Program Leadership
Laura E. Meinke, MD | Program Director, University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus
Dr. Meinke graduated summa cum laude with her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the UArizona before heading to California’s Bay Area, where she acquired her medical school degree and completed her internal medicine residency and pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship training at Stanford University. At that time, she further developed her interest in academic medicine. Dr. Meinke completed the Stanford Faculty Development program in 2006, and has been an active participant in resident education since her return to the UArizona in 2007. An associate professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, she has developed several quality improvement projects, including central line complications and ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization. Dr. Meinke is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary disease and critical care medicine.
Robert Aaronson, MD | Associate Program Director, University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus at TMC
Dr. Aaronson is an associate program director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Tucson Campus. He oversees program activities at Tucson Medical Center (TMC) and throughout the Tucson community. A clinical professor of medicine at the College of Medicine – Tucson, Dr. Aaronson received his bachelor's degree summa cum laude in English literature from New York’s Columbia University, followed by his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency training at the University of California, San Francisco, and his fellowship training in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Boston University. He is currently executive director of the Tucson Hospitals Medical Education Program (THMEP) and section chief for TMC’s Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Division. Dr. Aaronson is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine, sleep medicine and neurocritical care medicine.
Bujji B. Ainapurapu, MD | Associate Program Director, University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus
Dr. Ainapurapu completed his medical degree from Madras Medical College in Chennai, India in 2002. He subsequently finished his Internal Medicine Residency from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and worked in the Emergency Department. In 2007, Dr. Ainapurapu immigrated to the United States and completed his residency in Internal Medicine and Chief Residency from Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois. He joined as faculty in the division of Inpatient Medicine in 2010 and served in leadership roles for the Internal Medicine Residency South Campus Program. Dr. Ainapurapu is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hospital Medicine and Hypertension. His interests include diagnostic reasoning, bedside clinical skills and POCUS.
Eric Brucks, MD, MSc | Associate Program Director, University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus
Dr. Brucks graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marine science from Eckerd College before obtaining a master's degree from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. He worked as a marine biologist and botanist on Big Island, Hawai’i before enrolling in medical school at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson. Dr. Brucks completed both medical school and residency at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. He has been involved in resident training since graduation, serving as chief resident 2021-2022 and core faculty 2023-2024. Dr. Brucks is passionate about evidence-based medicine, and the importance of scientific literacy in both medicine training and practice. He currently serves as an inpatient clinician at the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Hospital. Dr. Brucks is board certified in internal medicine.
João Paulo "JP" Ferreira, MD | Associate Program Director, University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus
Dr. Ferreira received his medical degree from the Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia of the Universidade Federal da Bahia (FMB-UFBA) in Salvador, Brazil. He worked for two years in urban urgent care facilities, rural emergency rooms and for a family health program in Brazil. Dr. Ferreira completed his residency and geriatrics fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Afterward, he worked for the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System as a hospitalist. In October 2013, he joined the faculty at the University of Arizona Medical Center — now Banner – University Medical Center — as a hospitalist. He now plays a vital role in the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Tucson Campus as associate program director. Dr. Ferreira is also in the preliminary stages of planning for a hospitalist fellowship here.
Joshua Malo, MD | Associate Program Director, University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus
Dr. Malo graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biophysics from John Hopkins University in Baltimore, before obtaining his medical degree from Yeshiva University’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. He completed his postgraduate internal medicine residency and later fellowship training in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the UA. He has been an active participant in resident education since his residency, serving as a chief resident for the Internal Medicine Residency Program – University Campus in 2009-10, and as a chief fellow in 2012-13. As an influential member of our faculty, Dr. Malo serves as associate program director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Tucson Campus. He has developed curricula for airway management simulation and critical care ultrasonography for pulmonary and critical care. Dr. Malo is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary disease, and critical care medicine. His clinical and research interests include resident and fellow education, coccidioidomycosis, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and lung transplant.
Dalia M. Mikhael, MD | Associate Track Director for Clinician Educator Pathway, Core Faculty University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus
Dr. Mikhael has been a Tucson native and a UA Wildcat for many years. She attended the University of Arizona where she achieved summa cum laude and honors while obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology and minoring in Art History. During and following her undergraduate work she continued research work focused on learning and memory in aging and cancer prevention, after which she earned her medical degree at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Dr. Mikhael completed her postgraduate internal medicine residency at the University of Arizona Tucson Campus and joined as faculty serving as core faculty before her current role as associate program director. Dr. Mikhael is passionate about medical education at all levels of training and effective communication in medicine. Dr. Mikhael is board certified in internal medicine.
Indu Partha, MD | Associate Program Director, University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus
Dr. Partha graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and earned her medical degree at the University of California, San Diego. Her residency training in Internal Medicine was at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and Northwestern University in Chicago. She moved to Tucson in 2004 and practiced as a primary care internist in the community for many years before joining the UA College of Medicine – Tucson faculty in 2015. A Board-Certified internist, Dr. Partha's professional passions are Primary Care General Internal Medicine, mentoring women in medicine, and medical education.
