Piu Dey

I was born in India and grew up in northern Virginia. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Virginia and graduated from Ross University School of Medicine.

I have a strong commitment to help the underserved populations in my local communities.

I spent the last year volunteering with the Medical Reserve Corps to organize and carry out testing events and vaccinations at a mass vaccination site. I look forward to bringing my community outreach experience to Gulfport.

My hobbies are running and hiking, watching sports, listening to numerous podcasts, playing board games, and spending time with family and friends.

Emre Tengiz

I was born in Istanbul, Turkey and at the age of three, I settled with my family to the United States. I grew up just outside the suburbs of Washington, DC in Springfield, VA. I went on to attend Texas Tech University (Go Red Raiders!) majoring in Biology and later received my medical degree from the American University of Antigua College of Medicine.

Family medicine is a unique field that offers so many avenues to grow as a physician and is what initially sparked my interest in the field. Working a rural ER to performing C-sections or clinic continuity of care, in Family medicine you really get to do it all. My interest also grew stronger when I volunteered a summer in South Africa helping develop preventative health measures in areas with high HIV/AIDS prevalence.

I am excited to continue my medical journey at Memorial and plan to bring a focus that revolves around patient centered care to the community of Gulfport.

Outside of medicine, you can find me mountain biking or playing soccer. I also enjoy travelling and trying new cuisines (but nothing beats my wife’s delicious butter chicken dish!)

Gurwinder Kaur

I am from Queens, New York, and a graduate of Ross University School of Medicine.

I was drawn to medicine from a young age, and my desire to help people only grew the older I got and with more life experiences under my belt.

Baking, drawing, and movies are a few things I enjoy doing in my spare time. Being physically active is something I strive to do every day. I love meeting new people and I’m always ready for new adventures.

Arjun Meiyappan

I was born in India and grew up in the UK, Australia and New Zealand before moving to Canada. I graduated from the University of Otago in New Zealand with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and attended the Medical University of Lublin in Poland for medical school. I completed two years of basic science courses in Europe and later completed clinical rotations in Chicago.

I am excited to become a part of the Family Medicine program at Memorial and look forward to exploring my interests in preventative and behavioral medicine.

I am interested in learning more about existing healthcare inequalities in rural communities.

I enjoy reading, playing video games, and spending time with family and friends.

Surbhibahen Modi

I am from Gujrat, India, and a graduate of Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, in Gujrat, India.

I chose Family Medicine because I value the concept of continuity of care and developing lasting relationships with patients.

I also enjoy the broad scope of practice, caring for patients of all ages and providing preventive education to the community.

I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also believe that a healthy mind and body help you do your best work and keep you motivated. I actively try to engage in as much physical activity as possible such as hiking, walking, exploring nature, practicing yoga, dancing.

I was born on the island of Jamaica and immigrated to south Florida at a young age, where I spent most of my childhood. I completed my undergraduate and medical education at the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC.
With my combined experiences volunteering in the community and conducting clinical research at the National Institutes of Health,

I hope to translate medical innovation into practical steps for helping individuals live healthier lives.

I am passionate about serving through primary care and remain inspired to pursue a lifelong career in family medicine, where I can work daily to provide equitable healthcare for underserved individuals. My areas of interest are community engagement, global health, women’s health, and lifestyle medicine.

Outside of medicine, I love listening to podcasts, traveling and enjoying outdoor activities.

Michael Samel

I am from Hattiesburg, MS and attended the University of Southern Mississippi for my Bachelor of Science degree where I studied Biochemistry as a Presidential Scholar. I also was involved in primary research into novel protein interactions with amyloid-beta peptide in the context of Alzheimer’s Disease and neuroinflammatory response. It was through presenting this research that I first started to realize how much I cared about communicating science as a part of my career. I then worked at Forrest General Hospital in their emergency department as a tech, and this is where my love of medicine truly began. I graduated from Des Moines University and was recognized as the Outstanding Student of Humanities and Bioethics for my medical school cohort.

I believe my main role as a physician is first to teach patients, to help them understand how their body works, and to empower them as a member of their own healthcare team.

As a part of this I am adjunct faculty at the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine where I lecture on aspects of geriatric and palliative medicine. I deeply value shared decision making and ensuring we understand our patients’ goals of care. I think these are crucial aspects to offer our patients peace and confidence in the quality of care we provide, no matter the age or issue that brought them to us.

In my free time I love to cook, bake, and occasionally get the chance to brew some of my own beer. I like to think it’s how I keep my old benchwork and biochemistry skills fresh. I have a young Boxer/Lab mutt named Tortellini who is a very good boy.

Carmenza Valderrama | 2022-2023 Family Medicine Chief Resident

I was born in New York City, grew up in Bogota, Colombia, until the age of 11, and then moved to Dallas, Texas. I graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and graduated from Ross University School of Medicine.

I am fluent in Spanish and can speak some Portuguese. I am passionate about women’s health.

I look forward to providing quality care and education to my future patients.

I enjoy spending time with family and my dog, traveling, getting to know different cultures and languages, and trying new foods. I also enjoy cooking typical Colombian foods as well as dancing and taking pictures along the way.

Thinn Zaw

I immigrated to the United States in elementary school and grew up in Los Angeles, California. I received my undergraduate degree from California and majored in biology with interest in global health and public health. From there, I pursued my Master of Public Health at St. George’s University in Grenada. My experiences there showcased how diverse the medical field could be and solidified my interest in becoming a doctor, which led me to enroll in the School of Medicine at St. George’s University.

Before moving to Gulfport, I was in the tri-state area for my clinical rotations, which inspired me to pursue Family Medicine. I love the broad-spectrum aspect of Family Medicine and the continuity of care.

It is a privilege to be able to care for patients over the entire span of their lives.

I hope to further explore my interests in geriatrics, research, community, and preventative medicine at Gulfport. I am excited to start my journey here and serve the community for years to come. I enjoy educating patients, raising awareness, and promoting healthy lifestyles.

I love golfing, gardening, traveling, and exploring new places.