As a resident of our internal medicine program, you will interact with a diverse patient population and learn alongside our numerous faculty from a variety of general medicine and subspecialty backgrounds. One of the best ways to learn more about a program is to hear from the people who live and work here every day!
Program Overview
Program Director Donna Williams, MD, FACP, Vice Chair for Education, Hal Atkinson, MD and Department Chair, Gary Rosenthal, MD speak to the strength and breadth of the training environment at Wake Forest.
Program Chair and Director
Tinsley R. Harrison Professor and Chair
It is an honor to welcome you to the Department of Internal Medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. The Department, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, enjoys a rich heritage. Our founding chair, Tinsley Harrison, MD was an icon in American medicine. His prescient vision for excellence in the core missions of academic medicine – teaching, patient care and research – is deeply woven into the fabric of all that we do and serves as an inspiration for our medical students, residents and fellows.
I am particularly proud of our residency program and clerkships, which emphasizes core clinical problem solving skills and prepare learners for lifetime learning and professional growth. The cornerstone of our educational programs is a commitment to teaching excellence among our faculty, who consistently win institutional and national teaching awards. Our programs provide trainees with exposure to the entire spectrum of subspecialties, while becoming highly competent in the skills and judgment required of the general internist. In many ways, our educational programs are the glue that bind faculty and staff across their diverse professional interests and that creates a strong sense of family.
Our faculty also conduct groundbreaking research to elucidate the mechanisms of disease, to translate these findings to novel treatments and to develop innovative healthcare delivery models to improve patients’ health and wellbeing. Many of our faculty have led large national trials that have defined our current treatment of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and many types of cancer.
The Department of Internal Medicine at Wake Forest is firmly committed to preparing trainees to thrive in a changing health care landscape and to shaping that landscape in ways that promote patient-centered high value care.
I encourage your to explore our website and to know our faculty, trainees and staff and the resources that are aligned to support each of our missions.
Program Director – Internal Medicine Residency
Welcome to the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency Program website! I hope that these pages will give you a glimpse into the exceptional education provided here and of the amazing residents, faculty and staff who call our program home. We are so fortunate to be part of a cutting-edge academic medical center well known for high-quality and patient-centered care, educational innovation and translational and clinical research. In this environment, we are privileged to support residents during the most formative years of your careers. During these years of residency, you will meet patients who inspire you, attendings who mentor you in the career of your dreams and colleagues who support each other unconditionally.
We have a long tradition of comprehensive training in internal medicine at Wake Forest. Our faculty are top-notch teachers who role model the history, physical exam, clinical reasoning and communication skills that are critical for excellent patient care. We also realize that medical knowledge is ever-evolving, and we teach you how to critically review the literature and apply your new knowledge to patient care. Lifelong learning is necessary for all internists, and our program embodies this concept through our innovative teaching strategies which include point of care ultrasound training, simulation lab, Learning Health Systems seminars, Academic Half Day sessions and faculty-mentored quality improvement projects to name just a few opportunities for learning. All of these experiences add to the vast clinical exposure that our residents obtain across our clinical settings, including our large, tertiary care medical center here at Wake Forest, our community hospital in High Point and the VA in Kernersville.
Throughout your training here at Wake Forest, we provide unparalleled mentorship and guidance to promote your personal and professional growth as you build your career. We take pride in nurturing each resident as an individual with unique goals and interests. One way that we accomplish this is though our pathways in medical education, global health, research, clinical informatics, hospitalist training and point of care ultrasound, as well as our Primary Care Track. Each of these pathways provide opportunities for individual growth and mentorship outside of the comprehensive clinical education you receive. Additionally, we have an exceptionally rich academic environment where our residents find many opportunities to partner with faculty and fellows on research projects. Because of our unique research and pathway opportunities and the excellent clinical care provided here, our graduates are sought after for subspecialty fellowships, academic medicine positions and community practice.
Resident wellness is also critically important to our success, and we have multiple recurring programs, including those sponsored by various interest groups and our wellness committee, which ensure that you are supported by your residency family throughout your training. So, if you are looking for a program with a family feel, comprehensive clinical training, abundant research opportunities and an opportunity to personalize your training through participation in specialized pathways, you are in the right place! I invite you to read on and learn more about the Wake Forest Internal Medicine Residency Program and how we can help you achieve your goals.
