Transitional Year Residents

Meet the Class of 2027

This year's class comes from fifteen medical schools across eleven states, MD and DO, with each resident preparing for a different specialty. They arrive not knowing one another and quickly become a close group, getting together regularly outside of work while they build a strong clinical foundation together.

Resident Leadership

Each year, the class elects two residents to each of the following leadership roles:

• Class Representatives: Serve as the voice of the class, bringing resident feedback and concerns to program and GME leadership
• Didactics Representatives: Work with program leadership to shape the educational curriculum around the needs of the class
• Wellness Representatives: Organize informal get-togethers and help plan program events throughout the year
• Quality Improvement Project Representatives: Lead the class through the annual quality improvement project

Wellness & Culture

We believe a strong residency class is built inside and outside the hospital. The program invests in events and experiences that bring residents and faculty together throughout the year.

Program-Wide Events

• Welcome Retreat: Team-building at the start of the year before the clinical year begins
• Resident Socials: Casual outings organized around what the class is in the mood for
• Friendsgiving Potluck: Residents and faculty share food and celebrate the season together
• Holiday Gathering: An annual celebration with residents and faculty
• Match Day Celebration: The whole program comes together for one of the best days of the year
• Farewell Celebration: A send-off for the graduating residents
• Graduation Ceremony: The formal ceremony recognizing the outgoing class at the close of the academic year

Meals and Fitness

• Monthly cafeteria allowance for use at hospital dining
• Discounted membership at HealthPlex, Cape Fear Valley's fitness and wellness center, with additional savings for regular use

Wellness Support

• MyGroup membership for every resident and anyone living in their household, offering 24/7 crisis counseling and in-person visits with a provider in the community
• Employee Assistance Program, counseling services available to Cape Fear Valley Health employees at no cost

Alumni

Our graduates match at programs across the country in a wide range of specialties. We are proud of all the physicians who have trained with us.

• Anesthesiology
• PM&R
• Radiology
• Radiation Oncology
• Dermatology
• Preventive Medicine
• Emergency Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Internal Medicine
• General Surgery
• OB/GYN
• Pediatrics
• Family Medicine

Class of 2026 Alumni

Class of 2026
Bisrat Abera, MD	Diagnostic Radiology UMass Memorial Medical Center · Worcester, MA
Matthew Berkshire, DO	Pediatrics Kings County Hospital · Kings County, NY
Justin Blankenbaker, DO	Emergency Medicine Stony Brook University · Long Island, NY
Maame Frimpong, MD	Anesthesiology MetroHealth/Case Western · Cleveland, OH
Dario Gonzalez Hernandez, MD	Anesthesiology University of Washington · Seattle, WA
Xylia Horgan, DO	OB/GYN Cape Fear Valley Health · Fayetteville, NC
Sara Howell, MD	Anesthesiology Yale University · New Haven, CT
Ndukwe Kalu, MD	Internal Medicine Cape Fear Valley Health · Fayetteville, NC
Henry Orjiudeh, MD	Internal Medicine Cape Fear Valley Health · Fayetteville, NC
Biraj Panthi, MD	Internal Medicine Cape Fear Valley Health · Fayetteville, NC
Ramraj Raghav, MD	Anesthesiology NYU · New York, NY
Eva Rivera-Melendez, MD	Internal Medicine HCA Bayonet Point · Hudson, FL
Seth Seifert, MD	Radiation Oncology University of Utah · Salt Lake City, UT
David Stern, MD	Diagnostic Radiology University of Toledo · Toledo, OH
Zollie White III, MD	Anesthesiology University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

Class of 2025 Alumni

 

Class of 2025
Rachael Akujor, MD	Internal Medicine Cape Fear Valley Health · Fayetteville, NC
Shray Amin, MD	Internal Medicine St. Vincent's Medical Center · Bridgeport, CT
Joseph Arena, MD	Family Medicine Albany Medical College/Saratoga Hospital · Albany, NY
Helen Surafeal Berhe, MD	Diagnostic Radiology University of Kansas, Wichita · Wichita, KS
Kangni Ekoue-Totou, DO	Family Medicine Kadlec Regional Medical Center · Richland, WA
Zachary Gallo, MD	Family Medicine SR-AHEC · Fayetteville, NC
Narendranath Reddy Ganampet, MD	Internal Medicine Cape Fear Valley Health · Fayetteville, NC
Calvin Hamerski, DO	Internal Medicine Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center · Wilmington, NC
Brian Kern, DO	Psychiatry Cape Fear Valley Health · Fayetteville, NC
Anish Kumar, DO	Internal Medicine Cape Fear Valley Health · Fayetteville, NC
Kevin Le, DO	Internal Medicine MAHEC · Asheville, NC
Billy Nguyen, MD	Psychiatry University of South Alabama · Mobile, AL
Stella Ogbu, MD	Internal Medicine Cape Fear Valley Health · Fayetteville, NC
Folarin Onifade, DO	PM&R Sinai Hospital of Baltimore · Baltimore, MD
Nadia Samer, DO	Emergency Medicine Trident Medical Center · Charleston, SC
Keirston Sampson, DO	Dermatology Northeast Regional Medical Center · Kirksville, MO
Michael Wohl, DO	PM&R Stony Brook University · Stony Brook, NY