Please join us in welcoming these recent additions to the College of Medicine faculty.

Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

Nathan Probst, M.D.

Nathan Probst, M.D., has joined the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and UAMS South Central Regional Campus in Pine Bluff as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Probst received his medical degree from the UAMS College of Medicine in 2016. He completed his family medicine residency training at the UAMS South Central Regional Campus in 2019. Prior to returning to UAMS, Dr. Probst was a member of the Naval Medical Readiness & Training Command in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he served as the Corpus Christi Base Emergency Medical Services Director.

Department of Internal Medicine

Muhammad Ali Zulqarnain, M.D.

Muhammad Ali Zulqarnain, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiology. Dr. Zulqarnain earned his medical degree from Shifa College of Medicine, Bahria University, in Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2007. Dr. Zulqarnain completed his internal medicine residency training in 2014 at the Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine in Canton. Dr. Zulqarnain continued his training with four fellowships including a critical care medicine fellowship at the University of Kentucky, a cardiovascular fellowship at Northeastern Ohio University, an interventional cardiology fellowship at Michigan State University, and a structural heart disease fellowship at the Main Line Health Lankenau Medical Center.

Aaroop Haridas, M.D.

Aaroop Haridas, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Rheumatology. Dr. Haridas earned his medical degree at the Cochin Medical College in India in 2006. He went on to complete his internal medicine residency at the Crozer Chester Medical Center in 2014. Dr. Haridas continued his training with a rheumatology fellowship at UAMS, which he completed in 2016.

Department of Radiation Oncology

Ciani Ellison, M.D.

Ciani Ellison, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiation Oncology as an Assistant Professor. A Russellville native, Dr. Ellison received a Bachelor of Science in Biology as a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. She received her medical degree at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she remained for her internship in internal medicine and residency in radiation oncology and served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Ellison sees patients in the UAMS Radiation Oncology Center, with clinical interests including pediatric cancers, breast cancers and soft tissue sarcomas. Her research interests include the study of radiation-associated toxicity and improving patient outcomes in studies of both non-small cell lung cancer patients and soft tissue sarcomas. Dr. Ellison uses radiation techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Department of Radiology

Aslan Efendizade, D.O.

Aslan Efendizade, D.O., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Emergency Radiology, a new division providing overnight coverage. Dr. Efendizade received his medical degree from Michigan State University in East Lansing. He completed a residency in diagnostic radiology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Efendizade continued his training with a fellowship in neuroradiology at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Sumit Shah, M.D.

Sumit Shah, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Diagnostic Imaging. Dr. Shah received his medical degree from Nepalgunj Medical College, Kathmandu University, in Nepal. He completed radiology residency training at Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China. Dr. Shah continued his training with clinical fellowships in body MRI, body cross sectional imaging, thoracoabdominal imaging, and women’s imaging at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. He also completed a fellowship in abdominal imaging and intervention at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. 

Please join us in welcoming these recent additions to the College of Medicine faculty.

Department of Anesthesiology

Bryce Ferry, D.O., MHA

Bryce Ferry, D.O., MHA, has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia. Dr. Ferry received his medical degree at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his anesthesia residency at UAMS and continued his training at Arkansas Children’s Hospital with a pediatric anesthesia fellowship, which he completed this year.

Department of Emergency Medicine

Adam Watkins, M.D.

Adam Watkins, M.D., has joined the Department of Emergency Medicine as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Watkins received his medical degree from UAMS in 2020. He remained at UAMS for his emergency medicine residency training, serving as Chief Resident in 2022-2023. Dr. Watkins received multiple honors during his training, including an Impact Award in 2022 for making substantial contributions to the Emergency Medicine Residency Program. He is a member of national professional organizations including the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Department of Family Medicine

Diorella López-González, M.D.

Diorella López-González, M.D., has joined the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine as an Assistant Professor. Originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico, Dr. Lopez-Gonzalez received her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts, in 2019. She completed family medicine residency training at UAMS, Little Rock, where she served as Chief Resident in 2022–2023 and as Community Medicine Liaison in 2021–2022. Dr. Lopez-Gonzalez is certified with the American Board of Family Medicine.

Samuel Stringfellow, D.O.

Samuel Stringfellow, D.O., has joined the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and UAMS Northeast Regional Campus in Jonesboro as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Stringfellow received his medical degree from New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) College of Osteopathic Medicine in Jonesboro in 2020. He completed his family medicine residency training at the UAMS Northeast Regional Campus. Dr. Stringfellow is certified with the American Board of Family Medicine.

Department of Internal Medicine

Manojna Konda, M.D.

Manojna Konda, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Konda eared her medical degree from Gandhi Medical College in Telangana, India in 2012. Dr. Konda completed her residency in internal medicine at UAMS in 2019 and continued her training at UAMS with a fellowship in hematology-oncology, from which she graduated this summer. 

Syed Naqvi, M.D.

Syed Naqvi, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Naqvi earned his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences in Lahore, Pakistan. Dr. Naqvi went on to complete his residency training in internal medicine in 2023 at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Bowling Green Campus.

Ankur Varma, M.D., MPH

Ankur Varma, M.D., MPH, has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Varma received his medical degree in 2009 from West Bengal University of Health Sciences in Kolkata, India. He went on to earn a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Texas School Public Health, Houston in 2014. In 2015, Dr. Varma completed his internal medicine residency training at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Dr. Varma continued his training with two fellowships, one in hematology-oncology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and one at MD Anderson Cancer Center in stem cell transplant and cellular therapy.

Sruthi Vellanki, M.D.

Sruthi Vellanki, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Vellanki obtained her medical degree from Maharajah’s Institute of Medical Sciences in Andhra Pradesh, India. She went on to complete her residency training at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, Michigan in 2019. In 2020, Dr. Vellanki graduated from a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University school of Medicine in St. Louis. She served as an Assistant Professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine until her recruitment to UAMS.

Department of Neurosurgery

Hector E. Soriano-Baron, M.D.

