Leadership
Program Director
Zia Shah, MD
Dr. Zia Shah is a distinguished medical professional, board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine, Pulmonary, and Sleep Disorders).
An alumnus of King Edward Medical University in Pakistan, Dr. Shah's training and practice span three continents, including the U.K. and the U.S. He undertook his Internal Medicine training at United Health Services in Binghamton, N.Y., from 1989 to 1992. Following this, he completed his Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship at Buffalo University from 1992 to 1995.
Dr. Shah has always been driven by a career that seamlessly integrates patient care with medical education. He is passionate about training physicians and specialists in the Southern Tier. In addition to his involvement in other teaching programs at Guthrie Lourdes Hospital, he eagerly anticipates the commencement of the Internal Medicine residents each year.
An advocate for physician and caregiver wellness, Dr. Shah firmly believes in fostering a healthy and balanced work environment for all health care professionals. His commitment to wellness underscores his overall approach to healthcare, which combines expertise, compassion and a focus on continuous learning.
Associate Program Director
Lela Adeoshun, DO
Core Faculty
John Dimenna, MD
Dr. Dimenna enjoys teaching medical students and residents and is involved in mentorship and guidance across all levels of medical education.
He received his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
Monika Freeland, MD
Monika Freeland, MD is an internal medicine doctor with Guthrie Lourdes Hospital in Vestal, N.Y. and is the Director of the Guthrie Lourdes Weight Management Program in Johnson City, N.Y. She provides personalized primary care for conditions that affect adults as they age. She also provides guidance and support for patients on their weight-loss journey.
Dr. Freeland is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto in Psychology/Neurobiology, which sparked her interest in human behavior and how biology and psychology play a role in motivation and goal setting. In her experience working as a volunteer suicide hotline counselor, she learned to partner with patients and motivate them for change.
Dr. Freeland lives in the Binghamton area with her husband, two children and their family dog. She likes to hike and camp with her family, ride four-wheelers, ice skate, paint and host family and friends in her home.
Gurdeep Singh, MD
Dr. Singh did his Internal Medicine residency at MedStar Washington Hospital Center- Georgetown University and his Fellowship in Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism from Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
He is the dyad leader and lead endocrinologist at Guthrie Lourdes Hospital. His passion is to treat and educate patients about various endocrine problems with diabetes and thyroid conditions being his major areas of interest.
Dr. Singh serves as an editorial board member and peer reviewer of many scientific journals.
He is an active member of the Endocrine Society, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Diabetes Association, American College of Physicians, Academy of Physicians in Clinical Research and Sigma Xi.
Seemab Sheikh, MD-ADD
Seemab Sheikh, MD, is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine and serves as a core faculty member of the Guthrie Lourdes Internal Medicine Residency Program. She received her medical education from the renowned King Edward Medical University in Pakistan and completed her internal medicine residency at Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey. As part of her faculty role, she teaches and supervises residents in the outpatient clinic, helping them strengthen their clinical judgment and develop a patient-centered approach to ambulatory care.
Dr. Sheikh’s clinical interests include general internal medicine, endocrinology, and obesity medicine. She is committed to providing individualized, evidence-based care and helping patients make meaningful and sustainable improvements in their health. She particularly enjoys supporting residents.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Sheikh enjoys traveling, cooking, experimenting with new recipes, and spending time with her family.
Program Coordinator
Lisa Kirchbaum
Lisa Kirchbaum has been part of the Guthrie team since 2018 and currently serves as the Program Coordinator for the Internal Medicine Residency Program. She is passionate about supporting residents throughout their training and takes pride in helping create a welcoming and organized learning environment. Originally from Rochester, New York, Lisa enjoys traveling, making memories with her husband and two daughters, and spending time with their dogs.
Chief Residents
Salman Khan, MD
Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Undergrad School: Divisional Public School & Intermediate College
Medical School: Continental Medical College
What drew me to Internal Medicine: I like internal medicine because of its comprehensive scope, opportunity to manage diverse medical conditions and rewarding patient-physician relationships. It also provides endless opportunities for sub specialization, ensuring a continually dynamic and fulfilling career.
What do I like to do in my free time: Spending time with family and friends, horse riding, martial arts, hiking and nature exploring.
Blessing Ojinna, MD
Hometown: Anambra, Nigeria
Medical School: University of Nigeria Nsukka, Faculty of Medicine
What drew me to Internal Medicine: My interest in Internal Medicine was sparked by its systematic diagnosis of complex diseases, holistic patient-focused care and collaboration with multidisciplinary health professionals to deliver compassionate quality care. Additionally, it provides me with the opportunity for lifelong learning and continuity of care which fosters a good doctor/patient relationship that is satisfactory.
What do I like to do in my free time: I like playing board games, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and organizing celebrations.