Natasha Arora, M.S., D.O., Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Natasha Arora is from Columbus, Georgia. She was drawn to family medicine because of the opportunity to practice everything from pediatrics to geriatrics and making an impact and getting to know the whole family. She chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because it is unopposed and residents receive individual interaction with attendings on every service, no matter the specialty. She enjoys tennis, cooking, spending time with family and friends and reading in her spare time. If she weren't a physician, she’d be a broadcast journalist.

Charles “Chacha” Babere, M.D., University of Health Sciences Antigua
Chacha Babere is from Nyaroha-Kuria, Kenya. For Chacha, becoming a family physician was not a dream but a calling. He chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because of its exceptionally welcoming residents, faculty and staff and their willingness to teach and accommodate every individual at their level of knowledge and competence. He enjoys organizing medical trips to Kenya, jogging and spending time with family in his spare time. If he weren’t a physician, he’d be a pastor or theologian.

Clayton Bellam, D.O., Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clayton Bellam is from Newnan, Georgia. He chose to become a family physician because he wanted to treat people from their nose to their toes and from their first day to their last day. He chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because he was a medical student at the Midtown Campus and wanted to become a permanent member of the family. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and family, rollerblading and Tai Chi. If he weren’t a physician, he’d be a pilot.

Fahad Choudhary, M.D., M.B.A., American University of Integrative Sciences
Fahad Choudhary is from Acworth, Georgia. He chose to become a family physician because he loves working with all types of patients from pediatric to geriatrics. He chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because of its unopposed status and the opportunity to work with patients from diverse backgrounds and different socioeconomic status. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing cricket and working on cars. If he weren’t a physician, he’d like to own a BMW dealership.

Cindy Laing, D.O., M.S., Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Cindy Laing chose to become a family physician because she loves seeing patients of all ages and the patient continuity that comes with practicing in this field. She chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because of its hands-on approach and unopposed status. She enjoys spending time with her husband and son in her spare time. If she weren’t a physician, she’d be an elementary school teacher.

Sibil Mathew, M.D., American University of Antigua
Sibil Mathew is from Madras, India. He chose to become a family physician because he wants to provide cradle-to-grave care to a community that would allow him to go to an underserved area and be of service to others. He chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because the program seemed very supportive and the environment seemed to nurture competent and confident family medicine physicians. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, reading, running and swimming. If he weren’t a physician, he’d be an entrepreneur.

Ann Isabelle Mondé, M.D., Medical University of the Americas
Ann Isabelle Mondé is from Orlando, Florida. She chose to become a family physician because she didn't want to be limited in her scope of practice. She chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because the program is unopposed, which really allows the resident to handle all the cases that come their way. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, volunteering and spending time with family. If she weren't a physician, she would have been a veterinarian at the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Jekyll Island, Georgia or a professional dog walker.

Neomal Muthumala, D.O., Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Neomal Muthumala is from Wattala, Sri Lanka. He chose to become a family physician because family medicine allows him to treat patients of all ages and he enjoys the variety. He chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because of its long history of producing well-qualified physicians and the camaraderie shared between the residents and the faculty is unmatched. He enjoys working out, watching MMA, traveling, trying new foods and spending time with family and friends in his spare time. If he weren’t a physician, he’d be an astronaut.

Kihae Shin, D.O., Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Originally from Texas, Kihae Shin chose to become a family medicine physician for his family. He chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because it's a great program and he looks forward to the intensity of his experience here. In his spare time, Kihae enjoys playing tennis. If he weren’t a physician, he’d love to travel the world.

Jerry Sojan, M.D., St. George’s University
Jerry Sojan is from Columbus, Georgia. He chose to become a family physician because the idea of being able to take care of a range of people from birth until the end of their lives appeals to him. He chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because it was unopposed and because of its reputation as a rigorous program. In his spare time, he enjoys biking, working out and singing. If he weren’t a physician, he would be an entrepreneur and a musician.

Cheryl Stephens, M.D., American University of Antigua
Cheryl Stephens is from Canton, Georgia. She chose to become a family physician because she wants to be in a practicing medical environment that is an active part of the community. She chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because it’s an unopposed residency program that allows one to jump in and receive in-depth time in each specialty. In her spare time, she enjoys running, biking, swimming, spending time outdoors and with her family. If she weren't a physician, she would have been a southern baker.

Taryn Thomas, M.D., M.Ed., American International School of Medicine
Taryn Thomas is from Goshen, New York. She chose to become a family physician because it offers the opportunity to work with patients from birth to death and everything in between. She chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because of the intense training, the knowledgeable preceptors and supportive staff. She feels it's a very open-minded program with a relaxed teaching atmosphere. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, traveling, basketball, rescuing animals and spending time with loved ones. If she weren't a physician, she would have been a host on Nickelodeon’s Double Dare television show.

