Welcome from the Program Director
The physicians entering residency today will practice through decades of profound change in medicine. They will need clinical depth, sound judgment, adaptability, and the ability to lead with integrity. We built the Northbay Health Internal Medicine Residency Program with that future in mind.
Our residents will train within a health system serving the diverse communities of Solano County and the surrounding region, developing broad clinical experience across inpatient and ambulatory medicine while learning to understand each patient’s care as a continuum. Longitudinal relationships, transitions of care, population health, quality improvement, and scholarship are integrated throughout the educational experience.
Shirisha Avadhanula, MD
Program Director Internal Medicine Residency Program, Northbay HealthOur faculty are experienced clinicians and dedicated educators who bring intention, preparation, and intellectual curiosity to teaching. Through our academic affiliation with Touro University California, residents will also become part of a broader community of educators, scholars, and health professionals. With ten residents in each class, we are able to provide close faculty engagement, individualized learning, and meaningful opportunities for residents to contribute to the continued development of the program.
We also recognize that the practice of medicine will continue to evolve. Residents will learn to thoughtfully engage with emerging technologies and clinical tools while considering their limitations, ethical implications, and impact on patient care and clinical decision-making.
As members of our inaugural classes, our residents will have a unique opportunity to help establish the intellectual character and culture of Northbay Health’s first residency program. We are seeking physicians who are curious, reflective, collaborative, and deeply committed to their patients and colleagues.
I invite you to explore our program and envision the physician, scholar, and leader you can become at Northbay Health. We would be honored to consider your application.
Our internal medicine residency leaders
Northbay Health’s internal medicine residency is led by a committed team of physicians who aim to help you meet your educational and career goals. For questions about the internal medicine residency, please contact us at NBMCIMResidency@NorthBay.org.
Larissa Chartrand, MD
Associate Program Director
Pushkar Pandey, MD
Associate Program DirectorInternal medicine core faculty
Our internal medicine faculty members are dedicated to providing you with a broad range of clinical experiences to ensure you achieve excellence in patient care.
Our internal medicine core faculty members include:
- Pushkar Pandey, MD – Hospitalist Medical Director
- Paarth Shah, MD – Internal Medicine Physician
- Ankit Dubey, MD – Internal Medicine Physician
- Ali Hassani, MD – Internal Medicine Physician
- Allan Au, MD – Internal Medicine Hospitalist
Our internal medicine program overview
Northbay Health’s Internal Medicine Residency Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduated Medical Education (ACGME). Through this program, residents will be part of a community-based training environment focusing on clinical excellence and compassionate patient care.
Through broad inpatient and ambulatory experiences, close faculty mentorship, structured didactics, and a commitment to resident wellness, residents build the skills and confidence needed to care for diverse communities and pursue their career goals in internal medicine
Internal medicine resident experience
Internal medicine residents will benefit from a balanced curriculum, consisting of time in inpatient and outpatient clinical care settings, ambulatory care, emergency medicine and critical care.
Throughout the course of your three-year internal medicine residency program, you’ll gain increasing responsibilities for patient care.
- Program year 1: Residents build a foundation through inpatient medicine, ambulatory care, critical care, emergency medicine, and subspecialty rotations. Continuity Clinics begin in the first year, with close faculty supervision and a focus on clinical reasoning, communication, and safe transitions of care.
- Program year 2: Second-year residents take on greater responsibility on inpatient teams while continuing ambulatory and subspecialty training. Electives allow residents to explore their interests, and opportunities to teach and lead quality improvement work grow throughout the year.
- Program year 3: Senior residents refine their judgment through advanced inpatient, ambulatory, and elective experiences. They lead clinical teams, mentor junior residents, and tailor their training toward future career goals.
The schedule below provides an example of the clinical rotations and educational experiences across the three-year Internal Medicine Residency Program. Individual schedules may vary based on program requirements and elective selections.
