'50s

Lewis B. Harned, MD, HU ’51, celebrated his 100th birthday on August 17, 2024. On his 99th birthday, Harned began a journey to do 99 new things, ranging from eating his first watermelon-flavored ice cream to indoor skydiving. He retired in 1992 from the sports medicine clinic he established in Madison, Wisconsin. He previously founded an orthopedic practice in Waterloo, Iowa, where he also served as team physician for the University of Northern Iowa’s football team.

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'60s

Lionel Mailloux, MD, HU ’62; Internal Medicine Residency, HU ’66, clinical professor of medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, was quoted in an April 5, 2025, article in the Long Island Press about the importance of organ donation, particularly in New York state, which has some of the longest wait times for donor organs.

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'70s

Mark Fisher, MD, HU ’73, a rheumatologist with over four decades of experience, joined the Arthritis, Rheumatic & Bone Disease Associates at their new location in Haddon Heights, New Jersey. Fisher is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology, and is a fellow of the American College of Rheumatology.

Dean E. Brenner, MD, HU ’74, announced his retirement from the University of Michigan, where he had served as the Moshe Talpaz, MD Professor of Translational Oncology, professor of internal medicine and professor of pharmacology. He was also the inaugural chair of the NIH’s Clinical Oncology Special Emphasis Panel and authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles. Over the course of his career, he received numerous honors for his leadership, mentorship and contributions to cancer prevention.

Maureen Lynch, MD, MCP ’75, was profiled on the website of Caldwell University, where she received her undergraduate degree. The piece details her journey to pursuing a career in pediatrics, as well as her medical mission work, which included annual trips to Haiti to provide medical care for 14 consecutive years. Lynch also served for more than three decades as the head of pediatrics for the Harvard University Group Health Plan. She is currently an assistant clinical professor at Harvard Medical School and sees patients at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Lawrence J. Goren, MD, HU ’78; Surgery Residency, HUH ’83, is the founder and chief medical officer of Pivot Onsite Innovations, which was recently acquired by Concentra Group Holdings Parent Inc., the nation’s largest provider of occupational health services. Pivot Onsite Innovations is a leader in the onsite health industry with over 200 health clinics at employer locations in over 40 states.

William N. Hait, MD/PhD pharmacology, MCP ’78, was named chief scientific advisor for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). He will also serve as chair of AACR’s Scientific Advisory Council. Hait was recently honored with the 2025 AACR-Margaret Foti Award for leadership and extraordinary achievements in cancer research. The award recognizes his extensive contributions to cancer pharmacology, drug discovery and precision medicine. He developed Rutgers Cancer Institute, New Jersey’s first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and spearheaded the development of oncology drugs that have improved outcomes for millions of cancer patients. Hait has been a member of the AACR since 1986 and was elected a fellow of the AACR Academy in 2013. He previously served as the global head of Janssen Research and Development and was the executive vice president, chief of external innovation, and medical safety and global public health officer at Johnson & Johnson prior to his retirement in 2024.

Stephen K. Klasko, MD, HU ’78, MBA, former CEO of Jefferson Health, was interviewed by the Philadelphia Business Journal about how various industries in the Greater Philadelphia area are adopting artificial intelligence.

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'80s

Latisha Smith-Chase, MD, HU ’83, was appointed medical director of the Wound & Edema Center at Fort HealthCare’s clinic in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin. Smith-Chase is a boardcertified internal medicine physician who received fellowship training in undersea and hyperbaric medicine at the University of Hawai‘i.

Joseph G. Cacchione, MD, HU ’85, CEO of Jefferson Health, was recognized in the Philadelphia Business Journal 2025 Power 100 list for his work as CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health. Cacchione was also among a group of Philadelphia health care CEOs who visited officials in Washinton, D.C., to advocate for reversing research and Medicaid funding cuts that could affect the patients served by the CEO’s health care facilities. Their efforts were covered in a March 13, 2025, Philadelphia Business Journal article.

Sheila Magoon, MD, HU ’85, wrote an article, “Magoon: Call for Advocacy – STAR & CHIP Patient Choice,” for the health care section of the Rio Grande Guardian. Magoon is executive director of the South Texas Physician Alliance.

