Residencies

/ Internal Medicine Residency

Internal medicine residency

Gentleman leaning down to kiss woman on the foreheadSpectrum Health & Michigan State University College of Human Medicine logo

The Corewell Health – Grand Rapids/Michigan State University Internal Medicine Residency program is a three-year program accepting 15 positions per year. We provide a rich educational experience with a culturally diverse population. With over 670 beds, Butterworth Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center and a clinical leader in cardiovascular, cancer and neurosciences, among many others. The availability of higher-level services provided at Corewell Health in West Michigan, including heart, lung, and bone marrow transplant, has added to the exposure of these complex specialized patient populations to our resident physician and truly enhanced the educational experience we are able to offer. Corewell Health in West Michigan has been awarded primary stroke center and heart failure certifications and has won the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence.

From the Program Director

Welcome to the Corewell Health – Grand Rapids/Michigan State University Internal Medicine Residency. I’m so glad you decided to stop by our website and learn more about our awesome program! Let me tell you why I think it’s an amazing place to learn and grow and why you should be here.

Our residents primarily train at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital (part of Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals). Since 1873, Butterworth Hospital has been growing and building a reputation of excellence in care, diagnostics, treatment, prevention and education. It is the flagship hospital for Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals, which includes Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital and Corwell Health Cancer Center at Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion.

The brilliance of our “Medical Mile” allows our residents to practice medicine in world-class facilities. Corewell Health in West Michigan and Grand Rapids has more than 100 years of investing in graduate medical education. As medicine has evolved, so has our residencies. We are proud to have produced some of the best primary care and hospitalist physicians, in addition to having prepared the many others who have gone on to fellowship training in various internal medicine subspecialties.

While our hospitals and clinics are second to none, we boast the most about our community attending physicians and the passion they have for resident education! We have high expectations of our residents and with the guidance of our faculty and staff, our residents always rise to the occasion. We place a strong emphasis on education over service. Our general medicine units and ICUs are staffed with attending physicians 24/7. All our teaching services are closely supervised by in-house attending physicians. There is always someone to look to and to learn from, making ours a nonmalignant learning environment that fosters mentorship and camaraderie. Simply put, we make good doctors!

We invite you to learn more about our community here in West Michigan. It is a beautiful place to live and Michigan’s second largest populated city. Whether you enjoy walking along the riverside taking in the view of the rapids, watching minor league sporting events such as baseball, basketball or hockey, attending big-ticket artist concerts, taking in a Broadway play, the symphony, or perusing downtown for museums and good eateries, there is something here for you. So, check us out! We hope to see you soon!

TaLawnda L. Bragg, MD, FACP
Program Director, Corewell Health - Grand Rapids/Michigan State University Internal Medicine Residency
Internal Medicine Hospitalist, Corewell Health Medical Group West

Education

Program Aims

  1. Develop individual learning plans that provide foundational education in general internal medicine that will prepare residents for diverse clinical and academic settings including hospitalist medicine, primary care medicine and subspecialty care
  2. Engage our residents in scholarship, patient safety and quality improvement to instill the values of innovative lifelong learning
  3. Empower our physicians as clinical instructors, developing effective teachers of peers and undergraduate medical students
  4. Create opportunities for residents to be leaders of multidisciplinary teams
  5. Foster resident and faculty camaraderie
  6. Support and embrace the importance of physician wellness

Didactics

  • Noon report (three per week) – Conducted by chief resident and key faculty members, interesting cases or admissions on the teaching services are presented sharpen clinical reasoning skills, differential diagnoses, diagnostic dilemmas, appropriate interventions and therapeutics.
  • Formal resident patient handoffs – Occurs twice a day to ensure the upmost quality and safety with transitioning care to covering residents.
  • Teaching rounds (daily) – Each inpatient team, led by one faculty member, spend one to two hours discussing patients on the service with an emphasis placed on bedside teaching.
  • Grand Rounds – Weekly
  • Mortality chart review, safety cases and readmission root cause analysis – A regularly occurring conference built on our noon report and didactic sessions. The emphasis is on proving safe, timely and effective care, rooting in the six core ACGME competencies.
  • Morbidity and mortality (one per block) – Formal presentation by senior level residents at grand rounds.
  • Continuity clinic specialized education – Each week, residents are provided reading material addressing multiple aspects of outpatient/ambulatory care medicine which include non-medicine subject matters such as ethics, billing, coding, running a practice, and more. Prior to each clinic, the reading material is discussed with a key faculty member(s) who staff the clinics.
  • Core curriculum lectures (weekly) – The core curriculum is given as a three-hour lecture block each Friday. This is protected time free of clinical duties for the education of our residents. All disciplines within the field of internal medicine are presented by community subspecialists to prepare our residents for board certification in internal medicine.
  • Journal club/evidence-based medicine reviews (one-two per block) – Upper-level residents select peer-reviewed journal articles that are critically reviewed by house staff.
  • Procedure skills lab (two per year) – This two-to-three-hour session gives residents the opportunity to hone procedure skills such as intubations, thoracentesis, central access, and more. In addition, mock codes are performed each block.
  • Point of Care Ultrasound - Simulation, didactics and plenty of hands-on patient experience. Now featuring a senior-level procedure elective learning and performing paracentesis and thoracentesis.