Hector Soriano-Baron, M.D., has joined the Department of Neurosurgery as an Assistant Professor and Co-Director of Joint Spine Services. Dr. Soriano received his medical degree at Facultad de Medicina UNAM in Mexico City. He completed a neurosurgical residency at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico City. During his last year as a resident there, he received a grant for a postdoctoral research fellowship in biomechanics of the spine at the Spine Lab of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.

After completing two fellowships at the institute, Dr. Soriano continued his training with a neurosurgery residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Dr. Soriano went on to complete a fellowship in complex spine and robotic surgery at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he also served as a junior faculty member. Prior to his recruitment to UAMS, Dr. Soriano had a successful practice in Georgia.   

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Ryan Strebeck, M.D.

Ryan Strebeck, M.D., has joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Strebeck obtained bachelor’s degrees in biology and Spanish at Ouachita Baptist University. He received his medical degree from UAMS in 2019, earning the Roberts Key Award as the graduating senior with the highest scholastic grade point average for all four years of medical school. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at UAMS in 2023.

As a member of the newly formed laborist division within General Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Strebeck serves on the Labor and Delivery service and participates in prenatal visits. In addition to caring for expecting mothers and their babies, he also treats a variety of gynecologic issues and specializes in laparoscopic, robotic, and vaginal surgery.

Joseph Fixler, M.D.

Joseph Fixler, M.D., has joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Dr. Fixler graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 2016. While in medical school, he received the Cincinnati Obstetrical and Gynecological Society Award, which is given to one student in each class for excellence. Dr. Fixler completed his residency in OB/GYN at the University of Cincinnati in 2020. As a resident, he earned the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Residency Award for Excellence in Obstetrics and twice received the Residency Esprit de Corps Award. Dr. Fixler continued his training at the University of Texas Southwestern/Parkland Hospital in Dallas, completing a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine in 2023.

Dr. Fixler’s clinical and research interests include rheumatologic disease in pregnancy, cardiovascular disease in pregnancy, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, operative obstetrics, multifetal pregnancy, medical education and global health. He currently serves as the Health Committee Director for Village Life Outreach Program, a non-profit organization that partners with rural communities in Tanzania to improve access to quality health care, education and drinking water services. He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of the SMFM. 

Dayna Whitcombe, M.D.

Dayna Whitcombe, M.D., has joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Dr. Whitcombe completed medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2016. She completed her residency in the UAMS Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2020, where she served as Chief Resident. While in residency, Dr. Whitcombe received the Outstanding Resident in Maternal-Fetal Medicine Award in 2020. She also earned the highest score on the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) In-Service Exam in 2018. Dr. Whitcombe continued her training at UAMS, completing a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine in 2023. 

Dr. Whitcombe’s clinical and research interests include cardio-obstetrics, diabetes, fetal growth restriction and fetal anomalies. She is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. 

Department of Psychiatry

Todd Brinkley, M.D.

Todd Brinkley, M.D., has joined the Department of Psychiatry as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Brinkley is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. He served at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana, before earning a bachelor’s in biology at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Dr. Brinkley received his medical degree at UAMS in 2019. He completed his residency in psychiatry at UAMS this year. Dr. Brinkley sees patients in Psychiatric Research Institute’s Walker Family Clinic and also provides services in the UAMS Student Wellness clinic. 

Department of Radiology

Uma Mahesh Matapathi, M.D.

Uma Mahesh Matapathi, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Radiology. Dr. Matapathi received his medical degree from Kurnool Medical College, NTR University in Andhra Pradesh, India, and completed an internship at its affiliated hospital. He completed a residency in radiodiagnosis at SV Medical College, NTR University, in Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Matapathi continued his training with clinical fellowships in pediatric radiology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami and in Body/MSK MRI at UAMS. He holds the additional qualification of DNB in radiology. Dr. Matapathi has served in previous positions in India, Kuwait and most recently in Baltimore.

Department of Surgery

S. Thomas Kang, M.D.

Thomas Kang, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Colorectal Surgery. Dr. Kang received his bachelor’s in biochemistry at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. He obtained his medical degree at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Kang completed general surgery residency training at TriHealth Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, followed by a fellowship in colorectal surgery at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Dr. Kang’s areas of interest include colorectal and anal malignancies, minimally invasive surgery, surgical education and health care disparities.

David A. Sterling, M.D.

David Sterling, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Sterling received his bachelor’s in biochemistry at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. He earned his medical degree at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Dr. Sterling completed his integrated plastic surgery residency training at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.

Andre Ramdon, M.D.

Andre Ramdon, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Associate Professor in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. Dr. Ramdon received his medical degree from the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica. He completed his general surgery residency training at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a fellowship in vascular surgery at Albany Medical College.

Dr. Ramdon participated in advanced limb-salvage treatment in Italy and endovascular aortic treatment in Germany. He served as an attending vascular surgeon at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans affairs VA Health System in Philadelphia and as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. While there, he contributed to a 25% reduction in amputations as well as to the start of a complex endovascular aortic care program. Dr. Ramdon has authored several book chapters and peer-reviewed articles. He is a member of numerous professional societies.

Brian Langford, M.D.

Brian Langford, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Trauma with a specialty in Urologic Reconstruction. Dr. Langford received his medical degree from UAMS, where he stayed for his general surgery internship and urology residency training. He received advanced training in urologic trauma, reconstruction and prosthetics through a fellowship at UT Southwestern in Dallas.

Dr. Langford’s clinical interests include the surgical management of Peyronie’s disease, male stress incontinence, erectile dysfunction, urethral stricture, upper tract reconstruction and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Dr. Langford is active in numerous national professional organizations including the American Urologic Association, the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America.

Please join us in welcoming these recent additions to the College of Medicine faculty.

Department of Anesthesiology

Aryana Eghbali, M.D.

Aryana Eghbali, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Eghbali received her medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine in Barbados/Miramar, Florida. She completed her anesthesia residency training at UAMS this year.