Mary I. O’Connor, MD, MCP ’85, was featured in an interview with Authority Magazine on medium.com as part of their series about telehealth best practices. O’Connor, co-founder and chief medical officer at Vori Health, leads an award-winning nationwide virtual specialty medical practice dedicated to treating musculoskeletal pain effectively. She has held leadership positions at Mayo Clinic and Yale School of Medicine, championing health equity and leading the Movement Is Life coalition to eliminate musculoskeletal health disparities. She is an orthopedic surgeon, health equity advocate, former U.S. Olympic athlete and co-author of Taking Care of You.

Rick Cohen, MD, HU ’86, a physician and functional medicine expert with over 20 years of experience, developed the formula for Glycevia, a supplement designed to support balanced post-meal blood sugar responses. The company Bright Naturals launched the product in April 2025.

Niraj P. Pandit, MD, MCP ’86; Internal Medicine Residency, MCP ’89, was appointed vice chair of the HCA Florida Capital Hospital Board of Trustees, which he has been a member of since 2019. Pandit is a board-certified interventional cardiologist with HCA Florida Healthcare.

David J. Shulkin, MD, MCP ’86, HD ’19, joined the Board of Directors of PAR Excellence Systems, a leading end-to-end provider of automated inventory management systems solutions to the health care industry. He also currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Sanford Health, one of the country’s largest rural health care systems, having previously served as executive vice president. Shulkin served as the ninth Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Stephen A. Chidyllo, MD, HU ’87, DDS, retired from the clinical practice of plastic and reconstructive surgery. He was in practice in Monmouth County, New Jersey, for over 30 years. In addition to serving as an attending surgeon at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey, he previously held an appointment as clinical associate professor of surgery at Hahnemann University and then Drexel University College of Medicine. Chidyllo is the founder of Central Jersey Plastic Surgery, and served as the chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Hackensack Meridian Health, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, in Neptune, New Jersey.

Patrick Hwu, MD, MCP ’87, president and CEO of Moffitt Cancer Center, presented a keynote address, “Boosting Biotech Growth in the Sunshine State, Powered by Moffitt,” at the Florida Innovation Conference. He was also named to the Life Sciences list of the Florida 500, a publication that highlights the 500 most influential executives in different economic sectors throughout the state. Hwu has led pioneering research and clinical efforts to better understand the interactions between tumors and the immune system. He helped launch the field of gene-modified T cells, publishing research on the first chimeric antigen receptor directed against cancer. His work focuses on vaccines, adoptive T cell therapies and immune resistance.

Christopher Bowden, MD, HU ’88, was appointed to Bicara Therapeutics Board of Directors. Bowden is chief medical officer of Remix Therapeutics. He previously served as a strategic advisor and chief medical officer of Agios Pharmaceuticals. He was also vice president of product development in oncology and franchise lead of the signaling group at Genentech Inc.

Simon H. Chough, MD, HU ’88, joined Independence Health System’s team of cardiovascular specialists. Chough was most recently affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Heart and Vascular Institute in White Oak, Pennsylvania, and previously served as a peripheral vascular interventional specialist at UPMC Shadyside.

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'90s

Alyssa Dweck, MD, HU ’90, has partnered with D S Simon Media on a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss menopause, common misconceptions and new treatment options. Dweck is the chief medical officer at Bonafide Health LLC and is a practicing gynecologist in Westchester County, New York. She has served on the medical advisory board of Hope’s Door, a shelter from domestic violence and as a medical consultant for stepup-speakout.org.

James M. Metz, MD; MS clinical immunology/ microbiology, HU ’91, was the 2025 Commencement speaker and an honorary degree recipient at Juniata College on May 17. Metz is chair and Henry K. Pancoast Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He serves as associate director for clinical services and programs at the Abramson Comprehensive Cancer Center and has overseen the department and operations of the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the executive director of OncoLink, an award-winning resource founded in 1994 at the University of Pennsylvania.

Amy Murtha, MD, MCP ’92, ELAM ’15, was awarded the 2025 EJI Physician’s Award by the New Jersey Health Foundation for her excellence, innovation and dedication to health care. She also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Duke University School of Medicine, where she completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology and a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine. Murtha has served as dean of the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School since 2022.

