Watertown, NY – Samaritan Graduate Medical Education proudly celebrated the graduation of its 2025 Internal Medicine and Family Medicine resident physicians during a ceremony held June 20 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Watertown. Family members, friends, physician faculty, and Samaritan leadership gathered to honor the accomplishments of the graduates.
Family Medicine Residency Program
Directed by Dr. Benjamin Rudd
• Joseph Connor, DO – Chief Resident
• Caleb Atkins, MD
Internal Medicine Residency Program
Directed by Dr. Asim Kichloo
• Sandip Chattopadhyay, DO – Chief Resident
• Sameera Quraishi, MD
Two of the four doctors will remain in the North Country to continue their medical careers, while the other two will pursue opportunities elsewhere.
Dr. Joseph Connor has accepted a position with Prima Medical in Fairfax, VA, as a Family Medicine Physician. And Dr. Sandip Chattopadhyay will practice Internal Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse, NY.
Dr. Caleb Atkins, originally from Carthage, NY, will join the Samaritan Family Health Network and practice out of the Watertown clinic located in the Samaritan Health and Wellness Plaza at 1575 Washington Street. Dr. Atkins admits that he took the scenic route from graduating medical school in 2013 to beginning residency in 2022. During that time, he taught at the collegiate level, launched a data abstraction company, and founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting medical school graduates who did not match into residency. Dr. Atkins credits his success to the unwavering support of his parents, the encouragement and motivation of colleagues, and the sacrifice of his wife, who uprooted her life to help make this journey possible. He is excited to care for the community in the years ahead.
Dr. Sameera Quraishi has chosen to remain in the North Country to continue serving the community, accepting a position at a local nephrology practice. Although she once considered a career in education, Dr. Quraishi was ultimately drawn to medicine and earned her medical degree from one of Pakistan’s top medical colleges, where she also completed her internship. Her medical journey continued in the United States, where she completed a nephrology fellowship at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens and an internal medicine residency here at Samaritan Medical Center. She is deeply thankful to her husband, Naeem, for moving their family to the U.S., and to her parents for their unwavering support.
Having resident physicians remain in the community after graduation is a tremendous asset to the region. These physicians have spent years training at Samaritan, becoming familiar with the unique healthcare needs of our population and forming strong connections with patients and colleagues alike. Their decision to continue practicing locally helps address the nationwide shortage of primary care, improves continuity of care for patients, and supports the long-term health and stability of the community. It is a testament to the strength of Samaritan’s Graduate Medical Education programs that many graduates choose to build their careers here, where they can make an immediate and lasting impact.
“The faculty and everyone involved in our graduate medical education programs are grateful for the chance to share knowledge from our own experiences,” said Dr. David Rechlin, Director of Graduate Medical Education at Samaritan. “These promising young physicians bring a remarkable energy and dedication to their work, both in the hospital and in outpatient settings. We congratulate them on this important milestone.”
Samaritan is the only academic teaching hospital in Northern New York, drawing medical students and residents from across the country for advanced clinical training. Residents benefit from a robust educational experience, including daily lectures, hands-on clinical rotations in various specialties, and participation in clinical research.
Samaritan’s residency programs are fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
To learn more about Graduate Medical Education at Samaritan, visit:
https://samaritanhealth.com/careers/careers-education/graduate-medical-education
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Pictured here are, from left to right, Caleb Atkins, MD, Sameera Quraishi, MD, Sandip Chattopadhyay, DO, and Joseph Connor, DO.
