Please join us in welcoming these recent additions to the College of Medicine faculty!
Editor’s note: These are some 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
Daniel Bingham, M.D.
Daniel Bingham, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Bingham received his medical degree at UAMS in 2017. He completed his residency in anesthesiology at UAMS this year.
Elizabeth Blankenship, M.D.
Elizabeth Blankenship, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Blankenship received her medical degree at UAMS in 2017. She completed her residency in anesthesiology at UAMS this year.
Will McSpadden, M.D.
Will McSpadden, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. McSpadden received his medical degree at UAMS in 2017. He completed his residency in anesthesiology at UAMS this year.
Blake Plyler, M.D.
Blake Plyler, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Plyler received his medical degree at UAMS in 2017. He completed his residency in anesthesiology at UAMS this year.
Department of Neurology
Scott Lucchese, M.D.
Scott Lucchese, M.D., has joined the Department of Neurology as an Associate Professor. He specializes in headache medicine and is board-certified by the Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the United Counsel for Neurologic Subspecialties in Headache Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Headache Society.
Dr. Lucchese graduated in 2006 from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, where he went on to complete a preliminary in internal medicine followed by his neurology residency. After completing his training, he joined the staffs at the Harry S. Truman Veterans Administration Medical Center and the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine.
Dr. Lucchese’s expertise and clinical interests include management of all types of headache and facial pain syndromes including migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, cluster headache, facial and cervical dystonia, post traumatic headaches, CSF pressure/volume derangements, secondary headaches and NDPH.
Department of Pathology
Nicholas Zoumberos, M.D.
Nicholas Zoumberos, M.D., has joined the Department of Pathology as an Assistant Professor in the Dermatopathology Division. Dr. Zoumberos received his medical degree at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He completed his residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he also completed a fellowship in dermatopathology.
J. Stephen Nix, M.D.
J. Stephen Nix, M.D., has joined the Department of Pathology as an Assistant Professor in the Surgical Division. Dr. Nix received his medical degree at UAMS. He completed his residency in anatomic and neuropathology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Michella Whisman, M.D.
Michella Whisman, M.D., has joined the Department of Pathology as an Assistant Professor in the Surgical Division. Dr. Whisman received her medical degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio. She completed her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at UAMS. Dr. Whisman continued her training with a fellowship in surgical pathology and a fellowship in bone and soft tissue pathology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Department of Pediatrics
Courtney Cox, M.D.
Courtney Cox, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Cox received her medical degree and completed her pediatrics residency at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, where she was awarded the LSUHSC Outstanding Teaching Resident Award. She continued her training with a fellowship in pediatric critical care at UAMS.
Maher Abulfaraj, M.D.
Maher Abulfaraj, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine. After receiving his medical degree from Taibah University College of Medicine in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abulfaraj completed a residency in pediatrics at New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident. He completed a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins University, followed by an additional fellowship in pediatric emergency ultrasound at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Ebaa Jastaniah, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.
Ebaa Jastaniah, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Jastaniah received his medical degree from King Saud University College of Medicine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He completed a Master of Public Health at Tufts University and a postdoctoral clinical research fellowship in pediatric critical care at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Dr. Jastaniah continued his training with a pediatrics residency at Baystate Children’s Hospital, Tufts University School of Medicine, and a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Miami Children’s Health System. Dr. Jastaniah simultaneously completed a Master of Business Administration at the University of Florida Warrington School of Business. He most recently completed a fellowship in point-of-care pediatric emergency ultrasound at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Erica Liebelt, M.D.
Erica Liebelt, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as a Professor and Medical and Research Director of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Division of Emergency Medicine. She also serves as Associate Medical Director of the Arkansas Poison and Drug Information Center in the UAMS College of Pharmacy. She is an attending physician in the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Emergency Department.
Dr. Liebelt received her medical degree with highest honors from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She completed her pediatric residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where she also served as Chief Resident. Dr. Liebelt completed a fellowship in medical toxicology and pediatric emergency medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Poison Control Center.
Dr. Liebelt has held faculty appointments at Yale University, Johns Hopkins, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Washington, and Washington State University’s medical schools. She moved to Arkansas in 2021 after serving as the Executive and Medical Director of the Washington Poison Center, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, for 4 ½ years.
Read more in Dr. Liebelt’s biosketch.
Renita Pushparajah Mak, M.D.
