Internal Medicine Residency

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in our internal medicine residency program at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Our three-year program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and offers both a primary care and hospitalist track.

Our Mission

Our mission is to support and educate tomorrow's leaders to provide skilled, compassionate care to the community and foster a drive for lifelong professional development.

Supportive Environment

Here at St. Bernards, we pride ourselves on our collegiate atmosphere. Faculty and physicians commit to educating and supporting our future leaders in healthcare through lectures and shared patient care. We foster a friendly, education-focused environment with emphasis on the health and well-being of our community, as well as our residents. We continually strive to advance research and our profession as a whole.

Congratulations to our recent Fellowship Matches!

Class of 2024 - Our program had a 100% successful match rate this year.

Alena Yarema, DO

Medical School: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine Midwestern University
Fellowship: East Carolina University, Greenville, NC (Pulmonary/Critical Care)

Bridget Lee, DO

Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fellowship: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL (Cardiology)

Amber Kuta, DO

Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fellowship: University of Texas at Tyler, TX (Palliative Care)

Reema Matthew, DO

Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fellowship: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX (Infectious Disease)

Susan Hageman, MD

Medical School: University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Fellowship: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE (Pulmonary/Critical Care)

Paul Saad, MD

Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Fellowship: Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA (Endocrinology)

Where Our Recent Graduates Are Now:

Class of 2024

Alena Yarema - Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship - Greenville, NC

Bridget Lee - Cardiology Fellowship - Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL

Amber Kuta - Palliative Care Fellowship - University of Texas - Tyler, TX

Reema Mathew - Infectious Disease Fellowship - University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, TX

Paul Saad - Endocrinology Fellowship - Ochsner Health - New Orleans, LA

Jose Fabre - Hospitalist at St. Bernards Medical Center

Stephanie Sandoval - Hospitalist at Tucson Medical Center

Margaret Kell - Hospitalist at Parkridge Medical Center

Class of 2023

Austin Richardson, DO - Ohio Health Doctors Hospital: Pulmonology/Critical Care Fellowship, Columbus, OH

Hadia Arzoun, MD - University of Kentucky at Bowling Green: Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship, Bowling Green, KY

Siji Thomas, MD - Baylor College of Medicine: Geriatrics Fellowship, Houston, TX

Carter Lee, DO - St. Bernards Clopton Clinic Outpatient Physician, Jonesboro, AR

Derek Childers, MD - NWA Medical Center: Nocturnist, Bentonville, AR

Anna De Feria, DO - Physicians Regional Hospital: Nocturnist, Naples, FL

John Armstrong, DO - Phelps Health: Outpatient Physician, Rolla, MO

Josh Buell, DO - Southeast Hospital: Hospitalist, Cape Girardeau, MO

Comprehensive Education

We aim to be the best choice in clinical education for osteopathic and allopathic residents by providing a quality, comprehensive learning experience. Our graduates provide superior medical care to northeast Arkansas, southeast Missouri and beyond. They become extremely competent, compassionate and responsible providers for the communities they serve in their careers. Our vision is graduating academically based, broadly trained, self-sufficient physicians who can move directly into practice or fellowship with confidence.

As program director, I have dedicated myself to being an advocate for residents as well as providing opportunities for learning and research. My goal is always to provide a structured but fair environment for the educational experience here in which residents receive the best education possible.

Abhijit Shivkumar, MD
Internal Medicine Residency Director
ashivkumar@sbrmc.org

Leadership Opportunities

Starting in your intern year, you’ll have autonomy and be seen as a leader of each medicine service. You’ll progressively take on more patients and oversee interns in the second and third years, and have the opportunity to serve as chief resident in year three. Hospital and program committees seek resident involvement, and faculty are willing to delegate tasks to provide opportunities for professional growth.

Support for Specialty Training

Although St. Bernards doesn’t offer fellowship training, we support aspiring specialists by arranging:

Shadowing and rotations at potential specialty sites
Time in your work schedule to interview for fellowship positions

Opportunities for research and conference attendance