Internal Medicine

Overview
Welcome to the MountainView Regional Medical Center internal medicine residency program! Our training program offers a supportive environment where our residents can fulfill their fullest potential as clinicians, educators, and leaders with a special focus on physician well being.

Mission and Vision
Our faculty is committed to our residents, keeping in mind their individualized career interests, learning styles and overall goals in medicine. Our purpose is to prepare graduates for today’s challenges in patient care. We provide a structured academic foundation with patient care diversity, subspecialty exposure, and research opportunities. Because of our affiliation with the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM) – located on the New Mexico State University campus – our residents have access to a library, simulation center and research facilities. Residents also work closely with BCOM students while rotating in both the inpatient and outpatient settings and participating in a “Residents as Teachers” curriculum.

Come train in sunny Las Cruces, where you will be considered part of our family. Residents, faculty, and staff pride themselves on maintaining a nurturing environment while maintaining an exceptional educational experience.

Curriculum
Case presentations (formally morning report): Held twice a week at 11:30 a.m. The relaxed environment allows for group discussion of clinical cases with a multidisciplinary approach. Cases are broken down to help learners formulate assessments and plans on complex patients. Subspecialists are invited to add their clinical expertise to the case.

Noon conferences: Held daily following case presentations, residents receive lectures and/or a case discussion led by faculty in general medicine and its subspecialties. We also have frequent visitors.

Topics in medicine: faculty presentations
Emergency medicine lecture series
Morbidity and mortality conference
Journal club
EKG conference
Board review sessions
Wellness lecture series, including monthly fitness challenges
“Rich Doctor Poor Doctor”: financial wellness lecture series for physicians
Hot topics from the New England Journal of Medicine
Workshops in osteopathic manipulation
Grand rounds
Simulation training, including procedural skills workshops
Internal medicine themed Jeopardy

Research
Residents are required to do scholarly activity within three years of training.

Committees
Residents are required to join at least one committee. Committees include: Infectious Disease, Mortality and Morbidity, Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, Sepsis and more.

Residents

PGY-1

Wahab
Sinan Abdul-Wahab, M.D., MBBS
Born in: Iraq
Graduate School: National University, San Diego, CA (Public Health)
Medical School: University of Baghdad College of Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Traveling, swimming, playing soccer, and bicycling

Nouf Almaghlouth, M.D., MBBS, MPH
Born in: Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Medical School: University of Dammam, College of Medicine, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Graduate School: Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Hobbies and Interests: Blog writing, photography, reading biographies, learning new languages, mentoring, volunteering in health awareness campaigns and medical mission trips, cooking vegetarian recipes, and hiking

Laurel Kittrell, M.D.
Born in: Prescott, Arizona
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine
Undergrad: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
Hobbies and Interests: Board games, video games, camping, owning a variety of pets and spending time with my husband and children.

Chukwudi Muojieje, M.D., MBBS, MPH
Born in: Onitsha, Nigeria
Medical School: Nnamdi Azikiwe University College of Health Sciences Nigeria
Graduate School: University of East London
Hobbies and Interests: Soccer, chess, and traveling

Peckham
Elissa Peckham, D.O.
Born in: Sherman, TX
Undergrad: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduate School: University of North Texas Health Science Center/Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Fort Worth
Hobbies and Interests: Backpacking/hiking/camping, snow-skiing, cooking, reading, back-patio parties, and being with loved ones.

Pierson
Jon Pierson, M.D.
Born in: Albuquerque, NM
Undergrad: The University of New Mexico, The University of Houston Graduate School: The University of Houston
Medical School: Texas Tech Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, El Paso, Texas
Hobbies and Interests: Cycling, hiking, skiing, horseback riding or most any other outdoor activity, zymology, cooking, exploring the world, engineering, how things function, the past and the future

Sanders
Justin Sanders, D.O.
Born in: Cincinnati, Ohio
Undergrad: Wright State University, Dayton, OH
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Weight lifting, teaching, and volunteering

Virgala
Carmelo Virgala, M.C., M.D.
Born in: Caracas, Venezuela
Medical School: Universidad de Los Andes (Venezuela) Facultad de Medicina
Hobbies and Interests: Reading, traveling, cooking, riding motorcycle, sailing, watching movies, doing all of this with my wife and kids

PGY-2

Abalos
Cherylene Abalos, D.O.
Born in: Glendale, AZ
Undergrad: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Volleyball, choral singing, traveling, cooking, skiing, and running

Gaufin
Douglas Gaufin, D.O.
Born in: Provo, UT
Undergrad: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Medical School: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ
Hobbies and Interests: Hiking and camping, golfing, cars, waterskiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, Alpine skiing, music, and traveling

Hur
Jin A Hur, D.O.
Born in: Seoul, Korea
Undergrad: University of California, Irvine, CA
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Visiting national parks, hiking, stargazing, swimming, and playing piano

Lebrun
Benoit Lebrun, D.O.
Born in: Montreal, Quebec
Undergrad: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
Medical School: University of Pikesville, Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Competitive shooting sports, hiking, and camping

Lowther
Britte Lowther, D.O.
Born in: Boston, MA
Undergrad: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Inline speed skating, exploring trails across the US and taking photos for Rails-TO-Trails Conservancy, artistic, gymnastics, ballet, coffee shops, and iguanas

Moats
Sarah Moats, D.O.
Born in: Olympia, WA
Undergrad: Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Medical School: Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Astronomy and reading

Sundeep Mummaneni, D.O.
Born in: Badrachalem, India
Undergrad: Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Working out, learning about different cultures, social advocacy, spending time with friends and family (especially my nieces and nephew!), and Marvel > DC

Nagurla
Shravya Nagurla, D.O.
Born in: Warangal, India
Undergrad: University of California, Irvine, CA
Medical School: Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Tennis, henna art, photography, hiking, podcasts, and technology

Matthew Robinson, D.O.
Born in: McMinnville, TN
Undergrad: Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Singing, playing piano and cello, running, camping, kayaking, and spending time with friends and family

PGY-3

Sanchez
Jose Sanchez, D.O.
Born in: Salinas, CA
Undergrad: University of California, Santa Cruz
Medical School: A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine, AZ
Hobbies and Interests: Meeting new people, biology, chemistry, historic cultures, philosophy, cooking, weight lifting, and martial arts

Shapiro
Floreta Shapiro, D.O.
Born in: Buzau, Romania
Undergrad: National University of Music, Bucharest, Romania
Medical School: Des Moines Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Board games like Settlers of Catan, chess, gardening, and hiking

Tran
Cindy Tran, D.O.
Born in: Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Undergrad: University of Colorado, Denver, CO
Medical School: Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Habitat for Humanity

John Wuthrich, D.O.
Born in: Las Vegas, NV
Undergrad: College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Medical School: Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies and Interests: Spending time with family, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, reading while running, and barbequing/smoking meats