About Us
Welcome! The Internal Medicine Residency Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull offers residents the opportunity to train with one of the most diverse and medically complex populations in the United States. Our program combines the personalized experience of a community-based setting with the extensive resources of a large hospital system. By the time our residents graduate, they are well-prepared to provide high-quality, independent care to patients with a wide range of medical and social complexities.
Prospective Applicants
Welcome and we are so glad you are interested in our Program! We accept residency program applications exclusively through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) where we are listed under “Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center Program” We participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), also known as The Match.
We offer two tracks, both of which satisfy requirements for graduates to sit for the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Exam:
- Categorical Internal Medicine – NRMP Program Code: 3116140C1
- Internal Medicine – Primary Care – NRMP Program Code: 3116140M0
Our Program sponsors J1 visas and H1b visas on a case-by-case basis.
Sending our Program a signal through ERAS is the best way to highlight your application. Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to communications with applicants outside of ERAS including emails, phone calls or in-person inquiries. We are also unable to host any observerships or externships at our Institution.
Application Requirements
We evaluate each applicant holistically and do not have strict USMLE score or graduation year requirements. Most of our residents are International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who have graduated in the last 5 years.
We do not require any clinical experience in the United States to apply and do not value US clinical experience over clinical experience abroad.
Completed applications are due by the date ERAS opens to programs. The following are our application requirements:
- A passing score of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 or COMLEX-USA equivalents. USMLE Step 2 will also be considered and must be completed by the Program start date. While we do not have a minimum USMLE score requirement, our residents typically have an average USMLE Step 2 score of around 240, with no failed attempts on either Step 1 or Step 2.
- Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE) or its equivalent
- Medical school transcript
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- International Medical Graduates must have Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification at the time of application.
- Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States or be eligible for a J-1 or H-1b visa
About Our Program
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal health care delivery system in the United States. Our 310-bed hospital is located in North Brooklyn, at the intersection of three Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs): Bushwick, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and East Williamsburg. We treat over 100,000 patients annually, the majority of whom are underserved, with more than one-third being uninsured. We provide care to all patients, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay, with compassion, dignity and respect.
Founded in 1982, we are an ACGME-accredited program with 75 residents and over 50 dedicated faculty members. We are an academic affiliate of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Our 3-year program is designed to prepare residents with the knowledge, skills, and values for any career in Internal Medicine. About half of our residents pursue careers as general internists, while the other half specialize in internal medicine subspecialties through fellowship programs. All rotations take place at Woodhull, our primary training site, with the exception of our Cardiac Care Unit rotation, which takes place at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue in the PGY3 year.
Categorical Internal Medicine Track
Our Internal Medicine Track is structured in a “4+2” model. The “4” represents four weeks of inpatient rotations, electives, or other rotations such as emergency medicine or palliative care. Most rotations are two weeks in duration, meaning two different rotations will be completed during the “4” period. After four weeks of inpatient training, residents will return to the outpatient setting for the next two weeks of the cycle.
Internal Medicine – Primary Care Track
Our Internal Medicine Primary Care Track is structured in a “4+4” model. Inpatient rotations during the “4” are identical to those done by residents in the Categorical Medicine Track, but residents in the Primary Care Track have expanded outpatient time in four week blocks instead of two week blocks. This track allows for more time dedicated to the practice of outpatient medicine and primary care. It also offers a greater focus on chronic disease management, population health, and primary care topics such as addiction medicine, lifestyle medicine, and care for patients who are homeless.
Inpatient Training
Inpatient training includes rotations on a telemetry unit, non-telemetry units, and a dedicated admitting team. Floor teams typically consist of a senior resident working with two interns or a senior resident working directly with their attending in a junior hospitalist role. Floor patients are managed by a night-float service overnight. Attending hospitalists are available in-house 24/7.
Our critical care services feature a 12-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and a 9-bed step-down unit. In these units, residents provide care in separate day and night shifts, with no rotating call schedule.
Outpatient Training
In our clinics, residents serve as the primary care physician for their own panel of patients over the course of three years. Each resident is part of a dedicated Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) team, collaborating with the same group of attendings, nurses, staff, and patients throughout their residency. Additionally, residents will participate in various outpatient subspecialty practices of their choice during their outpatient time.
Elective Rotations
During their elective rotations, residents may choose from a wide variety of medicine and non-medicine subspecialties. Available electives include:
- Addiction Medicine
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Geriatrics
- Hematology & Oncology
- Hospitalist Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Palliative Medicine
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Primary Care
- Psychiatry
- Pulmonology
- Research
- Rheumatology
Academics
Our program offers regular, protected educational sessions throughout the week, including:
- Morning Report: Every Monday through Thursday, our Morning Report includes topics such as case presentations, case-based discussions, team-based learning, and board review.
