New Faculty Additions – 2021
The Department of Internal Medicine would like to introduce some of our newest members who joined us in recent months (start dates in parentheses). We are pleased to welcome them to the department.
Margaret Byrne, MD, MS- Clinical Assistant Professor (8/1/21)
Dr. Maggie Byrne comes to the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation as a Clinical Assistant Professor, after completing her Hematology-Oncology Fellowship and receiving her MS in Clinical and Translational Sciences at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. She received her MD from Rush Medical College in Chicago. Dr. Byrne completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Dr. Byrne’s clinical and research interests focus on lung and head/neck cancer. In her spare time she likes to spend time with her family.
Justin Chau, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor (8/23/21)
Dr. Justin Chau joins the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation as a Clinical Assistant Professor. He completed his medical school, residency and Hematology-Oncology fellowship training at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. His principal clinical and research interests are centered around new and emerging therapies for colorectal cancer patients. When not spending time with his family, Dr. Chau enjoys photography and learning about advances in consumer and industrial technology.
Chih-Jen Cheng, MD – Associate Professor (8/11/21)
Dr. Chih-Jen Cheng received his MD degree in 2000 from the National Defense Medical Center in Taipei, Taiwan. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Tri-Service General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, from 2002-2005, during which he served as the Chief Resident in the final year. He completed a fellowship in Nephrology at Tri-Service General Hospital from 2005-2007. Thereafter, Dr. Cheng came to the United States and completed his PhD in 2012 at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Cheng has worked as an Assistant Professor in the division of Nephrology at TSGH since 2012. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2017.
Dr. Cheng is a highly regarded independent physician-investigator. He has received numerous awards and recognitions from his country and internationally including the United States for his clinical, academic and research achievements. He has published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers, including as the senior author in high-impact journals such as PNAS.
Dr. Cheng is a physician-scientist who will participate in clinical, research, and educational activities in the division of Nephrology. He will provide clinical nephrology services at the Iowa City VA Hospital and UIHC.
Heather Davila, PhD, MPA – Research Assistant Professor (9/13/21)
Dr. Heather Davila recently joined the Division of General Internal Medicine as a Research Assistant Professor from her position as Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Healthcare Organization & Implementation Research (CHOIR) at the Boston VA Healthcare System. Dr. Davila received an MPA from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, followed by a PhD in Evaluation Studies there. Her research focuses on improving care access and quality for frail older adults. When she’s not working, she enjoys walking and biking, spending time with family and friends, and discovering new music.
Taraz Imani Ramos, MD – Associate (6/18/21)
Dr. Taraz Imani Ramos joins the Division of General Internal Medicine as an Associate after completing his Internal Medicine Residency at Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. He received his MD from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Facultad de Medicina in Mexico City, followed by one year as an Internal Medicine resident at Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI there. Dr. Imani Ramos’s research focuses on preoperative risk evaluation, quality improvement in patient care during hospitalization, and the impact of nutrition on preventing disease; his clinical interests include diseases of difficult diagnosis, perioperative medicine, pregnancy complicated by medical disease and critical illness. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family, outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing, swimming, traveling and serving in activities for the betterment of the community.
Gopala Koneru, MBBS – Clinical Assistant Professor (8/30/21)
Dr. Gopala Koneru joined the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology as a Clinical Assistant Professor to serve the population of Des Moines and central Iowa, following a fellowship in Transplant Hepatology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark. Dr. Koneru did his Internal Medicine residency at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati followed by working as an Assistant Professor and Hospitalist at the University of Cincinnati. His clinical and research interests focus on NAFLD, autoimmune hepatitis and liver transplant medicine. He enjoys traveling and spending time with his family in his free time.
Shraddhdevi Makadia, MD – Associate (8/1/21)
Dr. Shraddhdevi Makadia joined the Division of General Internal Medicine as an Associate from her position as a Hospitalist at Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, New Jersey. Dr. Makadia received her MD from American University of Antigua College of Medicine, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Central Florida GME-Consortium in Ocala, Florida.
Samira Malik, MBBS – Clinical Assistant Professor (7/1/21)
Dr. Samira Malik joined the Division of Immunology as a Clinical Assistant Professor after completing a Rheumatology Fellowship here. Dr. Malik earned her MD from the University of Khartoum School of Medicine in Sudan, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Nevada in Reno.
Mary Rhodes, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor (8/16/21)
Dr. Mary Rhodes joins the Division of General Internal Medicine as a Clinical Assistant Professor, from her position as Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Dr. Rhodes received her MD from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, Wisconsin. She completed an Internal Medicine residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York, and a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at the University of Wisconsin. This was followed by an MS in Clinical and Translational Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin while serving as faculty there. Dr. Rhodes’s clinical focus is inpatient palliative medicine with special interest in addressing inequities in serious illness care. Her interests outside of work include exploring outdoors with her young children and consuming excessive news media.
Abdullah Sohail, MBBS – Associate (8/23/21)
Dr. Abdullah Sohail has joined the Division of General Internal Medicine as an Associate. He received his MBBS from King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan. Dr. Sohail also completed an Internal Medicine residency at The West Virginia University, Charleston Division. Dr. Sohail’s clinical and research interests include Gastroenterology. He enjoys spending time with family and watching sports in his free time.
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