The Department of Internal Medicine is pleased to introduce some of the newest members, most of whom joined us between July and September 2025 (start dates in parentheses). We are happy to welcome them to the department.
Abdullah Abbasi, MBBS – Clinical Assistant Professor – Gastroenterology and Hepatology (6/26/25)
Dr. Abdullah Abbasi earned his MBBS from Rawalpindi Medical University in Pakistan. He went on to complete his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship in the United Kingdom, followed by advanced endoscopy training at the Center for Interventional Endoscopy (CIE) at AdventHealth in Orlando, Florida. His clinical expertise and research interests include endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), advanced gastrointestinal resections using endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and submucosal dissection (ESD), and third-space endoscopy. Outside of medicine, Dr. Abbasi enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and traveling.
Hina Amin, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor – Cardiovascular Medicine (9/10/25)
Dr. Hina Amin earned her MBBS from King Edward Medical University in Lahore, Pakistan, before completing her internal medicine residency at Upstate Medical University. She then pursued fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Connecticut and in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Mayo Clinic. With advanced training and a passion for innovation, Dr. Amin is committed to advancing the field of cardiac care. When she’s not in the clinic, she enjoys hiking, discovering new music, binge-watching Netflix, and exploring great food wherever she can.
Nicholas Arnold, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor – Cardiovascular Medicine (8/11/25)
Dr. Nicholas Arnold received his MD from the University of Missouri School of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency and served as Chief Resident at University of Iowa Health Care, followed by fellowships in Cardiology and Critical Care Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Arnold brings dual expertise in cardiovascular and critical care medicine to the cardiology division. His clinical interests include cardiogenic shock, mechanical circulatory support, systems of care, and resident/fellow education with an emphasis on utilization of ultrasound in the ICU and training simulations. When outside the hospital Dr. Arnold enjoys spending time with his wife, Heba, being outdoors, woodworking and cheering on his Mizzou Tigers (and the Hawks).
Desmond Barber, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor – Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine (7/1/25)
Dr. Desmond Barber earned his MD from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita. He completed his internal medicine residency and served as Chief Resident at University of Iowa Health Care. He then pursued a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and earned a Master’s in Medical Education (MME) from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Dr. Barber’s dual focus on clinical care and medical education enriches both patient outcomes and trainee development. In his spare time, Dr. Barber likes to unwind by exercising, watching sports, and spending time with family and friends.
Sydney Bowmaster, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor – Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine (7/1/25)
Dr. Sydney Bowmaster earned her MD from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She completed her internal medicine residency and served as Chief Resident at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. She then completed a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at University of Iowa Health Care. Dr. Bowmaster brings a strong commitment to critical care and academic medicine and helps facilitate the Internal Medicine Residency Program’s Distinction in Point-of-Care Ultrasound Track. Outside of her clinical work, Dr. Bowmaster enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her family.
Timothy Chow, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor – Nephrology and Hypertension (8/1/25)
Dr. Timothy Chow earned his MD from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of South Florida, where he also served as Chief Resident, and went on to complete a nephrology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University. During fellowship, he also earned a Master of Health Science in Clinical and Cardiovascular Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Chow brings a strong background in both clinical research and kidney care. Outside of medicine, he enjoys golf, pickleball, and cheering on the Chicago Bears and Cubs.
Gatr-Alnada Gheriani, MBChB – Clinical Assistant Professor – Immunology (7/1/25)
Dr. Gatr-Alnada Gheriani is an internal medicine physician and rheumatologist with specialized expertise in vasculitis. She completed her internal medicine residency at Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, followed by a Rheumatology Fellowship at the University of Iowa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Gheriani served as a hospitalist and nocturnist at both Medstar Union Memorial and Johns Hopkins, playing a key role in developing and implementing new clinical protocols aimed at improving outcomes for critically ill patients.
At the University of Iowa, Dr. Gheriani has established and currently leads a dedicated vasculitis clinic, advancing both clinical care and research in this complex field. In addition to clinical expertise, Dr. Gheriani completed a VA Quality Scholars Fellowship, fostering a strong foundation in quality improvement and health care leadership.
Dr. Gheriani’s clinical and research interests focus on systemic vasculitis, including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), Takayasu’s arteritis, giant cell arteritis (GCA), and other rare vasculitides. Her research emphasizes the epidemiology of vasculitis and vasculitis mimickers, with particular focus on identifying underlying risk factors and their impact on patient outcomes.
She is dedicated to integrating clinical expertise with quality improvement methodologies to enhance the understanding, management, treatment, and overall care of patients with vasculitis.
Outside of her medical practice, Dr. Gheriani is a blue-ribbon winner at the Iowa State Fair for her baking. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three sons.
Karela Herrera-Enriquez, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor – Nephrology and Hypertension (7/1/25)
Dr. Karela Herrera-Enriquez joined the division in July 2025. A native of Arequipa, Peru, she earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Catholic University of Saint Mary in 2014. Dr. Herrera-Enriquez conducted research in high-altitude medicine in Arequipa and at the University of Pennsylvania from 2014 to 2018, focusing on cardiovascular and renal adaptations to hypoxia and hypertension phenotypes at high altitude. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in 2021, her fellowship in Nephrology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, in 2024, and subspecialty training in Transplant Nephrology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital from 2024 to 2025. Her academic and clinical interests include kidney transplantation, cardiorenal interactions, and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant recipients.
