New Faculty Additions – 2022
The Department of Internal Medicine is pleased to introduce some of the faculty members who joined us from August through December 2022. We are happy to welcome them to the department.
Ahisan Ansari, MBBS – Associate
Dr. Ahisan Ansari joined the Division of General Internal Medicine after completing an Internal Medicine Residency at Advent Health in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Ansari earned his MBBS from Rajendra Institute of Medical Science at Ranchi University in India. Dr. Ansari’s clinical and research interests include cardiovascular medicine and immune-related kidney disease. In his spare time, he enjoys playing with his daughter, cooking, and travel.
Gourav Bhardwaj, PhD – Research Assistant Professor
Dr. Gourav Bhardwaj was recently appointed as a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism from his position as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Dr. Bhardwaj earned his Ph.D. from the department of functional genomics of the University of Greifswald, Germany, where his research elucidated the molecular signatures in the hearts of dilated cardiomyopathy patients treated with immunoadsorption therapy. Dr. Bhardwaj’s lab at the University of Iowa will launch a novel investigation focused on understanding the role of insulin-FoxO signaling in diastolic dysfunction and Ca2+ handling in diabetic cardiomyopathy. In his free time, Dr. Bhardwaj enjoys playing racquetball and badminton and loves spending time with his family and friends.
Paari Dominic, MBBS – Associate Professor
Dr. Paari Dominic returns to the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine as an Associate Professor, from a faculty position in the Departments of Medicine and Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Louisiana State University Health-Shreveport. Dr. Dominic received his MBBS from Stanley Medical College in Chennai, India, followed by two years at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago, where he also served as Chief Resident. After residency, he came to Iowa where he was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in Dr. Mark Anderson’s lab, followed by a Cardiovascular Medicine fellowship here. He also completed a Clinical Electrophysiology Fellowship at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
Nicole Fleege, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Nicole Fleege comes to the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation as a Clinical Assistant Professor after completing a Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor. She received her MD from the Carver College of Medicine, followed by an Internal Medicine Residency and Chief Resident year here. Dr. Fleege’s clinical and research interests focus on breast medical oncology and symptom management/supportive oncology. Outside of medicine, Dr. Fleege enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and making decorated sugar cookies.
Kyle Flippo, PhD – Assistant Professor
Dr. Kyle Flippo joins the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism as an Assistant Professor, from his position as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology in the Carver College of Medicine. He received his PhD in Pharmacology at the University of Iowa. Dr. Flippo’s research interests include understanding how the nervous system influences endocrine function and vice versa. In his free time, Dr. Flippo enjoys spending time with his family, biking, and running.
Arul Mani, PhD – Research Assistant Professor
Dr. Arul Mani was recently appointed to the rank of Research Assistant Professor within the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, from his position as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Dr. Mani earned his PhD in Animal Biochemistry at the National Dairy Research Institute in Haryana, India. He got his postdoctoral training on studying the mechanism of atherosclerosis and angiogenesis from University of Tennessee Health Science Center, University of Central Florida and University of Iowa. His current research involves efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in determining severity of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) using a mouse model of PAD and to identify valid targets for therapeutic intervention using molecular biological approaches. He is mainly focusing on exploring the molecular mechanism of how microRNAs regulate post-ischemic skeletal muscle angiogenesis in experimental PAD. He enjoys spending time with family, friends and listening to music.
Bilal Rahim, MSc, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Bilal Rahim comes to the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation from his position as an Attending Physician at UnityPoint Allen Hospital Community Cancer Center in Waterloo, Iowa. Dr. Rahim received an MSc in the History of Science, Medicine & Technology at Oxford University in England, followed by an MD from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He also completed an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Connecticut in Farmington followed by a Hematology & Oncology Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. His clinical and research interests focus on genitourinary oncology and expanding oncology access to the broader Iowa region. Outside of work, he likes to travel, take photos, draw, and spend time with his family.
Evelyn Ross-Shapiro, MD, MPH – Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Evelyn Ross-Shapiro has joined the Division of General Internal Medicine after completing her Internal Medicine Residency here at UI Health Care. Dr. Ross-Shapiro received her MD from the Carver College of Medicine as well as her MPH from the University of Iowa College of Public Health. Her clinical interests include general internal medicine, sexual and gender minority health, and menopause management. Beyond her main role as a GIM primary care physician, she has partnered with the gynecology department to provide services in the menopause clinic. She will additionally be serving as the interim co-director of the LGBTQ Clinic.
Hira Shaikh, MBBS – Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Hira Shaikh recently joined the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation as a Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Shaikh received her MBBS from Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi, Pakistan. She completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a Hematology-Oncology Fellowship at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Ohio. Her research focuses on clinical trials and health outcomes in plasma cell malignancies and stem cell transplant. In her free time, Dr. Shaikh enjoys traveling, photography, reading, running, and hiking.
Jennifer Strouse, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Jennifer Strouse comes to the Division of Immunology as a Clinical Assistant Professor, after completing her Rheumatology Fellowship here at UIHC. She received her MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, followed by Internal Medicine Residency at UI Health Care, where she also served as Chief Resident. Dr. Strouse’s clinical and research interests focus on immune related adverse events of checkpoint inhibitors and medical education. In her spare time she enjoys visiting Java House.
Bryan Struck, MD – Clinical Professor
Dr. Bryan Struck joins the Division of General Internal Medicine as a Clinical Professor and Director of Supportive & Palliative Care. Dr. Struck received his MD from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston, where he also completed his residency in Internal Medicine. He also completed his fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor and DeBakey VA Medical Center, and held a faculty position in the Department of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. He created the palliative care service at the OKC VA Health System before coming to Iowa. His clinical and research interests include enhancing health care teams skills with discovering patients’ goals and aligning treatments to the goals and utilizing symptom based transfusions for hematologic malignancies. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, home improvement and his two miniature schnauzers.
Balarama Surapaneni, MBBS – Associate
Dr. Balarama K Surapaneni joins the Division of General Internal Medicine as an Associate. Dr. Surapaneni received his MBBS from JSS Medical College and General Hospital in Mysuru, India, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at Aventura Medical Center in Miami, Florida. His clinical and research interests include Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He enjoys reading, travelling, watching movies and spending time with family in his free time.
Tyler Titcomb, PhD – Instructor
Dr. Tyler Titcomb was recently appointed as an Instructor within the Division of General Internal Medicine, from his position as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Titcomb received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. His research interests focus on the intersection of nutrition, comorbidity burden, and neurodegenerative disease. Outside of work, Dr. Titcomb enjoys reading to his infant son, cooking for his wife, playing with his mini Australian Shepard, and working on his house.
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