3 graduate from Family Medicine Residency Program with 1 to return to Reid next year

June 16, 2025 -- A trio of graduates from Reid Health's Family Medicine Residency Program are leaving Richmond to take the next steps in their career, but for one of them, the move will be temporary.

Jeffrey Lee, MD, is heading to Erie, Pennsylvania, for a one-year fellowship in sports medicine. Once that's complete, he'll return to this area to start his primary care sports medicine practice at the Reid Health Comprehensive Bone & Joint Center.

"Dr. Lee's return after a fellowship in sports medicine will be one of our program's many success stories," said Donald Smith, MD, Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program. "We are very proud of him for matching in sports medicine, which is not easy. There are many more applicants than there are fellowship spots available.

"He has been an exemplary resident, and Reid will benefit from his return in one year."

Members of the residency program's Class of 2025 were recently celebrated at Forest Hills Country Club in Richmond. Others graduating include:

• Bothaina Afifi, MD, who will practice outpatient family medicine in Indianapolis
• Nicole Hountz, DO, who will practice outpatient family medicine in Montana

"One trait stands out in this class -- outstanding attitudes," Dr. Smith said. "They have won the hearts of everyone at Reid with their consistently upbeat attitudes.

"Academically, they strive for excellence and self-improvement. All three have passed their Family Medicine Board exam already. Many residents wait and take it after residency, but they all took it already."

Reid's residency program is affiliated with the Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience in Kansas City, Missouri. Graduates complete three years of training in family medicine, gaining a wide-ranging experience in the Reid Health system.

Five core faculty members -- Dr. Smith; Novera Inam, MD; Nuzhat Nisa, MD; Andy Tran, MD; and Tim Kaehr, PsyD, HSPP, LMFT -- supervise the residents' overall training, along with 75 community physicians who act as preceptors across a variety of medical specialties.

"There are three primary reasons for a regional center like Reid Health to have a residency program: retention of graduating residents who stay in the area and become Reid providers, residents are able to see patients and add to the workforce while they learn, and the addition of an academic program to the organization allows physicians of all specialties to be involved in the teaching of the next generation," Dr. Smith said.

Six new physicians will join the program, bringing the total number of residents to 18. The newcomers will go through a two-week orientation before starting their residency training on July 1.

The residents in Reid's program include:

• Advancing second-year residents Rajesh Dhakal, MD; Megan Hammersla, MD; Christine Miller, DO; Jesse Smallwood, DO; and Salecah Ullah, MD
• Advancing first-year residents Samuel Griffin, MD; Sadia Khan, MD; Victor Odoma, MD; Natalia Rosca, MD; Vivek Roy, MD; Rohit Shrestha, MD; and Amal Sobeih, MD
• Incoming residents Tehreem Akthar, MD; Vikram Gill, DO; Sasha Johnson, MD; Lorraine Lorenz, DO; Chibuzor Madu, MD; and Ali Siddiqui, MD

"We are very optimistic about this incoming class. It includes some residents with Indiana ties as well as others with diverse backgrounds," Dr. Smith said.

"The program has several initiatives that are developing. One of those is an opportunity for our residents to represent Reid Health by volunteering at a free clinic in Richmond. We want to encourage the tradition of altruism in medicine in our residents."

To learn more about the program, go to reidhealth.org/family-medicine-residency-program.