Welcome from the Program Director - Internal Medicine Residency Program

Residency training in Internal Medicine is one of the most transformative periods of your professional life. It is a time when you transition from learning medicine to truly carrying the responsibility of caring for patients with complex and often life-changing illnesses. There will be moments of challenge, uncertainty, growth, and discovery. What matters is your willingness to learn, reflect, improve, and continue striving for excellence every day.

Throughout this journey, you will learn to evaluate yourself honestly — recognizing both your strengths and the areas where growth is needed. You will define the kind of physician you want to become: not only in terms of clinical expertise, but also through the impact you wish to make in healthcare systems, quality improvement, patient safety, advocacy, education, research, and leadership. While our faculty will provide guidance, mentorship, and feedback, some of the most important growth will come from your own commitment to self-reflection and lifelong learning. That ability is what transforms good physicians into exceptional ones.

At Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, our approach to training is designed to provide both breadth and personalization. Our curriculum combines rigorous inpatient and outpatient experiences with longitudinal mentorship, individualized career development, and exposure to a diverse range of pathology and patient populations. You will work alongside dedicated faculty committed to teaching, scholarship, professionalism, and compassionate patient-centered care. We aim to create an environment where residents are challenged, supported, and empowered to pursue their own areas of excellence.

Our mission is not simply to train internists, but to develop future leaders in medicine — physicians who will serve, heal, educate, innovate, and advocate for their patients and communities. Whether your future lies in primary care, subspecialty fellowship, academic medicine, research, or healthcare innovation, we are committed to helping you achieve your goals. Residency will not always be easy. There will be long days, difficult decisions, and moments that test your resilience. But there will also be tremendous growth, meaningful relationships, and the privilege of making a difference in the lives of patients and families during their most vulnerable moments.

As your Program Director, I am deeply committed to your success, your wellbeing, and your development into a compassionate, knowledgeable, and confident internist. We will support you, challenge you, and prepare you for the responsibilities and opportunities ahead.

Welcome to the Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program. We are honored to be part of your journey.

Ziad Ashkar, MD, MPH, ScD
Program Director
Internal Medicine Residency Program
Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center