First Virtual Graduation Event for LMC's Family Medicine Residents

Five physicians in Lakeside Medical Center’s 8th Family Medicine Residency Program graduated in a virtual ceremony on June 17th following three years of training that included a new medical condition, COVID-19.  The 30-minute graduation ceremony took place in Lakeside Medical Center’s cafeteria with limited attendees while the event was streamed live on Facebook to allow for a larger audience to participate.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of this class of residents,” said Darcy J. Davis, CEO of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. “You’ve been with us during the toughest times Lakeside Medical Center has faced and fought on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. I commend you for your courage, determination and dedication to the Glades community.”

The five graduates, Danny Abouekde, DO, Samuel Espinal, DO, David Lepoff, DO and Chief Residents Nergess Taheri, DO and Terry Parsons, DO, completed a rigorous three-year curriculum. Their rotations included emergency medicine, women’s health care, pediatrics, psychiatry, general surgery, internal medicine, community and sports medicine, cardiology, dermatology, women’s health, radiology, orthopedics, ENT, urology, ophthalmology and critical care.
“These graduates represent the best in family medicine,” said Jennifer Dorcé-Medard, DO, Family Medicine Residency Program Director at Lakeside Medical Center. “We always say family medicine means we take care of our patients from cradle to their senior years. These physicians went above and beyond to provide access to a range of quality services for our patients, many of whom have complex medical conditions and limited resources.”

Dr. Medard described how Dr. Parsons provided one patient with a continuum of care for COVID-19, from conducting the testing herself to admitting the patient to the hospital and providing follow-up treatment.   “We took action, we made face shields for each other, we learned how to sew masks for each other and we volunteered to help each other,” said Chief Resident Nergess Taheri, DO.

This year the residency program was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), a distinction that assures Lakeside Medical Center’s Family Medicine Residency Program meets the quality standards of the specialty or subspecialty practices for which it prepares its graduates.

In his speech, Ishan Gunawardene, MD, Chief of Staff and Hospitalist Medical Director at Lakeside Medical Center remarked, “You are all set to launch your careers at an unprecedented time in history and a critical moment in health care. COVID-19 has affected every one of us but it has directly impacted each of us as health care professionals. Looking back in history, you will be proud you have made a difference.”

Watch Lakeside Medical Center’s 8th Family Medicine Residents Virtual Graduation Ceremony here.