DOM gains 11 new faculty members in September

The Department of Medicine welcomes an additional 11 new faculty members in September, on top of the 11 that started July 1 and the 15 that started in August as University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson faculty. In addition to teaching roles, most will serve as attending physicians and a couple as researchers.

Five are hospitalists in the Division of Inpatient Medicine, three are internists in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, two are in the Division of Cardiology and one is in the Division of Hematology & Oncology. They may have affiliations also with the U of A Center on Aging, Sarver Heart Center or U of A Cancer Center – as well as Banner – University Medicine Tucson and the college.

“Welcome,” said James K. Liao, MD, professor and chair of the department, Sarver Heart Center and Graduate Faculty member, and the Robert S. and Irene Flinn Endowed Chair in Medicine at the College of Medicine – Tucson. “The department hopes your careers at the U of A are fulfilling and rewarding, and you’re able to do good work to improve patient health and train future physicians and research investigators here.”

Listed in alphabetical order and by start date, this month’s new faculty include:

On service as of Sept. 1, 2024

• Momen S.E. Alsayed, MBBS | Inpatient Medicine, Assistant Clinical Professor: Dr. Alsayed comes to Tucson from Minneapolis where he did his internal medicine residency training (2021-24) at Hennepin Healthcare, winning the Excellence in Primary Care Award for Residents (2024). He has a special interest in global health and cardiology. He completed graduate global health courses and CTropMed training (regarding clinical tropical medicine and travelers’ health) at the University of Minnesota (2024). Prior to that, he completed a postdoctoral clinical research internship (2020-21) at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He earned his medical degree (2017) from the University of Medical Sciences & Technology in Khartoum, Sudan. During residency, he completed several cardiology-related rotations and research projects, including in inpatient service at the Minneapolis Heart Institute and the cardiac ICU at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. Publications.
• Achol Cyer, MD | Inpatient Medicine, Assistant Clinical Professor: Dr. Cyer completed her internal medicine residency training (2021-24) at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. She earned her medical doctorate (2021) from the State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, in Syracuse, NY. During her residency, she did QI projects on food insecurity and heart center discharge metrics to improve outcomes. And she served on the DEI selection committee and was secretary (2022-23) to the Association of Minority Residents and Fellows. She also holds a bachelor’s degree (2016) from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
• Kevin J. Moynahan, MD | General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, Assistant Clinical Professor: A Tucson native and Wildcat for life, Dr. Moynahan holds a bachelor’s degree (2014) from the U of A and earned his medical doctorate (2020) from the College of Medicine – Tucson, where he also completed his internal medicine residency training (2020-23) and served as chief resident (2023-24). He’ll be serving in the general internal medicine area of the division and, yes, his father is Kevin F. Moynahan, MD, who is a former GIM section chief and current COM-T vice chair for education. The younger Dr. Moynahan was a gym coordinator for Parkinson Wellness Recovery (2014-16); president of Project Taking Charge (2017), a community-based health education program at the U of A Health Sciences to help address health disparities in underserved communities; and performed with the musical group, “her mana,” (2015-19). Among his honors, he was presented with the Commitment to Underserved People Leadership Award (2020) and graduated medical school with distinctions in community service and integrative medicine.
• Ramya Ramachandran, DO | Inpatient Medicine, Assistant Clinical Professor: Dr. Ramachandran completed her internal medicine residency training (2021-24) at Medical City Arlington in North Richland Hills, TX. She earned her medical degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, FL, and also holds a master’s degree in biotechnology (2015) from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in biology (2011) from the University of Maryland, College Park. In 2011-12, she was an Americorps VISTA volunteer with Hindu American Seva Charities in Greenbelt, MD, working with the International Rescue Committee, American Nepalese Women’s Association and the area Bhutanese community. Publications.
• Shafquat Saif, DO, MPH | Inpatient Medicine, Assistant Clinical Professor: Dr. Saif completed his internal medicine residency training (2021-24) at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the Renown Regional Medical Center and Ioannis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center. He earned his medical degree (2021) from the A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Mesa, AZ, where he was surgery club president and anatomy club secretary. He also holds a master’s degree in public health (2016) from the U of A Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry (2013) from Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. He was an adjunct lecturer (2016-18) at the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix, where he also was a QI project intern (2015-16). In addition, he was a pharmacy technician (2013-14) at Walgreen’s in Tempe.
• Hisham B. Sweidan, MD | Inpatient Medicine, Assistant Clinical Professor: Dr. Sweidan completed his internal medicine residency training (2021-24) at Wayne State University and Detroit Medical Center/Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit, MI. He earned his medical doctorate (2018) from the Hashemite University Ibn Sina Medical Faculties Complex in Zarqa, Jordan. His senior year, he did two rotations with Florida International University in Miami. Afterward, he did an internal medicine internship (2018-19) at the Jordan Ministry of Health (MOH) Princess Basma Hospital in Irbid, Jordan. Then, he was a physician (2019-20) for Caritas Jordan, a Catholic charitable organization project supported by UN Refugees Agency  through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Publications.
• Marie Bernadette “Berna” S. Villanueva, MD, MPH, AAHIVS | General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, Assistant Clinical Professor: Dr. Villanueva is a first-generation immigrant born and raised in the Philippines. She completed her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and behavior (2009) at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a master’s degree in public health (2014) at the University of San Francisco. Prior to medical school, she worked as a public health professional, researcher, and community mental health worker with experience in prevention, health education, and health promotion in both domestic and international settings. She’s a proud graduate of the U of A College of Medicine Tucson (2021), earning distinctions in community service and global health. She completed her internal medicine residency (2021-24) at U of A, where she served as the Class of 2024 Housestaff Representative and Pathways to Success Committee member. Dr. Villanueva is an HIV Specialist™ (AAHIVS), certified through the American Academy of HIV Medicine. She has received multiple honors including Special Congressional Recognitions from the office of U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva and former U.S. Sen. Martha McSally. She said her passion is driven by her commitment to service and medical education as well as taking care of patients from diverse communities especially underserved populations.