Darshan Bhangdia, MD, HU ’93, a board-certified urologist, joined the medical team at WellSpan Urology Care in Lewisberg, Pennsylvania. He completed his general surgery and urology residencies at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Steven I. Levin, MD, HU ’93, joined the staff of Aspirus St. Luke’s Clinic Duluth Cardiothoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery. Levin completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and he is fellowship trained in cardiothoracic surgery from the University of Massachusetts. In addition to working at Aspirus St. Luke’s, Levin continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves and has deployed overseas as a surgeon in a forward surgical team.

Noah L. Rosenberg, MD, MCP ’93, was appointed chief medical officer at Verrica Pharmaceuticals. Rosenberg previously led the clinical development and approval of Xepi, a topical antibiotic for the treatment of impetigo, at Medimetriks Pharmaceuticals.

John Whyte, MD, HU ’93, was appointed CEO and executive vice president of the American Medical Association. Whyte is a board-certified internist with extensive experience at government agencies and private sector medical media outlets. Prior to his new role, he served as chief medical officer at WebMD.

Amy Crawford-Faucher, MD, MCP ’94, was appointed chair of the Primary Care Institute at Allegheny Health Network (AHN). She had served as vice chair of the institute since 2020, and she has been vice chair of the Department of Family Medicine since 2018. She also served as residency director and medical director of AHN’s Forbes Family Medicine Residency program, and director of medical care for UPMC’s Western Psychiatric Hospital.

Fenton LeBon, MD, MCP ’94, was appointed medical director of NAD+ IV Therapy and Wellness. With over 25 years of experience, LeBon brings a wealth of expertise in integrative psychiatry, addiction treatment and innovative wellness therapies to his role. He also has been a pioneer in wilderness programs in Georgia and Argentina, developing interventions for adolescents struggling with substance use and behavioral disorders. Beyond his clinical contributions, LeBon is the co-founder, co-chair and CEO of Molecular World Health, where he oversees all divisions and spearheads product development.

Stacy Lewin, MD, HU ’94, was inducted into the Arthur L. Johnson Alumni Association class of 2025. Lewin completed her internship at Pennsylvania Hospital, a residency in anesthesiology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and a fellowship in obstetric anesthesiology at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. After receiving a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, she became a dedicated advocate, serving on the Community Review Team for the I AM ALS organization and the Patient Advisory Board for the ALS Hope Foundation. In addition, she is a patient advisor for various pharmaceutical companies, and she shares the invaluable knowledge she has gained with other patients and caregivers living with ALS.

Maureen C. McMahon-Narvaez, MD, MCP ’95, was appointed board chair for Melmark, a not-for-profit organization providing special education, residential, vocational and therapeutic services for children and adults diagnosed with a range of intellectual and developmental disabilities, acquired brain disorders and other neurological and genetic disorders. The first elected female chair in 60 years, McMahon-Narvaez has served on Melmark’s board since 2011, most recently in the role of vice chair. She is a medical director, medical consultant and review physician in infectious disease and vaccines for Merck.

Kiran Rajasenan, MD, HU ’96, was inducted into the Ellwood City Area School District Hall of Fame in recognition of his significant accomplishments in the field of oncology. Rajasenan practices at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. He serves on the Executive Board of the 58-physician practice and is the former chair of oncology at UPMC Passavant.

Jason A. Damsker, MD, HU ’97, was appointed professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Board certified in medical oncology, hematology and internal medicine, Damsker has spent more than 20 years caring for patients in private practice, most recently as an attending hematologist/oncologist for Abington Hematology Oncology Associates.

Madan N. Kandula, MD, HU ’98, is the co-founder and CEO of Advent, a nationwide network of nose and throat treatment centers, which celebrated the opening of its new office location in the Dayton, Ohio, area. Kandula, who is a Dayton native, and his wife, Gwen, an audiologist, launched Advent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2004. The company has since grown to 28 locations nationwide with approximately 400 employees.

Renee M. Turchi, MD, MCP ’98; MPH; Pediatrics Residency, SCHC ’01, professor and academic chair of pediatrics at the College of Medicine, was interviewed for an article on Healio.com, answering questions on a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics about how to help youth with intellectual or developmental disabilities transition to adult care. Turchi, a member of the academy’s Council on Children with Disabilities, is the lead author of the updated statement.

