Primary Care Residents

The diversity of backgrounds and experiences amongst Weill Cornell Primary Care residents fosters a rich dynamic in which residents learn from each other on both professional and personal levels. All share an underlying dedication to primary care that unites our "Primary Care family" in a special way.

PGY-1

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Alexander Chen, M.D.

Hi everyone! I grew up in NorCal and went to Yale for undergrad, where I majored in molecular biology and dabbled in computer science. I worked as a product and software engineer at various healthcare startups before attending medical school at UCLA. I took some time off to pursue an MBA at Stanford where I worked at venture studios to start several healthcare companies and pursued my interest in value-based care at Aledade and CMS. I ranked Cornell Primary Care first because of my own interests in primary care innovation, how tightknit the residents are, and the quality of mentorship provided by the program directors. If I'm not in the hospital, you can find me trying (and failing) to recreate a dish from my wife's latest favorite restaurant.

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Christine Reed, M.D.

 Hello and welcome to the Cornell PC track! While I was born in Southern California, I spent the majority of my childhood near Asheville, North Carolina where I went to grade school. For college, I ventured to Western Massachusetts, where I majored in Biology at Williams College. After college, I took a brief detour into the business realm to work at a life science consulting firm in Boston. Following two gap years, I returned to North Carolina for medical school at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. In medical school, I became interested in the role that nutrition and mind-body/integrative medicine can play in the management of complex chronic disease, with a particular interest in autoimmune diseases. I also developed a passion for medical education through my work incorporating a nutrition curriculum into UNC’s outpatient medicine rotation and through my role as a peer tutor and teaching assistant. On my interview day for Cornell Primary Care, I was struck by the warmth of the residents and faculty I met. I felt that I’d found what I was looking for in a program with regards to individualized mentorship, opportunities to explore the breadth of ambulatory medicine, community engagement, and attention to medical education. Outside of medicine, I enjoy hiking, eating good food, doing hot yoga, playing ultimate frisbee, gardening, and spending time with family/friends. Please reach out with any questions about Cornell Primary Care!

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Dhivya Sridar, M.D.
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Judy Wang, M.D.

Hi! I grew up mostly in Vancouver. I went to Johns Hopkins for college, where I studied Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science and was particularly interested in the translational challenges of bringing biotech from bench to bedside. I went to Boston University for med school, where I developed an interest in working with urban underserved communities and addressing psychosocial factors in healthcare delivery. What drew me to Cornell was the fun and supportive environment I felt not only on interview day but during every interaction I’ve had with residents and faculty. In particular, the PC track’s ambulatory experiences and focus on community engagement completely align with my values. Even as an intern just starting, I’ve already felt the impact of focused mentorship, which I can confidently say will help me find and develop my own niche in medicine. Clinically, I’m interested in the interplay of palliative care and oncology. On a broader level, I’m looking to use my data science background to explore complex issues of bias, generalizability, ethics, and economics of medical AI in decision making. Outside of medicine, I love everything outdoors, from running to hiking to skiing. I also love art, design, and exploring the diverse food scene of New York City!

PGY-2

Dr. John Debella
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John Debella, M.D.

Hi and welcome to Cornell PC! I was born and raised just a train ride away from NYC in the scenic Hudson Valley. I left for the first time to attend Johns Hopkins University, where I majored in Public Health Studies and developed passions for infectious disease and health disparities. Upon graduating (as a first-generation college grad!), I opted for a gap year, where I returned home to the Hudson Valley to work in HIV/STI testing and prevention at a local non-profit. I eventually landed at Brown for medical school, and continued investing in my interests through researching disparities in PrEP access and providing medical care for Providence’s undocumented community.

I ranked Weill Cornell #1 because I found it to be filled with the most genuine, down-to-earth people I encountered throughout the interview trail. I knew I wanted to prioritize “fit” and also that I would thrive caring for and being part of the incredibly diverse population of New York City. Furthermore, the primary care track provided exactly what I was looking for in a program--flexibility, emphasis on ambulatory training, and a smaller community within the greater residency.