Regina Addo, M.S., M.D., Indiana University School of Medicine
Regina Addo is from Stockbridge, Georgia. She chose family medicine because the rotation gave her the opportunity to see the great breadth of medicine that the specialty allows one to practice. She delivered her first baby on this rotation, saw patients well into their 90s, the wound care clinic and Mohs procedure. She likes having the ability to know her patients on a personal level and helping them influence their lifestyles for the better. She chose a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because, during her sub-internship, she felt at home and saw herself fitting in well. She noticed that the residents were united and supportive of one another. She also likes the fact that for each rotation under the PCR program, the residents get a full residency experience, allowing them to mold themselves into an OB resident, or pediatric resident, and so on. In her spare time, Regina likes immersing herself in her spirituality, playing tennis, traveling, spending time with her family and watching movies. If she did not go into medicine, she would be a business executive.

Daniel Asher, M.D., University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Daniel Asher is from Silver Spring, Maryland. He enjoys family medicine because it allows him to use all of his medical knowledge and skills while still being able to raise his own family. He chose the family medicine program at Piedmont Columbus Regional because he likes Georgia and the fact that the program is unopposed. He enjoys playing soccer, tennis, football, basketball and going hiking in his spare time. If he wasn’t a physician, he’d be a professional soccer player.

Jason Berman, D.O., M.B.A., Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Jason Berman is from Roswell, Georgia. He enjoys family medicine because primary care is the backbone of the healthcare system. He chose the family medicine residency at Piedmont Columbus Regional because it is an unopposed program with a lot of hands-on learning opportunities. He enjoys playing tennis and golf, going to craft breweries and hiking in his spare time. If he weren’t a physician, he’d do something in the business world.

Bailee Blackburn, M.D., Medical College of Georgia
Bailee Blackburn is from Cataula, Georgia. She was drawn to family medicine because of the breadth of medicine that is practiced, as well as the long-term relationships with patients that are built. She chose a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because it is an unopposed residency in a busy hospital, and Columbus is a great town in which to live and work. In her spare time, Bailee enjoys going to church, reading, playing board games and hanging out with her husband and two dogs. If she weren’t a physician, she’d be something really cool like an FBI agent or a fighter jet pilot.

Shivam Desai, M.D., SABA University School of Medicine
Shivam Desai is from Douglasville, Georgia. He chose family medicine because he enjoys working with all ages of people and understands the importance of forming close patient-doctor relationships. Location was very important to Shivam when making this decision. He wanted to stay close to home after being away from his family for almost a decade. He was also looking for a friendly environment to work in with excellent support. In his spare time, Shivam enjoys working out, swimming, hiking, spending time with his family and dogs and traveling. If he was not a physician, Shivam wanted to enroll in the Air Force because he has always wanted to learn to fly.

Richard Ellis, D.O., Nova Southeastern University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Richard Ellis is from Enterprise, Alabama. He chose family medicine because he enjoys the continuity of care associated with the practice, as well as the diversity of the patient population. He chose a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because he did his transitional year with the program and really enjoyed his time in Columbus. The staff and faculty were supportive, and he thinks Columbus is a great place to live. In his spare time, Richard enjoys playing golf, surfing, playing guitar and fishing. If he did not go into medicine, Richard would have gone into healthcare economics.

Andrew Jones, M.D., University of Texas Medical Branch
Andrew Jones is from Auburn, Alabama. He chose family medicine because he enjoys the long-term patient relationships, the broad scope of practice and the importance of preventative healthcare. He chose a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because of its challenging academic curriculum, and the fact that it is a well-respected medical institution. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys spending time with his family, running and health information technology. If he was not a physician, Andrew would have been a computer engineer.

Bader Kashlan, D.O., Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Georgia campus
Bader Kashlan is from Suwanee, Georgia. He chose family medicine because he enjoyed all of his rotations, and family medicine allows him to be proficient in all aspects of medicine. He also enjoys being the first line of defense for his patients and being able to build long-term relationships. He chose a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because it was one of his rotations as a student, and he was impressed by the unopposed nature of the residency and the fact that the residents seemed to run the hospital. In his spare time, Bader enjoys playing soccer, going to the gym, hiking, kayaking and cycling. If he hadn’t become a physician, Bader would have been an F1 race car driver.

