About the Program

I’d like to welcome you to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital's Internal Medicine Residency Program and am grateful for your interest in learning more about us. The mission of our program is to create medical leaders with a commitment to life-long learning and a strong foundation in Social Medicine. We employ the principles of evidence-based medicine to provide excellent medical care to our patients and emphasize the role of physicians as leaders.

The program offers comprehensive training in inpatient and outpatient general medicine and intensive care, with exposure to subspecialties. Additional training is available through Stony Brook University Hospital. Outpatient clinic duties include weekly half-day sessions and 12 dedicated weeks in general medicine, ensuring residents are prepared for primary care or fellowship.

All interns complete a dedicated Social Medicine rotation in year one, and the curriculum spans all three years. Social Medicine addresses how social and economic conditions impact health, disease, and care delivery. The rotation promotes self-reflection, wellness, leadership, and personal growth.

Our residents work with a diverse patient population and a broad spectrum of diseases. With small class sizes, residents receive individualized training with the right balance of oversight and autonomy. Support and attending availability are 24/7. Twelve-hour shifts eliminate 24-hour calls, promoting education and minimizing burnout.

The program is located in Southampton, NY—known for its beaches, natural beauty, and access to the New York metro area. It offers abundant outdoor activities such as boating, hiking, swimming, and golfing.

A bit about me: I completed medical school at MCP-Hahnemann (Drexel), and residency and fellowship in rheumatology at Stony Brook. I was the Rheumatology Program Director before joining Southampton in 2015. In addition to directing this program, I serve as Director of Scholarly Activity and practice clinical rheumatology.

Personally, I live in Flanders with my sons, Parker and Grady, both avid hockey players. I enjoy boating in the summer, skiing in winter, and painting—having worked as a scenic artist before medicine.

I welcome every chance to teach and learn, and I hope you come to love this program and our community as much as I do.

Thank you for your interest in our program.

Kindest Regards,
Heidi Roppelt, MD