New England
Regional
Elections

Laura Desrochers, MD, MPH

Bio-sketch

Laura Desrochers, MD, MPH is a primary care physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and a current Linde Fellow, a program supporting emerging leaders in primary care. She completed her undergraduate and MPH degrees at Northeastern University and earned her medical degree from the University of Massachusetts. After completing her internship, she served as the Primary Care Chief Resident, developing strengths in teaching, curriculum design, and program leadership. She is now a faculty physician at Healthcare Associates at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where in addition to her clinical responsibilities, she teaches and precepts residents, and serves as the Behavioral Health Lead for the department.

Before entering medicine, Dr. Desrochers worked in educational leadership in Northeastern University’s Master of Public Health Program, mentoring students, teaching public health and health policy courses, and contributing to research in local public health systems and health reform. Her scholarly work now focuses on behavioral health in primary care, including the care of patients with serious mental illness.

Dr. Desrochers has a longstanding commitment to mentorship and leadership development. She has served on the New England Regional Leadership board for the past 4 years, most recently as Secretary/Treasurer. She continues to guide students and residents in academic growth, research, and career planning, and she looks forward to contributing her skills and experience to SGIM’s regional leadership board.

Personal Statement

I am excited to apply for the role of President-elect of the New England Region of SGIM because I am deeply committed to advancing primary care, strengthening our academic community, and supporting the development of current and future general internists. My career has been shaped by a passion for teaching, mentoring, and lifelong learning, and I am energized by opportunities to build connections across institutions. With experience in educational leadership, resident training, and practice-level behavioral health initiatives, I hope to bring both steady leadership and fresh perspective to our regional work. I would be honored to help guide and support our vibrant SGIM community.

Jacqueline Savage, MD

Bio-sketch

Jacqueline Savage, MD is an assistant professor of medicine, in the department of general internal medicine at Yale University. She is also an associate program director in the traditional internal medicine residency program at Yale New Haven Hospital. Dr. Savage serves as co-director for ambulatory education and as the chair of the academic support committee within the residency program as well. Her clinical focus is on the dermatologic exam and she is developing an acumen in disaster medicine. She serves on regional committees for various societies as well, to include the Connecticut chapter of the American College of Physicians and the New England regional meeting planning committee for the Society of General Internal Medicine. In her free time, she runs after two children, 4 dogs and is preparing for her 1st marathon.

Personal Statement

I am interested in serving as Secretary/Treasurer for the SGIM New England Region Leadership Team because I am committed to advancing a just, knowledgeable, and engaged general internal medicine workforce. I bring prior experience serving on leadership committees for regional professional societies, where I have supported organizational operations, collaborative initiatives, and member engagement. In this role, I would be eager to contribute to SGIM by helping further the region’s strategic agenda, strengthening communication and continuity within the leadership team, and supporting efforts as directed by the president. I am particularly motivated to help highlight and amplify the high-quality academic, educational, and advocacy work already being done by members of the society, ensuring that these contributions are visible, valued, and shared widely across the region.

Erica Heiman, MD, MS

Bio-sketch

Personal Statement

I would be honored to serve as the New England Region Membership Chair because I am passionate about building a strong, connected community of physicians and trainees. As an individual with a disability, I value the perspectives and strengths that each member brings, and I want to help cultivate an inclusive environment where everyone feels engaged and supported. I am committed to developing thoughtful outreach strategies and ensuring SGIM New England continues to grow in both diversity and impact. Please see the attached abbreviated CV that focuses on experiences pertinent to this position, such as mentoring, teaching, and serving on institutional committees. Feel free to contact me to request additional information.

Michele Garazi, MD

Bio-sketch

Dr. Michele Garazi is a passionate academic physician, double board-certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. She holds an MD degree from Geneva University in Switzerland. Clinically, she has over a decade of experience working as a hospitalist in Rhode Island.

She prioritizes making a difference in her patients ‘lives and making a difference in their treatment outcomes by providing her patients with the best medical care.

Besides her clinical work, she is involved in multiple societies, including IDSA, SHM, and SGIM, and has served on the Office of Women in Medicine and Sciences committee at Brown University. She is passionate about contributing to medical research, writing, and medical education.

Personal Statement

Since joining the SGIM, I have been actively involved in this organization, contributing as an abstract reviewer both for the national SGIM meeting and the New England regional meeting. In addition, I recently joined the SGIM-associated UpToDate peer reviewer program, providing a general internal medicine perspective on UpToDate chapters content.

I am dedicated to the SGIM mission and values, and I am passionate about development of initiatives involving mentoring medical students from underrepresented populations, as well as increasing the proportion of minorities speakers at medical conferences.

I am looking forward to collaborating with other leadership members to make a meaningful impact and help shape the future of SGIM New England as a society who protects the interests of the minorities.