Manageable and realistic resident research opportunities

The internal medicine program strongly supports resident research, and many of our faculty are involved in clinical research. Part of this support comes from the scholarly activity support team, which offers biostatistics consultation and poster preparation.

Residents develop a research project during their residency training and can present at numerous meetings. Residents will be expected to submit their work for presentation at an institutional Research Day. Some have even been submitted for publication! Financial support can be requested not only from our internal medicine program, but also the scholarly activity support team.

Application Requirements

All applications are accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service. Applications will be evaluated on an individual basis and applicants granted an interview as space allows.

  • We require three letters of recommendation:
    • one clinical letter of recommendation from an internal medicine faculty
    • one Department of Medicine/institutional summary letter of evaluation
    • the final letter of recommendation can be from clinical faculty or a scholarly project mentor
  • We prefer passing scores on the first attempt on both USMLE or COMLEX
  • MD applicants: Results for Step 2 or COMLEX 2 must be available to be considered for ranking
  • DO applicants: COMLEX 1 and 2 are accepted in lieu of USMLE
  • We prefer applicants who have graduated medical school within the past two years
  • All applicants must possess U.S. work authorization or be eligible for J-1 status
  • International medical applicants must be ECFMG certified

For more information about our program, contact the internal medicine residency program coordinators.

All visiting medical student applications must be submitted through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities program. For more information on visiting medical student opportunities, visit our Visiting Learner page.

Applying to Residencies with ERAS®

For the 2022 ERAS® cycle, our program will be participating in the supplemental ERAS application offered through the AAMC's ERAS program. Applicants will be required to complete the MyERAS application, and participation in the supplemental ERAS application is optional.

The additional information will help our program staff learn more about applicants’ medical education journey, including more meaningful information about work, volunteer, and research experiences, and help us better identify applicants who fit our program environment and mission.

This supplemental ERAS application will be delivered on a survey platform outside the MyERAS application and must be completed between September 1 and September 30.

Bookmark the supplemental ERAS application section of the AAMC website to find the latest information, answers to frequently asked questions and other resources.

Resident Life

Group shot of Internal Medicine Residents at the 2018 retreat indoors
Click here to read the answers to frequently asked questions about our residency program.

The internal medicine residency program holds a spring and fall retreat. This a great opportunity for residents to enjoy fun team-building activities and take time to get to know the new interns.

Group shot of Internal Medicine Residents at the 2018 retreat outdoors

Salary and Benefits

Corewell Health in West Michigan provides a comprehensive and very competitive benefits package for our residents, staff and their families. In addition, our program provides educational monies to support your ongoing education. Download our salary and benefits document to learn more.

Explore West Michigan

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Food, entertainment and shopping
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Food: Release your inner foodie exploring one of the top food cities in the US.

Entertainment: From zoos and museums to festivals and art, there is a new experience around every corner.

Shopping: West Michigan has a diverse assortment of shops for everyone.

Outdoors and Sustainability
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Outdoors: With trails, lakes and more, there is so much of West Michigan to explore.

Sustainability: Located along the shore of Lake Michigan, West Michigan has many initiatives to protect our natural resources.

Resources
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Identities matter and so do you! Our residency and fellowship programs offer social activities, wellness programs and a diversity council to foster respect, personal health and community.