Associate Program Directors
Associate Professor of Medicine
Senior Associate Program Director – Inpatient Education
I am a Cincinnati, Ohio native who found my home here in Winston-Salem. During my residency training at the University of Kentucky, I was inspired to pursue a career in academic medicine so I could help guide residents during their most formative years of training. I joined Wake Forest as an academic hospitalist in 2018 and currently serve as one of the Associate Program Directors, with a focus on inpatient education.
Since joining Wake Forest, I have been continually impressed by the tremendous opportunities available to our internal medicine residents. The diverse training pathways, ranging from the Global Health Pathway to the Hospital Medicine Pathway, offer unique training experiences that set our program apart from others across the country. Just as important, the mentorship and support provided to our residents is truly second to none. Our goal is to help each resident become a high-quality, high-functioning internist by tailoring their residency training to align with their individual aspirations.
Currently, I live in a suburb of Winston-Salem with my wife, who is also an academic hospitalist at Wake Forest, and two daughters. We love our friendly community and enjoy going to local parks and attending Dash games. We also appreciate being just a short drive from both the mountains and beach — and we love the temperate climate!
Associate Professor of Medicine
Associate Program Director – Subspecialty Training
After training at the University of Pennsylvania and then Vanderbilt University for fellowship, I was excited to join the Wake Forest University program to pursue a career in academic cardiology. The cutting-edge subspecialty medicine and clear commitment to personalized patient care housed in a collaborative and collegial academic medical center drew me here after training. The opportunity to work with an energetic and driven group of house officers attracted me to the residency leadership team.
At Wake Forest, our first goal is to train thoughtful and dedicated internists who are critically aware of the relevant literature and able to apply that evidence to best take care of their patients. This training is accomplished on general medicine services and bolstered through rich exposure to numerous subspecialty rotations. Rounding out this balanced internal medicine training, all residents will gain exposure to and directly participate in quality improvement projects on both the individual and departmental level. We take pride in providing comprehensive internal medicine training, and we are also excited that many of our residents choose to advance their career through subspecialty fellowships. We are committed to supporting this academic transition and all career interests through pointed mentorship and collaborative research opportunities. We are excited to celebrate the products of this mentorship every year, as so many residents present their research at national meetings, land that dream job out of residency, or match successfully into competitive fellowships across the country.
We are proud of the diverse and comprehensive training offered by Wake Forest Internal Medicine, and we are excited to attract residents with a strong interest in academic medicine. We look forward to working with motivated house officers to craft the residency training that best suits their unique career goals.
Sarah Maus, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Associate Program Director – Curriculum Development
I am originally from Lexington, Kentucky, where I attended the University of Kentucky for both undergraduate and medical school. After graduating from medical school in 2018, I moved to Winston-Salem for Internal Medicine residency at Wake Forest, where I also completed a Chief Residency year before pursuing fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. After fellowship, I was excited to remain at Wake Forest as faculty and continue working alongside the residents, fellows, and mentors who helped shape my own training experience.
My clinical practice includes caring for patients in the Medical Intensive Care Unit and outpatient pulmonary clinics, with particular interests in interstitial lung disease and critical care medicine. Throughout my training and early faculty career, I discovered a passion for medical education and mentorship, which ultimately led me to my role as Associate Program Director for Curriculum and the Program Evaluation Committee. As Associate Program Director, my goal is to create engaging, evidence-based educational experiences that help residents develop into confident, compassionate, and highly skilled internists. Wake Forest offers an exceptional learning environment with a diverse patient population, dedicated faculty mentors, and countless opportunities to tailor training to individual career goals. I am particularly passionate about ensuring that our curriculum remains innovative, practical, and responsive to the evolving needs of both learners and patients.
One of my favorite aspects of Wake Forest is the culture of collegiality and support that exists among residents, faculty, and program leadership. Our residents are challenged to grow academically and professionally while receiving the mentorship and encouragement needed to achieve their goals, whether that involves primary care, hospital medicine, academic medicine, or subspecialty fellowship training. I am honored to be a part of that journey and excited to help shape the educational experiences that prepare the next generation of internists.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Associate Program Director – Primary Care Track
After completing residency and chief residency at University of California-San Francisco, I joined faculty at Wake Forest in 2019. Wake Forest has helped craft my academic interests and career in a way I never imagined, and I am grateful to the inspiring learners I get to interact with daily.
