Alex Khamechand, MD
Thank you for your interest in the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program! My name is Alexander Khamechand, and I am one of the chief residents for the 2026–2027 academic year.
I was born and raised in Guyana, where I lived until I was 14, before moving to Queens, New York. I later attended Fordham University for my undergraduate studies and Albany Medical College for medical school. When it came time to choose a residency program, I was drawn to Dartmouth for its combination of rigorous clinical training, approachable faculty, and close-knit community. I was also fortunate to couples match here with my fiancée, Nisha, which made the opportunity to begin our training together in the Upper Valley especially meaningful.
Over the course of residency, I have become incredibly proud to call Dartmouth home. As a tertiary academic medical center serving a large and predominantly rural region, we care for patients with remarkable clinical complexity while also learning how geography, access to care, and other social factors influence the way medicine is practiced. The breadth of our clinical training consistently challenges us to grow as physicians, but what has stood out most to me is the culture of the program. Our residents genuinely support one another, and our faculty know us as individuals, invest in our development, and provide the mentorship and autonomy to pursue the careers that excite us.
Dartmouth has also given me the opportunity to discover how much I enjoy medical education. From teaching students and residents at the bedside to helping develop educational initiatives and now serving as a chief resident, I have found a community that encourages us not only to become excellent clinicians, but also to become educators, mentors, and leaders. These experiences have been particularly meaningful as I pursue a career in hematology/oncology with a continued interest in medical education.
Outside of the hospital, I have really enjoyed the natural beauty of the Upper Valley and the opportunity to explore the greater New England region. Whether enjoying the scenery close to home or taking trips throughout New England and into Canada, including Montréal and Québec City, there is always somewhere new to explore. Having both the beauty of the Upper Valley and easy access to so many destinations throughout the Northeast has made this a wonderful place to live during residency.
It is a privilege to serve as a chief resident in a program that has given me so much over the past several years. I wish you all the best during the application season, and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions about our program, residency training, or life in the Upper Valley!
Best Regards,
Alex
Peter Leonard, MD
My name is Peter Leonard, and I am one of the chief residents for the 2026–2027 academic year. Thank you so much for your interest in the Dartmouth Hitchcock Internal Medicine Residency Program! I'm originally from Indiana and attended undergrad at Indiana University followed by medical school at IUSM, where I completed my MD as well as an MBA in healthcare administration.
I chose Dartmouth because it's a rare combination: a serious academic medical center tucked into the woods, with incredible access to the outdoors right outside your door, paired with a genuinely collegial, warm atmosphere. It's the kind of place where you can train at a high level and still build real relationships, with faculty who know you as a person and co-residents who become close friends rather than just colleagues. That combination is hard to find, and it's exactly what I was looking for.
Residency at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center has given me an incredible foundation, and I feel genuinely well supported heading into cardiology fellowship. Between the clinical breadth, the mentorship, and strong research opportunities, this program has given me exactly what I needed to pursue the career I want.
Outside the hospital, you’ll find me spending time with my wife and daughter walking around the Dartmouth undergrad campus in Hanover, grabbing coffee at the Norwich Farmers Market, or playing tennis at the Dartmouth courts. Life here in the Upper Valley is really something unique, and we hope you love it as much as we do.
I'd love to answer any questions about the program or life up here. See you on the interview trail!
All the best,
Peter
Kira Niederhoffer, MD
My name is Kira Niederhoffer, one of the chief residents for the 2026-2027 academic year. We’re so pleased you are interested in learning more about the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medicine Residency Program! I was born in Connecticut as the youngest of six girls. I attended undergraduate at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts and worked for three years in a translational research lab at MGH before attending medical school at Duke University. In residency, I was a member of the primary care track and hope to continue in primary care in the upper valley following my chief year.
I was drawn to Dartmouth for the unique blend of outpatient training and inpatient skills the program offers. With the 4+4 system I knew I would get a robust outpatient experience in addition to a strong inpatient curriculum. The program took the time to get to know me as an individual and helped tailor my residency experience to hone my career interests and meet my professional needs.
At Dartmouth you will find providers who care about you, their patients, and the team and a learning environment that cultivates continual education, humility, academic excellence, and compassion. You will live alongside your patients in the upper valley and learn about the unique challenges and strengths of rural medicine with the benefits and resources of a large academic medical center at your back. You will gain new skills in and outside the hospital from cross country skiing to LPs and leave the program a better version of the doctor you want to be.
Outside of the hospital I have two boys (2 and 4) and can give you a detailed ranking of all the best local playground slides. I have enjoyed the beautiful hikes and breweries throughout the area, and am always on the hunt for a great book club or new experience (ask me about the horse parade!).
We look forward to meeting you on the interview trail!
Kira