Eight physicians have graduated from the Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Family Medicine Residency program.

The graduates are Dr. Rachael Candela, Dr. Chris Elias, Dr. Ahmed Mahmood, Dr. Kristin Ray, Dr. Luke Terry, Dr. Samuel Tweardy, Dr. Hannah Williams and Dr. Christopher Wood.

Candela and Williams served as chief residents of the graduating class.

Two residents will stay in the Atrium Health Floyd community providing care.

Candela will join IN Compass Health as a hospitalist at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center in Rome. She earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Nova Southeastern University, Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Ray will join Atrium Health Floyd Primary Care Family Medicine #102, 28 John Davenport Drive, in Rome. She earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn, Alabama.

Elias earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth, Texas. He will be joining Village Health Partners in Dallas, Texas.

Mahmood earned a Doctor of Medicine from St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He will join Wellstar Powder Springs Medical Center in Powder Springs, Georgia.

Terry earned a Doctor of Medicine from Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia. He will join Wellstar Primary Care in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Tweardy earned a Doctor of Medicine from St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He will join ChenMed in Atlanta, Georgia.

Williams earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She will join Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Department of Family and Community Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with an Academic Medicine Fellowship.

Wood earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn, Alabama. He will join Gadsden Regional Medical Center in Gadsden, Alabama, as a hospitalist.

"At Atrium Health Floyd we continue the legacy of training amazing, talented physicians to provide healing and care for patients. This year we graduated eight individuals," said Dr. Kelly Culbertson, Program Director and Designated Institutional Official of Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Family Medicine Residency. “Five graduates will remain in Georgia, one in Alabama, one in Texas and one will go to North Carolina. Our graduates continue to serve in many capacities and strengthen the primary care workforce. Five will be pursuing primary care, two will be hospitalists and one will go on to work with Atrium Health at Wake Forest to complete an academic fellowship. We are so proud of all of them and the great work they will do."