Program Director

TaLawnda Bragg, MD
TaLawnda Bragg, MD

Hospitalist

  • Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center/Michigan State University
TaLawnda Bragg, MD
TaLawnda Bragg, MD

Hospitalist

  • Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center/Michigan State University

Associate Program Director

Jeremy Gentile, DO
Jeremy Gentile, DO

Hospitalist

  • Residency: Henry Ford Hospital
Crystal Ritsema, MD
Crystal Ritsema, MD

Primary Care

  • Residency: Yale-New Haven Hospital
Michael Stout, MD
Michael Stout, MD

Primary Care

  • Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine
Jeremy Gentile, DO
Jeremy Gentile, DO

Hospitalist

  • Residency: Henry Ford Hospital
Crystal Ritsema, MD
Crystal Ritsema, MD

Primary Care

  • Residency: Yale-New Haven Hospital
Michael Stout, MD
Michael Stout, MD

Primary Care

  • Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine

Core Faculty

David Calderhead, MD
David Calderhead, MD

Hospitalist

  • Residency: Wright Sate University
Nagib Chalfoun, MD
Nagib Chalfoun, MD

Cardiology

  • Fellowship: 
    • (Cardiovascular Disease ) Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York 
    • (Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology) University of Michigan Hospitals & Health Center
  • Residency: University of Pennsylvania
Anacleto Diaz, MD
Anacleto Diaz, MD

Primary Care

  • Residency: St. John Hospital and Medical Center
Jorgelina de Sanctis
Jorgelina de Sanctis

Infectious Disease

  • Fellowship: Beaumont Hospital
  • Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University
David Calderhead, MD
David Calderhead, MD

Hospitalist

  • Residency: Wright Sate University
Nagib Chalfoun, MD
Nagib Chalfoun, MD

Cardiology

  • Fellowship: 
    • (Cardiovascular Disease ) Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York 
    • (Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology) University of Michigan Hospitals & Health Center
  • Residency: University of Pennsylvania
Anacleto Diaz, MD
Anacleto Diaz, MD

Primary Care

  • Residency: St. John Hospital and Medical Center
Jorgelina de Sanctis
Jorgelina de Sanctis

Infectious Disease

  • Fellowship: Beaumont Hospital
  • Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University
Stephen Doyle, DO
Stephen Doyle, DO

Pulmonology

  • Fellowship: Ohio State University Medical Center
  • Residency: University of Kansas Medical Center
Asaf Harris, MD
Asaf Harris, MD

Hospitalist

  • Residency: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
Maximiliano Tamae Kakazu, MD
Maximiliano Tamae Kakazu, MD

Pulmonology

  • Fellowship:
    • (Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine) John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County
    • (Sleep Medicine) University of Chicago
  • Residency: John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County
Malik Khan, MD
Malik Khan, MD

Pulmonology

  • Fellowship: Albany Medical College
  • Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University in Grand Rapids
Beth Makowski, DO
Beth Makowski, DO

Hospitalist

  • Fellowship: Metro Health Hospital
  • Residency: Metro Health Hospital
Fergus Peacock, MD
Fergus Peacock, MD

Hospitalist

  • Residency: Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center
Gretchen Roe, MD
Gretchen Roe, MD

Palliative Medicine

  • Fellowship: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners
  • Residency: Carolinas Medical Center
John Sisson, MD
John Sisson, MD

Primary Care

  • Residency: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
Jessica Smith, MD
Jessica Smith, MD

Hospitalist

  • Residency: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
Daniel Trierweiler, MD
Daniel Trierweiler, MD

Hospitalist

  • Fellowship: University of Colorado
  • Residency: University of Colorado
Lauren Vandam, MD
Lauren Vandam, MD

