which provides comprehensive care to the medically underserved in the Athens and surrounding communities.

“This year, our program has doubled in size, from 15 to 30 residents, and we’re excited to staff the hospital and the clinic with such a diverse group of residents that already have a plethora of experience in medicine,” Apaloo said.

Piedmont Athens Regional’s graduate medical education department is in the process of developing a one-year transitional year residency program, which allows residents to rotate through a number of medical specialties.

For more information on the graduate medical education program at Piedmont Athens Regional, visit piedmont.org.