Coming to Wheeler from as close as North Main Street in Bristol, to around the globe in Guyana and Pakistan, the four new residents in Wheeler’s second annual class bring a wide and impressive set of backgrounds and perspectives.
Wheeler’s innovative residency program for nurse practitioners and physician assistants is designed to cultivate clinical leaders in community health. Two residency tracks, primary care and psychiatry, provide a high-quality, patient-centered training and mentoring environment within an innovative Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) setting and in Wheeler’s programs across the state.
"More than ever, we need skilled, dedicated practitioners in community-based care, who are able to effortlessly understand how the social determinants of health affect wellness," said Rebecca Eleck-Bruce, MD, Wheeler’s primary care medical director. "This was the basis to create our own residency program to begin with, and I know that we will watch our new class of residents enthusiastically take on the challenges that health centers face every day. I'm excited."
"Working with our first class of residents was a wonderful experience, pairing their knowledge with our deep continuum of care. I think everyone learned from each other, which is what we'd want to see," said Michael Twist, DO, Wheeler’s psychiatric medical director. "We can already tell that this year's class will build on a very long history at Wheeler of innovation in treating mental health and offering our patients true whole-person care."
The residents are all already licensed to provide care, but the residency supports and empowers them through additional training to become competent, patient-centered clinical practitioners who will make a meaningful impact in Connecticut’s communities most at risk and in need of accessible, high-quality health care.
The program was developed over two years internally by a team of Wheeler leaders from health center administration, human resources, marketing, nursing, primary care, psychiatry, and quality. Its first class graduated in August 2025.
Wheeler's residents engage in a wide variety of activities throughout the program, including specialty clinics, mentor clinics, didactic sessions, and administration. Specialty clinics include pediatrics, addiction medicine, psychiatry/behavioral health, gender-responsive care, SPRAVATO® (esketamine) therapy for treatment-resistant depression, TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) for highly effective treatment of depression and anxiety without use of medication, mobile health care in the community, and more.
Wheeler offers more than 120 programs, serving 90 percent of the state’s cities and towns, and more than 70,000 people each year.
MEET OUR RESIDENTS
Carolina Acosta Pabon, DNP APRN, is a bilingual Family Nurse Practitioner candidate with a strong foundation in both inpatient and outpatient care, and a passion for caring for underserved populations. With nearly a decade of clinical experience in acute and specialty care at Hartford Hospital, she brings a holistic, patient-centered approach grounded in cultural competence and advocacy. Fluent in Spanish and experienced across interdisciplinary teams, Carolina combines clinical excellence with a commitment to equitable healthcare.
“ I aim to eliminate preventable adverse health outcomes by becoming a bridge for patients to access primary care services. I hope to serve as a bridge that improves access to care and delivers it in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.”
Sharon Mack-MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is an experienced critical care nurse and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner graduate. With six years of nursing experience at Yale New Haven Hospital, she has cared for patients in many specialties, including ICU, trauma/surgical and medicine units. Her nursing experience provides valuable insight into the connection between physical conditions and mental health.
“Wheeler’s mission speaks to the care I hope to provide as a nurse practitioner in the community. It has been my goal as a nurse to collaborate and deliver the highest standard of compassionate care to a diverse community, and as I move into this next phase as a nurse practitioner, that continues to be important to me. Wellness is essential to a thriving community, and I am excited to be part of that work. I believe in Wheeler's vision for community health and the values that define their work.”
Avi Rajram, PMHNP-BC, is a skilled psychiatric registered nurse with experience across adult, geriatric, and crisis units. With a background in nursing, human biology, and even pharmaceutical manufacturing, Avi combines clinical expertise with a strong commitment to vulnerable populations through community outreach and mental health advocacy.
“Mental health is such a stigmatized topic that for some it's almost taboo. Having grown up in Guyana, where this stigma is especially true and where mental health resources were scarce, I have a deep appreciation for the challenges people face when seeking mental health support, especially in communities where this stigma prevails. As a practitioner, my commitment to serving vulnerable, underserved populations has been demonstrated through multiple engagements. I have volunteered in an underserved hospital, provided basic first aid as a nursing student to the homeless population in Rochester, and worked as a peer support specialist on a crisis hotline.”
Sobia Rizwan Shaikh, FNP-C, MBBS, is a highly experienced and globally trained medical professional with over two decades in clinical care and advanced practice. Initially trained as a physician in Pakistan with a focus on pediatrics and diagnostic imaging, she later transitioned to nursing in the U.S. and Canada, earning her Family Nurse Practitioner certification in 2024. Sobia has held diverse clinical observer roles across multiple states and countries, gaining deep insight into primary care, psychiatric services, and diagnostic evaluation. She brings a rich blend of cross-cultural expertise, strong diagnostic acumen, and compassionate patient-centered care to every clinical setting. She is fluent in four languages.
“Throughout my life, I have dedicated myself to healthcare. As a medical student and recent graduate in my home city of Karachi, I was able to work to provide care to the underserved. Because Pakistan is a developing country, there is a severe lack of equitable healthcare, and by joining the medical field there, I was able to work at the intersection of healthcare, social justice, and community empowerment. I believe Wheeler Health's mission of providing holistic care to individuals and families, particularly in historically marginalized communities, resonates with my own aspirations and commitment.”