Kristen Kettelhut, M.D., Mercer University School of Medicine
Kristen Kettelhut is from Peachtree City, Georgia. She chose family medicine because the physicians are able to take care of families across generations, and often make friends with their patients because of their lengthy relationships. She completed her third and fourth years of medical school at Piedmont Columbus Regional and fell in love with the program– which is why she chose it for her residency. She also likes that the attendings and upper-level residents go above and beyond to teach with hands-on training. In her spare time, Kristen likes running and spending time with family. She is vice chair for myTEAM Triumph– Georgia, which allows her to combine her passion for personal fitness with assisting athletes who have physical limitations in endurance events. If she had not gone into medicine, Kristen would have been interested in investigative journalism.

Arooj Mohsin, M.D., University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Arooj Mohsin is from Columbia, Missouri. She chose family medicine because she wanted to incorporate all of her passions into one specialty– including geriatrics, preventive medicine and women’s health. She also enjoys the ability to build long-term relationships with patients and looks forward to this aspect of her career in the future. She chose the residency program with Piedmont Columbus Regional because she was amazed by the supportive faculty, residents and attendings, as well as the strong academic setting the program offers. In her spare time, Arooj enjoys spending time with her family, reading and traveling. If she weren’t a physician, Arooj would have been a journalist.

Thomas Molitor, M.D., Medical College of Georgia
Thomas Molitor is from Thomson, Georgia. He chose family medicine because of the variety of practices possible with family training (i.e., inpatient, outpatient and ER). Family medicine meshes well with his goals of being a present husband and father in his family. He chose a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because the program was recommended to him, and he was told that it trained residents thoroughly, is unopposed and allows residents to become proficient in performing procedures in the hospital that are often reserved for specialists. In his spare time, Thomas enjoys spending time with his family, practicing his faith, playing tennis and watching the Andy Griffith Show. If he had not become a physician, Thomas would have been a game warden.

William Tauxe, M.D., M.S.T., Emory University School of Medicine
William Tauxe is from Atlanta, Georgia. He chose family medicine because he didn’t want his scope of practice to be limited by specialty. He also wanted the luxury of being able to get to know his patients. He chose a residency at Piedmont Columbus Regional because the breadth of clinical opportunities was appealing, as well as the high degree of organization and support in the program’s administration that he noticed during his interview. In his spare time, William is interested in tools, art and writing.

Pratik Thaker, M.D., American University of Antigua – College of Medicine
Pratik Thaker is from Duluth, Georgia. He chose family medicine because the field is constantly evolving and helps him stay up to date with all of medicine, instead of only one specialty. The most appealing aspect to Pratik, however, is the continuity and long-term relationships with patients. Pratik chose a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional as early as his first two days of rotation with PCR– he just knew this was where he wanted to be. He admired that the program was unopposed with a 100 percent board-passing rate, which he felt showed emphasis on teaching and academic excellence. During his rotation, he noticed camaraderie among residents and faculty, as well as a friendly atmosphere conducive to learning and growth for medical professionals. He felt that the program would challenge him every day while providing him with opportunities to learn, see and do as much as possible. During his spare time, Pratik enjoys watching or playing tennis, golf, cricket and football. He is a film and television enthusiast who enjoys spending time with family and friends. He also competes in professional Indian dances– Bhangra and Raas. If he did not go into medicine, he would be a comedian because he loves making people laugh.

Tia Bingham, M.D., Mercer University School of Medicine
Tia Bingham is from Marietta, Georgia. She chose family medicine because she did not want to have to narrow her scope of practice. She would also like to do international medicine and feels that family medicine will best prepare her to practice anywhere. She chose a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because it’s close to her home, unopposed, well-established and welcoming. She also thinks that Columbus is beautiful. In her spare time, Tia enjoys traveling, exploring new cultures, dancing, listening to live music and going to coffee shops. If she weren’t a physician, Tia would be a travel blogger.

Joseph Conklin, M.D., University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Joseph Conklin is from Tallahassee, Florida. He chose family medicine because the specialty offers many avenues. He decided to do his residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because the program is demanding and unopposed. He felt that the program would push him to be a better physician and that it would provide him with multiple learning opportunities in a high volume hospital. In his spare time, Joseph enjoys playing sports, doing puzzles, fishing, camping and watching movies. If he weren’t a physician, he would be a professional athlete.

Nicholas Herga, M.D., Ross University School of Medicine
Nicholas Herga is from Wilmington, North Carolina. He chose family medicine because he values building relationships with patients and being able to treat anything. He chose a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because the program is unopposed, and there is controlled autonomy. In his spare time, Nicholas enjoys hiking and camping, spending time with his family, golfing, going to the gym, playing guitar, attending concerts, watching movies and fishing. If he hadn’t gone into medicine, Nicholas would have been a sailor or a musician.

