San Juan Regional Medical Center said it is preparing to welcome its first class of internal medicine residents in July, calling it a milestone years in the making.
Four physicians – Chathurika Priyabhashinie, Shafqat Ullah, Mahnoor Shah and Maryam Abbas Malik – matched with San Juan Regional Medical Center through the 2026 Main Residency Match, joining a newly accredited three-year program designed to train internal medicine physicians, including those entering primary care.
Program director Dr. Erin Philpott said she was honored to “help guide these brilliant young physicians.” She said the residency was built to help address a primary care shortage by expanding the physician pipeline while offering inpatient and outpatient training in a community with high-acuity, complex patients.
Hospital leaders hope the program will strengthen local care and inspire graduates to stay in the Four Corners region long term.
The three-year program, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, is focused on training internal medicine physicians to serve the local population, according to a news release.
“Our comprehensive training encompasses both inpatient and outpatient settings to ensure the core competencies essential for internal medicine practice and subspecialty careers,” the release states.
Priyabhashinie is from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Sri Lanka. She chose San Juan Regional Medical Center to join a new residency program and live in the West. She also has family in Farmington. She completed her medical education at the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka and enjoys crocheting and cross-stitch in her free time.
Ullah, from Taunsa Sharif, Pakistan, completed his medical education at Quaid-e-Azam Medical College in Pakistan. He chose San Juan Regional Medical Center for its role as a community-based hospital offering exposure to diverse pathologies, close-knit faculty and program leadership he described as inspirational. He enjoys cooking Indo-Pak recipes, playing cricket, badminton and table tennis, and performing cultural dances.
Shah, from Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan, completed her medical education at King Edward Medical University in Pakistan. She said she chose the residency program for its commitment to community service and addressing primary care gaps in the Four Corners region. Her interests include experimenting with recipes and spending time with friends and family.
Malik, from Lahore, Pakistan, completed her medical education at the Services Institute of Medical Sciences in Pakistan. She said she is excited to live in Farmington and explore the Four Corners region, citing outdoor activities and a strong sense of community. She enjoys meditating, exercising, long walks, pottery painting, photography and journaling.
The program also prioritizes a wellness curriculum that promotes health inside and outside of work, work-life balance and a sense of community.
Philpott said she hopes residents will choose to stay and work in “our culturally rich and geographically unique region.”
For more information about the Internal Medicine Residency program, visit sanjuanregional.com/residency.
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