Family Medicine Residency Program

Dr. Carlos Manuel Godinez Rodriguez

Dr. Carlos Manuel Godinez Rodriguez earned his medical degree from Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de la Habana in Cuba, where he gained extensive experience in both clinical and research settings. Witnessing the challenges faced by communities in Havana profoundly shaped his dedication to improving access to quality medical services.

Dr. Godinez Rodriguez is deeply committed to enhancing patient outcomes and ensuring care for all. He has been recognized with multiple academic and service awards for his contributions to the field and has conducted impactful medical research in mental health and cardiovascular health.

He has been working for the last few years at a community health center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and states, “Working at a community health center... allows me to directly impact patients’ lives, offer support and education, and contribute to improving healthcare in a challenging environment.” Dr. Godinez Rodriguez is excited to bring this same passion to Pontiac community.

Dr. Nga Nguyen

Dr. Nga Nguyen earned her medical degree from Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine in Vietnam. Since relocating to the United States, she has been deeply engaged in clinical research, community outreach, and volunteer work, with a focus on improving health outcomes for all patients. 

Dr. Nguyen has gained extensive hands-on experience through multiple clinical externships in family medicine-focused settings. Additionally, she serves as a virtual translator, assisting Vietnamese physicians with medical documentation and publications.

An impressively active researcher, she has contributed to many publications on various topics, especially cardiology and cardiovascular health.

Her volunteer efforts at homeless shelters and involvement in community health initiatives has strengthened her commitment to providing high quality, patient-centered care. Her father was a physician and role model, and she cites his “dedication to caring for patients in under-resourced areas, addressing both their physical and emotional needs” as inspiration and foundation for her own journey into medicine. Dr. Nguyen brings that passion for community health here to Pontiac.

Dr. Ikechukwu Mgbudem

Dr. Ikechukwu Mgbudem comes to Honor Community Health from Nigeria via College Station, Texas, where he earned his Master’s degree in Public Health at Texas A&M University. He earned his medical degree from Igbinedion University in Okada, Nigeria. His passion for healthcare was evident from a young age, leading the First Aid Department during high school and fostering a lifelong dedication to providing exceptional care to those in need.

His extensive clinical experience spans various settings, including inpatient and outpatient care. In Nigeria, he practiced as a general practitioner for four years, and in the United States, he contributed his skills at clinics in Texas and skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in New York.

Among his most impactful experiences, Dr. Mgbudem cherishes his time providing healthcare in Nigeria—an experience that strengthened his commitment to community health and improving healthcare delivery.

He states that his “professional goal is to become a reputable, world-class physician with impeccable clinical skills and knowledge who prioritizes the safety of patients to ensure the best management outcome. I aim to contribute immensely and selflessly to society and the world’s good health.” Honor Community Health’s Family Medicine Residency Program is excited to welcome Dr. Mgbudem and shepherd the realization of his goals.

Dr. Srija Reddy Kesireddy

Dr. Srija Reddy Kesireddy earned her medical degree from SVS Medical College in Mahbubnagar, India. Her volunteer work in both India and the United States exposed her to varied communities and highlighted the many dimensions that shape health outcomes. These experiences deepened her understanding of holistic well-being and the importance of addressing challenges beyond traditional medicine.

Driven by a vision to transform healthcare, Dr. Kesireddy aspires to contribute to medical education, design programs that promote health and disease prevention, and harness technology to improve patient care. Her ultimate goal is to make healthcare more impactful, particularly for populations facing unique challenges.

Honor Community Health in Pontiac is the next stop on Dr. Kesireddy’s journey. It is one that has taught her much already. She insightfully states, “I have witnessed physicians care for those in difficult circumstances with unwavering compassion and dedication. It reminded me that medicine can build understanding and foster connection.”

Dr. Sandrine Kakieu Djossi

Dr. Sandrine Kakieu Djossi hails from Cameroon and comes to Honor Community Health via Canada. She earned her medical degree from the College of Medical Science at the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria. She began her career as a general physician, gaining valuable independent clinical experience.