Amanda Gillott, M.D.

Amanda Gillott, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Gillott received her medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica. She completed her anesthesia residency training at UAMS this year.

Aparna Jindal, M.D.

Aparna Jindal, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor in the Chronic Pain Division. Dr. Jindal received her medical degree at Government Medical College in Patiala, Punjab, India. She completed an anesthesia and critical care medicine residency at Dayanand medical College in Ludhiana, Punjab. She continued her training with an anesthesia residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, followed by an interventional pain medicine fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Michelle Tenorio, M.D.

Michelle Tenorio, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Tenorio received her medical degree at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. She completed family medicine residency training at St. Joseph’s Health in Syracuse, New York and worked as a hospitalist in several hospitals in Hawaii before continuing her training with an anesthesia residency at UAMS.

Dylan Trujillo, D.O.

Dylan Trujillo, D.O., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Trujillo received his medical degree at A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri. He completed his anesthesia residency training at UAMS this year.

Department of Internal Medicine

Thomas “Ples” Spradley, M.D.

Thomas “Ples” Spradley, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Spradley received his Bachelor of Arts with Distinction degrees in Biochemistry and Spanish from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, in 2015. He received his medical degree from UAMS in 2019. He remained at UAMS for his internal medicine residency training and served as Chief Resident and Instructor in the Department of Internal Medicine in 2022-2023. 

Farah Mazahreh, M.D.

Farah Mazahreh, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Instructor and Chief Resident in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Mazahreh earned her medical degree from The Hashemite University in Zarqa, Jordan, in 2019. She completed a clinical rotation with the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston and clinical rotations in the Nephrology and Cardiology departments at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Dr. Mazahreh completed an internship at Shmaisani Hospital in Amman, Jordan, in 2020. She completed her residency training in internal medicine at UAMS this year.

Tatsiana “Tanya” Savenka, M.D.

Tatsiana “Tanya” Savenka, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Instructor and Chief Resident in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Savenka received her medical degree from UAMS in 2020 and joined the Internal Medicine Residency Program. In addition to her clinical training, Dr. Savenka has collaborated with Internal Medicine faculty on research into plasma cytomegalovirus quantitative polymerase chain reaction testing and customized learning about bettering sterile insertion.

Morgan Tripod, M.D.

Morgan Tripod, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Instructor and Chief Resident in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Tripod received her undergraduate degree at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. She graduated from the UAMS College of Medicine in 2020 and remained at UAMS for her internal medicine residency training before being named a Chief Resident for 2023-2024.

Hira Imad Cheema, M.D.

Hira Imad Cheema, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Cheema received her medical degree from King Edward Medical University in Lahore, Pakistan. She recently worked as a critical care hospitalist for Baptist Health Medical Center in Conway. Prior to joining UAMS, Dr. Cheema worked at the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Smith.

Sindu Iska, M.D.

Sindu Iska, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Iska received her medical degree from Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College in India. She went on to complete her internal medicine residency training at HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital in Florida. Prior to joining UAMS, Dr. Iska completed a fellowship in investigative cancer therapeutics at Cleveland Clinic, Florida.

Anusha Muddasani, M.D.

Anusha Muddasani, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Muddasani received her medical degree from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India. She completed her residency training at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Dr. Muddasani most recently worked at CHI St. Vincent in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Asis Shrestha, M.D.

Asis Shrestha, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Shrestha earned her medical degree from the College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Nepal. She completed her internal medicine residency at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, New York in 2020. Dr. Shrestha is joining UAMS from Rochester Regional Health in Rochester, New York.

Anup Kumar Trikannad, M.D.

Anup Kumar Trikannad, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Trikannad received his medical degree from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Bangalore, India, in 2012 and his Master’s in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience from the University of Texas in Dallas in 2014. Before joining UAMS, Dr. Trikannad completed his internal medicine residency at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan.

Omar Alqaisi, M.D.

Omar Alqaisi, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Alqaisi earned his medical degree from the University of Jordan in 2019. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the UAMS in 2023. During his training, he served as a Residency Council member.

Yazan Bashtawi, M.D.

Yazan Bashtawi, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Bashtawi received his medical degree at Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, Jordan, in 2009.  He completed his internal medicine residency at the Jordan University of Science and Technology- King Abdullah University Hospital in 2014. He continued his training at UAMS in 2021, serving as Chief Fellow in the Division of Nephrology.

Fares Mashal, M.D.

Fares Mashal, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Mashal received his medical degree from Jordan University of Science and Technology in Jordan in 2018. He completed his residency in internal medicine at UAMS this year.

Muthukumar Radhakrishnam, M.D.

Muthukumar Radhakrishnan, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Instructor and Interventional Pulmonary Fellow in the Division of Pulmonary Medicine. Dr. Radhakrishnan earned his medical degree at Yenepoya Medical College in Mangalore, India. He completed his residency at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Sinai-Grace Hospital. He continued his training with a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Toledo Medical Center, where he was Chief Fellow in 2020-2021. Dr. Radhakrishnan most recently served as an attending physician in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at CHI St. Vincent in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Wayne L. Bruffett, M.D.

Wayne Bruffett, M.D., has joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Bruffett received his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine at the Texas Medical Center in Houston before coming to UAMS for his residency in orthopaedic surgery. He continued his training with an orthopaedic spine fellowship at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. Dr. Bruffett has been practicing in Little Rock for 25 years, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal conditions and injuries, including adult degenerative disorders of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions.

Department of Otolaryngology

Matthew Solverson, M.D.

Matthew Solverson, M.D., has joined the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Solverson will practice in Northwest Arkansas specializing in head and neck oncology. A native of Wisconsin, Dr. Solverson graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in neurobiology and psychology in 2013, and from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2017. He completed his surgical residency in the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department at the University of Nebraska in 2022. Dr. Solverson continued his training with a head and neck fellowship at UAMS, graduating in 2023.

Department of Pathology

Brent E. Harbaugh, D.O.