- Grand Rounds: Every Friday, instead of Morning Report, the Department of Medicine hosts Grand Rounds. Expert speakers present on a broad range of topics, including medical science and innovative treatments relevant to Internal Medicine.
- Departmental Conference: Each Wednesday, our residents join the rest of the Department for noon conferences which include Root Cause Analysis conference, Journal Club, Quality Improvement conference, and Morbidity & Mortality conference.
- Academic Half-Day: Each week, residents in inpatient, outpatient, and elective rotations have several hours of protected teaching time. PGY1 residents have their half-day on Wednesday afternoons, while PGY2 and PGY3 residents have theirs on Thursday afternoons.
- Simulation and POCUS Sessions: Throughout the year, our critical care faculty provide small-group teaching on procedures, diagnostic point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), and urgent clinical presentations using simulation and ultrasound.
- Primary Care Didactic: Residents on outpatient rotations participate in a second academic half-day session each week on Fridays. These sessions, led by Primary Care faculty, focus on the management of common symptoms and chronic diseases, and core principles of medicine.
Sample Schedule
Schedules will vary slightly among residents. A sample schedule can be viewed by clicking the image below.
Our Residents
We are extremely proud of our diverse and friendly group of residents, each with a wide range of medical interests, hobbies, and life experiences. Most of our residents are International Medical Graduates, coming from countries around the world. The medical schools our current residents attended can be viewed by clicking the image below.
Resident Life
Life in Brooklyn is vibrant and exciting! Woodhull is located at the crossroads of several unique neighborhoods, each offering a variety of cuisines and attractions. Manhattan is just a short ride away and offers world-class attractions such as skyscrapers, parks, Broadway shows, and museums. Public transportation, including buses and subways, provides easy access to the hospital and connects you to the rest of the city, as well as several international airports for travel.
The program offers both on-site and off-site wellness events, taking place both during and after hours. Residents have access to free coffee and snacks, rest areas, an employee gym, wellness rooms, and resident workspaces.
All residents at Woodhull are members of the Committee of Interns and Residents/Service Employees International Union (CIR/SEIU), which provides additional benefits for education, medical care, and personal needs. For more information about the benefits, visit https://www.cirseiu.org/woodhull-hospital/.
Program Leadership
Jonna Mercado, MD, MPH, FACP
Chair, Department of Medicine
jonna.mercado@nychhc.org
Dr. Jonna Mercado completed her Internal Medicine residency at New York Medical College (NYMC) – Metropolitan Hospital, where she also served as Chief Resident. She has been involved in the education of medical students at NYMC since 2010. From 2011 to 2021, Dr. Mercado was the Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine program at Metropolitan Hospital and served as the Director of the Medicine Clinic from 2013 to 2021. With a strong interest in health policy, management, and health services administration, Dr. Mercado earned her Master’s in Public Health from NYMC in 2017. She joined Woodhull in June 2021 as Chief of Ambulatory Care and was appointed Chair of the Department of Medicine in February 2022. In this role, she leads the department’s administrative functions, quality of care initiatives, clinical activities, and operations. As Chair and Designated Institutional Official (DIO), Dr. Mercado also oversees the residency program administration, which is led by Dr. Michael Malone. In her free time, Dr. Mercado enjoys traveling and exploring new places with family and friends. She has a passion for the arts, including music, theater, and museums, and loves attending Broadway shows and ballet performances.
Michael Malone, MD
Program Director
malonem2@nychhc.org
Dr. Michael Malone graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Molecular Biology and History/History of Science. He earned his medical degree from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine in 2013 and completed his training in the NYU Internal Medicine Primary Care Residency Program in 2016. Afterward, Dr. Malone worked as a primary care physician and Clinician Educator at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur. He joined NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull in 2019 as a primary care physician and Associate Program Director, later becoming the Program Director in 2021. Dr. Malone pursued a career in public health to promote health equity and serve underserved populations. He strives to improve patient care and clinical outcomes by teaching evidence-based medicine, training high-quality physicians, and improving patient care at Woodhull. In his free time, Dr. Malone enjoys drawing, traveling to new places, SCUBA, and gaming with his friends.
Sajan Acharya, MD
Associate Program Director
acharyas@nychhc.org
Dr. Sajan Acharya graduated from the Patan Academy of Health Sciences in Nepal and completed his Internal Medicine residency at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. He is passionate about teaching and medical education. As a hospitalist at Woodhull Medical Center, Dr. Acharya cares for patients with complex medical and sociocultural needs. He takes pride in mentoring medical residents during rounds and didactic sessions. His interests include FOAMed, artificial intelligence, listening to science fiction audiobooks and blogging.
