The Department of Internal Medicine recently introduced our General Internal Medicine faculty who started in the first half of July. We would now like to introduce our newest members from other divisions who joined us in the months of June and July. We are pleased to welcome them to the department.
Sabarish Ayyappan, MBBS – Clinical Assistant Professor
Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation
Dr. Sabarish Ayyappan comes to the Division of Hematoloy/Oncology from a faculty position in the Department of Internal Medicine at The Ohio State University in Columbus. He received his MBBS from Madras Medical College in Chennai, India, and completed an Internal Medicine residency at Unity Health System, University of Rochester, in New York. Dr. Ayyappan also completed a Hematology and Oncology fellowship at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where he also served as Chief Fellow in his final year.
Kongkiat Chaikriangkrai, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor
Cardiovascular Medicine
Dr. Kongkiat Chaikriangkrai returns to the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine as a Clinical Assistant Professor, having completed his fellowship here at UIHC in 2018, followed by a Cardiovascular Imaging fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago. He received his MD from Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas. Dr. Chaikriangkrai’s clinical and research interests include multimodality cardiac imaging in various patient populations.
Nirav Dhanesha, PhD – Research Assistant Professor
Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation
Dr. Nirav Dhanesha was recently appointed to the rank of Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, from his position as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in Dr. Anil Chauhan’s research laboratory here at Iowa. He received his PhD from the KB institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research in Gujarat, India. Dr. Dhanesha’s research interests include basic mechanisms that contribute to pathophysiology of acute ischemic stroke and thrombosis. In his spare time he likes playing badminton, biking, and travelling.
Ayotunde Dokun, MD, PhD – Associate Professor
Endocrinology and Metabolism
Dr. Ayotunde Dokun joined the department as an Associate Professor and has been named Director of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. He recently held faculty positions at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center and Regional One Health System Memphis, where he served as Chief of Endocrine Service. Dr. Dokun received his MD and PhD degrees from The Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, followed by a residency in Internal Medicine and an Endocrinology fellowship at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. His research focuses on understanding how genetic factors and the metabolic abnormalities associated with diabetes contribute to vascular diseases such as peripheral artery disease. Clinical interests include diabetes, obesity, thyroid disease, and general endocrinology. Outside of the clinic and lab, Dr. Dokun enjoys being a husband, playing soccer, gardening, and watching his children compete in volleyball (daughter) and football (son).
Benjamin Griffin, MD – Assistant Professor
Nephrology
Dr. Benjamin Griffin joins the Division of Nephrology as an Assistant Professor after completing his Nephrology fellowship at the University of Colorado in Denver. He received his MD from University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Dr. Griffin’s clinical and research interests focus on acute kidney injury and continuous renal replacement therapy. When not working, he enjoys hiking, racquetball, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Priyanka Iyer, MD, MPH – Associate
Immunology
Dr. Priyanka Iyer has recently joined the Division of Immunology as an Associate after completing her Rheumatology fellowship here. Dr. Iyer earned her MBBS from Seth G.S Medical College and K.E.M Hospital in Mumbai, India, followed by an MPH in Global Health and Population from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. Prior to her fellowship, Dr. Iyer served as an Internal Medicine Hospitalist here at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for a year. Dr. Iyer’s clinical and research interests are varied and include exploring cardiovascular benefits of traditional DMARDs, large database research in Rheumatology, and the use of mobile technology in Spondyloarthropathy. She loves cooking, listening to Carnatic music, and appreciating traditional Indian art in her spare time.
Amgad Mentias, MBBCh – Associate
Cardiovascular Medicine
Dr. Amgad Mentias joins the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine after his Cardiology fellowship here, where he also served as Chief Fellow. Dr. Mentias earned his MBBCh from Ain Shams University, Faculty of Medicine in Cairo, Egypt, followed by an Internal Medicine residency there, where he was also Chief Resident. He also completed an Internal Medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. His clinical and research interests focus on interventional cardiology and valvular heart diseases. His hobbies include running, reading, and spending time with his wife and two kids.
