Medical Education
Committed to Teaching Future Generations of Physicians for our Community
Medical Education
Committed to Teaching Future Generations of Physicians for our Community
Thank you for your interest in the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
As the largest private, independent, not-for-profit teaching hospital in South Florida, our 672-bed facility delivers the most advanced and highest quality care in the region. Our attending physicians share a passion for academic internal medicine and medical education. We provide a strong academic foundation for resident training in a supportive learning environment. Our residents’ experiences are supplemented by a strong community base of subspecialty physicians who further augment residency training at Mount Sinai Medical Center through electives, hospital-based clinics, consultations, and research mentorship. Residents also have the opportunity to broaden their clinical experience through rotations at the nearby Jackson Memorial Hospital.
As an academic training site, there are numerous opportunities for our residents to develop their aptitude for teaching. Mount Sinai has a longstanding tradition of medical education excellence. With an education program founded in 1953, the medical center is one of Florida’s original statutory teaching hospitals. Mount Sinai has academic affiliations with the University of Miami, Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Nova Southeastern University’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel Colleges of Osteopathic and Allopathic Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Medicine and medical students from all these schools rotate through our internal medicine program. Our residents also interact with other residents from different specialties, including radiology, pathology, urology, anesthesia, surgery, podiatry, gynecology, psychiatry, as well as fellows in cardiology, infectious diseases, and pulmonary/critical care.
Our residents are exposed to a great variety of patients and pathology during their training. As the only hospital in Miami Beach, with a network of physician offices and freestanding emergency departments throughout Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, we serve residents from all over the region as well and great number of visitors from South America and overseas. Residents are exposed to the common internal medicine pathology and to unique pathology from other countries, including malaria, leishmaniasis, dengue, zika, HIV, and tuberculosis. Additionally, our hospital is home to one of the most advanced and highest volume heart programs in South Florida.
Residents progressively advance through their internal medicine rotations during their three years of training, and are capable of practicing independently by the end of training. They also have exposure to a very active critical care service over the course of training, with increasing responsibility over the three years. Residents are exposed to all core internal medicine rotations during their training. We have a strong outpatient department, and all residents develop a continuity clinic over the three years, as well as participate in QI projects.
Our program boasts a board pass rate of over 94%, which is above the national average, and an acceptance rate of over 90% to fellowship programs. Each year, we graduate 14 residents plus three residents that stay as 4th year chief resident/junior attending. Every year an average of 60% of our graduating residents continue their training in subspecialty fellowships.
At Mount Sinai Medical Center, we are committed to providing excellence in patient care and physician training and education. Our role is to provide you with the best possible environment to allow you to grow as an individual and to acquire the information necessary to become an exemplary physician. We have adapted our academic and rotation infrastructure post-COVID-19 to incorporate safe and effective means to care for patients while protecting your health and maintaining a strong academic curriculum.
You are about to begin one of the most exciting and rewarding chapters of your career as a physician. We believe that Mount Sinai Medical Center is the ideal environment to allow you to become the best you can be, and we look forward to helping you achieve your professional goals.
Sincerely,
Claudio Tuda, MD, FACP
Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency
The Internal Medicine Residency Program at Mount Sinai Medical Center is committed to excellence in the training and education of physicians for the practice of primary care, general internal medicine and its subspecialties. When residents graduate from this three-year program, they can transition into clinical practice or fellowship training with competency, confidence and success.
At Mount Sinai Medical Center, we stress the physician’s primary obligation to patient care and patient advocacy. Residents accept progressive responsibility in an environment that is dedicated to their supervision and support.
Our program maintains an atmosphere that is supportive and conducive to learning, ensuring that each resident has the opportunity to develop the skills to achieve his or her individual career goals. Residents are allowed the opportunity to plan their schedules so that their specific needs and interests are met. Our excellent 24-hour ancillary support services ensure that residents may focus their time on patient care and formal learning activities. Our commitment to hands-on and didactic instruction is reflected in our superb American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) examination pass rate.
