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

Department of Dermatology

Megan Evans, M.D.

Megan Evans, M.D., has joined the Department of Dermatology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Evans received her medical degree from UAMS in 2011. She completed her residency in dermatology at UAMS and her fellowship in pediatric dermatology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Dr. Evans is board certified in dermatology and pediatric dermatology by the American Board of Dermatology, and she is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. Her clinical interests include pediatric skin diseases and resident education, and she serves as a pediatric dermatologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Rodrigo Valdes-Rodriguez, M.D.

Rodrigo Valdes-Rodriguez, M.D., has joined the departments of Dermatology and Pathology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Valdes earned his medical degree at the Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila in Mexico, after which he completed a dermatology residency at the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. He went on to complete a second dermatology residency in the United States at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, followed by a fellowship in dermatopathology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Dr. Valdes specializes in a wide variety of skin conditions and enjoys all aspects of dermatology. He is board-certified in dermatology in both the United States and Mexico.

Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

Sahithi Pothuganti, M.D.

Sahithi Pothuganti, M.D., has joined the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Pothuganti received her medical degree from the Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences in Narketpally, India. She completed her residency in family medicine at UAMS. Dr. Pothuganti practices at the UAMS Health Neighborhood Clinic at 1811 Rahling Road in West Little Rock.

Department of Internal Medicine

Sheena W. CarlLee, M.D.

Sheena W. CarlLee, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus. Dr. CarlLee serves as Associate Program Director for the UAMS Northwest Internal Medicine Residency Program and in the Division of Community Health and Research. Dr. CarlLee received her medical degree from UAMS in 2014. She completed her residency in internal medicine and served as Chief Resident at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where she went on to serve an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. She subsequently practiced as a primary care physician in Concord, North Carolina.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Heather R. Williams, M.D.

Heather R. Williams, M.D., has joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. Dr. Williams received her medical degree from UAMS in 2013. She completed an internship and residency in OB/GYN at the University of Iowa and continued her training with a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the Medical College of Georgia. While completing her fellowship, she received the GOG Foundation New Investigator award. Dr. Williams’ research interests include clinical trials in gynecologic oncology, rare gynecologic cancers and the molecular genetics of endometrial cancers. 

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Chelsea Sullivan Mathews, M.D.

Chelsea Sullivan Mathews, M.D., has joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Mathews, who specializes in treating foot and ankle conditions, received her medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport. She completed her residency in orthopaedic surgery at UAMS and continued her training with a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at the University of Washington. During medical school and her residency, Dr. Mathews was active in education, research, leadership and student interest groups. She received the Resident Teaching Award from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UAMS.

Department of Pathology

Katelynn Campbell, M.D.

Katelynn Campbell, M.D., has joined the Department of Pathology as an Assistant Professor in the Dermatopathology Division. Dr. Campbell received her medical degree at the Medical University of the Americas Nevis and St. Kitts, West Indies. She completed her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology and fellowship in dermatopathology at UAMS. 

Susan E. Harley, M.D.

Susan E. Harley, M.D., has joined the Department of Pathology as an Assistant Professor in the Molecular Genetic and Hematopathology divisions. Dr. Harley received her medical degree at the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. She completed her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Dr. Harley continued her training with a fellowship in hematopathology at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and a fellowship in molecular genetic pathology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. 

Camila C. Simoes, M.D.

Camila C. Simoes, M.D., has joined the Department of Pathology as an Assistant Professor in the Gastroenterology/Liver Pathology and Surgical Pathology divisions. Dr. Simoes received her medical degree at the Gama Filho University in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She completed her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Before joining UAMS, Dr. Simoes completed a fellowship in liver and gastrointestinal/pancreatobiliary pathology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Sarah Victoria “Tory” Hunton, M.D.

Sarah Victoria “Tory” Hunton, M.D., has joined the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Hunton received her medical degree from UAMS in 2016. She completed her residency at UAMS and served as Co-Chief Resident in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Hunton will practice inpatient rehabilitation and serve as a stroke rehabilitation specialist.

Department of Surgery

Deidre Wyrick, M.D.

Deidre Wyrick, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Surgery. Dr. Wyrick received her medical degree and completed her surgery residency at UAMS. She also completed a pediatric surgery fellowship at UAMS and continued her training with a fellowship in trauma critical care at the Oregon Health Science University.