On service as of Sept. 3, 2024

• Luke Szweda, PhD, FAAAS | Division of Cardiology, Professor: Dr. Szweda comes to the U of A from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where he was a professor in the Division of Cardiology and a colleague of Hesham Sadek, MD, PhD, who became chief of the Division of Cardiology and Director of the Sarver Heart Center at U of A in May. Prior to joining UTSW in 2017, Dr. Szweda was chair of the Aging and Metabolism Research Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and an adjunct professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (2007-16), both in Oklahoma City. Before that, he was an assistant (1995-2001) then associate (2002-04) professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry (1982) from Carleton College, Northfield, MN, and doctorate in chemistry and biochemistry (1990) from UCLA under the mentorship of Daniel E. Atkinson, PhD. He did postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Earl R. Stadtman, PhD, at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. He has received numerous honors, including being elected an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (2013) and serves as a reviewer for several journals and, since 2016, an editorial board member of the journal Circulation. Dr. Szweda was also a member and chair of multiple NIH and American Heart Association study sections. Dr. Szweda’s laboratory studies how changes in cardiac metabolism induced by nutrient and energetic stress contribute to heart disease. Publications.

On service as of Sept. 15, 2024

• Anna Morenz, MD, MPH | General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, Assistant Clinical Professor: Another Tucson native, Dr. Morenz holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology (2013) from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, where she was awarded two fellowships afterward, the Dartmouth Partners in Community Service Post-Graduate Fellowship (2013) and Alfred K. Priest Fellowship (2015). She also earned a medical doctorate (2019) from Harvard Medical School in Boston and a master’s degree in public health (2024) from the University of Washington, Seattle. She did her internal medicine residency training (2019-22) at the University of Washington. Afterward, she completed a T32-funded research fellowship (2022-24) at the UW Value Systems & Science Lab, with a focus on research to inform more equitable primary care delivery and payment reform. In that period, she worked as a primary care physician at UW's Harborview Adult Medicine Clinic and co-developed a “Health Equity, Advocacy, and Anti-Racism” curriculum for UW’s IM residency program. She’ll be working as a primary care physician at Banner – University Medicine Tucson, precepting IM residents, and focusing her research on addressing inequities in cancer screening. Publications.

On service as of Sept. 30, 2024

• Reya Sharman, MD, MPH | Division of Hematology & Oncology: Dr. Sharman just completed her Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship (2021-24) as well as the Integrative Oncology Fellowship (2022-24) in the Division of Hematology & Oncology at the College of Medicine – Tucson and U of A Cancer Center. Before that, she did her internal medicine residency training (2018-21) at the college as well. She earned her medical doctorate as well as a public health graduate certificate for “Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved” (2018) from Michigan State University and holds a master’s degree in public health (2014) as well as a bachelor’s degree (2012) from the University of Michigan. Publications.
• Waleed M. Elhelaly, PhD | Division of Cardiology, Instructor, Research Scholar: Dr. Elhelaly comes to the College of Medicine – Tucson from the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where he was an instructor in the Department of Internal Medicine and a member of its Division of Cardiology and the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine. Originally from Egypt, he earned a medical degree (1997) at Ain Shams University in Cairo. He also holds a master’s degree in histology and biochemistry (2006) and earned his doctorate in histology and cytogenetics (2015) from Cairo University. He came to UTSW to conduct his postdoctoral research fellowship (2015-21) in cardiac regeneration under the mentorship of Hesham Sadek, MD, PhD, who as of May 1 is the new U of A Division of Cardiology chief and Sarver Heart Center director. Dr. Elhelaly’s research interests include better understanding adult mammalian cardiomyocytes’ cell cycle-reentry through novel transcriptional regulation pathways and exploring mammalian valve regenerative capacity. His investigations have resulted in several publications in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, he has presented his findings at scientific conferences throughout the U.S. and around the world. Dr. Elhelaly is active in a number of professional organizations, including the American Society of Echocardiography and American Heart Association, where he serves as a reviewer on the regenerative study section. Publications.

Overall, the Department of Medicine has more than 250 active and affiliate faculty, including those from Banner – University Medical Group and the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System.

For your calendar 

In August, the college hosted a new faculty retreat and the U of A held a new faculty orientation. You’ll find new faculty resources for the college here and for the university here (including the “New Faculty Quick Guide 2024”).

New faculty members also can look forward to a similar welcome/orientation session with the Department of Medicine in late January or early February 2025.

For this and a comprehensive list of calendar items of interest to DOM faculty & staff, visit the DOM Events webpage. 

News you can use! 

You can see departmental-related news items posted in our DOM News Archive, Featured Spotlights and Media Mentions webpages. We also have a monthly newsletter, Internal Digest, and you can sign up for it here with a personal email account. Read Internal Digest back issues here.

Looking for a career boost? 

If you’re new faculty member or one seeking help to boost your career development, there’s a solution for you. The College of Medicine Peer Advancement Societies, or COMPAS, program in Tucson is a five-month commitment that augments your department’s mentoring program with networking, professional relationships development and collaboration across departments. Learn more and apply.

For direct assistance in the Department of Medicine, contact Terri Buchanan, coordinator for faculty appointments (terrib@arizona.edu), or personnel affairs coordinator Heather Hendrych (hhendrych@arizona.edu).

ALSO SEE:
“Fifteen new faculty to join Department of Medicine in August” | Posted Aug. 6, 2024
“Eleven new faculty welcomed to Department of Medicine in first week in July” | Posted July 1, 2024