The program director and faculty maintain an open door policy to address any issues. The Residency Management Team (RMT), comprised of the program director, associate program directors, program coordinators, chief residents and core faculty, meet weekly to address all aspects of the program. A clinical competency committee composed of select faculty members meet quarterly to review the progress of house staff and to identify any resident performance issues or unmet needs.
Residents are provided with:
Residents are eligible for:
Our program organizes a variety of lectures, conferences, and experiences for the benefit of our residents. Each month is dedicated to specific medicine subspecialties with lectures organized by a combination of senior residents and faculty.
Morning Report – 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Noon conference: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Sim lab
Ultrasound Curriculum
During their first year, residents will establish the foundation of their clinical knowledge and practice. The majority of intern year will be dedicated to the management of patients on the inpatient teaching service wards where they will be exposed to a wide range of pathologies and work with a team consisting of a co-intern and senior resident. The remainder of the schedule is divided into night rotations, MICU, continuity clinic, selective rotations, and electives.
In their second year, residents will transition to a leadership and teaching role. As seniors on the wards they will be in charge of leading the team and supervising interns. Senior residents are additionally expected to contribute to our didactic education by leading various conferences throughout the year. Second years will spend less time on the wards service and instead gain experience in various internal medicine subspecialties through selective rotations including:
Second year residents will additionally have the opportunity to augment their outpatient education by participating in optional subspecialty clinic half-days.
Second year residents are expected to lead quality improvement projects which they will present at ground rounds at the end of the academic year
During third year, residents will continue to solidify their knowledge and role as leaders within the program. Additional subspecialty exposure will continue through selective rotations:
Mount Sinai Medical Center offers four positions to those who are seeking a preliminary medicine year. We offer our preliminary year residents the tools to excel in their eventual career goals, with a strong foundation in Internal Medicine. Admission into our program is extremely competitive and draws the strongest of candidates. If you have excelled thus far and are looking for a challenging program in a fantastic setting, we encourage you to apply.
Preliminary year residents participate in the same curriculum as our categorical residents.
Residents follow a 4 + 1 schedule, in which 4 weeks are spent on an inpatient service, and the 5th week is spent in one of our outpatient clinics. During this time, residents are provided with 1:1 supervision by an attending while they see and care for their own patients. All of our clinics are located within a 20-minute radius of main campus including Hialeah, Sunny Isles, Aventura, Coral Gables, Key Biscayne, Midtown and Skylake.
Fundamental Friday
Ambulatory didactics are held weekly on Fridays for those on their clinic blocks. Residents are excused from clinical duties during this academic day.
Sessions Include:
Lifestyle Medicine Curriculum
We are the only program in South Florida offering access to the American College of Lifestyle Medicine official curriculum. The curriculum includes material related to the treatment of chronic disease through diet, exercise and sleep prescriptions with the opportunity to sit for board certification in lifestyle medicine on completion of a continuous three-year didactic curriculum.
A priority in our program is to assist residents in choosing the careers they are best suited for and in which they will be happy. Flexibility in elective scheduling permits residents to gain exposure to subspecialties of potential interest as early as the PGY-1 term. Program leadership makes every effort to help residents with the pursuit of their career goals, directing them towards appropriate faculty members to serve as mentors and fellowship advocates. Mentors may be reassigned, as needed, to accommodate residents’ interests if they evolve during the course of training.
