Roxborough Memorial Hospital Celebrates Residency Graduation: 21 Physicians Set to Embark on Promising Medical Careers

Philadelphia, PA (June 30, 2026) - On June 17, Roxborough Memorial Hospital proudly celebrated the graduation of its Class of 2026 resident physicians during a momentous ceremony held at the Bluestone Country Club in Blue Bell, PA. This year, 21 talented physicians successfully completed their rigorous training, marking the beginning of their professional journeys in the field of medicine.

The event opened with inspiring remarks from Shawn Parekh, CEO of Roxborough Memorial Hospital, who emphasized the significance of this milestone. Graduates were honored with prestigious awards, including the Doctor Ernest Talone Intern of the Year Award, Teaching Resident of the Year, and Teaching Faculty of the Year, among others, showcasing their dedication and excellence.

The evening was filled with celebratory moments, including engaging speeches, a dynamic PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Mathew, and a delightful array of entrées and desserts. Guests enjoyed music and dancing, creating a festive atmosphere to commemorate the graduates' achievements.

Shawn Parekh remarked, "This class embodies dedication and compassion. Their achievements are a testament to their hard work and our commitment to providing exceptional medical training. We are excited to see how they will shape the future of healthcare."

GRADUATES AND CAREER PATHS

Internal Medicine Graduates:

• Nassef Ibrahim, DO - Hospitalist, Mercy Health, IL
• Sophiya Leveen, MD (Chief Resident) - Nephrology Fellowship, Mayo Clinic, FL
• Nataliya Lushchak, MD - Primary Care, PA
• Gautham Gosh Meka, MD - Primary Care, Unicare Community Health Center, CA
• Twinkle Saini, DO (Chief Resident) - Primary Care, Temple Physicians Outpatient, PA

Family Medicine Graduates:

• Gagandeep Dhatt, MD-Sabbatical after graduation
• Shirin Felizadeh, MD - Christiana Healthcare in Smyrna, DE
• James Goettel, MD- Christina Healthcare in Smyrna, DE
• Onyinye Onyemaechi, MD
• Edgar Weyback-Liogier, DO- Union Community Care in Coatesville, PA

Podiatry Program Graduates:

• Catur Chan, DPM- Indian Valley Podiatry, Harleysville and Souderton.
• Poonam Patel, DPM -Private Practice, 1 Foot, 2 Foot, Virginia Beach
• Edward Kwon, DPM- Brandywine Podiatry, Wilmington DE
• Anushka Ramnani, DPM- Fellowship with Limb Salvage and Charcot Reconstruction, Seattle, WA

Preliminary Medicine (Internal Medicine) Transitioning to Categorical PGY2 at Roxborough Memorial Hospital:

• Nidhi Bhal, MD
• Srivarshini Maddukuri, MD
• Harshitha Polu, MD
• Jenin Thomas, MD
• Sharon Thomas, MD
• Prasanthi Vanga, MD

Preliminary Medicine (Family Medicine):

RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE

Resident of the Year Awards:

• Family Medicine- Edgar Weyback-Liogier, DO
• Internal Medicine- Sophiya Leeven, MD
• Podiatry- Catur Chan DPM

• Ernest Talone Resident of the Year- Ravin Maheshkumar, DO
• Teaching Resident of the Year- Sophiya Leveen, MD
• Teaching Faculty of the Year- Bereket Tewoldemedhin, MD
• Special Recognition Award-James Goettel, MD
• Intern of the year Internal Medicine- Prasanthi Vanga, MD

Dr. Mathew Mathew, Chief Medical Officer of Roxborough Memorial Hospital and program director of the internal medicine program, noted, "The diverse training at Roxborough Memorial Hospital equips our residents with essential skills for success. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and are confident in the contributions they will make to the healthcare landscape."

Roxborough Memorial Hospital's residency program provides a comprehensive learning environment across various specialties, including pediatrics, cardiology, and more. As part of Prime Healthcare and in partnership with New York Medical College, the program emphasizes adherence to ACGME standards while continuing to offer Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Preliminary Medicine tracks.

For further information, please visit the Roxborough Memorial Hospital Residency Program https://roxboroughmemorial.com/our-services/residency-program/

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Roxborough Memorial Hospital: Roxborough Memorial Hospital is a 146-bed community hospital. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of the Roxborough, Manayunk, East Falls and northwest section of Philadelphia communities for more than a century, having first opened its doors in 1890. Roxborough Memorial Hospitals School of Nursing has been educating nurses since 1898. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation's oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency. As a member of Prime Healthcare Services, headquartered in Ontario, California, Roxborough Memorial Hospital is focused on becoming one of the leaders in technology. For more information, please visit www.roxboroughmemorial.com.

About Prime Healthcare and the Prime Healthcare Foundation: Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system operating 55 hospitals and more than 360 outpatient locations in 15 states, providing over 3.0 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation's leading health systems, with nearly 60,000 employees and physicians. Twenty-one of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Based in Ontario, California, Prime Healthcare is nationally recognized for award-winning quality care and has been named a 10 Top and 15 Top Health System by Truven Health Analytics. Its hospitals have been named among the nation's "100 Top Hospitals" 69 times and have received more Patient Safety Excellence Awards from Healthgrades than any other health system in the past eight years. To learn more about Prime Healthcare, visit: www.primehealthcare.com. To learn more about Prime Healthcare Foundation, visit: www.primehealthcarefoundation.org or visit https://www.primehealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Prime-Healthcare_FACTS_04-14-2026.pdf

New York Medical College: Founded in 1860, New York Medical College is one of the oldest and largest health sciences colleges in the country with nearly 1,500 students and 330 residents and clinical fellows, more than 2,600 faculty members and 23,200 living alumni. The College, which joined the Touro College and University System in 2011, is located in Westchester County, New York, and offers degrees from the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences, the School of Health Sciences and Practice, a School of Dental Medicine and a School of Nursing. NYMC provides a wide variety of clinical training opportunities for students, residents, and practitioners. Visit https://www.nymc.edu/

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Contact

Michelle Aliprantis, MBA

Regional Director of Marketing and Communications

Office: 215.785.9817

[email protected]