Brent Harbaugh, D.O., has joined the Department of Pathology as an Assistant Professor in the Hematopathology Division. Dr. Harbaugh received his medical degree at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, Missouri. He also completed his residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at Kansas City University, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Harbaugh continued his training with a fellowship in hematopathology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Department of Pediatrics

Maria A. Serrano, M.D.

Maria Serrano, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Community Medicine Section. Dr. Serrano earned her undergraduate degree in biochemistry at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, before attending the UAMS College of Medicine. She remained at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s for her pediatrics residency training. Dr. Serrano has been active in research and quality improvement initiatives, including projects related to childhood obesity, diagnosis and management of Lichen Sclerosis in children, vitamin B12 deficiency and restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Conor H. Smith, M.D.

Conor Smith, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Hospital Medicine section. Dr. Smith completed a double major in anthropology and biology at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville before obtaining his medical degree at UAMS. Dr. Smith stayed in Little Rock for his pediatrics residency at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s, earning honors including Resident of the Month in August 2021 and Best Medical Student Teacher of the Block in July 2022.

Nirbhay Parashar, M.D.

Nirbhay Parashar, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Instructor and Advanced Imaging Cardiology Fellow. Dr. Parashar received his medical degree at Manipal University in Karnataka, India. He completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, and then served as Chief Resident at Sinai Children’s Hospital in Chicago. He continued his training with a pediatric cardiology fellowship at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Dr. Parashar served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis from 2017 until joining UAMS.

Department of Radiology

Adam Berry, D.O.

Adam Berry, D.O., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Instructor in the Division of Interventional Radiology. Dr. Berry received his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He completed his residency in integrated diagnostic and interventional radiology at UAMS. Prior to medical school, Dr. Berry served as an Interventional Radiology Technologist, RT( R), at the Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, Florida.

Please join us in welcoming these new leaders and recent additions to the College of Medicine faculty.

Leadership Appointments

Department of Family and Preventive Medicine — Chair Appointment

Shashank Kraleti, M.D., has been appointed Chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, effective July 1. Dr. Kraleti will also hold the Dr. Algernon Sidney Garnett Chair in Family Medicine.

“Dr. Kraleti has served in numerous leadership positions since completing his residency training at UAMS and joining the faculty in 2012,” said G. Richard Smith, M.D., interim Dean and Executive Vice Chancellor. “He has gained national recognition in particular for his outstanding work to enhance the Little Rock Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Kraleti is highly respected by residents and faculty colleagues for his clinical skills and for the passion he brings to training outstanding family physicians.”

Dr. Kraleti has served as director of the department’s family residency program since 2016 and previously held other leadership roles in the program. He assumed the role of clinical informaticist in 2019. Since May 2022, he also has served as director of primary care services, a position he will continue to hold.

“I am excited for the opportunity to continue to serve and lead my family medicine and UAMS family that I have been a part of for more than a decade,” Dr. Kraleti said. “I look forward to working towards our vision of improving the health of Arkansans by providing relationship-centered and equitable care, while training the best and brightest family physicians, and conducting pioneering research in primary care.”

Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Department of Pediatrics — Section Chief Appointment

David Spiro, M.D., MPH – Pediatric Emergency Medicine

David Spiro, M.D., MPH, has been appointed Section Chief for Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Spiro joined the faculty as a Professor in December 2019 and has led numerous initiatives as Interim Section Chief since early 2022.

Dr. Spiro received his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco and completed his residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences, Denver Children’s Hospital. He continued his training with a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he also received his Master of Public Health.

Dr. Spiro has served in many clinical, physician leadership and academic roles for over 25 years. He was on the faculty at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, from 2003-2006, when he was recruited to Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland. His leadership roles at OHSU over the next eight years included Medical Director and Section Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Prior to his recruitment to UAMS, Dr. Spiro served as founder and Chief Medical Officer of ReelDX Education, Medical Director and Vice President of AllMed Healthcare Management, Inc., and as an attending physician in the Pediatric Emergency Department at Sunrise Children’s Hospital in Las Vegas.

New Faculty Appointments

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Matthew R. Landrum, M.D.

Matthew Landrum, M.D., has joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as an Assistant Professor and pediatric orthopaedic surgeon. He practices at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, specializing in complex spine deformity and scoliosis, hip dysplasia, and other pediatric orthopaedic conditions. Dr. Landrum was recruited from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center – San Antonio, where he was an Assistant Professor from 2020-2023.

Dr. Landrum is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, and earned his undergraduate degree in biological sciences at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge before obtaining his medical degree at the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. He completed his orthopaedic surgery internship and residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He continued his training with a fellowship in pediatric orthopaedic surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Department of Pediatrics

Sarah “Sally” Barnes, M.D.

Sarah “Sally” Barnes, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Hospital Medicine Section. After earning a degree in biological sciences from Clemson University, Dr. Barnes received her medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia. Dr. Barnes joins the faculty after serving as a Chief Resident in the UAMS Pediatric Residency Program in 2022-2023, where her efforts were recognized with the W. Thomas Dungan Research Award in 2022.

Raymond Lane Dailey, M.D.

R. Lane Dailey, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Hospital Medicine Section. Dr. Dailey received his medical degree from UAMS in 2020 and was the recipient of the Barton Foundation Scholarship, awarded to medical students who completed the prior academic year with a 4.0 GPA. Dr. Dailey completed his pediatric residency training at UAMS. Dr. Dailey is working as a night hospitalist, providing care for children who have been admitted to the hospital overnight.

Emily W. Wilson, M.D.

Emily Wilson, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Neonatology Section. Dr. Wilson completed the UAMS Pediatric Residency Program in the spring of 2023 and earned her medical degree from UAMS in 2020. During her residency, Dr. Wilson presented a lecture for the resident continuity clinic as part of a QI project and co-authored an abstract poster presentation that was presented at the Southern Regional Meeting in New Orleans.