Clinically, I work as the medical director for Care Plus, a high-intensity primary care model located at the Downtown Health Plaza for patients frequently admitted to the hospital. I have the honor of working with a creative, multidisciplinary team to address social determinants of health, complex chronic disease management and patient-centered care for patients who, too often, lack the resources to navigate a convoluted and challenging healthcare environment.
My academic time is spent as Program Director for the Primary Care track. The Primary Care track allows an individualized, mentored experience with ample exposure to ambulatory medicine across diverse settings. Our trainees are well prepared for leadership and careers focused on general medicine, whether in the community, academics, hospital or outpatient-based specialties.
I truly believe in finding joy in outpatient medicine and prioritizing the patient-physician relationship, as well as supporting the strong teamwork with clinic staff and residents. In my free time, I enjoy exploring the trails and outdoor scene of Winston-Salem with my husband and daughter.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Associate Program Director – Ambulatory Education
I am originally from Sanibel Island, FL, but have lived in Winston Salem since 2018. I completed my three years of Internal Medicine residency training here at Wake Forest. Additionally, I spent a fourth year serving as a Chief Resident, an experience that was pivotal in my decision to join Wake Forest’s General Internal Medicine section. The Department of Medicine is equally as passionate about the well-being of its residents as it is about the faculty who serve as their role models. Wake Forest’s collegial atmosphere and unlimited opportunities for personal and professional growth have stood out to me since day one, and I am grateful to continue to be a part of the Wake Forest family.
I spend my clinical time in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, working alongside our top-notch residents and medical students. At the completion of residency, our residents are incredibly competent and fully equipped to practice medicine in any setting they choose. Academically, I am the Associate Program Director for Ambulatory Education, and it is my personal goal to create a safe and judgment-free learning environment while supporting the well-being of all our trainees. We care for a medically complex population of patients, and through our unique Clinic Coach Program, each intern is paired with a faculty coach, providing an additional layer of support in the clinic setting. Additionally, we immerse our residents in the communities surrounding our clinic locations and teach them how to effectively utilize community resources, ensuring each patient receives the best possible care.
Aside from my passion for medical education, some of my favorite pastimes in Winston-Salem include running on the Muddy Creek Greenway, attending concerts in Bailey Park, and exploring downtown with my dog, Luna.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Associate Program Director – POCUS
I am a North Carolina native and a former Wake Forest Internal Medicine resident and chief resident. I was inspired to pursue a career in academic medicine because of the incredible mentorship and experiences I had while I was a resident here. The supportive culture, innovative approach and family atmosphere that fosters camaraderie between residents and faculty convinced me that Wake Forest is the ideal place to continue my career as an academic general internist. Here at Wake, we take pride in the many accomplishments of our exceptional residents and we are dedicated to helping them achieve their career goals.
Clinically, I practice both inpatient and outpatient medicine and enjoy teaching at the bedside. Academically, the untapped potential for Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) within internal medicine excites me. I completed an ultrasound fellowship in 2021, but my passion for POCUS began as a resident who collaborated with faculty to develop the foundation of the innovative POCUS curriculum we have today. I currently serve as a special focus Associate Program Director for POCUS. I lead our POCUS curriculum and am the director of the POCUS Champion Pathway.
The goal of our POCUS curriculum is to make our residents proficient with this rapidly evolving tool while simultaneously refining their bedside skills in the traditional sense. We have a multimodal approach to POCUS education in which interactive workshops and didactics teach technique and reinforce important concepts, but the most essential learning occurs at the bedside of hospitalized patients. It is in the clinical setting where residents learn how to incorporate POCUS into the art and science of medicine.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Assistant Program Director – Internal Medicine Residency
I am originally from Massachusetts and made Winston-Salem home after completing my residency training at the University of Kentucky. Through my residency training, I discovered my passion for academic inpatient medicine and joined the Section on Hospital Medicine at Wake Forest in 2018. My clinical work includes caring for patients on both the teaching and direct-care general medicine services. I especially enjoy caring for complex patients in the acute care setting and sharing that enthusiasm for medicine with the learners I have the privilege to teach.