Angelina Gomes, MD
Associate Program Director
gomesa1@nychhc.org
Dr. Angelina Gomes earned her Bachelor’s degree from Haverford College before returning to her home in NYC to attend Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. In medical school, she conducted research on HIV and sexually transmitted infections in the Dominican Republic. She completed her residency in the NYU Internal Medicine Primary Care Program in 2019 and subsequently worked at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur as a Clinician Educator and Primary Care Physician, providing both general adult and HIV primary care. In 2024, Dr. Gomes joined NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull as a Primary Care Physician and Associate Program Director. As the daughter of immigrants, she has witnessed firsthand how cultural differences shape experiences within the healthcare system and impact health outcomes. This perspective drives her commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to diverse and underserved communities, with a particular focus on reducing health inequities. Outside of her clinical and teaching responsibilities, Dr. Gomes enjoys hiking, dancing, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Houman Mirtorabi, MD
Associate Program Director
mirtorah@nychhc.org
Dr. Houman Mirtorabi graduated from St. George’s University School of Medicine and completed his Internal Medicine residency at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York. In 2023, he joined NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull as a Hospitalist. Dr. Mirtorabi believes in leading by example, continuously learning, and fostering a culture of feedback and collaboration. His interests include sports, traveling, dining, and, of course, more sports.
Patrik Mlodzianowska, MD
Associate Program Director
mlodziap@nychhc.org
Dr. Patrik Mlodzianowska grew up in suburban Chicago and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University Chicago. He then moved to Poland to study medicine at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences and subsequently completed his Internal Medicine residency at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull in 2023, where he now works as a hospitalist. He takes pride in caring for patients with complex medical conditions and in supporting residents as they develop into confident, independent physicians. Teaching is a core aspect of his role and he finds great fulfillment in mentoring residents and medical students on the wards. Outside the hospital, Dr. Mlodzianowska enjoys snowboarding, hiking, playing soccer, and traveling.
Enid Lopez
Program Coordinator
Enid.Lopez@nychhc.org
Enid holds an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science in Healthcare Administration and brings over 20 years of experience across various roles in both the private and public sectors of the healthcare industry. She has managed several culturally diverse internal medicine programs and has found her passion in working with residents. In 2015, Enid joined NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull in the Quality Management Department, where she collaborated with attending physicians and residents before transitioning into her current role as Coordinator in 2022. As a lifelong resident of the community, Enid has a deep understanding of the social, economic, and cultural factors that influence the healthcare needs of local populations. This insight has been invaluable in helping providers create more effective and personalized care plans. Outside of work, Enid is the proud mother of a daughter who travels the world as a technical artist, and twin sons who aspire to be game designers, following in their sister’s footsteps. She enjoys traveling with her husband, spending quality time with family and friends, and serving as a mentor to others.
Cyrilla Leriche-Jeanty
Program Coordinator
lerichec3@nychhc.org
Cyrilla Leriche-Jeanty, better known as Lilly, is originally from St. Lucia, an island paradise in the Caribbean. She moved to the United States in the early 2000s and has been working in the medical field ever since. Lilly spent nine years at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County before earning her Bachelor’s degree. She then worked at Mount Sinai Hospital before joining NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull in 2022 to pursue her dream job as Residency Program Coordinator. Lilly is excited to support both the residents and the program to the best of her ability.
Key Faculty
Cardiology
Ronny Cohen, MD Ronny.cohen@nychhc.org
Critical Care
Ashvin Butala, MBBS, Chief of Critical Care Ashvin.butala@nychhc.org
Endocrinology
Gül Bahtiyar, MD, Chief of Endocrinology Gul.bahtiyar@nychhc.org
Gastroenterology
Manuel Martinez, MD, Chief of Gastroenterology martinem56@nychhc.org
Hospitalist Medicine
Elizabeth Jalkut, MD, Vice Chair and Co-Chief of Hospitalist Medicine Elizabeth.Jalkut@nychhc.org
Yaw-Ling Chen, MD, Vice Chair and Co-Chief of Hospitalist Medicine YawLing.Chen@nychhc.org
Nephrology
Paul Byssanthe, MD, Chief of Nephrology Paul.Byssainthe@nychhc.org
Neurology
Edward Lee, MD leee27@nychhc.org
Palliative Care
Jose DeLeon, MD Deleonj5@nychhc.org
Primary Care
Michael Shen, MD, Director of Primary Care Michael.Shen@nychhc.org
Pulmonology
Nader Ishak Gabra, MD, Chief of Pulmonology gabran@nychhc.org
Rheumatology
Konstantin Brodetskiy, MD Brodetsk2@nychhc.org
Primary Care Safety Net Clinic for those experiencing homelessness
Surabhi Nirkhe, MD, Director of Safety Net nirkhes@nychhc.org