Raj B. Patel, M.D.

Raj B. Patel, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Solid Organ Transplant Surgery. He received his medical degree from Louisiana State University-Shreveport in 2013. Dr. Patel completed his general surgery residency training at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix in 2018, and an abdominal transplant fellowship at Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago in July.

Nolan Bruce, M.D.

Nolan Bruce, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Trauma and Critical Care Surgery. He received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2014. Dr. Bruce completed his general surgery residency training at UAMS in 2019. He completed a fellowship in surgical critical care at the University of Texas Southwestern in July.

Joseph Margolick, M.D.

Joseph Margolick, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Trauma and Critical Care Surgery. He received his medical degree from McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, in 2014. Dr. Margolick completed his general surgery residency training in 2019 at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He went on to complete a fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. Dr. Margolick is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC).

Matthew L. Roberts, M.D.

Matthew L. Roberts, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Trauma and Critical Care Surgery. He received his medical degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 2014. Dr. Roberts completed his general surgery residency at UAMS in 2019 and continued his training at UAMS with a fellowship in trauma and surgical critical care.

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

Editor’s note: These are some of the many faculty members joining us this summer and fall. We will continue to introduce new faculty colleagues in the months ahead.

Department of Anesthesiology

Meenakshi Atteri, M.D.

Meenakshi Atteri, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia. Dr. Atteri received her medical degree and interned at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in Puducherry, India. She completed her residency training in anesthesiology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India, and at the John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago. Dr. Atteri continued her training with a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Alfredo Burgos Briceno, M.D.

Alfredo Burgos Briceno, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia. Dr. Burgos received his medical degree from the University of Carabobo in Valencia, Venezuela. He began his residency training in general surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine and went on to complete a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Florida, Jacksonville, followed by a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Srinivasa Govindarajan, M.D.

Srinivasa Govindarajan, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia. Dr. Govindarajan received his medical degree from Madurai Medical College in Tamil Nadu, India. He completed residency training in anesthesiology and served as Senior Resident (Registrar) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. He continued his training at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, where he completed a clinical research fellowship in outcomes research, a residency in anesthesiology and a clinical fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology.

Matthew Green, D.O.

Matthew Green, D.O., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia. Dr. Green received his medical degree from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, Missouri. He came to UAMS for his anesthesiology residency in 2015 and continued his training at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s with a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology in 2019-2020.

Felipe Medeiros, M.D.

Felipe Medeiros, M.D., has rejoined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia. Dr. Medeiros received his medical degree from Faculdade de Medicina de Petropolis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, where he also served as a Chief Resident. He completed residency training in anesthesiology at the Federal University of Mato Grasso in Brazil and at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where he went on to serve as an Assistant Professor in 2013-2017. Dr. Medeiros came to UAMS in 2017 and served as an Assistant Professor for two years before resuming training as a pediatric anesthesiology fellow at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s in 2019-2020.

Prabhat Mishra, M.D.

Prabhat Mishra, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia. Dr. Mishra received his medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He completed his residency in anesthesiology and fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Mishra practiced at the University of Mississippi Medical Center – Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson in  2018-2020, serving as Director of Pediatric Anesthesia for Pediatric Renal Transplantation in 2019-2020. 

Kavya Narayana Reddy, M.D.

Kavya Narayana Reddy, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia. Dr. Reddy received her medical degree from M.S. Ramaiah Medical College in Bangalore, India. She completed a residency in anesthesiology and served as Chief Resident at J.S.S. Medical College in Mysore, India, followed by a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology and service as Chief Resident at Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Bangalore. In 2012-2015 Dr. Reddy was a visiting clinical researcher in the Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology at Washington University in St. Louis. She continued her training at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School with a surgery internship and residency in anesthesiology. Dr. Reddy most recently completed a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at Washington University.

Jarna Shah, M.D.

Jarna Shah, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor in the Chronic Pain Division. Dr. Shah received her medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. She completed her anesthesiology residency at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Services and her interventional pain medicine fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.  

G. Lawson Smith, M.D.

G. Lawson Smith, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor in the Chronic Pain Division. Dr. Smith received his medical degree and completed his anesthesiology residency at UAMS., where he served as Chief Resident. He became the first multidisciplinary chronic pain fellow at UAMS in 2019.

Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

Paige Beck, M.D., Ph.D.

Paige Beck, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the departments of Family and Preventive Medicine and Geriatrics as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Beck received her doctorate in neurobiology and her medical degree at UAMS. She completed her family medicine residency at UAMS and served as Chief Resident. Her honors during residency included the STAR Professionalism Award and the Goss Physician/Patient Relationship Award. Dr. Beck continued her training at UAMS with a fellowship in geriatrics. Dr. Beck will serve as Medical Director for the UAMS House Calls Program, teach in the Baptist-UAMS Family Medicine Residency Program, and practice at the Thomas and Lyon Longevity Center in the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging.

Aruna Malladi, M.D.

Aruna Malladi, M.D., has joined the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Malladi received her medical degree from Gandhi Medical College in India. She completed her family medicine residency at UAMS, where she received the 2018 Medical Knowledge Award and served on the UAMS Clinical Documentation Committee. Her scholarly activities included poster presentations at the 2018 American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Annual Conference and the 40^th Annual Family Medicine Intensive Review Course. Dr. Malladi is particularly interested in preventive medicine. She practices at the UAMS Health Neighborhood Clinic on Rahling Road in West Little Rock and as an attending at the Family Medical Center on the UAMS campus.

Amber Norris, M.D.

Amber Norris, M.D., has joined the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Norris received her medical degree at UAMS. She completed her residency in family medicine at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Norris practices at the UAMS Health Neighborhood Clinic at 1401 W. Capitol Ave. in downtown Little Rock.

Department of Internal Medicine

Don E. Willis, Ph.D.

Don E. Willis, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Community Health and Research at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville. Dr. Willis earned his doctorate in sociology at the University of Missouri in Columbia. He serves on the research team in Northwest Arkansas with a focus on addressing health disparities.

M. Landon Crouch, M.D.

M. Landon Crouch, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Crouch received his medical degree from UAMS in 2016. He completed his residency in internal medicine-pediatrics at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Crouch will provide care at various clinics across the UAMS and Arkansas Children’s campuses, with his primary practice at the newly opened UAMS Health Neighborhood Clinic at 11300 Financial Centre Parkway in West Little Rock.

Caleb Guthrey, M.D.

Caleb Guthrey, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Guthrey received his medical degree from UAMS in 2016. He completed his residency in internal medicine-pediatrics at UAMS this year. Dr. Guthrey will provide care at various clinics across the UAMS and Arkansas Children’s campuses, with his primary practice at the newly opened UAMS Health Neighborhood Clinic at 11300 Financial Centre Parkway in West Little Rock.

C. Preston McCormack, M.D.

C. Preston McCormack, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. McCormack received his medical degree at UAMS in 2015 and remained at UAMS for his residency in Medicine-Pediatrics. He served as a Pediatric Chief Resident in 2019-2020. Dr. McCormack will provide care for adults and children with Down syndrome at the UAMS Health Rahling Road Clinic and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Our House Shelter Clinic.

Morgan Moore, M.D.

Morgan Moore, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Moore received her medical degree at UAMS in 2016. She completed her residency in internal medicine-pediatrics at UAMS this year. Dr. Moore will provide care at various clinics across the UAMS and Arkansas Children’s campuses, with her primary practice at the newly opened UAMS Health Neighborhood Clinic at 11300 Financial Centre Parkway in West Little Rock.

Jibran Ahmed, M.D.

Jibran Ahmed, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. He will focus on patients with gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancer. Dr. Ahmed received his medical degree from King Edward Medical University in Pakistan. He interned at the Mayo Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, and completed his residency in internal medicine at the John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago. He recently completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College in New York.

Sravani Gundarlapalli, M.D.

Sravani Gundarlapalli, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. She will serve as a hospitalist in the Myeloma Section. Dr. Gundarlapalli received her medical degree from the Kurnool Medical College in India. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at St. Joseph’s Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan. Dr. Gundarlapalli previously was a hospitalist at Fairview Park Hospital in Dublin, Georgia.

Joyce Habib, M.D.

