Page 8 - Ross Med Day University of Maryland Capital Region Program

The Ross Years and Beyond: Alumni Panel

Moderator: Christopher Bellone, MBA
Manager Hospital Partnerships, RUSM
Christopher Bellone is the Manager of Hospital Partnerships at RUSM, where he has served for more than 13 years. He began
his tenure as a Clinical Advisor and has played a key role in advancing student success and strengthening institutional
partnerships. In his current role, Chris oversees strategic relationships with hospital affiliates, supporting high-quality clinical
education experiences and effective collaboration between academic and clinical partners. He is known for his operational
expertise, reliability, and strong commitment to service excellence.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Events Management from Johnson & Wales University and an MBA in Health Services
from Keller Graduate School of Management. Originally from New England, he later spent much of his career in Florida before
relocating to the Charlotte, North Carolina area.

Paul Newman MD, MBA, MS
Board Certified Family Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, UMCAP
Dr. Paul Newman is board certified in Family Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He holds medical privileges at
UMCAP and Howard University Hospital and serves patients throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. He is the
founder of Newman Medical Group, providing inpatient palliative care consultation services across hospitals in DC and
Maryland. Dr. Newman also serves as Medical Director for Heartland Hospice in Virginia and is co-founder of BeNew Medical
Group, a multi-state primary care practice focused on comprehensive, patient-centered care.

Dr. Newman earned his medical degree from RUSM (2016), completed residency training at University of Maryland Prince
George’s Hospital Center, and pursued fellowship training in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at The George Washington
University Hospital. He additionally holds dual master’s degrees from Marymount University in Health Care Management and
Business Administration.

Priyangi Puranik, MD
PGY-3 Family Medicine Resident, UMCAP

Priyangi Puranik, MD is a third-year Family Medicine resident at the University of Maryland Capital Region Health. She serves
as a resident member of the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians (MDAFP) Board, reflecting her commitment to
professional engagement and advocacy within family medicine.

Her clinical interests include preventive care, patient education, and the delivery of comprehensive, longitudinal primary care.
Dr. Puranik is particularly passionate about empowering patients through education, fostering continuity in the patient–
physician relationship, and promoting evidence-based, patient-centered care.

Habeeb Agbabiaka, MD
PGY-2 Family Medicine Resident, UMCAP
Dr. Habeeb Adesanya Agbabiaka is a PGY-2 Family Medicine resident at the University of Maryland Capital Region Health in
Largo, Maryland. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Ross University School of Medicine and holds a Bachelor of
Science in Microbiology from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. His academic and professional training reflects a strong
analytical foundation and a systems-based approach to patient care.

Prior to residency, Dr. Agbabiaka gained extensive experience in clinical research and pharmacy practice at distinguished
institutions, including the NIH Clinical Center and Johns Hopkins Medicine Suburban Hospital. In these roles, he supported
clinical trial protocols, therapeutic drug monitoring, sterile compounding, and medication management, developing a keen
focus on patient safety and interdisciplinary collaboration.

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