Claudio Tuda MD, FACP – Program Director
Cynthia Rivera MD, FACP – Associate Program Director
Maykel Trotter MD, FACP – Associate Program Director
Ariel Reines MD
Diego Lugo MD, FACP
Carolina De La Cuesta MD
Alba Gonzalez-Ochoa MD
Molly Bilderback DO
Nicholas Camps DO
Clifford Medina, MD, MBA, FACP, CPE
Robert Goldszer, MD, MBA
Andrea S Gold-Schein MD
Gautam Malik MD
Gervasio Lamas, MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC
David Paniagua, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Alexander A Velar, MD
Ayman Layka MD
Jonathan Da Costa MD
Brian Zacharias, DO
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bryce Sebade, DO
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Raj Kavadi, DO
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Wasila Daas, MD
Al-Baath University Faculty of Medicine
Alex Breslau, DO
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ariel Schneier, MD
Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Arnold Ocoro, MD
Universidad Santiago de Cali Facultad de Salud
Alexa Lowe, DO
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Daniel Epstein, DO
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Daniela Whilchy, MD
Universidad de Carabobo Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud
Daria Bekina, MD
St. Petersburg National Research Institute of Infectious Diseases Tyumen State Medical University
Donna Abboud, MD
LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine
Florencia Mitchell, MD
Instituto Universitario CEMIC Escuela de Medicina Argentina
Johan Diaz, MD
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Matthew Ghermezi, MD
Florida International University – Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Mohamed Douedari, MD
University of Aleppo Faculty of Medicine Syrian Arab Republic
Neil Chokshi, DO
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Nico Munley, DO
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Rachel Shatanof, MD
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Vania Rodriguez, MD
Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud
Victor Guillen, MD
Universidad de Carabobo Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud
Alexandra Lyubimova, DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Alexandria Alvarez, MD
Florida International University – Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Andres Alvarez, MD
Universidad Central de Venezuela Escuela de Medicina
Awana Chowdhury, DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Christy Sanchez, DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine USA
Fernando Poli, MD
Universidad Central de Venezuela Escuela de Medicina
Francy Vivas, MD
Universidad Centro-Occidental Lisandro Alvarado Decanato de Ciencias de la Salud
Freddie Prieto, DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Lynda Marie Ostermann, MD
Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
Matthew LeSieur, DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine USA
Monica Cabrera, DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Velagapudi, Pallavi, DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Premalkumar Patel, MD
Smolensk State Medical University, Smolensk, Russia
Robert Peaden, MD
University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
Petit, Ryan, DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hartman, Steven, MD
Nova Southeastern University College of Allopathic Medicine
Singh, Yavani, MD
Medical University of the Americas
Carlos Peña, MD
Universidad Central de Venezuela Escuela de Medicina
Chunnu Li, MD
Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University
Crystal Acosta, DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Cynthia Espinosa, DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Daniela Bignoli, MD
Universidad de Buenos Aires Facultad de Medicina
Esha Vallabhaneni, DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Estefania Cecilio, MD
Universidad de Carabobo Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Valencia
Gisel P Urdaneta, MD
Universidad Central de Venezuela Escuela de Medicina Jose Maria Vargas
Hubert Golingan, MD
University of the East/Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center College of Medicine
Laura Mendez, MD
Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) School of Medicine, Santo Domingo
Logan Schamber, DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Lorena Rojas, MD
Universidad de Carabobo Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Valencia
Niketa Kalara, MD
K.J. Somaiya Medical College, India
Maria A Ibanez, MD
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Simon Gaviria, MD
Universidad CES Escuela de Medicina, Colombia
Tesil Sani , MD
Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute
Yasmin Alwash, MD
University of Baghdad College of Medicine
Andres J Azuero MD
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Daniel A Acosta DO
Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
Megan McGill DO
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Program Director, Associate Program Director and chief residents meet weekly with all available residents to discuss systems issues and any concerns about the training program. Free discussion is encouraged, plans of action to resolve problems are developed and follow-up is provided. This involvement by house staff is considered essential to the success of the program and is an important part of the performance improvement process for the hospital. Additionally, program leadership maintains an “open door policy” at all times, welcoming impromptu meetings with individual residents to discuss any concerns in a congenial, non-threatening atmosphere.
