Butler Memorial Hospital Celebrates First Match Day for Recently Accredited Butler Family Medicine Residency Program

Butler, PA, March 31, 2025 – Independence Health System’s Butler Memorial Hospital celebrated its inaugural Match Day for the Butler Family Medicine Residency (BFMR) program, a significant milestone for both the hospital and the community. Match Day occurred on March 21 and is the highly anticipated day when residency programs and fourth-year medical students learn where they will complete their training. The newly established BFMR program at Butler Memorial Hospital received over 170 applications, extending interview invitations to more than 20 qualified candidates.

While the program is accredited to take eight residents per year, it will start with four residents per year for the first two years, expanding to eight residents starting in July 2027. The BFMR program is thrilled to announce the following cohort of residents for its inaugural class:

• Rachel Cataldo, MD, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine (University of South Florida), Hometown: Des Moines, IA
• Lauren Duttry, DO, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Hometown: Reynoldsville, PA
• Gerald (Jerry) Eddis, MD, American University of the Caribbean,  Hometown: Philadelphia, PA 
• Amba Pasupuleti, MBBS (MD equivalent), MNR Medical College, India, Hometown: Hyderabad, India

In October 2024, Independence Health System announced the Butler Family Residency Program earned accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Medical Education (ACGME). Residents will gain both inpatient and outpatient experience through clinical rotations at the Butler Family Medicine clinic, Butler Memorial Hospital and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. They will train alongside physicians in various specialties, including ambulatory family medicine, hospitalist medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, cardiology, intensive care, and more. Additionally, residents will engage in numerous community programs, fostering a well-rounded educational experience. The resident physicians will begin their orientation on June 24 and will start their daily duties on July 1, 2025. 

“We are thrilled to welcome our first class of residents to the Butler Family Medicine Residency program,” said Joseph Dougherty, MD, CAQ-SM, Program Director. “We look forward to working with this talented group of physicians, and we are confident that they will provide exceptional care to our patients and contribute to the growth of our Butler Family Medicine Residency program, while making a positive impact on the community.” 

To learn more about the Butler Family Medicine Residency program at Butler Memorial Hospital, visit https://www.independence.health/careers/butler-family-medicine-residency/. 

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Nationally recognized for quality care, Independence Health System comprises Butler Memorial, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe, and Westmoreland Hospitals with a combined bed count of 925. With more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and 7,300 employees, the System is the third largest in western Pennsylvania serving a population base of 750,000 in a footprint spanning more than ten counties. 

The System includes tertiary programs rated among America’s best for cardiac care and surgery, earning accolades from a number of prestigious outlets and organizations. Locally owned and locally controlled, Independence Health System offers its patients low-cost, high-quality care across the care spectrum in such specialties as cardiology, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, women’s health and obstetrics, emergency medicine, behavioral health, and primary care. Its network of outpatient centers sees more than 1.2 million visits annually. The homecare division further supports patients at all stages of life with home health and hospice services. Learn more at www.independence.health