Meet the Internal Medicine Faculty
Munir Shah, MD, FACP, FIDSA
Dr. Munir Shah was appointed the Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program in 2018. He completed his residency at Western Reserve Care System, now known as Western Reserve Health Education in Youngstown, OH and went on to complete an Infectious Disease fellowship at the University of Toledo. He has been serving this community since 1995.
In 2007, Dr. Shah joined Northeast Ohio Infectious Disease Associates and became an active faculty member in our residency. Dr. Shah is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University. In addition to his Infectious Disease practice and Program Director of Internal Medicine, Dr. Shah sits on the Board of Directors Blue Foundation at Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, OH.
Dr. Shah is board certified in Internal Medicine as well as Infectious Disease. He is a firm believer in antibiotic Stewardship with a passion in taking care of multi drug resistant organisms. During his spare time, Dr. Shah loves to travel and is an avid sports fan with a special interest in cricket.
james Shina, MD
Dr. James Shina was appointed the Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program in 2018. He completed his residency at Western Reserve Care System, now known as Western Reserve Health Education in Youngstown, OH.
Dr. Shina is board-certified in Internal Medicine and has a private practice in Austintown, Ohio. He is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio, and also serves as a Professor at the College of Kinesiology, Youngstown State University. He is involved in the administrative roles and is the medical director and VPMD for Steward Medical Group and Steward Health Care Network for the Ohio/Pennsylvania region.
Dr. Shina loves spending time with his residents and enjoys teaching them medicine and life lessons. He is a huge proponent of professionalism and excellent patient care. Over the years, he has worked in conjunction with the hospital administration to deliver the most effective patient care and involve residents in activities such as case management rounds, triage, discharge planning, and long-stay meetings.
Manuel Bautista, MD, FCCP
Dr. Manuel Bautista received his M.D. in 1993 from the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He completed his residency at Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, NJ, followed by a Fellowship in Pulmonary medicine in 2003 and a Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine in 2004. Dr. Bautista is board certified in Sleep Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Internal Medicine. In addition, he is a partner in a successful local pulmonary practice. In his spare time, Dr. Bautista enjoys spending time with his three children, softball, biking, tennis and kayaking.
Aron Blecher, MD, FACP
Dr. Aron Blecher earned his B.A. in 1972 from the University of Cincinnati, and his M.D. from Universidad Autonoma Guadalajara, Mexico in 1976. He completed his Residency at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio and held the position of Chief Resident in his final year of Residency. He has a private practice in Youngstown, Ohio since 1981 and is board certified in Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He also holds an appointment as a Clinical Professor at Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Blecher enjoys golfing, reading, exercising and travel.
Lawrence Goldstein, MD, FACP, FCCP
Dr. Lawrence Goldstein is originally from Far Rockaway, NY. He received his B.A. in 1987. In 1991, after receiving his M.D., he completed an Internal Medicine residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland and a Fellowship in Pulmonary & Critical Care at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in 1997. He has been a member of the WRHE faculty since 1998. In addition to being a staff physician at a local pulmonary practice, he is the Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at Northside Regional Medical Center and Chief of Staff at Vibra Hospital of the Mahoning Valley. Dr. Goldstein has earned several awards including the Golden Apple Award (1999), Outstanding Medical Professor Award (2012), Outstanding Surgical Teaching Award (2004) and Graduate Medical Education Award (2006). He is a member of the Internal Medicine Program Director Advisory Committee. His professional memberships include the American Thoracic Society, Ohio State Medical Association, Mahoning County Medical Society and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Goldstein is a huge New York Mets fan and has even attended the Mets Fantasy Camp.
RITHA KARTAN, MD, FCCP
Dr. Ritha Kartan attended Medical School at Nagarjuna University Sidharta/Guntur Medical Cllege in Andhra Pradesh, India in 1998. She completed an Internal Medicine Residency in 1992 and Fellowships in Pulmonary Medicine (1994) and Critical Care Medicine (1995). She joined the WRHE Faculty in 1996. She is board certified in Sleep Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease and Internal Medicine. She also is a staff physician at a local pulmonary practice, St. Elizabeth Hospital (Boardman) and Vibra Hospital of Mahoning Valley. She has a passion for teaching and it is evidenced in the fact that she is an Associate Professor at Northeast Ohio Medical University, an Adjunct Faculty for the Respiratory Care Program at Youngstown State University and is the Medical Director of Polysomnography at YSU.
Shyam Bhakta, MD, MBA, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI
Dr. Shyam Bhakta is Associate Professor of Medicine and Co-Chair of the Cardiology Section at Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Medicine in Rootstown, Ohio. He is a fellowship-trained, board-certified interventional cardiologist with over 15 years of practice-level experience at Trumbull Regional Medical Center. He is employed by Steward Medical Group, Inc. Dr. Bhakta received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan, and his Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business. He is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Medical Specialties, and the Certification Board for Nuclear Cardiology.