About me
Janaka Periyapperuma, MD, FACP, is a dedicated medical educator and seasoned hospitalist with a deep passion for teaching and mentoring. Originally from Sri Lanka, Dr. Janaka graduated with honors from the University of Colombo Medical School in 1997. Following his internship, he served as a Senior Medical Officer for five years before moving to the United States to pursue residency training.
In 2005, Dr. Janaka joined the Danbury Hospital Internal Medicine Residency Program, where he graduated in 2008 and was selected as the PGY-4 Chief Resident. In 2009, he became part of the Danbury Hospital Hospitalist Department, where he is now one of the most senior hospitalists. Recognized for his commitment to medical education, he was appointed Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency in 2012, a role he continues to embrace with enthusiasm.
A lifelong learner and dedicated teacher, Dr. Janaka has received numerous accolades, including the Intern of the Year and Teaching Attending of the Year awards. He plays a key role in residency training, serving as Chairman of the Clinical Competency Committee and the Program Evaluation Committee, among other leadership positions. His passion lies in clinical medicine, teaching medical students and residents, and enhancing their critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills. He also takes great pride in mentoring students and residents, helping them achieve their professional aspirations.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Janaka is an avid sports enthusiast. He has represented his medical school in cricket, table tennis, soccer, and badminton in which he competed at the national level. He continues to play badminton at least weekly to maintain his fitness. A fun fact about him - he has an identical twin brother who is back in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Janaka joined the Patricia Tietjen Teaching Academy to honor his first mentor, Dr. Tietjen, and to enhance his involvement in scholarly activities. He continues to apply the skills gained at the academy to further enrich the education and professional growth of his students and trainees in the years to come. He continues to be an enthusiastic participant at the Teaching Academy.