In her downtime, Dr. Herrera-Enriquez enjoys spending time with her husband—exploring nature, traveling or occasionally debating the finer points of diuretics in heart and kidney disease—and with her toddler, whether singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” or participating in “Mom and Me” ballet classes.
Ayesha Iftekhar, MBBS – Clinical Assistant Professor – Immunology (8/1/25)
Dr. Ayesha Iftekhar earned her MBBS from the Deccan College of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad, India, followed by an internal medicine residency at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago, and a Rheumatology fellowship at the University of Iowa. Dr. Iftekhar brings a strong connection to the institution and a passion for women’s health in rheumatology.
Drake Jensen, ARNP – Cardiovascular Medicine (8/25/25)
Drake Jensen earned his BSN from the University of Iowa College of Nursing and his MSN from Allen College in Waterloo. He brings a strong background in cardiovascular care and patient advocacy.
Amy Leitch, ARNP – Endocrinology and Metabolism (7/28/25)
Dr. Amy Leitch earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Iowa and completed her Family Nurse Practitioner training at Allen College in Waterloo, Iowa. She brings a deep understanding of endocrine disorders and a passion for patient education. Outside of her clinical work, Dr. Leitch enjoys spending time with family and friends, Hawkeye sporting events, tending to her flower gardens, traveling, volunteering with Girl Scouts and other activities for her daughter.
Rachel Mauch, PA-C – Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine (8/25/25)
Rachel Mauch earned her MPAS from Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. She brings a strong foundation in pulmonary and critical care medicine and a commitment to multidisciplinary teamwork. Mauch enjoys shopping at Hobby Lobby, staying active, and bothering her cat, Loofah, when she’s not in the hospital.
Erin Meyers, MD, MS – Clinical Assistant Professor – Endocrinology and Metabolism (9/22/25)
Dr. Erin Meyers earned her MS in Health & Human Physiology and her MD from the University of Iowa. She completed her internal medicine residency and fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at University of Iowa Health Care. Dr. Meyers brings a deep commitment to endocrine health and medical education.
Danielle Moore, ARNP – Endocrinology and Metabolism (7/28/25)
Danielle Moore earned her Bachelor’s of Nursing degree from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids Iowa and her Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner degree from Purdue Global University. Dr. Moore brings a strong commitment to chronic disease management and patient education. She enjoys reading, traveling, and time in nature when she is not working.
Offdan Daniel Narvaez-Guerra, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor – Cardiovascular Medicine (7/10/25)
Dr. Offdan Narvaez-Guerra earned his MD from the Catholic University of Saint Mary School of Medicine in Arequipa, Peru. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and fellowships in Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine and in Advanced Cardiac Imaging at Georgetown University/Medstar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Narvaez-Guerra brings advanced imaging expertise and a global perspective to the division.
Ruoning (Lemon) Ni, MD – Clinical Assistant Professor – Immunology (7/31/25)
Dr. Ruoning (Lemon) Ni earned her MD in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine from Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, where she also completed a conjoint MBBS program with France. Her training spans three countries, including Renji Hospital in Shanghai, Claude-Huriez Hospital in Lille, France, and Saint Agnes Healthcare in Baltimore, where she completed her internal medicine residency. She further pursued fellowships in Rheumatology at the University of Iowa and in Vasculitis at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Ni brings a global perspective and specialized expertise in autoimmune diseases and vasculitis. Outside of work, she is a passionate foodie, fitness enthusiast, and avid traveler who enjoys exploring cultures through cuisine and movement.
Ryan Peterson, PhD – Associate Professor – Infectious Diseases (7/31/25)
Dr. Ryan Peterson focuses on the application of rigorous quantitative methods to health data across multiple medical disciplines including infectious diseases, pulmonary sciences, and emergency medicine. His methodological research interests include model selection, model transparency/interpretability, methods for missing data, statistical computation, data preprocessing, and post-selection inference. Dr. Peterson is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine (Infectious Diseases), and is actively working to strengthen the quantitative research infrastructure in the Division of Infectious Diseases and the Department of Internal Medicine, serving as the Director for the Data2Science BRIDGE (Biomedical Research, Innovation, Design, Glassbox AI, and Evidence) group. The mission of this group is to conduct and facilitate exceptionally high-quality, team-based, quantitative health sciences research at the University of Iowa to enable discoveries, transform clinical practice, and improve public health. The group aims to become a “hub” for collaborative, innovative, and transparent data science practice and education that bridges medicine, public health, and quantitative sciences. More information about the Data2Science BRIDGE is forthcoming.
Dr. Peterson earned his PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Iowa and served as the Director of the Pulmonary Translational Biostatistics & Bioinformatics Core during his previous role as an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics and Informatics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Outside of his academic work, Dr. Peterson enjoys playing disc golf, attending live concerts, pizza, and hiking.
We are so lucky to have Dr Abbasi on our GI team!