Preliminary Year Graduates
Austin Pourmoussa MD
Radiology
Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida – Miami Beach, FL
Benjamin Sussman MD
Radiology Residency
Temple University – Philadelphia, PA
Tomas Farfan MD
Anesthesiology Residency
Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida
Categorical Graduates
Adam Jacobs DO
Rheumatology
HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital – Hudson, FL
Cesar Zambrano MD
Hospitalist Physician
Adventhealth Gordon – Calhoun, GA
Claudia Perez-Acosta MD
Hospitalist Physician
Baptist Health – Miami, FL
Everett Rogers DO
Cardiology Fellowship
HCA Healthcare/USF Morsani GME – Largo, FL
Douglas Salguero MD
Cardiology Fellowship
Texas Tech University – Lubbock, TX
Fabiana Vastola MD
Primary Care Physician
Chen Senior Medical Center – Miami, FL
Juliana Guerra MD
Endocrinology Fellowship
Cleveland Clinic – Cleveland, Ohio
Lee Seifer MD
Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship
University of Miami/Jacksin – Miami, FL
Marissa Donatelle MD
Cardiology Fellowship
Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida – Miami Beach, FL
Michelle Yousefzadeh DO
Infectious Disease Fellowship
University of California – Los Angeles, CA
Mohamed Elajami MD
Hospitalist Physician
Hartford Hospital – Hartford, CT
Susanna Barreiro Sacco DO
Endocrinology Fellowship
University of Miami/Jackson – Miami, FL
Veronica A Guerra MD
Hematology/Oncology Fellowship
Washington University – St Louis, MO
Preliminary Year Graduates
Emily Lowery DO
Radiology Residency
Loyola University Medical Center – Chicago, Illinois
John John Machado MD
Radiology Residency
Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida – Miami Beach, FL
Kayla Fourzali MD
Dermatology Residency
University of South Florida
Yasmin Alwash MD
Internal Medicine Residency
Mounts Sinai Medical Center of Florida
Categorical Graduates
Abed Aljamal MD
Hematology/Oncology Fellowship
University of South Carolina – Charleston, SC
Adolfo Alvarez DO
Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship
Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida – Miami Beach, FL
Aliya Rehman DO
Infectious Disease Fellowship
University of Miami/Jackson
Ana Armas MD
Primary Care Physician
Alma Medical Center –Miami Beach, FL
Angel Porras ND
Infectious Disease Fellowship
University of Miami/Jackson – Miami, FL
Anna Willet MD
Hepatology Fellowship
Nebraska Medical Center – Omaha, Nebraska
Ayoola Olayiwola MD
Hospitalist Physician
University of Miami – Miami, FL
Ephraim Mansour MD
Chief Resident 2022-2023
Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship
University of Florida – Gainesville, FL
Isabela Saba MD
Primary Care Physician
Providence, Rhode Island
Janine Suarez MD
Endocrinology Fellowship
University of Florida – Gainesville, FL
Jonathan Ambut MD
Clinical Informatics Fellowship
Stony Brook Hospital – Stony Brook, NY
Luisa Quesada Arias MD
Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship
Brigham & Women’s Hospital Harvard – Boston, MA
Rima Rida
Hospitalist Physician
Henry Ford Hospital – Detroit, Michigan
Ruben Porudominksy Rostain
Chief Resident 2022 – 2023
Cardiology Fellowship
Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans, LA
Serio Poli de Frias
Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowshio
Brigham & Women’s Hospital Harvard – Boston, MA
Valentina Celis
Endocrinology Fellowship
University of South Florida – Tampa, FL
Zuleikha Muzaffar
Chief Resident 2022-2023
Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship
University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine – Worcester, Massachusetts
Lorenzo Joaquin Diaz, DO
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Miami/ Jackson Health Care System, Miami, FL
Faris Ziad Hawatmeh, DO MHA
Dermatology, Larkin Palm Springs, Miami, FL
Julia Bini Viotti, MD
Infectious Disease
Sarah Chhabra, MD
Endocrinology, University of Massachusetts, Worcestor, MA
Nathaly Cortez Bazan, MD
Gastroenterology, University of Miami/ Jackson Health Care System, Miami, FL
Alexandra DeQuesada, MD
Chief Resident, Mount Sinai Medical Center, FL
Levi Diaz, MD
Primary Care, Providence, RI
Joshua Durbach, MD
Anesthesiology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, FL
Kathrin Dvir, MD
Hematology/ Oncology, St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Boston, MA
Anthony Febres Aldana, MD
Infectious Disease, Baylor/ MD Anderson, Houston, TX
Gliceida Galarza Fortuna, MD
Chief Resident, Mount Sinai Medical Center, FL
Medeona Gjergjindreaj, DO
Cardiology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, FL
Lizy Paniagua Gonzalez, MD
Infectious Disease, University of Miami/ Jackson Healthcare System, Miami, FL
Andres Pirela, MD
Nephrology, Wake Forest, Winston – Salem, NC
Salomon Poliwoda, MD
Anesthesiology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, FL
Samuel Rapaka, DO
Chief Resident, Mount Sinai Medical Center, FL
Paola Rios Florez, MD
Endocrinology, University of Miami/ Jackson Healthcare System, Miami, FL
Anita Singh, DO
Pulmonology/ Critical Care, University of Miami/ Jackson Healthcare System, Miami, FL
Francisco Ujueta, MD
Cardiology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, FL
17 categorical and 4 preliminary positions are offered at Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program each year.