Joyce Habib, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. She will focus on clinical care and research related to breast cancer. Dr. Habib received her medical degree from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. She completed internal medicine residency training at the American University of Beirut Medical Center and Ohio State University. Dr. Habib continued her training with a fellowship in medical oncology at Baylor Medical Center in Texas, followed by breast oncology training at the Jules Bordet Institute in Brussels, Belgium. In 2016, Dr. Habib began practicing as a medical oncologist at Fouad Khoury Hospital, Makassed General Hospital and Sacre Coeur Hospital in Beruit. The following year she also assumed a part-time position as consultant and head of the Oncology Center at HealthBay Polyclinic in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Aasiya Matin, M.D.

Aasiya Matin, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Matin specializes in bone marrow transplant for blood cancers and blood disorders. She completed a residency in in radiation oncology at the King George Medical University in Lucknow, India. Dr. Matin completed a residency in internal medicine at Wayne State University in Detroit. She came to UAMS in 2014, earning a Graduate Certificate in Clinical and Translational Sciences before completing her fellowship in hematology/oncology. Dr. Matin recently completed an advzahidanced bone and marrow transplant fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Yetunde Ogunsesan, M.D.

Yetunde Ogunsesan, M.D., joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. She will serve as a hospitalist for the Section of Myeloma. Dr. Ogunsesan received her medical degree from the University of Ilorin in Ilorin, Nigeria. After medical school, Dr. Ogunsesan served as a medical officer at the Eti-Osa Local Government Primary Health Centre in Lekki, Nigeria, and then at Pediatric Partners Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. After coming to the United States, she completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York.

Chandra Dasari, M.D.

Chandra Dasari, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Dasari received his medical degree at the Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the Canton Medical Education Foundation in Ohio. Dr. Dasari went on to work as a hospitalist and nocturnist at Coshocton County Memorial hospital in Ohio, the Cleveland Clinic in Akron, Ohio, and Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York. In 2018, he started a research fellowship in gastroenterology at the Kansas City VA Medical Center in Missouri.

William T. Atchley, M.D., Ph.D.

William T. Atchley, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Atchley received his medical degree and his doctorate in interdisciplinary biomedical sciences at UAMS. He completed his residency in internal medicine at UAMS and continued his training with a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at University of North Carolina Healthcare in Chapel Hill.

Abhishek Kumar, M.D., M.P.H.

Abhishek Kumar, M.D., M.P.H., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Instructor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. He will teach in the Interventional Pulmonary Fellowship. Dr. Kumar received his Master of Public Health from the Harvard University School of Public Health in Boston. He received his medical degree from Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute in India. Dr. Kumar completed his residency in internal medicine, including a year as Chief Resident, at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn. He continued his training with a fellowship in geriatric medicine at the Montefiore Medical Center/New York Medical College in Bronx, New York, followed by a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at State University of New York (University at Buffalo). Dr. Kumar previously served as an Assistant Professor in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Department of Neurology

Erika Horta, M.D.

Erika Horta, M.D., has joined the Department of Neurology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Horta received her medical degree from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, where she also completed a residency in neurology and a clinical fellowship in neuro-immunology. Dr. Horta continued her training with a research fellowship in the Neuro-immunology Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and a clinical fellowship in neuro-oncology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. She also completed a residency in neurology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Dr. Horta sees multiple sclerosis patients in the UAMS Health Epilepsy and Neurology Clinic and patients with brain and spine tumors in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Salman Zahoor, M.D.

Salman Zahoor, M.D., has joined the Department of Neurology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Zahoor received his medical degree from Rawalpindi Medical College of Pakistan. He completed his neurology residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Zahoor continued his training with fellowships in clinical neurophysiology and epilepsy at Vanderbilt University Medical School in Nashville, where he served as a Chief Fellow. Dr. Zahoor provides comprehensive care for adults with epilepsy. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

P. Shea Brannan, M.D.

P. Shea Brannan, M.D., has joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as an Assistant Professor with the Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine team in Northwest Arkansas. Dr. Brannan received his medical degree from UAMS and completed his orthopaedic surgery training at San Antonio Uniform Services Health Education Consortium in Texas. He continued his training with a fellowship at OrthoCarolina Hand Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. He served most recently as Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Recently retired from the military, Dr. Brannan brings extensive expertise as a combat surgeon and hand and upper-extremity surgeon. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Tyler CarlLee, M.D.

Tyler CarlLee, M.D., has joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as an Assistant Professor with the Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine team in Northwest Arkansas. Dr. CarlLee received his medical degree from UAMS in 2014. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and continued his training with a sports medicine and shoulder elbow fellowship with OrthoCarolina. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Department of Pediatrics

Shae Anderson, M.D.