Hospitalist

  • Residency: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University

PGY 1

Benjamin Arnold, MD
Benjamin Arnold, MD

Northeast Ohio Medical University

Catherine Bloch, MD
Catherine Bloch, MD

Western Michigan University

Lara Hakim, MD
Lara Hakim, MD

Michigan State University

Javeria Hayat, MBBS
Javeria Hayat, MBBS

Dow Medical College

Benjamin Arnold, MD
Benjamin Arnold, MD

Northeast Ohio Medical University

Catherine Bloch, MD
Catherine Bloch, MD

Western Michigan University

Lara Hakim, MD
Lara Hakim, MD

Michigan State University

Javeria Hayat, MBBS
Javeria Hayat, MBBS

Dow Medical College

Megan Kempa, DO
Megan Kempa, DO

Michigan State University

Ross Kendall, MD
Ross Kendall, MD

Central Michigan University

Melanie Mrozek, MD
Melanie Mrozek, MD

Central Michigan University

Robert Ocomen, MD
Robert Ocomen, MD

Central Michigan University

Nicholas Parliament, MD
Nicholas Parliament, MD

Michigan State University

Parth Patel, MD
Parth Patel, MD

Southern Illinois University

Katarzyna Purzycka, DO
Katarzyna Purzycka, DO

Michigan State University

Nader Rayyan, MD
Nader Rayyan, MD

Michigan State University

Levi Snoeyink, DO
Levi Snoeyink, DO

Michigan State University

Tyler VanVelsen, MD
Tyler VanVelsen, MD

Michigan State University

Zachary Yono, DO
Zachary Yono, DO

Michigan State University

PGY 2

Tajuldeen Al Hasani, MD
Tajuldeen Al Hasani, MD

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

Health Equity and Leadership Scholar, 2023-24

Saleem Alameh, MD
Saleem Alameh, MD

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Saria Alazmeh, MBBS
Saria Alazmeh, MBBS

Alfaisal University College of Medicine

Rafael Bernal, DO
Rafael Bernal, DO

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tajuldeen Al Hasani, MD
Tajuldeen Al Hasani, MD

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

Health Equity and Leadership Scholar, 2023-24

Saleem Alameh, MD
Saleem Alameh, MD

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Saria Alazmeh, MBBS
Saria Alazmeh, MBBS

Alfaisal University College of Medicine

Rafael Bernal, DO
Rafael Bernal, DO

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Phillip Brier, DO
Phillip Brier, DO

Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Anastasia Bury, MD
Anastasia Bury, MD

Central Michigan University College of Medicine

Ryan Crane, MD
Ryan Crane, MD

Central Michigan University College of Medicine

Mohamad El Shami, MD
Mohamad El Shami, MD

Universite Saint-Joseph

Ali Ismail, MD
Ali Ismail, MD

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Elizabeth Jakubowski, MD
Elizabeth Jakubowski, MD

Wayne State University School of Medicine

Morgan Korn, DO
Morgan Korn, DO

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Brian Kunkel, DO
Brian Kunkel, DO

University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

Jonathon Richards, MD
Jonathon Richards, MD

Central Michigan University College of Medicine

Mitchell Sarkisov, DO
Mitchell Sarkisov, DO

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Ajith Thomas, MD
Ajith Thomas, MD

Wayne State University School of Medicine

PGY 3

Tarek Alsibai, MBBS
Tarek Alsibai, MBBS

Alfaisal University

Amarinder Atal, MD
Amarinder Atal, MD

Michigan State University

Janene Berli, MD
Janene Berli, MD

University of Michigan

Sandeep Buddharaju, MD
Sandeep Buddharaju, MD

American University of the Caribbean

Tarek Alsibai, MBBS
Tarek Alsibai, MBBS

Alfaisal University

Amarinder Atal, MD
Amarinder Atal, MD

Michigan State University

Janene Berli, MD
Janene Berli, MD

University of Michigan

Sandeep Buddharaju, MD
Sandeep Buddharaju, MD

American University of the Caribbean

Sarah Cerda, MD
Sarah Cerda, MD

Western Michigan University

Naomi Cret, MD
Naomi Cret, MD

Wayne State University

Culinary Medicine Scholar

Daniel Emrick, MD
Daniel Emrick, MD

Western Michigan University

Antonia Fomunyam Nyongabsen, MD
Antonia Fomunyam Nyongabsen, MD

Ross University

Yajing Ji, DO, PhD
Yajing Ji, DO, PhD

Michigan State University

Culinary Medicine Scholar

Vera Nattler, MD
Vera Nattler, MD

Michigan State University

Kyle Rau, DO
Kyle Rau, DO

Michigan State University

Jeremy Santamaria, MD
Jeremy Santamaria, MD

Oakland University

Luke Vriend-DeHart, MD
Luke Vriend-DeHart, MD

Central Michigan University

Paul Weber, DO
Paul Weber, DO

Michigan State University

Senior Chief Residents

Hannah Bray, MD
Hannah Bray, MD

Michigan State University

Sherilyn Munoz, DO
Sherilyn Munoz, DO

Kansas City University

Hannah Bray, MD
Hannah Bray, MD

Michigan State University

Sherilyn Munoz, DO
Sherilyn Munoz, DO

Kansas City University

Many of our alumni have moved on to subspecialty fellowship training, see where they've gone.

Internal medicine residency bios

Meet our residents
Resident group photo

Ready to Apply?

Review the “Application Requirements” tab on the program page to learn more about the application process.

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