Kelsey K. Floyd, D.O. — Chief Resident

Kelsey Floyd, D.O., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Instructor and Chief Resident for the 2023-2024 academic year. Dr. Floyd earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth in 2020 before joining the Pediatric Residency Program at UAMS.

Ryan W. Steele, M.D., MPH — Chief Resident

Ryan Steele, M.D., MPH has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Instructor and Chief Resident for the 2023-2024 academic year. Dr. Steele earned his medical degree and Master of Public Health with Honors concurrently at UAMS, graduating in 2020. Following medical school, Dr. Steele joined the Pediatric Residency Program at UAMS, where he was recognized with the Resident Teacher of the Year Award and the Rhonda M. Dick ED Intern of the Year Award in 2021 and the Rhonda Dick ED Resident of the Year for 2023.

Haley B. Taylor, M.D. — Chief Resident

Haley Taylor, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Instructor and Chief Resident for the 2023-2024 academic year. Dr. Taylor received her medical degree from UAMS, where she earned the Roberts Key, awarded to graduating seniors with the highest GPA for the full four years of medical school. She also was a Barton Foundation Scholar, awarded to medical students who complete the prior academic year with a 4.0 GPA.

Department of Psychiatry

Matt Kern, M.D.

Matt Kern, M.D., has joined the Department of Psychiatry as an Assistant Professor in Northwest Arkansas. A native of Fort Smith, Dr. Kern graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 2011 and from the UAMS College of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency in psychiatry at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 2019, serving as Chief Resident. Dr. Kern continued his training with a fellowship in geriatric psychiatry in 2020 and joined the Department of Psychiatry at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist as an Assistant Professor later that year.

Dr. Kern will see patients at the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute-Northwest in Fayetteville as well as the University of Arkansas Pat Walker Student Health Clinic. He will also provide consult liaison services for Washington Regional Medical Center.

Please join us in welcoming these recent additions to the College of Medicine faculty.

Department of Biomedical Informatics

Shaymaa Al-Shukri, Ph.D.

Shaymaa Al-Shukri, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) as an Instructor. Dr. Al-Shukri received her doctorate in applied computing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  She most recently worked in DBMI as a business intelligence analyst and developer supporting the UAMS Clinical Research Data Warehouse. She will continue her support of the data warehouse in addition to teaching in the Biomedical Informatics graduate program.

Michael Rutherford, M.S.

Michael Rutherford, M.S., has joined the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) as an Instructor. Mr. Rutherford received his master’s in information quality from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He expects to finish his doctorate in biomedical informatics from the UAMS Graduate School by the end of the year. Mr. Rutherford most recently worked as a lead application systems developer in DBMI. In his new role, he will support the Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) and its European counterpart, EuCanImage. Both are archives of de-identified medical cancer images.

Zulema Udaondo Dominguez, Ph.D.

Zulema Udaondo Dominguez, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) as an Instructor. Dr. Udaondo Dominguez received her doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Granada in Spain. She most recently worked in DBMI as a postdoctoral fellow, performing the pangenome analysis of over 10,000 Escherichia coli strains. Her work involves the use third-generation DNA sequencing technologies, such as Oxford Nanopore sequencing. Her research leverages large-scale comparative genomic analyses to investigate ESKAPE pathogens and uncover their mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, among other traits.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Monique Spillman, M.D., Ph.D.

Monique Spillman, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as Professor and Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. She also serves as an Associate Medical Director for the Cancer Service Line in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

Dr. Spillman received her medical degree and doctorate in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical and Graduate Schools. She completed her residency in the Brigham and Women’s/Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard obstetrics and gynecology training program. She continued her training with a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.

She subsequently was appointed as faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where she completed the postdoctoral research fellowship in women’s health and established her own molecular biology lab investigating the role of estrogen in ovarian cancer.

In 2014, Dr. Spillman was recruited to Baylor University Medical Center as an attending gynecologic oncologist at Texas Oncology, P.A., part of the Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center in Dallas. While there, she also served as OB/GYN clerkship coordinator for medical students from Texas A&M as well as teaching residents from Baylor and Texas Tech Permian Basin.

Dr. Spillman’s scholarly interests expanded to include medical ethics. She has led four national professional ethics committees and is a past Chair of the American Medical Association Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs. She has published 56 peer-reviewed articles and 20 ethics committee policy papers.

Department of Pediatrics

Oriaku Kas-Osoka, M.D., M.Ed.

Oriaku Kas-Osoka, M.D., M.Ed., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Associate Professor in the Adolescent Medicine Section and Pediatrics Residency Program Director. Dr. Kas-Osoka was recruited from the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she was an Associate Professor and Pediatric Residency Director from 2020-2023.

“Dr. Kas-Osoka is an outstanding educator and mentor,” said William Steinbach, M.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Associate Dean for Child Health in the College of Medicine. “She is implementing a new vision and bringing innovative leadership in resident education to our program.”  

Dr. Kas-Osoka earned her undergraduate degree in bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego before obtaining her medical degree in the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science/University of California, Los Angeles Joint Medical Education Program. She completed her pediatric internship and residency at Children’s Hospital Oakland and the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute. She continued her training with a fellowship in adolescent medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center while simultaneously earning a master’s in education at the University of Cincinnati.

Department of Psychiatry

Tracy Haselow, M.D.

Tracy Haselow, M.D., has joined the Department of Psychiatry as an Associate Professor and Director of the UAMS Student, Resident and Faculty Wellness Programs.

Dr. Haselow received her medical degree from the UAMS College of Medicine in 2008 and completed her residency training in psychiatry at UAMS in 2012.

Dr. Haselow is a former staff physician with the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, where she served as Director of the UAMS student resident rotations in the mental health clinic. She received the Emile Eckart Award for Excellence in Resident Education in 2015. Dr. Haselow most recently served as an outpatient psychiatrist with Chenal Family Therapy in Little Rock. She began working with faculty, residents and students at UAMS part-time in January and moved to full-time in April.

In her role as Director of the Student, Resident and Faculty Wellness Programs, Dr. Haselow succeeds Puru Thapa, M.D., MPH, who is retiring May 31.

