Internal Medicine Residency Program
Welcome New and Prospective Residents
I would like to personally welcome you to the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Desert Regional Medical Center. We are a three-year American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited program located in sunny Palm Springs, California and have the pleasure of serving the Coachella Valley. We provide care to a large demographic population and manage the most difficult cases presented to us.
During your three years at DRMC you will see a wide range of pathology and build the knowledge of how to co-manage and collaborate with many different specialties. Your exposure will be as broad as the care of the critical patient to the out-patient clinic primary care and the whole spectrum in between. You will have rotations through multiple sub-specialties of Internal Medicine to increase your range of knowledge.
We accept twelve residents per year and our inaugural class started July 1, 2016. I am very excited to be a part of the education of our future Internists and believe that Desert Regional Medical Center will provide the best learning environment needed to become a well-seasoned Internist.
Katrina Platt, DO, FACOI
Program Director
First Year Residents
Anna Arakelyan, MD
Ross University School of Medicine
Class of 2019
Hamoudi Farraji, DO
Arizona COM of Midwestern University
Class of 2019
Saad Karamat, MD
St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada
Class of 2019
Khang Lam, DO
Touro University COM
Class of 2019
Shawn Mo, DO
Liberty University COM
Class of 2019
Arpit Patel, DO
Touro University COM
Class of 2019
India Pleasant, DO
Edward Via COM, Carolinas Campus
Class of 2019
Vatche Satamian, DO
Western University Health Sciences, COM
Class of 2019
Mubashir Sheikh, MD
American University of Antigua, COM
Class of 2019
Randoplh Tingle, DO
A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine
Class of 2019
Phuong Pham Tran, DO
Arizona COM of Midwestern University
Class of 2019
Christina Velasco, DO
Rocky Vista University COM
Class of 2019
Second Year Residents
Dina Albaree, DO
University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Class of 2018
Samir Bajwa, DO
Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Class of 2018
Rosine Bekarian, DO
Western University
Class of 2018
Chase Blackford, DO
Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Class of 2018
Robert Elliot, DO
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine – Midwestern
Class of 2018
Anastasia Kozyleva, DO
Kansas City University
Class of 2018
Leeda Mathew, DO
Touro University, Nevada
Class of 2018
Arabhi Nagasunder, DO
UNTHSC Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Class of 2018
Robert DaVee, DO
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Class of 2018
Joshua Napial, DO
Western University of Health Sciences
Class of 2018
Nicole Nazemi, DO
Western University
Class of 2018
Megan Sidana, DO
Western University of Health Sciences
Class of 2018
Third Year Residents
Shan Dhillon, DO, MS
Western University of Health Sciences
Class of 2017
Sharanpreet Kaur, DO
A.T. Still University
Class of 2017
Devin Morris, DO, MS
Western University of Health Sciences
Class of 2017
Dallis Ngo, DO
Western University of Health Sciences
Class of 2017
Kenisha Nisbett, DO
Touro University, Nevada
Class of 2017
Joshua Seastrand, DO
Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine
Class of 2017
Ling Shen, DO
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Class of 2017
Angela Shih, DO
Touro University, California
Class of 2017
Jennifer Truong, DO
Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
Class of 2017
Manika Talati, DO
Touro University, California
Class of 2017
Christina Vu, DO
Midwestern University
Class of 2017
Shayla Vu, DO
A.T. Still University
Class of 2017
Nikki Zahabi, DO
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Class of 2017
Patricia Sotolongo, DO
Nova Southeastern University
Class of 2016
INTERVIEWS
The Department of Internal Medicine participates exclusively with the American Osteopathic Association National Matching Service and can be found on the Electronic Residency Application Service. You may apply through the dean’s office at your medical school, or through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
Scheduled for October through December, interviews are offered to applicants who have submitted an application through ERAS. (Applications sent by fax or email will not be reviewed.)
The interview day itinerary includes*:
- Welcome and Introductions
- Morning Report
- Interviews with Senior Residents
- Interviews with Program Leadership and Faculty
- Tour of the Hospital and the IM Clinic
- Lunch and Q&A with Current Residents
*Subject to change
CURRICULUM
The curriculum for Desert Regional Medical Center has been designed to meet AOA accreditation standards and utilize the clinical strengths of the hospital faculty to produce quality trained physicians. The hospital has elected to use 13 block arrangement for rotations.
PGY YEAR 1: | |
---|---|
General Internal Medicine | Five (5) Blocks |
Critical Care | One (1) Block |
Cardiology | One (1) Block |
Care of the Surgical Patient | One (1) Block |
Emergency Medicine | One (1) Blocks |
Women’s Health | One (1) Block |
Selectives Chosen by the Program Director | Three (3) Blocks |
Continuity Clinic (one half-day per week, 36 weeks per year) | |
PGY YEAR 2: | |
General Internal Medicine | Six (6) Blocks |
Infectious Diseases | One (1) Block |
Nephrology | One (1) Block |
Gastroenterology | One (1) Block |
Pulmonary Disease | One (1) Block |
Critical Care | One (1) Block |
Research | One (1) Block |
Possible Electives (Allergy & Immunology, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Outpatient Dermatology, Non-surgical Orthopedics, Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine, Palliative Care Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Diagnostic Radiology) |
One (1) Block |
Continuity Clinic (one half-day per week, 36 weeks per year) | |
PGY YEAR 3: | |
General Internal Medicine | Five (5) Blocks |
Rheumatology | One (1) Block |
Endocrinology | One (1) Block |
Hematology/Oncology | One (1) Block |
Geriatric Medicine | One (1) Block |
Critical Care | One (1) Block |
Night Float | One (1) Block |
Possible Electives (Allergy & Immunology, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Outpatient Dermatology, Non-surgical Orthopedics, Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine, Palliative Care Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Diagnostic Radiology) |
Two (2) Blocks |
Continuity Clinic (one half-day per week, 36 weeks per year) |
Program Director
Katrina Platt, DO, FACOI
Current Positions: Internal Medicine Program Director, Desert Regional Medical Center
Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center- Colton, CA
Medical Degree: Western University of Health Sciences - Pomona, CA
Faculty Appointments: Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences - Pomona, CA
Associate Program Director
Xolani Mdluli, MD
Current Position: Internal Medicine Associate Program Director, Desert Regional Medical Center
Board Certification: Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease
Residency: Mount Sanai School of Medicine - Jersey City, NJ
Medical Degree: St. George's University - Grenada, West Indies
Faculty Appointments: Assistant Professor of Infectious Disease, University of California, Riverside, CA