Renita Pushparajah Mak, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Mak received her medical degree at the Atlantic University School of Medicine. She completed her pediatrics residency at Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where she was awarded the Excellence Award in Quality Improvement and received a CATCH Grant through the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). She continued her training with a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s. She currently serves as a contributing member of the Emergency Medical Services Community Outreach efforts at Arkansas Children’s. Dr. Mak is a Fellow of the AAP.
Jurhee Freese, M.D.
Jurhee Freese, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology. Dr. Freese received her medical degree fromTexas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. She completed her residency in pediatrics at UAMS and continued her training with a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Daniel Mak, M.D.
Daniel Mak, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology. Dr. Mak received his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. He completed his pediatrics residency at Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He continued his training with a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Mak is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Phoebe Martin, M.D.
Phoebe Martin, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Pediatrics. Dr. Martin received her medical degree at St. George’s University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in pediatrics at UAMS, where she was awarded the Rhonda M. Dick Emergency Medicine Intern of the Year award as well as the Debra H. Fiser Award for Excellence in Critical Care.
Aixa Gonzalez Garcia, M.D.
Aixa Gonzalez Garcia, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Genetics. Dr Gonzalez Garcia received her medical degree from University Central de Venezuela, Luis Razetti School of Medicine. She completed residencies in pediatrics at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami and in medical genetics and genomics at Emory University in Atlanta. She continued her training as a fellow in medical biochemical genetics at Emory. Dr. Gonzalez Garcia is fluent in Spanish and English.
Kristen Mitchell, M.D.
Kristen Mitchell, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Mitchell received her medical degree from UAMS, where she also completed her internship and residency and most recently served as Chief Resident. Her honors during residency included the Chris E. Smith Award for Excellence in Hospital Medicine, the Rhonda M. Dick Admitting Resident of the Year Award, and Hospital Medicine Outstanding Resident of the Month.
Cindy Nguyen, M.D.
Cindy Nguyen, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Nguyen received her medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch. She completed her pediatrics residency at UAMS, where she received the 2021 Chris E. Smith Award for Excellence in Hospital Medicine. Dr. Nguyen is conducting research under the advisement of Rebecca Cantu, M.D., involving diagnostic evaluation in children with complex febrile seizures.
Zain Alamarat, M.D.
Zain Alamarat, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Alamarat received her medical degree at the University of Jordan, in Amman, Jordan. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Michigan State University, where she was selected as Chief Resident. Dr. Alamarat continued her training with a fellowship in pediatric infectious disease at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She has a passion for medical education and clinical research, particularly the study of group A streptococcus, for which she received the 2020 ID Week Trainee Award. Dr. Alamarat is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Department of Radiology
Patrick Jennings, M.D.
Patrick Jennings, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Breast Imaging. Dr. Jennings received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. He completed his residency in diagnostic radiology at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville and continued his training with a breast imaging fellowship at UAMS.
Rachel Taylor, M.D.
Rachel Taylor, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Breast Imaging. Dr. Taylor received her medical degree from University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. She completed her residency in diagnostic radiology at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville and continued her training with a breast imaging fellowship at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas.
Memoona Mian, M.D.
Memoona Mian, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neuroradiology. Dr. Mian received her medical degree from Allama Iqbal Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan. She completed her radiology residency and fellowship training in PET/CT Imaging at Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital & Research Center in Lahore, Pakistan, where she also later served as a staff radiologist and Associate Program Director for the Radiology Residency Program. She then did a fellowship in emergency and trauma radiology at Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Canada before joining the Radiology Residency Program at UAMS. Dr. Mian continued her training at UAMS with a fellowship in neuroradiology. She is a Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists, UK.
Shobhit Sharma, M.D.
Shobhit Sharma, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neuroradiology. Dr. Sharma received his medical degree from Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (Manipaul University). After medical school, he completed residency training at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences in New Delhi, India. He went on to complete the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program at UAMS and fellowship training in neuroradiology at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Joshua Eichhorn, M.D., Ph.D.
Joshua Eichhorn, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Nuclear Medicine and Body Imaging. Dr. Eichhorn received his medical degree and doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology from UAMS. He is the second person to graduate from the combined Diagnostic Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Residency at UAMS. Dr. Eichhorn returns to UAMS following completion of a cancer imaging fellowship at Harvard Medical School-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.