Program Leadership
Message From the Program Director
Welcome to the Alameda Health System-Highland Hospital (also known as Alameda County Medical Center) Internal Medicine Residency website. We are delighted that you have chosen to learn more about our program and our medical system. Our program is an ACGME fully accredited residency program that has been training internists since 1955.
Alameda Health System (AHS) is a remarkable place. As the public health system (“the safety-net”) for the underserved citizens of Alameda County, California, it is our charge to provide care to those most in need. The AHS mission statement summarizes what we do:
Alejandro Díaz, MD
Program Director
Internal Medicine Residency
Attending Physician, Primary Care
Medical School Universidad Xochicalco
Residency Highland Hospital Internal Medicine Primary Care Track
Caring, Healing, Teaching, Serving All
Our faculty and housestaff are dedicated to the public sector mission and its inexhaustible opportunity to “make a difference.” For those that are similarly minded, this is an extremely rewarding environment to learn and practice medicine.
The Internal Medicine Residency is the largest training program at AHS-Highland Hospital and sits at the core of the Department of Medicine. We value and support our residents in their care for the underserved, their commitment to lifelong learning and teaching, and their dedication to system transformation and quality improvement. We firmly believe that creating a supportive environment of inquiry and scholarship allows each of our residents to graduate our program with the vision, knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be highly competent and culturally sensitive physicians.
Our graduates have gone on to pursue competitive fellowships and clinician educator positions and many have chosen to become much needed primary care physicians and hospitalists. Wherever they have gone and whichever path they have chosen, our residents are known for their ability to handle complex patients. Furthermore, we are proud that many are active, contributing members of their communities.
Coaching young doctors throughout their careers is a great source of inspiration and pride for our team of teaching faculty. Our program strives to develop each and every one of our residents to their greatest potential and we are dedicated to the challenging and continuous work necessary to accomplish this goal. First and foremost in this journey is selecting highly qualified and dedicated candidates whose missions align with ours.
Thank you for your interest in our program. Please explore our website and do not hesitate to contact our residency program office should you have any questions at all.
Andrea Lu, MD
Associate Program Director / Categorical and Preliminary Track
Medical School
USC Keck School of Medicine
Residency
LAC+USC Internal Medicine Residency
Scott Lynch, MD
Associate Program Director / Categorical and Preliminary Track
Medical School
St. George's University
Residency
Highland Hospital Internal Medicine, Categorical Track
Palak Kumar, MD
Associate Program Director / Primary Care Track
Medical School
St. George's University
Residency
Highland Hospital Internal Medicine, Primary Care Track