

Dr. Bolyard joined CMEF as
Program Director in September,
2013. She received her MD in 1994
as a graduate of NEOMED and
completed her Fellowship in
Academic Medicine in May 2010.
Before her start as CMEF Program
Director, she served as Assistant
Program Director from 2001-2007,
and Aultman’s Transitional
Residency Program Director from
2004 to 2014.
Her interests include resident and
student mentoring as well as
curriculum development and
learning theory. She is a strong
advocate for resident personal and
professional development.

Dr. Narayanan is a graduate
of Chennai Medical College
in India where she was an
Internist and certified
Pathologist. She graduated
from CMEF Internal
Medicine program as a CoChief Resident in 2009 , and
completed her Fellowship in
Academic Medicine at
NEOMED in 2010. She
served as the Internal
Medicine Clerkship Site
Director from 2011 to 2015,
and is the Director for our
Resident Clinical Outpatient
Practices. She has a passion
for high value patientcentered care.

Dr. Rajkumar joined the
CMEF faculty as Asst. PD this
past July after completing her
residency in Canton and
serving as Chief Resident. She
is a graduate of Kilpauk
Medical College in Chennai,
India, and had experience as
an Assistant Professor of
Pathology prior to training in
Canton. She oversees our
didactic curriculum in CMEF
and has special interest in
evidence-based clinical
decision making and teaching.
She is set to complete the
NEOMED Fellowship in
Academic Medicine in 2015.

Dr. Frey joined the CMEF
faculty as Assistant Program
Director in May 2015. As our
Internal Medicine Student
Clerkship Director, he is
himself, a 2009 NEOMED
graduate. He completed his
residency training at The
Mayo Clinic in Rochester,
MN. His special interests
include mentoring students,
performing and teaching
outpatient procedures, and
all things ‘technological!’

Dr. Chakka is a graduate of
the Osmania Medical
College, Hyderabad. She
trained in Internal Medicine
at Interfaith Medical Center
in Brooklyn NY.
Subsequently, she
completed a Fellowship in
Geriatrics at Indiana
University in Indianapolis.
She joined our faculty in
July of 2012. Dr. Chakka is
committed to teaching and
mentoring residents in the
inpatient and outpatient
settings and has a special
interest in coaching
residents in board
preparation.

Dr. Ziegler graduated from
the Ohio State University
College of Medicine in 1973.
He completed a residency in
Internal Medicine at Akron
City Hospital and a
pulmonary fellowship at
Indiana University Medical
Center. Following 3 years of
private practice, he joined
the faculty in January of
1982. His appointments at
NEOMED include Associate
Dean for Clinical Education
and Professor of Clinical
Internal Medicine. He is
Chairman of the Education
and Research Committee at
Mercy Medical Center.

Dr. Rowley is a 1986 graduate of The
Ohio State University College of
Medicine and completed his internal
medicine residency at Akron City
Hospital/Summa Health Systems in
1989. Subsequently, he served as
Chief Medicine Resident at Akron
City until 1990. He has practiced in
the Stark County area since then. He
is board certified in internal medicine
and a Fellow of the American College
of Physicians. In 2002, he was
commissioned as a medical officer in
the U.S. Army Reserve and thereafter
served several times on active
duty. Dr. Rowley serves on the
clinical faculty of both Ohio State and
NEOMED and joined AIM as a
teaching hospitalist in November
2013.

Dr. Rajan has educated
residents at the Mercy
Resident Continuity
Practice since graduating
from our CMEF residency
program in 2008. She
serves as the Mercy RCP
Educational Site Director,
and is working toward
developing our outpatient
practice into a Patient Centered Medical Home.

Dr. Beard is a graduate of the
Ohio State University
Medical School and
completed his Internal
Medicine residency at
Riverside Methodist
Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
His clinical practice has
primarily focused on
inpatient medicine as a
hospitalist. He also has an
extensive background in
hospital administration with
an emphasis in quality and
patient safety. He earned an
MBA from the University of
Massachusetts-Amherst in
2010. Dr. Beard enjoys
teaching and participating in
quality improvement.