Shae Anderson, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiology. Dr. Anderson received her medical degree from East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine. She completed her pediatrics residency at the University of Texas Southwestern/Children’s Medical Center. She continued her training with a fellowship in pediatric cardiology at Emory University School of Medicine, followed by a fellowship in cardiology advanced imaging at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. In 2019, Dr. Anderson was an American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery Young Investigator Award nominee.

Elaine Odiase, M.D.

Elaine Odiase, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology. Dr. Odiase received her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where she also completed her pediatrics residency and a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition with a special focus on pediatric and advanced endoscopy. Dr. Odiase is the co-founder and Co-President of Twin Missions International (TMI), a nonprofit that provides charitable services domestically and internationally including pediatric and adult medical care and health care education for the underserved.

Ashley Lauren Lynch, M.D.

Ashley Lauren Lynch, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neonatology. Dr. Lynch received her medical degree from UAMS, where she stayed for her pediatrics residency and neonatology fellowship. Dr. Lynch was the recipient of an Arkansas Children’s Research Institute Postdoctoral Grant Award in 2018.

Department of Radiology

Scott Harter, M.D.

Scott Harter, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Associate Professor in the Division of Breast Imaging. Dr. Harter received his medical degree at Louisiana State University School of Medicine. After three years of surgical residency training, he completed his residency in diagnostic radiology and a fellowship in magnetic resonance imaging at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He joined Radiology Consultants of Little Rock in 1992 and worked as a staff radiologist at multiple hospitals throughout Arkansas. He served as President and CEO of Radiology Consultants for 11 years prior to joining UAMS. Dr. Harter is a past President of the Arkansas Radiology Society.

Erin Priddy, M.D.

Erin Priddy, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Interventional Radiology. Dr. Priddy received her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky. She trained in general surgery for two years before completing her diagnostic radiology residency at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Dr. Priddy continued her training with a fellowship in vascular and interventional radiology at the University of Michigan School of Medicine in Ann Arbor. 

Surjith Vattoth, M.D.

Surjith Vattoth, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Associate Professor in the Division of Neuroradiology. Dr. Vattoth completed his medical education and radiology residency at Calicut Medical College in Kerala, India. He continued his training with a fellowship in neuro- and vascular radiology at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Trivandrum, Kerala, India, and fellowships in neuroradiology, vascular and interventional radiology, and nuclear medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Dr. Vattoth served as an Assistant Professor of Neuroradiology at UAB, and most recently as Associate Professor of Clinical Radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine and Senior Consultant Neuroradiologist at Hamad Medical Corporation in Doha, Qatar.

Dr. Vattoth is an active clinical educator and author with many peer-reviewed publications. He has served on the Education Committee of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Among many honors, he has received the RSNA Honored Educator Award and multiple top-ten faculty awards at UAB. He is a lead author in the Elsevier Diagnostic Imaging (DI) series Head and Neck book, cover author for the DI Brain, DI Pediatric Neuroradiology, and Imaging Anatomy series Head and Neck book, and in STATdx, a popular comprehensive diagnostic support tool used by radiologists and residents around the world.

Fathima Fijula Palot Manzil, M.D.

Fathima Fijula Palot Manzil, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Nuclear Medicine. Dr. Manzil received her medical degree and completed a residency in radiotherapy at Calicut Medical College in Kerala, India.  She also completed a nuclear medicine residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Manzil previously served as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine and Consultant in Clinical Imaging at Hamad Medical Corporation in Doha, Qatar. Dr. Manzil is currently authoring multiple chapters in the Elsevier Diagnostic Imaging Nuclear Medicine book, which will also be available online in STATdx. 

Department of Internal Medicine

Fenghuang “Frank” Zhan, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the faculty as a Professor of Internal Medicine and Research Director of the UAMS Myeloma Center. Dr. Zhan received his medical degree and a doctorate in cancer molecular genetics from Hunan Medical University in Changsha, P.R., China. He holds a dental degree from West China Medical University in Chengdu. He previously served in the UAMS Myeloma Center from 2002 to 2008 and most recently was a Professor of Medicine at the University of Iowa and an Adjunct Professor in the University of Iowa’s College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics.

Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Department of Pediatrics

Kaitlin Cockerell, M.D., has rejoined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Pediatrics. Dr. Cockerell received her medical degree from UAMS in 2013. She completed her pediatrics residency at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) and served as a faculty member in the Division of Neonatology for two years. In 2016, she was the recipient of the Betty A. Lowe, M.D., Memorial Award for Excellence in Advocacy.  Dr. Cockerell practiced in Sherwood, Arkansas, before returning to UAMS and ACH.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Meghan Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Wilson received her doctorate in neuroscience in 2011 and her medical degree in 2013 in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She completed her internship in internal medicine at Western Reserve Health Education in Youngstown, Ohio, and her residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Wilson continued her training with a fellowship in spinal cord injury medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. She will practice primarily at the Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute.

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

Department of Anesthesiology

Destiny Chau, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as a professor in the Division of Pediatric Cardiovascular Anesthesia. Dr. Chau received her medical degree at the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Medicine in Lexington in 2002 and remained at UK for her anesthesiology residency. She continued her training with a fellowship in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 2010.

Dr. Chau joined the faculty of the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center as an assistant professor in 2010 and was promoted to associate professor in 2013. She also served as an associate professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School and as an attending physician at Children’s Hospital of Kings’ Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia, where she served as Interim Cardiac Section Head in the Division of Anesthesiology from December 2018 until her recruitment to UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

   

Meera Gangadharan, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Cardiovascular Anesthesia. Dr. Gangadharan received her medical degree at Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research in Pondicherry, India, in 1993. She completed her pediatric internship and residency at MetroHealth Medical Center-Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She continued her training with a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, followed by a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Dr. Gangadharan served most recently as a clinical associate professor of anesthesiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christ from 2010 until her recruitment to UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

 

Neeraj Kumar, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an assistant professor. He received his M.B.B.S. from University College of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi, India, and trained in anesthesiology, receiving his M.D. at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, University of Delhi. Dr. Kumar completed his anesthesiology residency at UAMS in 2011-2015 and then worked in private practice in Batesville and Little Rock prior to his return to UAMS.

Department of Geriatrics

Regina Gibson, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Geriatrics faculty as an assistant professor. Dr. Gibson received her master’s degree in gerontology/health education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she went on to earn her doctorate in religious studies. She served as a research associate and nurse educator for the department and the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging prior to her faculty appointment. Dr. Gibson works closely with the department’s Opioid Prevention for Aging and Longevity (OPAL) program. She is also involved in community outreach to disseminate information about delirium and dementia.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Wesley Cox, M.D., has joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as an assistant professor and leader of the Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine team in Fayetteville. Dr. Cox received his medical degree from UAMS in 2003 and remained at UAMS for his residency in orthopaedic surgery. He completed a fellowship in shoulder arthroscopy, reconstruction and sports medicine with the Sportsmed Orthopaedic Group and the San Francisco Shoulder and Elbow Clinic in California.

Dr. Cox returned to his native Fayetteville in 2009 and opened the Shoulder Center of Arkansas. In January 2020, the practice and its therapy partner TRM Train-Recover-Move became part of the the statewide UAMS Health System.

Read more in the COM Newsroom.

Chad Songy, M.D., has joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as an assistant professor practicing with the Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine team in Fayetteville. He received his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport and completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at UAMS. Dr. Songy completed his fellowship in shoulder and elbow reconstructive surgery (adult and pediatric) at the Mayo Clinic in 2019 and returned to Arkansas to join the Shoulder Center of Arkansas in Fayetteville, which is now part of UAMS Health.

Read more in the COM Newsroom.

Department of Pediatrics

Anjali Patwardhan, M.D., M.Sc., M.B.A., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as professor and director of the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology. Dr. Patwardhan received her medical degree from Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, where she also completed her residency and certification in pediatrics. She later continued her training in the U.K. and went on to receive a Master of Science in Health Policy and Quality Improvement from Birmingham University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wales.

Dr. Patwardhan completed her fellowship in pediatric rheumatology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She also trained and was certified as an improvement advisor at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) at Harvard University. She is a lifelong IHI Fellow.

Dr. Patwardhan was recruited to the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia in 2012 and served most recently as an Associate Professor and Director of Pediatric Rheumatology. Among other leadership posts, she served as Director of Operational Quality in the Division of Child Health.

