Program Leadership
Program Director
Samy McFarlane, MD, MPH, MBA
Associate Dean for Student Research in the College of Medicine
Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program
Dr. McFarlane is at the rank of Distinguished Teaching Professor of Medicine / Endocrinology who completed his IM residency, Chief residency and endocrinology fellowship at SUNY-Downstate/ Kings County Hospital Center and held several leadership positions including Program Director and Chief of Endocrinology. During his tenure as a PD and chief of Endocrinology, the division obtained full accreditation twice without citations and was transformed into a powerhouse of research and academic output where fellows graduated to hold leadership and academic positions at major institutions including the National Institute of Health. He also served as the Director of the IM Clerkship, where he promoted research and other scholarly activities among our students, edited, and co-authored with his Downstate students the popular review book, The First Aid for Medicine Clerkship, McGraw Hill and co. that has become the recommended clerkship reading at major universities. Dr. McFarlane also holds Professorship in Emergency Medicine and Radiology. He was the founding director of the EM clerkship, and he developed and taught an introductory course on bone densitometry for the Radiology residents and fellows.
He is a prolific researcher and authored over 300 publications including several books in the areas of diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. He uses research and publications as a way to promote the career of his students, residents and fellows. His funded research by the NIH, ADA and NKF as well as other major institutions was cited over 10,000 times. He is the founding editor of several journals and currently is the Editor-In-Chief for the International Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Nationally, Dr. McFarlane is a 2- term elected member of NIH-NIDDK and served twice as a Chair at NIH- NIDDK U01 committee. He also served as a Chairman of the clinical sub-committee of the National Kidney Foundation, Kidney Early Evaluation Program (NKF-KEEP). Dr. McFarlane is the past District President of the American College of Physicians and is the recipient of numerous awards including recognitions from the United States Army, the US Congress and the Gold foundation for Humanism in Medicine.
Dr. McFarlane has a broad clinical, academic and leadership experiences as well as credentials including Master in public Health from SUNY-Downstate and Master in Business Administration in Health Care from the George Washington University. He is well- positioned to serve as the Program Director for Internal Medicine Residency Program, and an alumnus with clear understanding of the inner workings of our institutions; he provides leadership and directions to the IM residency program offering the best opportunities to our residents as the next generation of scholarly physicians.
Harjinder Kaur Gill, MD
Hometown: California, USA
Medical School / Education: St. George's University, Grenada
Residency Program and Year of Graduation: SUNY Downstate, Class of 2014
Why I chose to work at SUNY Downstate: I chose to train and stay at Downstate as it is a place of opportunity, providing an environment that fosters academic excellence and professional growth. Working with our patient population and giving back to the community is also very rewarding.
Career & Research Interests: I truly enjoy being an academic hospitalist with a focus on Palliative Care Medicine, specifically teaching residents and students communication skills surrounding the g end of life discussions. In addition, it is a privilege to work in program leadership, especially as it enables me to provide direct mentorship to our residents to facilitate their professional development.
Hobbies: Dancing and teaching Bhangra (a traditional Punjabi dance form) to children and spending time with my young children!
Email: harjinder.gill@downstate.edu
Patrick Geraghty, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Hometown: Drogheda, Ireland
Medical School / Education: National University of Ireland, Maynooth-PhD
Residency Program and Year of Graduation: Postdoctoral Fellowships: Royal College of Surgeons (2004-2007), Columbia University (2007-2011), St. Luke's Hospital (2011-2014), Mount Sinai West (2014-2015)
Email: Patrick.Geraghty@downstate.edu
Aarti Shenoy, MD
Hometown: Orchard Park, NY, USA
Name of Medical School/Education: St. George's University, Grenada
Name of Residency Program and Year of Graduation: SUNY Downstate, Class of 2018
Why I chose to work at SUNY Downstate: The wide range of clinical cases
Career & Research Interests: Lifestyle Medicine
Hobbies: Gym/Fitness, running, tennis, yoga, reading
Email: shenoya4@nychhc.org
Christine J. Yun, MD
Hometown: New York, USA
Medical School / Education: St. George’s University, Grenada
Residency Program and Year of Graduation: SUNY Downstate, Class of 2018
Why I chose to work at SUNY Downstate: I chose to work here for the patients and community. I take pride in working here given our ability to care for the underserved population while providing excellent training to residents.
Career & Research Interests: Patient care, patient safety.
Hobbies: Tennis, walks with my dog, reading fiction.