Department of Radiology

Jeremy Sabado, M.D.

Jeremy Sabado, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Radiology and Chief of Pediatric Interventional Radiology. Dr. Sabado received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He completed his radiology residency training at the Ohio State University Medical Center and fellowship training in pediatric radiology and pediatric interventional radiology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Sabado served as a pediatric interventional radiologist and Fellowship Director at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, with a faculty appointment at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He also worked as a pediatric interventional radiologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital with faculty appointment at the Ohio State University Medical Center prior to joining UAMS.

Please join us in welcoming these recent additions to the College of Medicine faculty.

Department of Anesthesiology

Rajesh Srivastava, M.D.

Rajesh Srivastava, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Srivastava received his MBBS and Diploma in Anaesthesia from Delhi University in India. He continued his training with a Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA) in London. Dr. Srivastava practiced anesthesiology in the U.K. for more than 18 years, most recently on the faculty of the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham. He also has served as a pediatric anesthesiologist and clinical instructor at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Department of Radiology

Khushboo Gupta, M.D., M.S.

Khushboo Gupta, M.D., M.S., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Nuclear Medicine Division. Dr. Gupta received her medical degree from Dr. Vaishampayan Memorial Medical College in Solapur, India. She completed her nuclear medicine training at Hindjua National Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Mumbai, India, and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Gupta earned a Master of Science in Clinical Research at Rush University Medical Center, where she served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. Prior to her recruitment to UAMS, Dr. Gupta was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Please join us in welcoming these recent additions to the College of Medicine faculty.

Department of Anesthesiology

Akrm Abdalrahman, M.D., M.S.

Akrm Abdalrahman, M.D., M.S., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor and critical care anesthesiologist. Dr. Abdalrahman attended Al-Arab Medical University in Libya, where he received his medical degree, completed his anesthesiology residency, and received a Master of Science in anesthesiology and critical care. He subsequently earned a Master of Science in biomedical engineering at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Abdalrahman continued his training with a critical care fellowship at Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia, followed by a neuro-critical care fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center, and most recently a clinical educator fellowship at Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia.

Department of Internal Medicine

Mamatha Gaddam, M.D.

Mamatha Gaddam, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. Dr. Gaddam received her medical degree from Government Medical College in India in 2011. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh in 2018 and continued her training with a fellowship in hematology/oncology at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Dr. Gaddam most recently completed a bone marrow transplant fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Her clinical practice will focus on treatment of benign hematology, leukemias, lymphomas, and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Nasir Khan, M.D.

Nasir Khan, M.D., has rejoined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor and transplant nephrologist in the Division of Nephrology. Dr. Khan received his medical degree at Quaid-e-Azam University Army Medical College in Pakistan in 2002. He completed his residency in internal medicine at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey, followed by a nephrology fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. Dr. Khan continued his training with a fellowship in transplant nephrology at Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio. Following his fellowships, Dr. Khan was a transplant nephrologist at UAMS from 2019 to July 2022 before moving to Spokane, Washington, to serve as Medical Director of Kidney and Pancreas Transplant at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Morgan Knight, M.D.

Morgan Knight, M.D., has joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General OB/GYN. Dr. Knight received her medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. She completed residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of South Carolina in Greeneville. She continued her training with a fellowship in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, New York, where she was also a Clinical Instructor. Dr. Knight’s clinical interests include minimally invasive fertility-sparing surgery, including myomectomy and resection of endometriosis, as well as complex hysterectomy and treatment of benign pelvic masses.

Please join us in welcoming these recent additions to the College of Medicine faculty.

Department of Neurosurgery

Deanna Sasaki-Adams, M.D.

Deanna Sasaki-Adams, M.D., has joined the Department of Neurosurgery as a Professor. Dr. Sasaki-Adams received her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin Medical School at Madison. She completed her neurosurgery residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), serving as Chief Resident in her final year. She completed a fellowship in skull base and open cerebrovascular neurosurgery at Saint Louis University before joining the UNC faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2011.

Dr. Sasaki-Adams continued her training with a fellowship in interventional neuroradiology at UNC in 2013-2015. In 2017, she was promoted to Associate Professor. She served as Section Chief of Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Neurosurgery at UNC from 2016 until her recruitment to UAMS. While at UNC, she received numerous honors, including four Teacher of the Year Awards in the Department of Neurosurgery.

This spring, Dr. Sasaki-Adams will complete her work toward a Global Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Dr. Sasaki-Adams is board certified through the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Her primary clinical interests include treatment of neurovascular disease such as intracerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, intracranial bypass procedures, stroke, and carotid occlusive disease. She also treats skull base tumors including pituitary tumors, meningiomas, vestibular schwannomas and clival chordomas.

Dr. Sasaki-Adams is an active member in the cerebrovascular section of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons/American Association of Neurological Surgeons (CNS/AANS) and the North America Skull Base Society. She is currently a member of the inaugural class of Executive Leadership in Hospital Medicine, a part of the Drexel College of Medicine ELAM Program. She also serves on the advisory board of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Council of Faculty and Academic Societies.  

Department of Pediatrics

Colin Kay, Ph.D.

Colin D. Kay, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as a Professor in the Developmental Nutrition Section and Scientific Director of the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center (ACNC) Metabolomics and Analytical Chemistry Research Core. He also serves as Director of Precision Health Research in the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute.

Dr. Kay was recruited to UAMS from North Carolina State University, where he was the David H. Murdock Distinguished Professor of Translational Nutrition in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences and at NC State’s Plants for Human Health Research Institute and Phytochemical and Foodome Center.

His research centers on establishing the metabolism of dietary phytochemicals and the potential impact this has on their biological activity. His research core is focused on the development of qualitative and quantitative metabolomic methodologies for establishing the contribution of dietary phytochemicals to the human metabolome. This work has led to the development of a food composition knowledge database (MetaboFood®) comprising chemical composition and metabolome data, including metabolic and disease pathway associations for supporting precision nutrition and health initiatives.