Anthony Iwelunmor, M.D., R.N., Ross University School of Medicine
Anthony Iwelunmor is from Plymouth, Michigan and Lagos, Nigeria. He chose to become a family physician because he believed that this field of medicine would provide him with the opportunity to learn how to provide medical care to patients of all ages. He hopes that family medicine will help to expand his medical knowledge and allow him to provide medical assistance to underprivileged people in the United States, as well as in different parts of the world. He chose a residency at Piedmont Columbus Regional because, during his rotation at the Midtown Campus, he was able to work with the residents and learn about the program. He discovered then that the program was unopposed, and could provide him with the tools to become an efficient and knowledgeable physician. In his spare time, Anthony enjoys biking, running, traveling, spending time with family and learning about other cultures. If he weren’t a physician, Anthony would be a math professor.

Anushree Kadchhud, M.D., American University of Antigua
Anushree Kadchud is from Houston, Texas. She chose to become a family physician because she wanted to treat patients from every age group and learn something from every specialty. She chose a residency from Piedmont Columbus Regional because it is unopposed and the program exposes its residents to multiple specialties. In her spare time, Anushree enjoys reading, spending time with her family and listening to music. If she weren’t a physician, Anushree would become a forensic scientist.

Michelle Montalvo, M.D., M.P.H., American University of Integrative Sciences School of Medicine, St. Maarten
Michelle Montalvo is from Augusta, Georgia. She chose a career in family medicine because it gives her the opportunity to use public health knowledge while providing individual patient care, as well as the ability to take part in community initiatives. She chose a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because she was impressed with everything the program had to offer during her interview. The teaching faculty was approachable and the location fits in well with her plan to continue practicing medicine in Georgia. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys playing tennis and spending time with her family. If she weren’t a physician, Michelle would be a Zumba instructor.

Eka Ndem, M.D., Windsor School of Medicine
Eka Ndem is from Columbus, Georgia. She chose to become a family physician so that she would be trained to treat and handle patients of all ages, while simultaneously caring for all of their needs as a whole. She likes that the Piedmont Columbus Regional family medicine residency is unopposed, strong in OB/GYN and located in her hometown. She chose it because it offers the ability to train in fields that most family medicine programs don’t have, such as trauma. In her spare time, Eka enjoys cooking, dancing, sewing and spending time with family and friends. If she hadn’t gone into medicine, Eka would have done something in the field of international business.

Abiola Saibu, M.D., M.B.A., American University of Integrative Sciences School of Medicine, St. Maarten
Abiola Saibu is from Rockland County, New York. Abiola chose to become a family physician because of the generational differences and wide scope of practice. She decided to do a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because she likes the patient population. The residency offers her a chance to see so much pathology, and she believes that this practice will help her to heal patients physically, spiritually and mentally. In her spare time, Abiola enjoys traveling, cooking, spending time with family, reality shows, swimming, photography and public health. If she hadn’t become a physician, Abiola would be a professional photographer and stay-at-home mom.

Hedayah Scoon, M.D., University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Hedayah Scoon is from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Island. She chose a career in family medicine because she was attracted to the diversity of patients and the variety of work settings. When deciding to do a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional, location and the individuals working in the program were important to Hedayah. In her spare time, Hedayah enjoys cooking, traveling, going to the beach, planning parties and spending time with family. If she weren’t a physician, Hedayah would become an interior designer.

Frank Taddeo, M.D., University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Frank Taddeo is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Frank chose to become a family physician because of the broad scope of practice and a variety of opportunities open to him. He chose a residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because of the rotation he did in the past. This rotation made him feel comfortable with the faculty, residents and staff. He is most attracted by the familial atmosphere of the program and how approachable the attendings are. In his spare time, Frank enjoys building, hunting, fishing and college football. If Frank hadn’t become a physician, he would be a fortune cookie writer or private island caretaker.

Aakar Thaker, M.D., St. Matthews University – School of Medicine
Aakar Thaker is from Suwanee, Georgia. He chose a career in family medicine because he wanted to be able to take care of patients of all age groups and not have his practice restricted to one organ system. He chose to complete his residency with Piedmont Columbus Regional because he didn’t want to feel restricted in terms of exposure to different fields, and this program has diverse rotations with mandatory training in fields like NICU, MFM and trauma. He feels that the variety of training makes better generalists who are competent in inpatient, outpatient and emergent care as well as several procedures. He likes that the attendings are respectful towards students, and the faculty and attendings have mature work relationships that allow for an environment conducive to learning. In his spare time, Aakar enjoys photography, hiking, biking, traveling, gaming and watching anime and movies. If he weren’t a physician, Aakar would be a gamer, professional martial artist or computer programmer.