Hematology and Oncology fellowship graduation, 2026

Friday night, while the rest of downtown Iowa City celebrated local artists at its annual Arts Fest, the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation celebrated its graduating Hematology and Oncology fellows. Guests gathered in the nearby Graduate Hotel first for drinks and appetizers while introductions were made to family and friends.

After appetizers, attendees were invited to help themselves to a well-stocked buffet table and continued the conversations in the main ballroom. Division Director Umar Farooq, MD, then welcomed guests and ran through some noteworthy years of service anniversaries. Farooq then announced the winners of the Teacher of the Year, Hematology APP of the Year, and Oncology APP of the Year awards as selected by the fellows themselves. Eric Mou, MD, received the first, Amber Stamy, MPAS, PA-C, received the second, and Clarissa Bruce, MPAS, PA-C, the third.

Fellowship Program Director Grerk Sutamtewagul, MD, then took the stage, joined by Associate Program Director William Zeitler, MD. (Both are themselves graduates of this same fellowship program.) Sutamtewagul led off by first acknowledging how much they appreciate the work of Fellowship Coordinator Jana Ringle for all her efforts to keep the program organized and on course.

The two then alternated introducing the graduates who were able to be in attendance that evening. Each spoke briefly about each graduating fellow and then invited them up to receive a plaque and say a few words. Each fellow offered heartfelt gratitude to Iowa, sharing their story of how they came here, what their experience has been like, and how glad they found a community among faculty and fellows while growing as clinicians.

After, guests posed for group photos and started the process of saying farewell to those who may be starting careers elsewhere. For those that are, the remaining colleagues made sure they knew there would always be a home for them at Iowa.

Congratulations to this year’s graduates!

Vijaya Kankanala, MBBS
Dong Hyun Kim, MD, PhD
Matthew Kroll, MD
Adam Prescott, MD (unable to attend)
John Smestad, MD, PhD (unable to attend)
Andrew Vegel, MD