Prior to North Carolina State University, Dr. Kay served on the faculty of Department of Nutrition, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. He received his doctorate in nutritional biochemistry from the University of Guelph, Canada, and postdoctoral training in human vascular interventions and controlled dietary feeding trials at the Pennsylvania State University. Read more about Dr. Kay’s work on Google Scholar.

Department of Surgery

Oleksiy Gudz, M.D., Ph.D.

Oleksiy Gudz, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. Dr. Gudz received his medical degree from Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University in Ukraine. He also completed his general surgery residency, as well as a Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.) and doctoral (Ph.D.) degree at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University. Dr. Gudz continued his training with a vascular surgery fellowship at Lviv National Medical University.

He served as an Associate Professor in the Post-Graduation General and Vascular Surgery Department at Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University in Ukraine before relocating to Little Rock.

Department of Anesthesiology

Joel McMasters, M.D.

Joel McMasters, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Associate Professor and Director of the Anesthesiology Perioperative Evaluation Center (APEC). Dr. McMasters received his medical degree from UAMS. He completed his transitional internship at Brooke Army Medical Center and his anesthesiology residency at Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He worked as a staff anesthesiologist at Brooke Army Medical Center and served as Chief of Anesthesia in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Prior to joining the UAMS faculty, Dr. McMasters worked in private practice in Pine Bluff and most recently in Little Rock.

Beth Anne Reed, M.D.

Beth Anne Reed, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Associate Professor and Director of Anesthesia Services at The Orthopaedic & Spine Hospital, which will open this spring. Dr. Reed received her medical degree at UAMS. She completed her anesthesia internship and residency at the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia. She continued her training with a pediatric anesthesia fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Reed returned to Little Rock and practiced at Southern Regional Anesthesiology Consultants and most recently at Baptist Health.

Department of Internal Medicine

Division Director, Hematology/Oncology

Rangaswamy Govindarajan, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine, has been appointed Director of the Division of Hematology/Oncology. Dr. Govindarajan is a hematologist and medical oncologist in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at UAMS and in the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System and has served on the faculty for over 25 years.

Dr. Govindarajan received his medical degree from Mysore Medical College in Mysore, India. He completed an internship in general medicine, surgery and obstetrics/gynecology/pediatrics at K.R. Hospital and Cheluvamba Hospital in Mysore. He is a member of the UK’s Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). He came to UAMS in 1992 for his residency in internal medicine and continued his training with a fellowship in hematology/oncology before joining the faculty as an Assistant Professor in 1997.

Dr. Govindarajan is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. His primary clinical and research interests are gastrointestinal cancers and sarcoma. He is the principal investigator for Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG), and a member of the GI working committee and sarcoma working group in SWOG. He has experience in conducting investigator-initiated trials and actively participates in industry-sponsored and cooperative group trials. He also serves as the Chief of the Section of Hematology/Oncology at CAVHS.

Sri Obulareddy, M.D.

Sri Obulareddy, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Associate Professor and breast oncologist in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. Dr. Obulareddy received her medical degree in 2004 at Andhra Medical College, Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, in India. She was a junior resident in hematology and oncology at Yashoda Cancer and Multispecialty Center in Hyderabad, India.

Dr. Obulareddy received a master’s in occupational and environmental health from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, in 2009. She completed her residency in internal medicine in 2014, followed by a fellowship in medical oncology in 2016, at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Dr. Obulareddy began her career as a physician at Sanford Health in Dickinson, North Dakota, where she was instrumental in setting up a stand-alone hematology/oncology practice. Prior to joining UAMS, she practiced at Yakima Valley Memorial, North Star Lodge Cancer Center in Yakima, Washington.

Department of Pediatrics

Section Chief, Pediatric Neurology

Erin Willis, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, has been appointed Section Chief for Pediatric Neurology in the Department of Pediatrics and Arkansas Children’s. Dr. Willis received her medical degree at UAMS, where she stayed for her Child Neurology Residency. She served as Chief Resident during her final year of training and went on to complete a fellowship in neurophysiology.

Dr. Willis is board certified with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with special qualifications in Child Neurology as well as Epilepsy. She is also boarded as a diplomate with the American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology. Her professional memberships include the American Academy of Neurology, Child Neurology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers. Her clinical and research interests include epilepsy and pediatric demyelinating disorders.

She serves as a pediatric epileptologist at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital with active involvement in the Level 4 Epilepsy Center within the Neuroscience Center. She is also the Director of the Pediatric Demyelinating Clinic at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and certified as a Multiple Sclerosis Partner in Care by the National MS Society.

Section Chief, Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Laura Hobart-Porter, D.O., Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, has been named the inaugural Section Chief of Pediatric Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in the Department of Pediatrics and Arkansas Children’s.

Previously a component of the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Section, PM&R was established as a separate section in 2022 to help facilitate substantial growth in both areas, with Dr.Hobart-Porter serving as Interim Section Chief of Pediatric PM&R. Dr. Hobart-Porter also serves as Medical Director of the Spinal Cord Disorders Program at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Hobart-Porter received her Doctor of Osteopathy at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. She completed her residency training at UAMS, followed by a fellowship in pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Hobart-Porter is the first physician in Arkansas to become board-certified in pediatric PM&R. She is the Co-Chair of MedCamps of Arkansas, a statewide organization that provides camp experiences for children with functionally limiting medical conditions. Her primary research interests are the application of clinical practice guidelines through implementation science, particularly in the management of children with spina bifida. She also enjoys working in transdisciplinary clinic models and clinical outreach programs through telemedicine.

Neonatology Section

Vikramaditya Dumpa, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Associate Professor in the Neonatology Section. Dr. Dumpa earned his medical degree at Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India, before completing a master’s in nutrition at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He completed a residency in pediatrics at Saint Peters University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Dr. Dumpa specialized in neonatal-perinatal medicine during his fellowship at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. His research interests include non-invasive ventilation in premature babies, dysphagia and neonatal hypoglycemia.

