Internal Medicine Residency

Program Leadership

Kevin S. Fleming, M.D. – Program Director (Internal Medicine)

Dr. Fleming was introduced to healthcare at a young age, having come from a family of physicians. He found Internal Medicine to be intellectually stimulating and enjoyed the idea of taking care of a patient from the start to the finish of any medical issue they may be experiencing.

My Biography

Ashini Shah, M.D., FACP – Associate Program Director (Internal Medicine)

I am an Internal Medicine Hospitalist at Northwest Medical Center, where I also serve as Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program and the Department Chair of Medicine. I completed my residency training in Internal Medicine at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital and St. Barnabas Hospital in New York and have been in clinical practice for more than 25 years.

My Biography

Michael J. DeLong, M.D. – Associate Program Director (Nephrology)

Dr. DeLong is a Nephrology Specialist in Tucson, AZ with more than 20 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. DeLong is experienced in hypertension, general nephrology and chronic kidney disease.

My Biography

Renae L. Trapp, C-TAGME – Program Coordinator

Renae is originally from the Detroit Metropolitan area, where she was the owner and directress of a Montessori infant and toddler childcare for more than a decade. She also had a ceramic studio for quite some time and, in fact, her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan is in Fine Art.

My Biography

Alyssa Figueroa, D.O. – Core Faculty

Dr. Figueroa, D.O. is an internal medicine hospitalist at Northwest Medical Center and Core Faculty for the Internal Medicine residency program. She attended medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Houghton College.

My Biography

Elias S. Kakish, M.D. – Core Faculty (Pulmonary & Critical Care)

Dr. Kakish had a passion to help people since he was a child – and he loves the satisfaction that comes with diagnosing and treating the variety of lung and sleep disorders that detract from so many people’s quality of life. It is important to him to invest time in explaining things to each patient. When he reviews lung images with someone, or shows them the results of their sleep study, they can see what the problem is with their own eyes. This builds their confidence and trust in Dr. Kakish as we work together on a treatment plan.

My Biography

Mark Rudberg, M.D., MPH – Core Faculty

I became a physician because I loved the combination of science, biology, and human interaction. Early on, I committed to doing for patients what matters to them. That means spending time with each one — and listening well — so they can talk freely about what’s bothering them. Patients aren’t checklists, and their healthcare shouldn’t be either. Doctors and patients have a unique relationship.

My Biography

Shannon Thorn, M.D. – Core Faculty (Infectious Disease)


Hoang M. Thai, M.D. – Cardiology
Teaching Faculty

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