 

David Spiro, M.D., M.P.H., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as a professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine. 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 numerous 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. Most recently, 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.

Department of Surgery

Jay K. Bhama, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as professor and chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery. Dr. Bhama will lead the cardiovascular program at UAMS by working alongside Paul Mounsey, M.D., director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine.

Dr. Bhama is a nationally recognized heart surgeon and leader in cardiovascular health care. He has a special interest and expertise in heart valve surgery as well as mechanical circulatory support.

Dr. Bhama formerly was professor and chief of the adult cardiac surgery program at University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City. Under his leadership, the program became a regional leader in heart valve surgery, structural heart disease and MCS/LVAD. A national expert and thought-leader in the field of heart failure surgery, Dr. Bhama also was director of the heart transplantation, MCS, and extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation  programs. Prior to that, he was associate director of the cardiothoracic (heart and lung) transplant and artificial heart programs at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Read more in the COM Newsroom.

This month we are pleased to introduce more of the faculty members who joined us this academic year. Please join us in welcoming these recent additions to the College of Medicine team!

Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

Katie Thurman Patel, M.D., has joined the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine as an assistant professor. Dr. Patel received her medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. She completed her residency in family medicine at the University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville. Dr. Patel practices at the Family Medical Center on the UAMS campus.

Department of Neurosurgery

Tomoko Tanaka, M.D., has joined the Department of Neurosurgery as an associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery. Dr. Tanaka earned her medical degree at Kitasato University School of Medicine in Japan, graduating as valedictorian. She completed a neurosurgery residency at Emory University in Atlanta and a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She is board certified through the American Board of Neurological Surgery and is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS).

Dr. Tanaka previously was an associate professor at the University of Missouri HealthCare, where she cared for an underserved pediatric neurosurgery population as well as adult epilepsy patients. Her surgical management of epilepsy was integral to the institution achieving Level 4 Epilepsy Center designation. Her national activities include serving on the editorial advisory board for Practical Reviews in Neurosurgery. Dr. Tanaka conducts basic science research into spinal cord injury and recovery, and one of her research projects received the grant award of the North American Spine Society in 2016.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Neville Tam, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology as an assistant professor. Dr. Tam received his doctorate from the University of Hong Kong and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Surgery at University of Massachusetts Medical School. Most recently he has served as assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health at the University of Cincinnati.

Dr. Tam’s research interests include the effect of sex hormones and oxidative stress on prostatic aging and carcinogenesis. He has strong expertise in establishing novel animal models for explorations related to oncology, environmental health and toxicology. Current research projects focus on the impact of early-life exposure to environmental stressors on later-life and offspring health outcomes such as cancer risk and fertility, paternal epigenetic inheritance via epitranscriptomic mechanisms, and environmentally induced stem cell carcinogenesis.

Department of Pediatrics

Diana Munoz-Mendoza, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an assistant professor in the Division of Allergy and Immunology. Dr. Munoz-Mendoza received her medical degree from Medico Cirujano y Partero in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. She completed her residency at Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, New York, and Louisiana State University. She continued her training with a fellowship in allergy and immunology at Louisiana State University. Dr. Munoz-Mendoza is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Chanchaldeep (Amika) K. Sood, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an assistant professor in the Division of Allergy and Immunology. Dr. Sood received her medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) School of Medicine. She completed her residency at UAMS/Arkansas Children’s Hospital, followed by a fellowship in pediatric allergy/immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Scott Gatlin, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an associate professor in the Division of Cardiology. Dr Gatlin will assist in supporting and expanding Cardiology services within the Department of Pediatrics, UAMS and Arkansas Children’s. Dr Gatlin received his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He completed his residency at UAMS/Arkansas Children’s Hospital and continued his training with a fellowship in pediatric cardiology and pediatric cardiac critical care at Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He is board certified in pediatrics and cardiology.

Sam Lee, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an associate professor in the Division of Cardiology. He serves at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Jonesboro Clinic. Dr. Lee received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He completed his residency at Loma Linda Medical Center and his fellowship in pediatric cardiology at the Medical College of Virginia. Dr Lee He joined Children’s Hospital of Richmond in 2005 and has since served as director ot the hospital’s exercise physiology lab. He served as fellowship director for pediatric cardiology at Children’s Hospital of Richmond/Virginia Commonwealth University from 2008 to 2017. Read more in the ACH Newsroom.