Jennifer A. Wargo, MD, MCP ’98, holds the R. Lee Clark Endowed Professorship in the Department of Surgical Oncology and is a professor in the Department of Genomic Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Wargo was featured on the podcast “People Behind the Science,” where she discussed the impacts of the gut microbiome on immunotherapy cancer treatments.

John Langell, MD, MCPHU ’99; PhD microbiology and immunology, MCPHU ’98; MPH, president of Northeast Ohio Medical University, spoke about the institution’s 2020-2025 strategic plan in a presentation for Ideastream Public Media. Positive change at the university has accelerated during his tenure, including an increase in underrepresented minorities matriculating at the school, staff and faculty development, and streamlined operations.

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'00s

Jeffrey Egler, MD, MCPHU ’00, a double board-certified physician in family and lifestyle medicine, offered advice and strategies to protect Los Angeles residents from the health impacts of wildfire smoke and environmental toxins in an interview on The Good Men Project website. Egler is chief medical officer for Noom.

Judette M. Louis, MD, MCPHU ’00; MPH; ELH ’24, was appointed dean of the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University in September 2025. Louis previously served as the James M. Ingram Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida Health, and as director of the USF Health Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center obstetrical satellite programs. Her academic and clinical career has been devoted to improving outcomes for mothers and babies.

Ian B.K. Martin, MD, MCPHU ’00; MBA, an eminent scholar, professor with tenure, and system chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine, interim associate provost and senior associate dean of faculty affairs at Medical College of Wisconsin, and emergency physician-in-chief at Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin Health System, was elected to serve as president of the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine. He has previously served as presidentelect, secretary-treasurer and at-large member of the organization’s board. Martin received the John Marx Leadership Award at the annual meeting of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. The award, the highest granted by the society, honors a member who has made exceptional contributions to the specialty of emergency medicine, through local, regional, national and international leadership.

Asif M. Ilyas, MD, MCPHU ’01, who serves associate dean of clinical research, academic chair of orthopedic surgery, and adjunct professor of surgery and pediatrics at the College of Medicine, chaired “The Next Chapter of the Opioid Epidemic in Pennsylvania: The Xylazine Crisis” at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Symposium. Ilyas was also appointed to the Editorial Board of the Journal of Hand & Microsurgery and he was named to Avante-Garde Health’s 2025 list of “Orthopedic Surgery Research All-Stars,” which honors the best surgeons and hospitals based on the quantity and quality of their published orthopedic surgery research. In addition to his roles at Drexel, he serves as president of the Rothman Opioid Foundation and professor of orthopedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University.

Erum N. Ilyas, MD, MCPHU ’01, associate professor and interim academic chair of dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine, and Willow Pastard, MS Drexel Pathway to Medical School ’21, now a fourth-year medical student at the College, co-wrote an article for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “People of Color Are Getting Burned by Sunscreen Makers.” The article shares that currently available sunscreen products in the United States provide inadequate protection for non-white skin.

Jeffrey Nau, PhD; MS medical science ’02, has been appointed CEO of Aviceda Therapeutics, a private, clinicalstage biotech company focused on developing next-generation immunomodulators. Nau is an accomplished biopharma executive with over two decades of experience leading and expanding biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including as COO of Kalaris Therapeutics and CEO of Oyster Point Pharma. In addition to his Drexel degree, Nau holds a PhD in public health and epidemiology from Walden University. He is an inventor on multiple patents and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications.

Partha Ray, MD, ’02, is the founder and chair of Onconostic Technologies/3N Diagnostics Group (OT/3NDx), an oncology company that guides personalized treatment selection for breast cancer patients. Ray completed residency training in general surgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and surgical oncology fellowship training at the John Wayne Cancer Institute.

Robert A. Rissman, PhD neuroscience ’02, received the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer Award. Rissman is lead author of the groundbreaking article “Evaluation of Blood-Based Plasma Biomarkers as Potential Markers of Amyloid Burden in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease,” a paper that presents insights into a possible blood test to screen for Alzheimer’s disease. He is the W.M. Keck Endowed Chair in Medicine, and professor of physiology and neuroscience at the University of Southern California, as well as founding director of the Neuroscience Translational Research Division at the university’s Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute in San Diego, California.