I currently serve as an Assistant Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency and Director of the Hospital Medicine Pathway. In addition to my clinical and educational roles, I am involved in hospital medicine quality improvement initiatives and institutional committees. My career has allowed me to contribute across many areas of academic hospital medicine, but the most meaningful part of my work is mentoring residents and watching them grow into confident, compassionate physicians.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and raising our three wonderful children.
Vice Chair for Education
I am delighted to welcome you to the Wake Forest Internal Medicine Residency Program! As Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Internal Medicine and former residency director, I am proud of our exceptional training program and superb residency leadership team. As a graduate of the program myself, I am honored to be a part of the tradition of excellence that continues today with each graduating class.
In my role as Vice Chair for Education, I help to oversee the integration of our educational programs within the Department across multiple training levels. Our residents are immersed in a highly effective academic teaching environment with exceptional faculty, fellows, co-residents and medical students who create an atmosphere of scholarly inquiry while providing the best care to their patients. It is a great pleasure to serve as a coach and advisor for the next generation of physicians who begin their careers in Internal Medicine here.
One of the top strengths of the Wake Forest Internal Medicine Residency Program is the well-rounded clinical training that our residents enjoy in diverse specialties under the mentorship of nationally recognized experts in their fields. This is not only helpful in developing clinical proficiency as an internist, but it also allows residents the broad exposure that they need to make an informed decision about their ultimate career pathway. Our large academic health system and our 14 fellowship training programs provide ample opportunities for residents to continue their work or training here after residency, and many do just that.
We have all the key features that make us a great residency program — excellent well-rounded clinical training, abundant clinical research and scholarship and highly effective career mentoring and opportunities. These training components are embedded in a culture focused on wellness where we not only provide excellent care for our patients but we also care for and support each other every day.
2026-2027 Assistant Chiefs of Medicine
Veena Krishnan, MD
"Wake Forest was my third interview during the residency trail, and I remember being so impressed with how personalized my interview day was. It was instantly apparent that the people here loved what they did and who they did it with. As I created my rank list, there was no question which program was my number one choice! During residency, I was able to pursue my interest in research and medical education, participating in both the Tinsley Harrison Scholars program and medical education pathways. I have received exceptional mentorship in hematology/oncology research, which has enabled me to present my work at both national and international conferences. As a chief resident, I hope to continue fostering the culture of collaboration, mentorship, and scholarship that has so strongly shaped my training and prepared me for the next phase of my career."
Veena Krishnan is originally from Birmingham, Alabama. She obtained her undergraduate degree in chemistry with a minor in biology at Birmingham-Southern College. She pursued her medical doctorate at the Frederick P. Whiddon University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, AL. She has a deep love for her Indian roots and continues to learn Sanskrit shlokas in her free time. Additionally, she is an avid romance reader, crocheter, and enjoys spending time with her family. Her favorite places in Winston-Salem include the Reynolda Village, the Gingerbread Man Bakery and Tanglewood Park.
Corey Williams, MD
"When applying for a residency program, I knew I wanted a place that would challenge me clinically, have a vast mentorship connection, expose me to a diverse patient population, and provide the resources necessary to pursue fellowship. Wake Forest checked every box. The breadth and complexity of pathology, exposure to nearly every subspecialty, and a proven track record of fellowship placement made it stand out among the programs I considered. During my interview, I saw a culture built on teamwork, mentorship, and mutual respect. The residents genuinely enjoyed working together, and the faculty were deeply invested in resident development. The clinical experiences I have gained, the mentors who have invested in me, and the colleagues who have become lifelong friends have all shaped the physician I am today. Throughout my training, my passion for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine continued to grow, fueled by experiences that challenged me intellectually and reinforced the impact we can have during some of the most critical moments in our patients' lives. I am incredibly proud to have trained at Wake Forest and honored to now serve as a Chief Resident."
Corey Williams is from Emporia, Virginia. He earned a B.S. in Biology from Hampden-Sydney College. He then went to Virgina Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He moved to Winston-Salem to complete his Internal Medicine Residency and now serves as a Chief Resident. He plans to apply for a Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship during his chief year. Outside of work, Corey enjoys golf, horseback riding, hiking in the amazing nature around Winston, and playing with his dogs. His favorite spots in Winston-Salem include Lesser-Known Brewery, Salem Lake Park, P.B's Takeout, Tanglewood Park, and Bobby Boy Bakeshop.