Erin Bennett, M.D., M.P.H., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an assistant professor in the Division of Critical Care. Dr. Bennett received her medical degree from University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City. She completed her residency and fellowship in pediatric critical care at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City. She was nominated as Physician of the Year by Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City in 2017. Dr. Bennett is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP).

Kimberly Macferran, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an associate professor in the Division Developmental Pediatrics. Dr. Macferran received her medical degree from Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. She completed her residency and her fellowship in developmental/behavioral pediatrics at UAMS/Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in developmental-behavioral and general pediatrics.

Ryan C. Kwong, M.D., M.P.H., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an assistant professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine. Dr Kwong received his medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his residency at State University of New York Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse and his fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

Adrian Chapa-Rodriguez, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an assistant professor in the Division of Gastroenterology. Dr. Chapa-Rodriguez received his medical degree from Medico Cirujano y Partero, Universidad de Monterrey, in Mexico. He completed his residency at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago and continued his training with a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at the Digestive Disease and Nutrition Center, University of Buffalo, New York.

Sarah R. Sobik, M.D., M.P.H., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an assistant professor in the Division of General Pediatrics. Dr. Sobik received her medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She completed her residency at UAMS/Arkansas Children’s Hospital. During her residency, Dr Sobik received the Outstanding Intern Award, which is selected by co-residents in the program.

Archana Balamohan, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Balamohan received her medical degree from American University of Antigua College of Medicine. She completed her residency at the Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital New Brunswick, New Jersey, and continued her training with a fellowship in pediatric infectious disease at Cohen Children’s Medical Center-NSLIJ, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY. Dr. Balamohan is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP).

Timothy R. Onarecker, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Onarecker received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He completed his pediatric residency at UAMS/Arkansas Children’s Hospital and his fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Stephanie G. Korff, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology. Dr. Korff received her medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She completed her pediatric residency at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital and her fellowship in perinatal-neonatal medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Korff is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP).

Zackary Shearer, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology. Dr. Shearer received his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He completed his residency at UAMS/Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Dr Shearer previously practiced at Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, where he provided inpatient and outpatient general pediatric care as well as maintaining an emphasis on NICU and Nursery in the inpatient setting.

Gwen Weatherspoon White, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology. Dr. White received her medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham. She completed her residency at UAMS/Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Dr. White is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP).

Shelby Dib, D.D.S., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an assistant professor in the Division Pediatric and Special Needs Dentistry. Dr. Dib received her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, where she was the recipient of the J. Dean Robertson Scholarship. She completed postdoctoral training at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry.

Department of Family Medicine

Arpit Patel, M.D., has joined the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine as an assistant professor practicing at the Rahling Road Clinic. Dr. Patel received his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in 2011. He completed his residency in family medicine at JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, in 2015.

Dr. Patel has practiced in Arkansas for the past four years, serving in rural and underserved areas and as an urgent care physician. He is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Arkansas Medical Society and the American Board of Family Medicine. He is also involved in health care-related community service.

Department of Internal Medicine

Kristine Patterson, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an associate professor in the Division of Infectious Disease. Dr. Patterson received her medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She continued her training with a fellowship in infectious disease at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, where she went on to serve on the faculty in the Division of Infectious Disease.

While at UNC, Dr. Patterson also served as medical director of the HIV/STD clinics in Wake County Human Services in Raleigh, North Carolina, and as medical director for the Women’s Comprehensive Care Clinic at UNC. She participated in numerous clinical trials and worked on several grants. In 2016, she began serving as a part-time assistant professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Infectious Disease at Columbia University Medical Center and as an assistant attending physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Department of Psychiatry

Sacha McBain, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Psychiatry as an assistant professor and associate director in the Psychiatric Research Institute’s Center for Trauma, Prevention, Recovery and Innovation. Dr. McBain will serve as associate director for physical trauma recovery. She will also see patients in the Walker Family Clinic.

Dr. McBain is a former clinical psychology intern in the UAMS Department of Psychiatry and former postdoctoral fellow with the Department of Veterans Affairs South Central (VISN 16) Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC). She graduated from the University of Utah at Salt Lake City with a bachelor’s in psychology. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology at Palo Alto University in California.