Critical Care Section

Nathan Epps, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Critical Care Section. Dr. Epps received his medical degree at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. He completed his internship and residency at Louisiana State University Health Science Center in New Orleans and then continued his training with a critical care fellowship at UAMS. In addition to his academic and clinical duties, Dr. Epps is engaged in a collaborative quality improvement (QI) project focused on improving pediatric sepsis outcomes through the Children’s Hospital Association.

Department of Psychiatry

Division Chief, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Jason Williams, Psy.D., M.S.Ed., has joined the faculty as Professor and Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Senior Vice President and Chief Mental and Behavioral Health Officer for Arkansas Children’s. Dr. Williams will lead joint efforts by UAMS and Arkansas Children’s to improve pediatric mental and behavioral health throughout the state.

Dr. Williams comes to Arkansas from Children’s Hospital Colorado, where he served as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Director of Operations in the Pediatric Mental Health Institute. With more than 20 years of experience in the mental health field, he is recognized nationally for his leadership and expertise. He currently serves as Chair of the Commission on Accreditation for the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Williams received his master’s and doctoral degrees from the California School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles. He completed an internship and postdoctoral training at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, where he worked for 12 years prior to his recruitment to Colorado.

Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Please join us in welcoming these recent additions to the College of Medicine faculty.

Department of Geriatrics

Shami Nandy, M.D.

Shami Nandy, M.D., has joined the Department of Geriatrics as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Nandy received her medical degree from Dhaka Medical College in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2009. She completed her family medicine residency at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Monroe and then continued her training with a fellowship in geriatrics at UAMS. Dr. Nandy recently completed a case report, “Knowledge of Fall Risk Factors among Older Adults in South Central U.S.” She has been working as a geriatrician in Arkansas for the past year and now will be seeing patients at the Thomas and Lyon Longevity Clinic in the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging. She will also serve on the Geriatrics consult service at UAMS and will be involved with clinical research on dementia.

Department of Internal Medicine

Auras Atreya, M.D., M.P.H.

Auras Atreya, M.D., M.P.H., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor and electrophysiologist in the Division of Cardiology. Dr. Atreya received his medical degree from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, in India in 2009. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 2014 and a fellowship in cardiovascular diseases at the University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate in 2017. During this time, he also received a Master of Public Health and a Graduate Certificate in Quality, Patient Safety and Outcomes Research from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Dr. Atreya continued his training at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, completing a fellowship in clinical cardiac electrophysiology in 2019 and an interventional cardiology fellowship in 2020. Most recently, Dr. Atreya served as a consultant in electrophysiology and interventional cardiology at AIG Hospitals in Hyderabad, India.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Maria Ruiz, D.O., M.S.

Maria Ruiz, D.O., M.S., has joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an Assistant professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. Dr. Ruiz received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she also received a Master of Science in Anatomy. She completed residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Missouri – Kansas City. She continued her training with a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at New York Presbyterian at Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical College.

Before joining UAMS, Dr. Ruiz practiced gynecologic oncology for two years at North Florida Hospital in Gainesville. Dr. Ruiz’s clinical interests include ovarian, uterine, vulvar, vaginal and cervical cancers. The use of germline, somatic, and molecular tumor testing to target treatment, along with robotic minimally invasive surgery to allow patients a faster recovery, are of particular interest. She has received a number of honors, including the 2017 American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists Recognition of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology Award and the 2018 Obstetrics & Gynecology Roy M. Pitkin Award.

Department of Pediatrics

Ellen van der Plas, Ph.D.

Ellen van der Plas, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Associate Professor in the Hematology and Oncology Section. Dr. van der Plas earned her bachelors and master’s degrees from Leiden University in the Netherlands before receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship with an emphasis on translational medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto before joining the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics as an Assistant Professor.

An avid researcher and educator, Dr. van der Plas investigates the developing brain and neurocognitive function in relation to brain structure. She is taking part in four concurrent research projects totaling more than $23 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute and other extramural sources.

Timothy R. Koscik, Ph.D.

Timothy R. Koscik, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Associate Professor in the Neurology Section. Dr. Koscik earned his Ph.D. at the University of Iowa and then completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto, where he focused on neuroimaging and applying advanced statistical models to fMRI. Prior to joining the Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Koscik worked as a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. For the last three years, he served as both research faculty and Director of the Iowa Neuroimage Processing Core. 

Dr. Koscik is a member of several professional organizations and is a prolific researcher with dozens of publications, presentations and software applications to his credit. His primary area of study is seeking a greater understanding of the underlying pathology of Huntington’s disease with an emphasis on understanding the role of maladaptive development of the cerebral cortex through ultra-high-resolution imaging in postmortem specimens.

Department of Psychiatry

Holly Hunter, M.D.

Holly Hunter, M.D., has joined the Department of Psychiatry as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Hunter graduated from the UAMS College of Medicine in 2015. She completed her residency in psychiatry at UAMS, where she continued her training with a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry. Prior to joining the faculty, she practiced at Burrell Behavioral Health in Northwest Arkansas. Dr. Hunter will provide outpatient psychiatric consultation and medication management services in the Psychiatric Research Institute’s Child Study Center.

Maegan Calvert, Ph.D.

Maegan Calvert, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Psychiatry as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Hunter graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor’s in psychology. She received her doctorate and master’s in clinical psychology at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She completed her clinical internship at the University of Mississippi and trained as a postdoctoral fellow in pediatric psychology at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas before coming to UAMS. A former trainee in the UAMS T32 National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Addiction Research Training Program, Dr. Calvert is a child behavioral neuroscientist in the Brain Imaging Research Center (BIRC). She is studying the effects of interpersonal trauma and caregiver mental health with co-occurring substance use on child brain development and subsequent social-emotional outcomes. She will lead the new Child Brain Imaging Program in the BIRC. Dr. Calvert also will provide psychological assessments and therapy for children and their families in the Psychiatric Research Institute’s Child Study Center.