Deeply committed to advancing healthcare, Dr. Djossi remains actively involved in clinical research, medical writing, and community service initiatives. Her contributions span multiple medical publications and newsletters, reflecting her dedication to sharing knowledge and fostering innovation.

Dr. Djossi is passionate about preventive care, and empowering communities to take charge of their well-being.

She has started initiatives to gain insight into patient financial struggles and recalls patient shock from unexpectedly large medical bills. She “turned it into pressing questions: how do uninsured populations, or those experiencing homelessness, manage overwhelming costs?” This concern and interest fostered “a deep desire to make healthcare available to anyone who needs it" and resonates with the mission at the Honor Community Health Family Medicine Residency Program.

Dr. Zoha Aleem

Dr. Zoha Aleem is a familiar face at Honor Community Health, having excelled in the last year as a medical assistant at our Family Medicine Centers. She earned her medical degree from Batterjee Medical College in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she demonstrated strong leadership skills and academic acumen.

As a General Practitioner, Dr. Aleem has provided compassionate care in both Saudi Arabia and India, gaining invaluable experience in varied settings. Her commitment to improving healthcare drives her vision of delivering high-quality medical services to those who need them most.

A prolific researcher, she has had several publications on wide-ranging topics from vitiligo to improving quality of HIV care and cardiometabolic syndrome.

Dr. Aleem states that working at Honor Community Health as a medical assistant helped her “gain valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of patient care. It allowed me to develop holistic approaches that consider medical aspects as well as the emotional and psychological well-being of the patient.” Honor Community Health is happy to have Dr. Aleem continue her journey here in Pontiac.

Dr. Apote Zekpa

Dr. Apote Zekpa hails from Togo, where early family experiences strongly influenced his decision to study medicine. Subsequent exposure to primary care physicians and health maintenance visits sparked an interest to pursue primary care. He earned his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine.

Dr. Zekpa arrives to Pontiac from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he has had extensive direct patient clinical care for which he earned high praise and recommendations from his physician supervisors. He was key in an impressive community initiative called Happy Period to get menstrual hygiene products to those in Miami experiencing homelessness. “This opened my eyes to areas of life that we take for granted on a daily basis and gave me a different outlook on how I can help others.” Honor Community Health’s patient population will be next to benefit from Dr. Zekpa’s clinical acumen and dedication to community.

Dr. Fatima Wajahath

Dr. Fatima Wajahath is well known to us at Honor Community Health, having served in the last year as a medical assistant at our Baldwin site and others. She has been serving the Pontiac patient population since 2021. She earned her medical degree from Deccan College of Medical Sciences in India. Determination and perseverance eventually led her to the Honor Community Health Family Medicine Residency.

As a medical assistant, she impressed with her knowledge and skill, especially at visits related to prenatal care for birthing patients, as well as women’s health maintenance.

“Early volunteer work in programs such as the free health camps for the poor, urban AIDS awareness campaigns, pulse polio immunization drives, and remote well baby clinics that catered to the health care needs of challenged communities and remote villages gave me the thrill of applying scientific knowledge in practice, nurtured my core constructs and equipped me for a life-long commitment to Family Medicine.”

Dr. Atif Rashid

Dr. Atif Rashid comes to Honor Community Health from Milton, Ontario. He gained extensive clinical experience as a medical assistant and scribe and earned his medical degree from the Caribbean Medical University School of Medicine. With experience as a clinical supervisor, he has helped devise creative ways to improve clinical operations and patient care quality.

He has also been active in research, contributing to studies on topics such as statin therapy and its relationship to cognitive function, as well as the quality of evidence supporting nutrition and diet recommendations.

Dr. Rashid has a keen sense of community, having had impactful experiences with local communities in Chicago, the Caribbean, and elsewhere. Through those, he states that he has “gained empathy, and collaborative abilities to excel in a Family Medicine residency.”  He aims to “become someone in the community who people can trust with their health and accompany them through life's ups and downs as an educator and advocate.”