Mount Sinai Medical Center participates and accepts applications only through ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service). In addition, your application will only be considered if you are enrolled in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). You must contact your medical school for delivery of your application, transcripts, Dean’s letter, and faculty recommendations to our program, electronically.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING THROUGH ERAS IS November 1st.
NRMP#:
1105140C0 Categorical Program
1105140P0 Preliminary Program
ACGME Program ID#:
1401112101
Letters of Recommendation:
International Medical Graduates: All applicants are required to provide the requirements listed below:
Upon receipt of the completed application, our selection committee will review all materials. Invitations for interviews will be offered via e-mail from Carlene Gauntlett-Baroody, Program Coordinator.
Due to COVID-19, all interviews will be conducted virtually with interview dates starting in November.
Inquiries may be directed to Carlene Gauntlett-Baroody, Program Coordinator, via e-mail at Carlene.Baroody@msmc.com or by phone at 305-674-2053
Please be aware that Mount Sinai Medical Center has a zero tolerance policy for smoking. Prior to gaining appointment as a resident, all persons will need to undergo testing for non-prescribed substances and nicotine. Offers of appointment to prospective employees who test positive for nicotine will be rescinded.
Review the latest health news and updates from across the medical center.
Read about our well-deserved reputation for the highest quality of care.
Learn more about the Irma and Norman Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center, scheduled to open in 2025.
I voluntarily consent and give authorization to appear in live broadcasts, films, photographs, videotapes, and audiotapes and to permit the use of such to be published or broadcast, republished or rebroadcast, including dissemination on the Internet.
I understand that the purpose(s) for which the information will be used include: Mount Sinai Medical Center staff education, educational or training needs of the medical profession, marketing and/or publicity activities carried out by or on behalf of Mount Sinai Medical Center, and/or any and all other purposes consistent with Mount Sinai’s mission of patient care, education and research.
I further authorize the modification or retouching of such films, photographs and/or tapes, and I waive any right to inspect or approve the finished product and/or any copy that may be used in connection with the above.
I understand and consent to the observation of my procedure by other health care providers for educational purposes and to my physician (or designee) making photographic, videotape, DVD or other similar photographic format of the procedure which shall remain in the physician’s custody and will not be made a part of my permanent record.
I further understand that my participation will not entitle me to remuneration or compensation now or in the future, and this shall be binding upon my heirs, personal representatives and assignees. As such, I assume full responsibility and hereby agree to hold Mount Sinai Medical Center harmless from any and all liability arising in connection with the above.
I understand I have the right to request cessation of recording or filming and if consent is withdrawn Mount Sinai will cease and desist distribution and/or use of file, videotape or photographs.
I understand that the information to be disclosed hereunder is subject to re-disclosure and that any such re-disclosure may not be subject to federal privacy restrictions. I understand that this authorization will not expire unless revoked by me and that I may revoke this authorization at any time before Mount Sinai Medical Center takes action in reliance on this authorization by notifying the Mount Sinai Medical Center Office of Public Relations, in writing, at 4300 Alton Road, Miami Beach, Florida 33140.