Samaritan Medical Center Celebrates Graduation of Resident Physicians, Continued Growth of Graduate Medical Education Program
Published on: June 29, 2026
Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center celebrated the achievements of its Graduate Medical Education (GME) program during its annual Resident Physician Graduation Ceremony on June 19 at the Hilton Garden Inn. The event honored three graduating resident physicians and recognized the continued success of the health system’s physician training programs.
The evening included a social hour, dinner, awards presentation, and recognition of the graduating residents who have completed rigorous training while serving patients throughout the North Country.
Graduating this year are Dr. Richard Efem, Family Medicine; Dr. Jin Ju Yi, Internal Medicine; and Dr. Faiqa Zahoor, Internal Medicine.
“Graduation is one of the most meaningful milestones we celebrate each year because it represents the dedication, perseverance, and compassion these physicians have demonstrated throughout their training,” said Samaritan President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Carman. “Dr. Efem, Dr. Yi, and Dr. Zahoor have made a lasting impact on our patients, our medical staff, and our community. We are proud of their accomplishments and excited to see the difference they will make as they continue their careers.”
The health system’s Graduate Medical Education program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the same accrediting body that oversees residency programs at nationally recognized institutions including Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins. Since its inception, the GME program has graduated physicians who have gone on to advanced fellowship training in specialties and subspecialties including anesthesia, cardiology, critical care, endocrinology, family medicine, infectious disease, nephrology, obstetrics, pulmonary medicine, sleep medicine, and sports medicine. Resident physicians also actively participate in clinical research, contributing to scientific publications, national conference presentations, and educational lectures.
Dr. Richard Efem, Family Medicine
Dr. Richard Ibi Efem was born and raised in Staten Island, New York, and completed the International Baccalaureate program at Curtis High School before studying Biology at Dartmouth College. He later earned an MBA from Stony Brook University and received his medical degree from the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. Prior to residency, Dr. Efem served as an Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program (ECRIP) Clinical Fellow at Stony Brook and contributed to surgical oncology research and traumatic brain injury studies at NYU Winthrop University Hospital. Upon completing residency, Dr. Efem will begin a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Carbondale, IL, followed by Obesity Medicine board certification.
Dr. Jin Ju Yi, Internal Medicine
A native New Yorker, Dr. Jin Ju Yi grew up in Brooklyn and on Long Island. After completing undergraduate studies at New York University, she pursued post-baccalaureate studies at the University of Pennsylvania before attending Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Yi graduated from medical school in 2023 and began her Internal Medicine Residency at Samaritan Medical Center. Shortly before beginning residency, she was married in Watertown. Dr. Yi has been accepted into the Infectious Disease fellowship program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, where she will spend the next two years focusing on clinical infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS care, immunocompromised patients, and other vulnerable populations.
Dr. Faiqa Zahoor, Internal Medicine
Originally from Kashmir, India, Dr. Faiqa Zahoor completed medical school in her home country before relocating to the United States after her marriage. Her journey to residency required overcoming the challenges of building a new life in a new country while preparing for and completing the United States Medical Licensing Examination process. During that journey, she also became a mother, an experience she credits with strengthening her resilience and determination. Dr. Zahoor expressed gratitude to her family, particularly her parents and husband, for their unwavering support throughout her medical career. She also recognizes the mentors, colleagues, friends, and patients who helped shape her professional journey. Dr. Zahoor will be going to Valley Health Winchester in Virginia and working as a Hospitalist.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mario Victoria praised the graduates for their commitment to excellence and lifelong learning. “These physicians have embraced the challenges of residency training with professionalism, curiosity, and a deep commitment to patient care,” said Dr. Victoria. “Their success reflects not only their individual talents, but also the strength of our Graduate Medical Education program and the collaborative learning environment we strive to provide every day.”
The health system also recognized a group of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine students who completed the majority of their Oxford Medical Simulation (OMS)-III clinical training at Samaritan Medical Center and have now been promoted to OMS-IV: Samuel Calkins, Valeria Gromova, Sydney MacGregor, Alexander Maiorana, Sydney Mai, German Martyn, Natalie Matis, Ryan Mickelson, and Kaitlyn Santos.
“Training the next generation of physicians is central to our mission,” said Carman. “We congratulate our graduates and promoted students and thank them for choosing to learn and serve alongside our team.”
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