Dr. Jhonny Perusina

Dr. Perusina arrives at Honor Community Health via St. Augustine, Florida, where he was a House Physician Trainee for a medical physicians group, managing many aspects of patient care under physician supervision, while also training medical students and first-year physician assistant students. He earned his medical degree from Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador Facultad de Medicina in El Salvador.

He has independent medical experience, having worked as a general physician for three years in El Salvador. He has also been active in clinical research, studying risk factors that affect pre- and post-operative patients.

Dr. Perusina sees community-based healthcare in his future, stating: “I see myself taking on greater clinical and teaching responsibilities as a board-certified physician, building my reputation among local and international communities. I would love to engage in work that helps people—both locally and abroad—and ultimately change the mentality of, ‘I don’t need to go to the doctor if I’m not sick.' "

Dr. Jason Caluducan

Dr. Jason Caluducan states, “I gravitate to the thought of being in the front line of diagnosis and planning, nurturing long-term relationships with patients and being exposed to the full spectrum of problems and issues in medicine.”

Dr. Caluducan is from Markham, Ontario and is a graduate of the University of the East/Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center College of Medicine in the Philippines. He has contributed to research in the field of infertility and reproductive immunology and has conducted surveys among non-English speaking patients to identify challenges to care.

He has excelled in family and community medicine and found value during rotations in which he “experienced first-hand the hardships and limited resources of healthcare services of communities in need.” Dr. Caluducan brings an unmatched enthusiasm to bring quality healthcare to communities like those that Honor Community Health serves.

Dr. Swetha Aloori

Dr. Swetha Aloori earned her medical degree from MNR Medical College in India and arrives here from Baltimore, Maryland, where she was a post-doctoral research fellow at Johns Hopkins University. There she was prolific in publications related to critical care.

Dr. Aloori has held many positions from volunteer to a medical officer in India. Committed to improving the quality and compassion of healthcare, she emphasizes that she was “born and raised in a family that emphasizes virtues such as generosity, kindness, and community engagement,” leading her to “develop a keen sense of social responsibility.” This showed with her service to challenged populations for several years in her home county.

Honor Community Health welcomes Dr. Aloori and looks forward to preparing her for her stated long-term goals. She plans “to use the expertise acquired to provide quality healthcare, conduct research, and become an academic mentor.”

Dr. Preeti Yadav

Preeti Kumari Yadav, MBBS, is a physician trained at Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai, with extensive experience delivering comprehensive clinical care in areas with limited availability of medical services in both India and the United States. She completed more than five years of government service, during which she managed complex medical, obstetric, pediatric, and emergency cases, led frontline responses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and implemented practical improvements that reduced maternal complications and strengthened continuity of care. She founded and sustained a community-based health initiative providing ongoing management for chronic diseases, preventive services, and reliable referral pathways, while also mentoring and coordinating healthcare teams to ensure consistent patient follow-up. Dr. Yadav has further expanded her training through multiple U.S. family medicine externships, gaining experience in outpatient, inpatient, and rural health systems and adapting quickly to team-based, patient-centered care models. A published researcher and recipient of multiple clinical and service awards, Dr. Yadav’s personal journey of resilience and responsibility has reinforced her commitment to medicine grounded in accountability, compassion, and long-term service to communities where physician dedication makes a lasting difference.