Email: chryun@gmail.com
Mahamadu Zimpa, MD
Hometown: Ghana
Medical School / Education: Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
Residency Program and Year of Graduation: SUNY Downstate, Class of 2007
Why I chose to work at SUNY Downstate: This is a great program to be part of because of the training and opportunities it has offered, the diversity of the workforce, and the wonderful community it serves.
Career & Research Interests: Resident education
Hobbies: Enjoy playing and watching soccer, jogging, and nature walks.
Email: mahamadu.zimpa@nychhc.org
Patricia Castro-Auvet, MD
Hometown: New York, USA
Medical School / Education: St. George's University, Grenada
Residency Program and Year of Graduation: SUNY Downstate, Class of 2011
Why I chose to work at SUNY Downstate: I get a strong sense of fulfillment in working to provide quality, compassionate, and evidence-based care to our patients. The training you receive in this program will prepare you for anything and provide a strong foundation to achieve your career goals.
Career & Research Interests: Improving patient safety, creating accountability, supporting resident education, spreading kindness, and focusing on quality improvement.
Hobbies: Hanging out with my family, watching travel/food shows
Email: CASTROP1@nychhc.org
Prabash Koneru, MD
Vice Chief of Medicine
Hometown: Mclean, Virginia, USA
Medical School / Education: University of the West Indies, Trinidad
Residency Program and Year of Graduation: SUNY Downstate, Class of 2008
Why I chose to work at SUNY Downstate: SUNY Downstate IM residency program has produced excellent physicians who practice throughout the country.
Career & Research Interests: Quality Improvement
Hobbies: Sports, Traveling
Email: Prabash.Koneru@nychhc.org
Regina Miller, MD
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Medical School / Education: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
Residency Program and Year of Graduation: SUNY Downstate, Class of 2019
Why I chose to work at SUNY Downstate: We focus on close mentorship of our residents while providing excellent clinical experience in one of the most diverse cities in the world and a rigorous education curriculum that prepares our residents for independent practice after their training.
Career & Research Interests: As an academic Hospitalist and alumna, my focus is providing high-value care while serving as a mentor to residents and students at the outset of their careers.
Hobbies: Traveling, cooking, and tasting different cuisines from around the world.
Email: millerr13@nychhc.org
Richi Chowdhury, MD
Hometown: Queens, NY, USA
Medical School / Education: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency Program and Year of Graduation: SUNY Downstate, Class of 2020
Why I chose to work at SUNY Downstate: I chose SUNY Downstate / Kings County to help improve the medical care for the NYC population. Enjoy working alongside and teaching medical students and residents.
Career & Research Interests: Preventative medicine. Active involvement in Physicians for Human Rights working with asylum seekers.
Hobbies: Snowboarding. Surfing. Cycling. Traveling
Email: richic@nychhc.org
Ahmed Awwad, MD
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Medical School / Education: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
Residency Program and Year of Graduation: SUNY Downstate, Class of 2019
Why I chose to work at SUNY Downstate: Its reputation for providing exceptional patient care and its commitment to advancing medical research.
Career & Research Interests: Providing comprehensive and compassionate care to my patients and staying up-to-date with the latest developments in medicine to enhance my clinical practice. I’m also interested in pursuing academic research opportunities at IM. In addition, as an assistant program director at SUNY Downstate, I am committed to and enjoy mentoring and educating future generations of physicians.
Hobbies: Spending time with friends and family, listening to music, playing ping pong, basketball, and soccer, and traveling.
Email: ahmed.awwad@va.gov
Debora Ponce, MD
Hometown: Staten Island, NY, USA
Medical School / Education: SUNY Downstate
Residency Program and Year of Graduation: SUNY Downstate, Class of 2011
Why I chose to work at SUNY Downstate: I like being part of a program that promotes educational and career growth. The didactics, publications, and work days reflect the enthusiasm for practicing medicine and learning.
Career & Research Interests: Primary Care
Hobbies: I love doing outdoor activities with my family.
Email: Debora.Ponce@va.gov
Pooja Belligund, MD
Hometown: Mumbai, India
Medical School / Education: Grant Medical College, India
Residency Program and Year of Graduation: SUNY Downstate, Class of 2006
Why I chose to work at SUNY Downstate: Motivated residents who are a joy to teach.
Career & Research Interests: POCUS/ Asthma/ Lung cancer
Hobbies: Running
Email: Pooja.Belligund@va.gov
Daniel Shayowitz, MD
Email: daniel. shayowitz@va.gov
David Frank, MD, FACP
Email: david.frank4@va.gov