Lisa Morselli, MD – Associate
Endocrinology and Metabolism
Dr. Lisa Morselli joined the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism as an Associate after her completing her Endocrine fellowship here. Dr. Morselli went to medical school at the University of Pisa Medical School in Italy and completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Dr. Morselli’s clinical work focuses on weight management, and her research interests include the role of the brain renin-angiotensin system in the hypothalamic control of resting metabolic rate.
Lemuel Non, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor
Infectious Diseases
Dr. Lemuel Non comes to the Division of Infectious Diseases as a Clinical Assistant Professor from a position at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He received his MD at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in Manila, followed by a Medicine residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also completed an Infectious Diseases fellowship at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Non’s current clinical and research interests focus on transplant infectious diseases. In his free time, he likes to bike, swim, watch TV, and cook. He is also on Twitter as creator of @id_agram (idagram), with a goal of teaching infectious diseases through diagrams and pictures.
Charles Rappaport, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor
Pulmonary, Critical Care and Occupational Medicine
Dr. Charles Rappaport joined the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Occupational Medicine as a Clinical Assistant Professor following his Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship here. Dr. Rappaport received his MD from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson and went on to complete his Internal Medicine residency at Iowa, where he also served as Chief Resident. Dr. Rappaport’s clinical interests include critical care, lung cancer, and bronchoscopy. His research interests include undergraduate and graduate medical education with a focus on point-of-care ultrasound. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and baseball, as well as spending time with his friends and family.
Ernesto Ruiz Duque, MD – Associate
Cardiovascular Medicine
Dr. Ernesto Ruiz Duque joins the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine as an Associate, after completing his Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant fellowship here. Dr. Ruiz Duque received his MD from Dr Pablo Acosta Ortiz Universidad Centrooccidental “Lisandro Alvarado” UCLA in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, followed by a Medicine residency at “Dr Pastor Oropeza” Hospital, IVSS there. He also completed a Cardiology fellowship with Interventional Cardiology training at the “Dr. Domingo Luciani” Hospital, IVSS in Caracas. Dr. Ruiz Duque’s clinical focus is end-stage heart failure, MCS, and cardiac transplant. Also, his research focuses on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. His interests outside of work include playing soccer, bicycling, enjoying music, and spending time with his family.
Nadav Sahar, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Dr. Nadav Sahar joins the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology as a Clinical Assistant Professor after completing fellowships in Pancreatic Disease Research and Advanced Endoscopy at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Sahar earned his MD degree at the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University in Israel, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at the Sheba Medical Center and a Gastroenterology fellowship at the Rabin Medical Center in Israel. His research focuses on clinical outcomes in acute pancreatitis and his clinical interests include benign and malignant diseases of the biliary tract and pancreas. In his spare time, Dr. Sahar enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 kids, playing soccer, tennis, and basketball, and cooking.
Raul Villacreses Rada, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor
Pulmonary, Critical Care and Occupational Medicine
Dr. Raul Villacreses Rada joins the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Occupational Medicine as a Clinical Assistant Professor after completing his Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship here. Dr. Villacreses Rada received his MD from the Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil in Ecuador, and pursued his Residency training, including a year as Chief Resident, at Iowa. His clinical interests include critical care medicine, interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension. His research is focused on discovering new mechanisms of disease involving the small airways, specifically understanding the regulation of secretory cells in the distal airways. Outside of work, Dr. Villacreses Rada likes to spend time with his family outdoors, going hiking, camping, and biking.
Runping Wang, PhD, MD– Associate
Nephrology
Dr. Runping Wang was recently appointed to the rank of Associate in the Division of Nephrology, from her position as an Assistant Research Scientist in the Cardiovascular Research Center here. Dr. Wang received an MD from Hebei Medical University in Shijiazhuang, China, followed by an MS in Neuroscience from the Capital University of Medical Science in Beijing. She earned her PhD in Biology (Neurobiology and Behavior) from Georgia State University in Atlanta, after which she held various postdoctoral positions at the University of Iowa. Dr. Wang’s research interests focus on ion channels involved in physiological function and diseases. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, jogging, playing badminton, and cooking.
[…] Our clinical programs continue to grow, with the recent of addition of Dr. Anjana Aggarwal and Dr. Nadav Sahar. Dr. Aggarwal completed her fellowship training at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in […]