Patrick Jeanmenne, MD ’03, a board-certified diagnostic radiologist, joined the medical team at Penn Highlands Healthcare. Jeanmenne previously practiced at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College. He completed his residency in diagnostic and interventional radiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.

Heidi M. Harrington, MD ’05, a board-certified plastic surgeon, will lead Beaufort Memorial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics at their new practice location in Okatie, South Carolina. Harrington has two decades of experience in plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. She completed her residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Southern California.

Phillip Koo, MD ’05, was appointed chief medical officer by the Prostate Cancer Foundation. He previously served as the chief of diagnostic imaging and physician executive of oncology at the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. He has held leadership positions in organizations including the Radiological Society of North America, the American College of Radiology, the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Koo completed his residency at Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and his fellowship at Harvard Medical School.

Patrick W. Whitlock, MD ’05, PhD, was appointed director of hip preservation in the Department of Orthopaedics at Cedars-Sinai. Whitlock previously served as co-director of the hip preservation program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He is one of only a few specialists in the U.S. skilled at performing periacetabular osteotomy for the treatment of hip dysplasia.

Marcelo Malakooti, MD ’08, MBA, was named to the Crown Family Professorship in Pediatrics at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, where he also serves as senior vice president and chief medical officer. Malakooti completed his pediatrics residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and his fellowship in pediatric critical care at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center.

Amy Smagala, VMD; MLAS ’08, and her sister Jenni opened Twin Tails Veterinary Hospital in Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, on June 25, 2025. Smagala earned her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Andrew T. Healy, MD ’09, a board-certified neurosurgeon, joined the staff at FryeCare Orthopedics & Neurosurgery in Hickory, North Carolina. Healy completed his residency and enfolded orthopedic and neurosurgical spine fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

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'10s

Caroline Jouhourian, MD ’10, director of the General GI program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, led a webinar, “Gut Wrenchers: Understanding, Preventing and Treating Common Digestive Diseases.” The presentation was part of Beacon Hill Village’s “Living Well Ending Well” series in partnership with the Boston Public Library.

Candice Y. Lee, MD ’10, was part of historic all-female heart surgery team that performed a coronary artery bypass graft operation at Allegheny General Hospital. The operation helped to draw attention to gender representation in medicine shortly after International Women’s Day, on March 8. Lee has worked as a cardiothoracic surgeon at Allegheny since 2020.

Adam R. Leman, PhD molecular and cell biology and genetics ’11, was a speaker at the 5th Fermentation-Enabled Alternative Protein Summit, held in San Francisco February 24-26, 2025. He co-presented a fireside chat on the topic of “Effectively Financing Scaled Up Manufacturing Sites,” and presented “Conducting Techno-Economic Analyses & Life Cycle Assessments to Model Manufacturing Profitability.” He also chaired a session on “Advancing Commercially Successful Strategic Partnerships.” Leman is a principal fermentation scientist at The Good Food Institute.

Michael J. Wilkinson, MD ’11, a board-certified cardiologist and lipidologist who directs UC San Diego Health’s Advanced Lipid Treatment program, participated in a lecture series hosted by the Stein Institute for Research on Aging and Center for Healthy Aging on May 14, 2025. Wilkinson’s lecture focused on how intermittent fasting can be a strategy to prevent cardiometabolic diseases and promote healthy aging. Wilkinson is a member of the National Lipid Association board, and the immediate past-president of the association’s Pacific chapter. He is also an associate editor of the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

Amy Ott, PhD microbiology and immunology ’13, served as a mentor for Bryn Mawr College STEMLA (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math in the Liberal Arts) program students with other members of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Association of Women in Science (AWIS-PHL) as part of an AWIS-STEMLA collaboration. AWIS-PHL’s mentorship circles are designed to help students set professional and personal goals, and build competence and confidence in attaining those goals in a supportive group setting.

Austin D. Williams, MD ’13, a surgeon and assistant professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center, was named a fellow of the American College of Surgeons in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the field, commitment to ethical surgical practices and dedication to advancing patient care. Williams was also named a Society of Surgical Oncology presidential scholar. The scholars in the program are paired with distinguished surgical oncologists who serve as mentors. Prior to joining Fox Chase, Williams was a breast surgical oncology fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he was the Kroll Family Fellow. Over the course of his career, Williams has achieved multiple honors, including the Outstanding Scientific Presentation Award from the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the Owen H. Wangensteen Excellence in Research Award from the American College of Surgeons.