In my future career, I hope to strike a balance between my interests in ID, primary care, public health, and community outreach. I also have a particular interest in HIV primary care, which I plan to add as my second outpatient clinic next year. In my free time, I can often be found tending to my house plants and aquarium fish, taking long walks with coffee in hand, or working to explore every cultural enclave within the borders of New York City.

Dr. Simone Prather
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Simone Prather, M.D.

Hello! I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon where I lived with my younger sister and parents through high school. For college, I headed two hours south to Eugene, OR, where I majored in human physiology at the University of Oregon. In college I became a teaching assistant and discovered a deep love for teaching. This inspired me to apply to Teach for America, and I was assigned a position in Baltimore, MD. In Baltimore I taught middle school science for two years and also received my Master’s degree in education. Next I moved back to Eugene, OR, where I taught for a year at an alternative school for at-risk youth. Working with students in marginalized and oppressed communities allowed me to gain a better understanding of the systemic inequities that shape our education system and society at large. Through this experience I decided that a career in medicine would be the best opportunity for me to address these inequities by combining my love for education and interest in human health. I attended medical school at Oregon Health and Science University, where I found a passion for Internal Medicine, diagnostic reasoning, medical education and health equity. When it came time to decide how and where to continue my training, I was instantly attracted to the primary care program at Weill Cornell. This program combines the best facets of a traditional IM residency training with a closeknit community and focused attention on outpatient medical training. On interview day, I was so impressed by how happy the residents from this program appeared, and I am happy to report that it's true! A few interests I hope to pursue during residency are health equity/justice, medical education, interprofessional team building, palliative care and geriatrics - in addition to becoming an excellent primary care provider. Outside of the hospital, you can find me getting outdoors as much as possible and exploring this incredible city and the communities that call it home! I love to rock climb, walk/hike/run, go to art galleries, catch Broadway shows and eat anything and everything. I look forward to sharing these experiences with everyone who joins the primary care family!

Dr. Leia Wedlund
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Leia Wedlund, M.D.

Hi there- nice to meet you! I was born and raised in Kentucky and completed my undergraduate and MD/MBA training at Harvard before starting Internal Medicine residency here at Cornell. Though I started out as a categorial IM intern, I applied to join the primary care track because I was deeply drawn to the incredible people in our primary care cohort as well as the amazing mentoring/career opportunities provided by this program. The PC track leaders go above and beyond to help you explore your interests and set you up for success in residency and beyond. As someone excited about healthcare innovation and novel models of primary care, I am grateful for the chance to explore those interests in a personalized fashion.

If you are considering our program, don't hesitate! The education, mentorship, and customizability of this program are second-to-none and it is an absolute pleasure to work alongside such caring and diligent people. You simply won't find a better group of colleagues and friends; the Cornell PC track is truly a family. Hope to see you at our next brunch!

Dr. Alice Zhao
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Alice Zhao, M.D.

Hi! My name is Alice. I'm originally from Phoenix, Arizona, but I moved to the East Coast for college at Yale and haven't left! After graduating from Yale with a degree in Molecular, Cellular and Development Biology, I attended Weill Cornell Medical College and moved across the block for residency. My main clinical interest is endocrinology, specifically diabetes prevention and management. During medical school, I conducted research in diabetes education as well as lifestyle interventions, such as how the order of food can affect glycemic control. I'm also interested in medical education and the medical humanities, especially non-fiction writing. I chose the PC track specifically because of its focus on outpatient clinical work, the customizability of the track, and the close-knit community and support the track offers. Outside of medicine, I like reading fiction and The New Yorker, eating at the many, many restaurants in New York City, and taking walks around the city.

PGY-3

Dr. Isha Lamba
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Isha Lamba, M.D.

Hi! I’m Isha. I was born in Mumbai, India where I spent the first eight years of my life before my family relocated to Doha, Qatar. I attended med school at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar and moved to New York City for residency at Weill Cornell. Having spent different phases of my life in such vastly different places, I’ve always loved talking to people and getting to learn about their cultures and experiences. This is what drew me to the diverse city of New York City, and to the wonderful Primary Care program at Weill Cornell.