Dr. Beard is a graduate of
NEOMED and completed
her Internal Medicine
residency at Riverside
Methodist Hospital in
Columbus. Initially
practicing as a private
internist, she subsequently
served as faculty in the
Riverside IM residency and
as director of its simulation
program. Her interests
include improving patient
safety and quality, as well as
teaching medical students
and residents in the inpatient
setting.

Dr. Waheeb Ahmed
Dr. Raffi Bardakjian
Drs. Ahmed, and Bardakjian
lead the residents as our
PGY-3 Chief Resident Team.
Each year, through a process
of application, leaders are
selected to serve in this
crucial administrative role,
which includes resident
recruitment, process
improvement, problem
resolution, scheduling, and
resident liaison to program
faculty & staff.

Dr. Bhavnish
Bucktowarsing
Dr. Geeth
Nadella
As part of CMEF’s
continuous effort to improve
resident participation and
leadership in patient safety
and quality initiatives,
residents can apply to serve
as Quality Chief during the
PGY-2 year. In this role, the
resident has enhanced
opportunities for leading
program-wide PI/QI
initiatives and facilitating the
identification, planning, and
communication of safety and
quality improvements
system-wide.

Cathy has more than
35 years of experience
with the CMEF
Internal Medicine
Program and has
served for 33 years as
program
administrator. She is
knowledgeable in all
aspects of the
residency and a
strong advocate for
residents!
Matt Violet
Debra Williams
Aliecia Sims
PGY-1
PGY-2
PGY-3
7 Blocks General
Medicine
5 Blocks General
Medicine
3 Blocks General
Medicine
2 Blocks MICU
2 Blocks MICU
1 Block MICU
1 Block MTS Cardiology
1 Block MTS Cardiology
1 Block Geriatrics &
Palliative Care
1 Block Emergency
Medicine
1 Block Quality, Safety, & 7 Blocks Elective **
High Value Care
1 Block Elective
3 Blocks Elective
1 Block Ambulatory
(Holiday Block)
1 Block Mixed General
Medicine (Holiday Block)
1 Block Mixed General
Medicine (Holiday Block)
* Each block is 4 weeks on average
** Elective Rotations include Infectious Disease, Endocrinology,
Hematology/Oncology, Nephrology, Neurology, Rheumatology, Pulmonology,
Gastroenterology, Non-Medicine Specialties, and others
First-Year Resident
$51,884
Second-Year Resident
$53,914
Third-Year Resident
$54,703







Vacation (three weeks
per year)
Conference time (one
week per year)
Maternity/adoption
leave
Sick leave
Bereavement Pay
Aultman Fitness Center
(free)
Health club
membership ($120/year
reimbursement)








ACP Membership
Resident Training
Certificate Fee
Free parking
Meal allowance
Examination leave
(U.S.M.L.E.)
$2,000 interest-free
hardship loan
3 Lab coats per year
Childcare facility
available






Basic and major medical insurance
Dental assistance insurance
Vision care reimbursement
Professional liability insurance
Life insurance ($10,000)
Short-term disability coverage
First-Year Resident
$600
Second-Year Resident
$1,000
Third-Year Resident
$2,000
2014-2015 Graduates
12/12 Passed
100%