Kristina Carter Bartley, MLAS ’14, presented a webinar, “Decoding Animal Behavior: Enhancing Welfare and Research in Laboratory Science,” for Drexel University. Bartley is director of behavior management and an enrichment program quality assurance education specialist at the Center for Comparative Medicine and Surgery at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is also founder of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Enrichment.

Gabrielle Hawkins, MD ’14, MS biological sciences ’10, joined the Woman’s Hospital GYN Oncology Clinic as a surgeon. Hawkins completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency and a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill. She is board certified in gynecologic oncology, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Michael A. Mashura, MD ’14, PBC interdepartmental medical sciences ’10, joined the medical team at HCA Florida Biscayne Bay Orthopaedics as an orthopedic surgeon. Mashura previously served as a team physician for numerous other athletic organizations, including Florida International University and the Miami Heat. He also serves as the team physician for several local high schools and has been a sideline physician for sporting events, including New York Cosmos professional soccer, Merchant Marine Academy Division III NCAA football, Miami-Dade public high school football and Long Island high school football. Additionally, he has co-published and lectured on topics such as ACL injuries, cartilage degeneration and regeneration, shoulder instability and hip preservation.

Erica Baller, MD ’15, assistant professor of psychiatry at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, was honored with the Leonard Berwick Memorial Teaching Award. This award recognizes a member of the medical faculty whose teaching effectively fuses basic science and clinical medicine, particularly among younger faculty. Baller’s teaching materials have been used in 178 countries and are now incorporated into primary care training in Canada. In addition, she serves as director of neuroscience education for the University of Pennsylvania Psychiatry Residency program.

Benjamin F. Cocchiaro, MD ’15, MPH ’13, published two articles for TheConversation.com: “How Opioid Deaths Tripled in Philly Over a Decade − And What May Be Behind a Recent Downturn” and “Fewer Deaths, New Substances and Evolving Treatments in Philly’s Opioid Epidemic − 4 Essential Reads.” Cocchiaro serves as assistant professor of family, community and preventive medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine.

Allison Denman, MS forensic science ’16, was recognized in this year’s Celebrate Caring Campaign by Independence Blue Cross for her exceptional dedication and excellence in the nursing field. Denman is a clinical director and forensic nurse manager at Drexel’s Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center. She provides round-the-clock care for victims of sexual assault and also serves as an expert witness for legal proceedings related to sexual assault nurse examiner care.

Jennifer Hope, PhD microbiology and immunology ’17, an assistant professor in the College of Medicine’s Department of Microbiology & Immunology, is the principal investigator for a Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center Research Consortium pilot funding grant, with College of Medicine colleagues serving as co-investigators. The project is “Development of a Novel Preclinical Model to Address Mechanisms of HIV- Mediated Enhancement of Pancreatic Cancer Incidence and Severity.”

Sonya S. Shah, MD ’17, a board-certified internist, has joined the medical staff of HMH Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Following her medical education, she completed a residency in internal medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital.

Michelle White, MD ’17 , and her father participated in an interview for the Meadville Tribune, where they discussed the joy of working together at Meadville ENT, where White joined her father after completing her residency at Tufts Medical Center.

William P. Zickler, MD ’17, joined the Northeast Georgia Physicians Group’s Vascular Center as a vascular surgeon. Zickler completed a residency and internship in general surgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center before completing his fellowship training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Ryan M. Cox, MD ’18, was appointed assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Upstate Medical University. Cox previously served as a shoulder and elbow fellow at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University.

Shaina N. Kumar, MD ’19, joined OCLI Vision as a specialist in cataract and refractive surgery. Her research contributions have been recognized in prestigious journals such as Oxford Medical Case Reports and Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

Jennifer L. Prestipino, MS interdisciplinary health sciences ’19, an applications scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, was interviewed by news-medical.net on the science of silk fibroin and chitosan, and techniques for biomaterials analysis. Prestipino specializes in the NanoDrop UV-Vis Spectrophotometer product line.