Anthony Witten, DO | Associate Program Director, University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus
Dr. Witten is a Tucson, Arizona native. He attended Arizona State University in Glendale, AZ, where he achieved summa cum laude during the completion of his Bachelor of Science in Biology while simultaneously attaining the Moeur Award for academic excellence. Following his undergraduate work at ASU, he attended Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, where he completed his degree in Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Witten completed his postgraduate internal medicine residency at the University of Arizona Tucson Campus, where he later served as chief resident and core faculty before his current role as associate program director. Dr. Witten is passionate about medical education, evidence-based medicine, and point-of-care ultrasound. He looks forward to continuing to work with other program leadership to further incorporate these essential aspects of medical education into the heart of the University of Arizona program. Dr. Witten is board certified in internal medicine.
Tirdad T. Zangeneh, DO | Associate Program Director, University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus
Dr. Zangeneh graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and went on to complete a master’s degree in psychology at California State University in Los Angeles. After working in the field of HIV/AIDS for the City of Los Angeles, Dr. Zangeneh received his medical degree in osteopathic medicine (DO) from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. His postgraduate training in an internal medicine residency program as well as an infectious diseases fellowship was completed at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital, also in Florida. Currently, at the College of Medicine – Tucson, Dr. Zangeneh serves as professor of clinical medicine and associate program director for the Tucson Campus internal medicine residency program. He is board certified in both internal medicine and infectious disease.
Amy Sussman, MD | Associate Professor, Division of Nephrology, and Vice Chair of Education, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson
An Akron, Ohio, native, Dr. Sussman earned her medical degree at the College of Medicine – Tucson and completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, where she also was chief resident and later completed a clinical fellowship and research fellowship in nephrology. Recruited to the UArizona faculty in 2009, she serves as a clinician educator with a strong emphasis in medical student teaching recognized by multiple College of Medicine – Tucson teaching awards. She became director of the Nephrology Fellowship Program in 2013 and director of the department’s Clerkship Program in 2015. In 2016, she was promoted to associate professor. Dr. Sussman maintains an active interest in Glomerulonephritis and is a sub-investigator of the Membranous Nephropathy Trial of Rituxan (MENTOR) clinical trial. She also serves as medical director of DCI Desert Dialysis clinics in South Tucson and Sahuarita, Arizona. In addition, she has developed and is the clinical director of the nocturnal in-center dialysis program at DCI South Tucson. She got her undergraduate degree from Arizona State University.
Chief Residents
For the 2024-2025 Academic Year, Chief Residents include:
Kandis Boothe, MD PhD | Internal Medicine Residency Scheduling Chief, Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Lubbock, TX 2021
Hometown: Rio Rancho, NM. I was born a Texan, but grew up in the Land of Enchantment eating green chili, hiking, camping, and watching the balloon fiesta. Growing up I spent time doing research experiments, playing with our wiener dog, spending time with my family and friends, and playing sports (basketball, soccer, flag football, running). In college, at the University of New Mexico (or “university near Mom”) I played on the racquetball team, had my first experience in the laboratory with nematodes and then mice, and started running marathons and triathlons. My love for science and medicine grew, which led me to pursue an MD PhD at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences center. In medical school I met my now husband, David Boothe, who keeps me grounded and ensures that life is never boring. I value all my amazing friends, family, and mentors. My professional interests include general medicine, transplant immunology, research, and teaching. I love getting people excited about science and medicine! In Tucson, I have enjoyed hiking, rock climbing, viewing the beautiful sunrises, and exploring.
Natalie Davis, MD | Internal Medicine Residency South Campus Chief, Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson: Tucson, AZ 2021
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona. I was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ where I spent most of my pre-professional education. I attended undergrad at Arizona State University where I majored in English Literature. I spent my college years working as a medical scribe and in clinical research within a Family Medicine practice. Later, I was fortunate to be selected to the Pre-Medical Admissions Pathway Program at the University of Arizona-Tucson which brought me here, and I completed a certificate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine. Afterwards, I was admitted to the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson. I stayed on for residency for many reasons including the great faculty, residents, and proximity to home. I love Tucson for its natural beauty and smalltown feel. My hobbies include traveling, cooking, weightlifting, and spending time with my family and two dogs. My professional goals are to pursue a career in academic medicine through a combination of primary care and hospital medicine.
Elise Le Cam, MD | Internal Medicine Residency VA Campus Chief, Medical School: University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 2020
Hometown: Paris, France. I was born and raised in Paris, France but ultimately moved to Los Angeles, California for the end of my middle school and high school. I attended the University of California – Berkeley for my undergraduate studies, followed by a year at Tulane University for a master’s degree. I then went on to attend the University of Queensland for medical school. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking around Tucson, playing tennis with friends, trying new restaurants around town, and traveling as much as time allows. My professional goal is to become a Gastroenterology physician and continue to work within the field of medical education.
Vishalakshi Lakshmanan, MD | Internal Medicine Residency TMC Chief
Medical School: University of Central Florida College of Medicine, 2021
Amie Marie Kolimas, DO | Internal Medicine Residency BUMCT Chief
Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2018