Abigail Ellington, MD
“Moving from Texas to North Carolina for residency was a leap into the unknown, but Wake Forest has become a second home. What stood out to me from interview day was the sense of community. The residents and faculty genuinely knew one another, and the program seemed like a family. From the moment I arrived, I never felt alone; I found a community of residents and faculty who challenged me to grow while providing unwavering support. This sense of community and investment in resident success has made Wake such a special place to train.
Over the past three years, Wake has provided incredible opportunities for growth as a physician, educator, researcher, and leader. Through experiences in medical education and curriculum development, research, and committee involvement, I have been encouraged to pursue my interests while continually being supported by outstanding mentors. I have built lifelong friendships and worked alongside passionate physicians committed to patient care and education. I am excited for the opportunity to give back by supporting residents, fostering scholarship, and helping ensure that future trainees experience the same sense of belonging and support that has meant so much to me.”
Abigail (Abby) Ellington is from Amarillo, Texas. She earned her undergraduate degree from The Pennsylvania State University, where she was a member of the Penn State cheerleading team, before receiving her medical degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Wake Forest and now serves as an Assistant Chief of Medicine and Research Chief. Abby's professional interests include gastroenterology, medical education, and clinical research, and she plans to pursue fellowship training in Gastroenterology following her chief year. Outside of medicine, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Tyler, tackling escape rooms, cheering on Penn State football, and walking her pups around Village Point Greenway before grabbing a sweet treat at Ava's Cupcakes.
Sean Doherty, MD
“Ever since my interview day, I could tell Wake Forest was a special place. I was thrilled to match here for residency, and my training experience validated that initial impression. From the strong sense of community among residents and faculty to the thoughtful balance of support and autonomy, I felt empowered to grow as a clinician in a nurturing environment. I valued the opportunity to train at a major academic medical center, where I encountered a broad range of pathologies and became involved in clinical research. While I received comprehensive training across the full spectrum of internal medicine, I especially appreciated the flexibility to tailor my educational experience through our pathways and electives. I participated in the POCUS Champion Pathway, which allowed me to develop ultrasound skills that I will utilize throughout my career. In addition to my clinical training, I contributed to program development through my work on the Clinic Improvement Committee and the Wellness Committee. Wake Forest Internal Medicine shaped me into the physician I am today, and I am excited to stay on as Chief Resident and help mold the next generation of Wake physicians!”
Sean Doherty grew up in Southborough, Massachusetts. He attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he earned a B.A. in Biology with minors in Corporate Strategy and European History. After college, he worked as a research assistant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center before matriculating at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He completed Internal Medicine residency at Wake Forest and is currently serving as Assistant Chief of Medicine for the 2026-2027 academic year. He plans to pursue a career in Cardiology, with clinical interests in preventive cardiology and cardiac imaging. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, playing pick-up basketball, hiking, and spending time outdoors. He and his wife also enjoy exploring new restaurants and revisiting local favorites such as Mozelle’s, Don Express, and Acadia Foods.
Dan Johnston, MD
“On my interview day at Wake Forest, I immediately noticed a different vibe than at most of my other interviews. The people all seemed to genuinely like one another and enjoy each other’s company. There were lots of smiles and laughter throughout the day. Once I finally made it to Winston-Salem, I found that it wasn’t just an act; Wake Forest truly was a place that fostered a safe learning environment with a family atmosphere. During my three years here, I have been afforded numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth. I have participated in the Hospitalist, Medical Education, and POCUS Champion Pathways, and I have also had the opportunity to present at both regional and national conferences. Along the way, I have developed friendships and mentorships that I will cherish for the rest of my life. The gratitude I have for this program and the people who make it special is what inspired me to pursue a chief resident role. I could not be more excited to continue the proud tradition of this program in the coming year.”
Dan Johnston is originally from Huntsville, Alabama. He attended UAB for his undergraduate education, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience. He then remained at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine for medical school before moving to Winston-Salem for residency at Wake Forest. Following his chief resident year, Dan plans to pursue a career in medical education as an academic hospitalist. Outside of medicine, he enjoys video games, disc golf, hiking, and spending time with his co-residents at local restaurants and breweries.