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'20s

Mitch Nothem, PhD pharmacology and physiology ’20, a postdoctoral scholar at the College of Medicine, has received a renewal of his Drexel Medical Cannabis Research Center Pilot Award. This will provide a second year of funding for his project “Investigating Cannabinoid Combinations in the Treatment of Chronic Neuropathic Pain and Alcohol Use Disorder.”

Bhumiben Patel, MS drug discovery and development ’20, see Reeb ’25.

Sevak Keshishyan, MD; MS clinical research organization and management ’21, was appointed director of interventional pulmonology and associate medical director of the Lung Cancer Program at Englewood Health. Keshishyan is an interventional pulmonologist and critical care medicine physician.

Stacia Lewandowski, PhD pharmacology and physiology ’21, see Reeb ’25.

Willow Pastard, MS Drexel pathway to medical school ’21, see E. Ilyas ’01.

Lorela Ciraku, PhD molecular and cell biology and genetics ’22, see Esquea ’24.

Genevieve Curtis, PhD neuroscience ’22, Breanne Pirino, PhD neuroscience ’23, and College of Medicine colleagues published “Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP)+ Cells in the Paraventricular Nucleus of the Thalamus: Relationship With Binge-Type Eating in Male and Female Mice” in the February 2025 issue of the journal Psychopharmacology.

Zhucheng Lin, PhD pharmacology and physiology ’22, Xuan Luo, PhD pharmacology and physiology ’24, Deepa Reddy, MS pharmacology and physiology ’23, Jason Wickman, PhD pharmacology and physiology ’25, Richa Pande, PhD microbiology and immunology ’23, and colleagues at the College of Medicine; Drexel School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems; Nanostics Inc; and Wake Forest University School of Medicine authored “Inflammatory Pain Resolution by Mouse Serum-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles,” which was published online in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity on September 29, 2024.

Richa Pande, PhD microbiology and immunology ’23, see Lin ’22.

Breanne Pirino, PhD neuroscience ’23, see Curtis ’22.

Deepa Reddy, MS pharmacology and physiology ’23, see Lin ’22.

Gabriel DePinho, MS Drexel Pathway to Medical School ’23, now a member of the MD program class of 2027, received the first-place prize in the Nth Dimensions Summer Internship Research Poster Session, which was held during the National Medical Association’s 2024 Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly in New York City.

Vershawn Hansen, MS Drexel pathway to medical school ’24, was awarded the SignatureCare Emergency Center Fall Semester Medical and Health Scholarship. Hansen is now a member of the MD program class of 2028 at the College of Medicine.

Xuan Luo, PhD pharmacology and physiology ’24, see Lin ’22.

Lucie Bennett-Stein, MS pathologists’ assistant ’25, presented her research at the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants 49th annual conference. Bennett-Stein’s poster, “Dissecting Ergonomics: Personalized Strategies at the Grossing Bench,” included an assessment of pathologists’ assistants’ understanding of ergonomics and their current work stations, with the aim of safeguarding the long-term health of members of the profession.

Katelyn Reeb, PhD pharmacology and physiology ’25, Bhumiben Patel, MS drug discovery and development ’20, Stacia Lewandowski, PhD pharmacology and physiology ’21, and colleagues at the College of Medicine, the Wistar Institute and the Lewis Katz School of Medicine of Temple University authored “Positive Allosteric Modulation of Glutamate Transporter Reduces Cocaine-Induced Locomotion and Expression of Cocaine Conditioned Place Preference in Rats,” which was published in the European Journal of Pharmacology on December 5, 2024.

Sophia Valla, MS pathologists’ assistant ’25, presented her research at the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants 49th annual conference. Her poster shared a case study about a 66-year-old male patient with recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Jason Wickman, PhD pharmacology and physiology ’25, see Lin ’22.

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Former Residents and Fellows

(alphabetical)

Adam Sagot, DO, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship ’19, was appointed chief medical officer of Preferred Behavioral Health Group. In this role, Sagot will lead the organization’s medical strategy, oversee clinical quality and safety, and guide the integration of evidence-based practices across all service lines. Previously, he served as chief medical officer at Summit Oaks Hospital. Sagot is also an assistant professor of psychiatry at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University, where he is a vocal advocate for transforming mental health systems to better serve individuals and families.

 
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