Augusta Health Announces Internal Medicine Residents Class of 2029

New Psychiatry Residency Program Approved to Help Meet Growing Behavioral Health Needs

FISHERSVILLE, VIRGINIA — Augusta Health is proud to welcome its third class of Internal Medicine residents. On July 1, fifteen new resident physicians began their training, continuing Augusta Health’s commitment to developing the next generation of healthcare providers for our community.

The new residents are:

• Dr. Georgina Abah
• Dr. Arooj Abidi
• Dr. Anita Apau
• Dr. Ramez Bakhtari
• Dr. Mariam Elsharnoby
• Dr. Sarah Fashakin
• Dr. Sarah Ha
• Dr. Morgan Hill
• Dr. Ahmad Jarar
• Dr. Lina Mata-McMurry
• Dr. Tina Pham
• Dr. Emma Putnam
• Dr. Paris Slagle
• Dr. Fernando Matos
• Dr. Warda Zulfiqar

The Augusta Health Internal Medicine Residency Program focuses on training compassionate, skilled physicians who provide excellent patient care while continuing to learn and grow in the science of medicine. The program encourages teamwork, professionalism, wellness, curiosity, and community involvement.

“Our goal is to provide outstanding training while helping residents become caring and confident physicians,” said Jessicah Collins, MD, Augusta Health Internal Medicine Program Director. “We are excited to welcome this new class and continue building strong healthcare programs that serve our community.”

The residency program also values diversity and the creation of an inclusive learning environment for all residents, faculty, and team members. Augusta Health continues to work toward improving access to health care and addressing community health needs across the region. Residents train with experienced physician mentors across various specialties and gain practical patient care experience through in-hospital rotations and outpatient clinics during the program.

Augusta Health is also expanding its graduate medical education programs with the recent approval of a new Psychiatry Residency Program, led by Program Director Chuck Swanson, MD.

Behavioral health was identified as the number one need in the community through the Community Health Needs Assessment. The Psychiatry Residency Program was approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Augusta Health will begin interviewing applicants in October 2026, with the first class of five psychiatry residents starting in July 2027. The program will provide four years of specialty training.

The addition of the Psychiatry Residency Program demonstrates Augusta Health’s ongoing commitment to providing the right care to all the communities it serves and to helping meet the region’s growing healthcare needs.