Society for Critical Care Medicine Meeting, Pheoniz, AZ - January 17-21, 2015
 “Comparing the characteristics and outcomes of Unplanned Extubation (UE)
in Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) and Medical Intensive Care Unit
(MICU).” Dhuha Alkhaiat, MD, Chandra Dasari MD, Amareshwar Podugu
MD, Jennifer Bolyard MD, Jihad Alasady MD, Omar Nemer, Nihad Boutros
MD
National Meeting of the American College of Physicians – May 1-2, 2015
 “Spontaneous Retroperitoneal Bleeding During Hemodialysis.” Saad Hussain,
MD, Arup Maitra, MD, Asha Chakka MD
Digestive Disease Week, Washington, DC, May 16-19, 2015
 “An Unreported Case of Pyoderma Gangrenosum associated with Primary
Sclerosing Cholangitis without Evidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.”
Pavan Lankaala, MD, Bisharah Rizvi MD, Jennifer Beard MD
 “Carcinoid Tumors.” Bisharah Rizvi, MD, Aarthi Rajkumar MD, Jonathan
Congeni MD
American Thoracic Society International Conference, Denver, CO, May, 2015
 “Massive Renal Cyst Causing Acute Respiratory Failure Requiring Mechanical
Ventilation: A Unique Presentation.” Shamiq Zackria, MD, Awais Ahmed MD,
Ali Zulqarnain MD, George Kefalas MD, Abhijit Kontamwar MD, Asha Chakka
MD

ACP Ohio Chapter: October 21-22, 2015


Aultman Hospital Research Day: June 2, 2015



3 poster presentations
2 oral presentations
4 poster presentations
NEOMED Research Day: May 21, 2015


1 oral presentation
5 poster presentations

National Meeting of the American College of
Physicians - April 11, 2014





“Giant Mycotic Aneurysm of the Right Coronary Artery” –
Chandra Dasari, MD, Amareshwar Podugu, MD, Asha Chakka,
MD, Steven Malosky, MD
“A Case of MIDCAB Misery” – Mahalakshmi Krishnamoorthy,
MD, Alycia Findlay, MD, Steven Malosky, MD, Jennifer
Bolyard, MD
“Friendship, Fine Poetry, and JPS-HHT Syndrome are Very
Rare” – Sricharitha Krishnamoorthy, MD, Nabil Fahmy, MD,
Jennifer Bolyard, MD
“Normal Serum Lipase, Is it Acute Pancreatitis?” – Bisharah
Rizvi, MD, Asha Chakka, MD
“Diabetes and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type I: Unusual
Suspects Potentiating Each Other” – Shamiq Zackria, MD,
Meena Rajan, MD

American Thoracic Society International Conference,
SanDiego, CA, May 16 – 21, 2014




“Not A Laughing Matter: Nuedexta and CHF” – Chandra
Dasari, MD, Amareshwar Podugu, MD, Patricia Rubin, MD,
Rama Narayanan, MD
Clostridium subterminale Presenting as Tension
Hydropneumothorax” – Nosheen Ishaque, MD, Saad Hussain,
MD, Khulood Rizvi, MD, Amareshwar Podugu, MD, George
Kefalas, MD
“A Case of Acute Interstitial Pneumonia (AIP) Presenting as
Crazy Paving Pattern on High Resolution CT Scan” –
Amareshwar Podugu, MD, Chandra Dasari, MD, Nihad
Boutros, MD
“Fulminant Case of Metformin Associated Lactic
Acidosis…Where Unusual was the Usual Course” – Ali
Zulqarnain, MD, Awais, Ahmed, MD, Asha Chakka, MD,
Pramod Bhargava, MD

CHEST 2014 National Meeting, Austin, TX,
October 25 – 30, 2014


“A Rare Case of Fatal Thyroid Storm )TS) Resulting
in DIC and Multi-Organ Failure” – Amareshwar
Podugu, MD, Khulood Rizvi, MD, Mohamad Adam,
MD, Nihad Boutros, MD
Society for General Internal Medicine,
SanDiego, CA, April 23-26, 2014

“Giant Splenic Artetry Aneurysm Presenting As
Lower GI Bleeding” – Chandra Dasari, MD,
Amareshwar Podugu, MD, Rama Narayanan, MD,
Stephen Sanofsky, MD

2014 American College of Gastroenterology
Annual Scientific Meeting, Philadelphia, PA,
October 17-22, 2014
“Metastatic Carcinoid: An Atypical Presentation”Shamiq Zackria, MD, Ezechukwu Umeh, MD, Awais
Ahmed, MD, Asha Chakka, MD, Sameh Kamel, MD
 “Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis: A Rare Case in an
Immunocompetent Male” – Ezechukwu Umeh, MD,
Shamiq Zackria, Awais Ahmed, MD, Rama Narayanan,
MD, Basal Al-Lahham, MD
 “Hepatic Cysts With An Unusual Twist: Smooth Muscle
Tumor by Epstein-Barr Virus” – Sricharitha
Krishnamoorthy, MD, Arup Maitra, MD, Jennifer
Bolyard, MD, Zuoliang Xiao, MD