Although I started off as an intern in the Categorical track, I quickly found myself yearning for my ambulatory blocks. My favorite aspect of these blocks was having the opportunity to form longitudinal relationships with my patients, learn about their lives outside of the hospital and empower them with knowledge about their health. I am so happy with my decision to switch into the Primary Care track! The warmth within the PC family, the individualized mentorship, attention to med-ed and engagement in community activities make me feel fulfilled every day.

Outside of the hospital, I enjoy running in Central Park, painting, creative writing and dancing. This year, I hope to start skating again and learn how to salsa!

Dr. Christina Pugliese
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Christina Pugliese, M.D.

Hi there! I grew up in Ottawa and went to undergrad at McMaster University, where I studied Biology and Psychology. After graduating, I spent six months backpacking in India, Nepal, and Southeast Asia, then worked for a year as a high school science teacher in Guatemala. I then worked for two years in clinical research before attending medical school at George Washington University. As a medical student, I was part of the global health track and took a year off to do malaria research in West and Central Africa. What drew me most to the Primary Care Program at Cornell was its extended ambulatory curriculum, focus on research, and the genuine warmth and support I felt from the residents and faculty I met on my interview day. I am interested in global health, infectious diseases, and working with vulnerable populations. Outside of the hospital, I enjoy reading, doing crosswords, cooking, drinking coffee, and going on walks in Central Park with my husband. 

Dr. Rachel Tenney
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Rachel Tenney, M.D.

Hello and welcome to Cornell Primary Care! I grew up an hour and a half outside of San Francisco in Gilroy- the garlic capital of the world! I attended University of California, Berkeley for undergrad, where I majored in Integrative Biology and minored in Anthropology. After college, I taught middle school science in San Jose, California through Teach for America. After teaching, I spent two years conducting qualitative and qualitative research at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. Hearing the stories and wisdom of study participants sealed the deal on a career in medicine for me. I attended the University of California, San Francisco for medical school, and was drawn to the Cornell Primary Care program for residency, both because it is located in vibrant New York City, and because within minutes of meeting the program directors and current residents I felt the sense of community and support that I was looking for in a residency program. I am interested in infectious diseases and hope to be involved in medical education in my career. Outside of medicine, I love discovering new coffee shops, bookstores, yoga studios, and parks on long walks around the city. I look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to the Cornell Primary Care program!

Dr. Jared Silberlust
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Jared Silberlust, M.D., M.P.H.

Hi! I'm Jared! I'm from Long Island, NY, and I'm thrilled with the opportunity to train here at Weill Cornell.  I studied engineering, medicine, and public health down at the University of Miami, and hope to combine these disciplines to improve patient care in my career as a physician. I believe that improvements in medical technologies, like telemedicine, mobile health, and electronic medical records, have the ability to target the upstream determinants of health and reduce disparities in care delivery. I ranked Cornell's Primary Care program at the top of my list because of the dedicated mentorship, structured project opportunities, and small-group feel (with an awesome group of people!) within our large academic medical center. On my time off, I'll be watching my teams lose at a Mets or Jets game, hanging out with my family and friends doing things in New York City, or flying down to south Florida to play 18 holes.

Dr. Linda Yu
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Linda Yu, M.D.

Hi there! I grew up in the Bay Area in California and lived in San Francisco prior to making the inevitable cross-country move to experience – firsthand – the vibrancy of New York City. I chose Cornell’s Primary Care track because I felt, even from a virtual interview day, that the program was centered around tailoring our residency experience to our unique interests. I was also looking for a smaller community within the residency to thoughtfully process the complexities and challenges of learning and practicing medicine. Within medicine, I love thinking about everything from immigrant health, to the intricacies of patient-provider communication, to the ways that we as physicians can best assure our patients are receiving care that is aligned with their values. Outside of medicine, I can usually be found exploring the city by foot, looking for small businesses to support, ordering dishes off menus I’ve never tried before, and in time, soaking in the music and arts scene this city is known for.

Contact Information

Mailing Address

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/
Weill Cornell Medical Center
Weill Department of Medicine 
525 East 68th Street, Box 130
New York, NY 10065

Residency Office

530 East 70th Street, M-507
New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 746-4749
NYPCornell-IMResidency
@med.cornell.edu

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