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Piedmont Athens Regional Transitional Year

A program designed to prepare you for advanced specialties and a successful medical career.

Build your foundation in medicine

The Transitional Year Residency program provides high-quality, evidence-based education across multiple disciplines. Residents develop core clinical skills, learn professional behaviors, and gain leadership experience while exploring electives in PSQI, leadership, and other non-clinical areas. Our supportive environment prepares you for advanced training and encourages long-term practice in Athens, GA.

Welcome from our Program Director, Dr. James Appiah-Pippim

The Piedmont Athens Transitional Year Residency program is designed to prepare outstanding physicians for success in advanced specialty training and meaningful careers in medicine. We believe the transitional year should be more than a bridge to the next step — it should be a purposeful year that builds clinical confidence, professional identity, and a strong foundation in patient care.

As part of Piedmont Healthcare, our residents benefit from a thoughtfully designed curriculum that emphasizes evidence-based medicine, team-based care, broad clinical exposure, and professional growth in a supportive community-based environment. Our goal is to ensure each resident is well prepared for the next phase of training and inspired by the opportunity to build a future in Athens and the surrounding region.

I have dedicated much of my career to both patient care and physician education. Having trained hundreds of learners over the years and served as the founding director of this program, I remain deeply committed to providing residents with a strong educational foundation, thoughtful mentorship, and the support they need to succeed in the next stage of training. Thank you for considering our program.

James Appiah-Pippim, MD, MPH, FACP, FCCP, CHCQM
Program Director, Piedmont Athens Regional Transitional Year Program
Piedmont Healthcare

Real-world clinical training

A year of clinical and professional training to prepare you for advanced specialties.

  • Foundational year Build core skills in inpatient, outpatient, critical care, and infectious disease rotations while learning patient-centered, cost-effective care.
  • Electives Choose from specialties including anesthesiology, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, family medicine, gastroenterology, general surgery, infectious diseases, leadership, nephrology, OB/GYN, oncology, ophthalmology, pathology, pediatrics, pulmonary, radiology, radiation oncology, and research.
  • Outcomes By the end of the program, you’ll be prepared to deliver high-quality care, understand health disparities, contribute effectively to healthcare teams, and continue your professional growth.

Benefits designed around your needs

Piedmont Athens Regional provides the support you need throughout training with a strong benefits package.

  • Four weeks of paid time off
  • Health insurance on day one
  • Meal allowance and free onsite parking
  • $600 annual CME allowance for Step 3 and other continuing education expenses
  • Reimbursement for the ABIM Initial Certification Examination
View More Benefits and Salaries

Leadership

Leadership
James Appiah-Pippim, MD, MPH, FCCP Transitional Year Program Director
Selena Itara, MD Program Administrator

Faculty

Get to know our team. Some profiles include additional details. Click on their name to learn more.

Faculty
Daniel Tench, MD Pathology
Catherine Apaloo, MD, FACP Outpatient
Andrew Greenshields, MD Subspecialty Education Coordinator; Radiation Oncology
David Lockman, MD Subspecialty Education Coordinator; Dermatology
Brendan Groarke, DO Academic Hospitalist
Eunice Hama, MD Academic Hospitalist
Tram Jones, MD Academic Hospitalist
Christopher Tufts, MD Subspecialty Coordinator; Anesthesiology
Geoffrey Marx, MD Academic Hospitalist; Clinical Informatics
Jonathan Murrow, MD Cardiology/Research
Dipal Patel, MD Outpatient
Syed Rizvi, MD Academic Hospitalist
Alain Morel, MD Academic Hospitalist
Manish Shah, MD Subspecialty Coordinator | Radiology
Cathy Snapp, MA, PhD Behavioral Health
Christopher March, MD Academic Hospitalist

Current Residents

Current Residents
George Awketey, MD University of Ghana, Ghana
Specialty: Internal Medicine
Margi Desai, DO Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Georgia
Specialty: Radiology
Amarachuku Diala, MD University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Specialty: Psychiatry
Mikole Kalesinskas, MD Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania
Specialty: Dermatology
Ermias Kibru, MD Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Specialty: Radiology
Monica Kontor, MD University of Ghana, Ghana
Specialty: Internal Medicine
Sydney Martin, MD University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, IL
Specialty: Dermatology
Albert Ohene, MD University of Ghana, Ghana
Specialty: Internal Medicine
Le Zhang, MD Jining Medical University, China
Specialty: Radiation Oncology

Start your application

How to apply:

Complete an ERAS Application. Application materials are only accepted through ERAS. Register with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)

What to submit:

  • Personal statement
  • CV
  • Photo
  • Transcripts
  • MSPE (Dean's Letter)
  • 3 faculty letters
  • USMLE/COMLEX scores

For international students:

  • Clearly specify visa status in your ERAS application, including dates and time limits
  • ECFMG Status Report (provided by ECFMG)
  • Limited sponsorship available for J-1 visa candidates
  • At least 2 letters of recommendation should be from clinical supervisors in the United States

Interview process:

  • Initial interviews are virtual – we offer times designed to accommodate multiple time zones
  • Itinerary provided to selected candidates

How to know if you’re selected:

Questions? Please contact us at [email protected] for assistance

Request verification of training

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