ACP Ohio Chapter: October 16-17, 2014


Aultman Hospital Research Day: June 4, 2014



11 accepted abstracts/ 9 poster presentations
2 oral presentations
16 poster presentations
NEOMED Research Day: May 15, 2014


1 oral presentation
9 poster presentations
Graduates 2015
Dr. Awais Ahmed– Wake Forest University Medical Center Clinical Faculty/ GI
Hospitalist, Department of Hospital Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Dr. Dhuha Alkhaiat–Hospitalist, Aultman Inpatient Medicine, Canton, OH
Dr. Saad Hussain– Academic Hospitalist, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Dr. Nosheen Ishaque– Outpatient Medicine, University of Massachusetts (UMass)
Memorial Medical Group, Worchester, MA
Dr. Mahalakshmi Krishnamoorthy– Academic Hospitalist, University of Miami
JFK Medical Center, Miami, FL
Dr. Pavan Lankaala– Hospitalist, Baywood (Banner Health) Medical Center, Mesa,
AZ
Dr. Isis Manhart– PNDG
Dr. Pavani Ravi- PNDG
Dr. Khulood Rizvi– Infectious Disease Fellowship, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit,
MI
Dr. Sharan Rufus-Ponniah–Non-Invasive/Non-Accredited Cardiovascular Fellow,
Aultman Hospital, Canton, OH
Dr. Rupalben Sonani– Hospitalist, St. Mary's hospital, Huntington, WV
Dr. Ezechukwu Umeh- Hospitalist, Wayne Hospital, Dayton OH
2015
Infectious Diseases
Henry Ford Hospital
Detroit, MI
Non-Invasive/Non-Accredited
Cardiovascular Diseases
Aultman Hospital
Canton, OH
Non-Accredited Heart Failure Fellow
Wake Forest
Winston-Salem, NC
2014
Gastroenterology
Cleveland Clinic Florida
Weston, FL
Neurology Residency
University of Massachusetts
Worcester, MA
2013
Nephrology
Albert Einstein Jacobi Medical Center
New York, NY
Nephrology
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO
2012
Pulmonary/Critical Care
University of Toledo Medical Center,
Toledo, OH
Nephrology
Virginia Commonwealth University
Medical Center, Richmond, VA
Anesthesia Residency
University of Florida Medical Center,
Gainesville, FL
2011
Critical Care
University of Pittsburgh
Rheumatology
Indiana University Perdue University at
Indianapolis (IUPUI)
2010
Cardiology
Illinois Masonic Advocate in Chicago, IL
Aultman Hospital



Founded in 1892, Aultman has a century-long
tradition of care and service to the five-county
region it serves.
682 beds (including 20 ICU beds, 56 CCU beds)
Service area includes Stark, Tuscarawas,
Carroll, Holmes, and Wayne counties.
Aultman is also a referral center for 10
surrounding counties.


580 physicians on active staff, 96 percent of
whom are Board Certified.
In recent years, Aultman Hospital has been
identified as one of the 100 Top Hospitals™ in
the country by Solucient.
Mercy Medical Center


Mercy Medical Center is a 476-bed hospital
serving Stark, Carroll, Wayne, Holmes and
Tuscarawas Counties and parts of Southeastern
Ohio.
It has 620 members on its Medical Staff and
employs 2,500 people.


Mercy operates seven outpatient health centers
in Carroll County, Jackson Township, Lake
Township, Louisville, North Canton, Plain
Township and Tuscarawas County.
Mercy Heart Center was the nation’s first
accredited chest pain center and was named
twice to the US News and World Report Best
50 Heart Centers.