Piedmont Columbus Regional's three residency programs celebrate 44 graduates

Columbus, Ga. (June 29, 2026) - Piedmont Columbus Regional celebrates the graduation of 44 residents across its Nurse, Family Medicine and Pharmacy residency programs.

The Next Generation of Nurses

The Transition to Practice Nurse Residency Program is honoring 24 nurse residents who successfully completed their first year as a registered nurse.

“Through learning, clinical experiences with preceptors and ongoing support from experienced educators, mentors and leaders, residents are integrated into a culture that prioritizes and supports their growth,” said Nurse Residency Program Coordinator Cheryl Navarrete.

The Next Generation of Physicians

The Family Medicine Residency Program hosted a commencement ceremony for 12 physicians in its graduating class. Seven physicians will remain in Georgia to officially begin their careers in medicine.

The graduating residents are:

• Julianne Atienza, M.D.
• Sangay Bhutia, M.D.
• Ruqaiyyah Hamid, M.D.
• Alexander Hatanaka, D.O.
• Christopher Hudspeth, D.O.
• Ashima Marwah, M.D.
• Julia Mattingly, M.D.
• Khadijah Ogunfuyi, M.D.
• Ansa Riaz, D.O.
• Peyton Stewart, M.D.
• Gerald Wang, D.O.
• Martin Wood Jr., M.D

“Our primary goal is to graduate physicians who are excellent healers, engaged team members and thoughtful professionals who will impact the lives of others for many years to come,” said Family Medicine Residency Program Director Vibhuti Ansar, M.D. “These physicians are well-equipped to live out the Piedmont Promise of making a positive difference in every life they touch.”

When established in 1972, the Family Medicine Residency Program at Piedmont Columbus Midtown became the first of its kind in Georgia and one of the first in the Southeastern United States. More than 1,000 physicians have graduated from Piedmont Columbus Midtown going back to physician training that began in the 1940s.

The Next Generation of Pharmacists

Eight pharmacists recently graduated from the Pharmacy Residency Program and were honored at a commencement ceremony.

“Graduation marks the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication by these pharmacist practitioners,” said Pharmacy Residency Program Director Jamie Crossman, PharmD, BCACP. “During their time here, each of them helped care for people in the Chattahoochee Valley and have positively impacted our community as a whole.”

The graduating residents are:

• Shelby Barron
• Caitlin Brown
• Neta Burford
• Shemaiah Caine
• Tavin Cook
• Emily Davis
• Quartney Gilliam
• Brooke Landry
• Delaney Peterson
• Erin Schuld

Click here for more information about residency programs at Piedmont Columbus Regional.