Dr. Chinar Singhal

Chinar Singhal, MBBS, MPH, is a physician whose training and career reflect a strong commitment to comprehensive, relationship-based medical care across a wide range of clinical settings. Educated in India and the United States, she has developed broad experience in primary care, inpatient and outpatient medicine, and community-based clinics, while also serving in national research leadership roles at the University of Minnesota. As a Clinical Research Project Director on NIH-funded studies, she has led large, multi-site teams and managed complex projects while remaining closely engaged with patients and families during clinical assessments. She has had formative foundation in longitudinal, community-oriented care, strengthened by experiences navigating new health systems, balancing full-time work with studies, and adapting to varied practice environments. Through externships in Michigan, Texas, and Minnesota, she has demonstrated strong clinical judgment, clear communication, and a consistent focus on prevention, patient education, and continuity of care in areas with limited availability of medical services. Dr. Singhal pursues family medicine, guided by a commitment to high-quality care, practical problem-solving, and long-term partnerships with patients and communities.

Dr. Priyanka Pradhan

Priyanka Bandusagar Pradhan, MD, is an internationally trained physician whose work centers on frontline patient care, public health service, and medical education. She has developed extensive clinical experience across India and the United States in community clinics, tertiary hospitals, intensive care units, and public health settings, frequently managing high patient volumes and complex medical conditions. Her background includes frontline COVID-19 care, HIV prevention services, and longitudinal primary care delivery, complemented by clinical research resulting in peer-reviewed publications and national conference presentations. Motivated by early exposure to healthcare inconsistencies and personal experiences with family caregiving, Dr. Pradhan is known for disciplined, continuity-focused care and strong patient communication. She has also demonstrated a sustained commitment to teaching and mentorship through extensive USMLE tutoring and leadership roles in medical education initiatives, with a professional focus on service-driven medicine and improving availability of care in communities in great need.

Dr. Karla Perozo

Karla Andreina Perozo, MD, is a first-generation physician and Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Universidad del Zulia whose career reflects resilience, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to under resourced communities. Early experiences in the field of medicine profoundly shaped her empathy, perseverance, and understanding of patient vulnerability. Her clinical training spans urban and rural, resource-limited settings in Venezuela, where she managed acute and chronic illness, delivered babies, and provided frontline emergency care to populations in need, as well as U.S. community health and cardiology settings where she most recently served varied patients as a bilingual medical assistant. She emphasizes that healing is grounded not only in diagnosis and treatment but in presence, trust, and long-term relationships, drawing her to Family Medicine and community-centered care. Through direct service, research, and advocacy, Dr. Perozo brings humility, cultural awareness, and deep dedication to advancing patient-centered healthcare for vulnerable individuals and families.

Dr. Sravan Kumar Nekkanti

Sravan Kumar Nekkanti, MD, is a globally trained physician whose career reflects breadth, adaptability, and a strong foundation in academic medicine. Trained and practiced across India, the Philippines, and the United States, he brings broad experience in primary care, emergency medicine, inpatient services, and community-based clinical settings, including work in free and low-cost clinics and emergency stabilization as a duty medical officer. His academic portfolio includes advanced clinical research at the University of Louisville focused on pneumonia, COVID-19, and cardiovascular outcomes, as well as peer-reviewed publications. Known for a structured, analytical approach to patient care, Dr. Nekkanti emphasizes data-driven decision making, clear communication, and efficient problem solving in high-acuity and resource-limited environments, while also serving as a committed mentor to medical trainees and USMLE candidates. His professional goal is to deliver thoughtful, reliable care while helping strengthen healthcare systems in in communities where medical resources are most limited.

Dr. Mishelle Garces

Mishelle Garces, MD, MS, is a dedicated physician with broad experience in primary care, community health, and preventive medicine across rural, urban, and home-based settings. Trained at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and Universidad de Las Américas, she has served as a primary care physician, clinical extern, and health program leader, providing comprehensive care for patients with acute and chronic conditions while adapting to a wide range of clinical environments. Her work includes coordinating vaccination initiatives, conducting home visits, managing emergencies, and strengthening continuity of care in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure. Dr. Garces is also academically accomplished, with peer-reviewed publications and recognition through a merit-based scholarship, reflecting her commitment to research-based practice and continuous learning. She brings resilience, professionalism, and a strong sense of responsibility to patient care, with a consistent focus on improving education, and clinical outcomes for communities facing healthcare availability challenges.