Our Internal Medicine Residency Program features a structured educational curriculum that complements residents’ clinical training throughout the academic year. Didactic experiences include case-based learning, board preparation, hands-on simulation, quality improvement, and dedicated programming focused on resident well-being.
| Session | Frequency | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation Lecture Series | Start of PGY-1 year | Introductory lectures during the first weeks of July before the regular curriculum begins |
| Morning Report | Three times weekly | Resident-led case discussions that build clinical reasoning |
| Core Topic Lectures | Weekly | Core internal medicine topics aligned to a monthly theme |
| Board Review | Daily, plus a dedicated weekly session | Short daily board-style questions, with a longer weekly review session |
| Grand Rounds | Monthly | Presentations on current topics in medicine |
| Journal Club | Monthly, plus additional sessions | Critical appraisal of recent literature and evidence-based practice |
| Case Conference | Monthly | In-depth discussion of challenging or instructive patient cases |
| Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) | Monthly | Non-punitive review of patient outcomes to improve care |
| Quality Improvement & Patient Safety | Twice monthly | Hands-on QI education and patient safety initiatives |
| IM Resident Forum | Monthly | Open forum for residents to share feedback and discuss program matters |
| Simulation Lab | Quarterly | Hands-on, high-acuity scenarios such as sepsis, acute MI, heart failure, and toxicology |
| Wellness Day | Every 10 weeks | A full day dedicated to resident well-being, with wellness topics also woven into regular didactics |
Resident wellness is built into our program through protected wellness days, dedicated time during ambulatory rotations and a culture where residents are heard and supported. We want our physicians to have the space to care for themselves as they care for others. Our wellness initiatives include:
- Protected wellness days: Residents receive a full day of protected wellness time every 10 weeks.
- Time to recharge during ambulatory rotations: Residents finish two hours early once during each five-week ambulatory block.
- Wellness in the curriculum: Resident wellness is embedded in academic teaching as an essential part of physician development.
Experience the best of Northern California while training in a welcoming and diverse community. Solano County offers convenient access to the Greater Bay Area, Napa and Sacramento, along with beautiful parks, open spaces, and vibrant communities, creating an ideal setting to live, learn and grow.
How to apply for our Internal Medicine Residency
Applications to the Northbay Health Internal Medicine Residency Program are accepted exclusively through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
Graduates of U.S.-based M.D. and D.O. medical schools should follow the ERAS application process provided by their medical school.
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) should follow the ERAS application process established by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), including obtaining the appropriate ERAS access and completing all applicable ECFMG requirements.
Northbay Health does not accept residency applications submitted outside of ERAS.
- Program Number: 1400500027
- ERAS Code: Coming soon
Qualified candidates meet the following criteria:
- Completed ERAS application
- 3 letters of recommendation
- USMLE: Pass
- Dean's letter
- Medical school transcript
- Personal statement (Should not be AI generated)
- USMLE Step 1: Pass
-
USMLE Step 2 CK: Minimum 230
- Step 2 scores required before rank list due date in February
- COMLEX Level 1: Pass
-
COMLEX Level 2-CE: Minimum 450
- Scores required before rank list due date in February
- Exam Attempts: No more than 2 attempts per Step / Level
- Time Since Graduation: Generally, within 3 years of the residency start
- Academic Performance: Reviewed for patterns of difficulty or remediation
International medical graduates, including U.S. citizens who graduated from a medical school outside the United States, must meet all applicable program eligibility and selection requirements.
Applicants must:
- Be eligible for ECFMG certification and obtain ECFMG certification prior to the start of residency training.
- Have graduated from medical school within three (3) years of the anticipated residency start date.
- Meet all published Northbay Health residency program examination and eligibility requirements.
Northbay Health accepts applicants who require a clinical J-1 visa sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
Applicants requiring J-1 status must meet all applicable ECFMG requirements and obtain the required J-1 visa documentation prior to beginning residency training. Failure to submit required documentation in a timely manner may result in a delayed start date.
Northbay Health does not sponsor H-1B visas for residency training.
The Internal Medicine Residency interview process
Northbay Health Internal Medicine Residency Program interviews are conducted virtually, offering applicants an opportunity to connect with program leadership and faculty, learn more about our training environment and program culture, and discover what it means to train at Northbay Health.
Our virtual interview experience is designed to provide applicants with meaningful opportunities to learn about our program, our people, and our vision for graduate medical education at Northbay Health.
Interviews are held from October through mid-January.
Interview day includes:
- A welcome and program overview from residency leadership
- Individual interviews with program leadership and faculty
- Opportunities to learn more about our clinical training environment, curriculum, and resident experience
- Time to ask questions and connect with members of the NorthBay Health GME and Internal Medicine teams
Following the conclusion of our interview season, we anticipate offering a limited number of in-person Second Look opportunities for applicants who would like to visit NorthBay Health, explore our clinical environment, and experience our community firsthand.
Participation in a Second Look is completely optional and will not influence an applicant’s position on the program’s rank order list. Applicants should not feel obligated to attend.
