Editor-in-Chief
Darshana Shah, PhD – (Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, West Virginia, USA)
Dr. Darshana Shah is Professor of Pathology and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Advancement at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. A nationally recognized academic leader and mentor, she has over 20 years of experience in medical education and faculty development. She serves as a senior mentoring advisor on an NIH-funded initiative promoting public health through community-engaged research. Her scholarship includes 29 peer-reviewed articles, six book chapters, and the co-authored book Mentoring in Health Professions Education. A frequently invited speaker, Dr. Shah, is known for securing external funding to support innovative, transformative educational initiatives.
Editorial Board
Sutoidem Akpanudo, MD, PhD, MPH, FACP – (Fayetteville VA Medical Center, North Carolina, USA)
Dr. Sutoidem Akpanudo is a primary care doctor in Durham, NC, specializing in primary care and internal medicine (adult medicine). He graduated from the University of Port Harcourt College of Health Sciences. Dr. Akpanudo is affiliated with the Veterans Health Administration (VA) and Durham VA Medical Center. Dr. Akpanudo’s research interests include smoking cessation, survey research methods, patient satisfaction, school health, and rural health.
Rakesh Bhattacharjee, MD – (University of California, San Diego, USA)
Dr.Rakesh Bhattacharjee is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, and the Director of Pediatric Sleep Medicine at Rady Children’s Hospital–San Diego, where he leads the Center for Healthy Sleep, specializing in pediatric sleep-disordered breathing, narcolepsy, and other hypersomnia disorders. He earned his medical degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, then completed pediatric and respiratory medicine training at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, followed by a sleep medicine fellowship at the University of Louisville. Dr. Bhattacharjee’s clinical work focuses on developing innovative strategies for diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea in children, while his research aims to characterize cardiovascular and respiratory complications of pediatric sleep disorders, often leveraging big data and remote monitoring tools.
Rene Cortese. PhD, ATSF – (The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS)
Dr.Rene Cortese is an Associate Professor of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine with the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He studies the epigenetics of complex diseases to detect and understand how complex diseases develop, progress, are inherited, and can be treated. His main research interests are: i) Epigenomics of Sleep Disorders, ii) Epigenomics profiling in circulating DNA in bodily fluids, iii) Multiomics studies on phenotype modulation in Children’s and Women’s Health, and iv) Epigenetics mechanisms involved in the Developmental Origin of Diseases, Dr. Cortese received his MSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires, in Buenos Aires, Argentina and earned his PhD at the University of Bonn, in Bonn, Germany. He did his Post-doctoral Fellowship in Epigenetics at the Krembil Family Epigenetics Laboratory CAMH, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He has over 50 publications and 6 patents and has worked in the field of genetics/epigenetics for over 20 years, holding positions in academia and industry.
Alice Fornari, EdD, RDN – (Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, New York, USA)
Dr. Alice Fornari is the Associate Dean of Educational Skills Development Zucker Som at Hofstra/Northwell and is the Vice President of Faculty Development for the 23 hospitals of the Northwell Health organization. Her faculty development role at both institutions is designed to align the UME, GME, and CME continuum. Serving in these roles for the past 8 years allows her to bring UME curricular innovations to the GME programs and recruit educators from GME to participate in faculty development and teaching at the Zucker School of Medicine. Dr. Fornari obtained her EdD in Higher Education, College Teaching, and Academic Leadership at Columbia University, Teachers College in 2001. Her research interest was focused on the curriculum to support ethical decision-making for healthcare professionals.
Jean Ricci Goodman, MD, MBA – (University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO.)
Dr.Jean Ricci Goodman, MD, MBA, is the Griffin Endowed Chair and Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. Prior to her current role, she served as Division Director for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Director of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship at Loyola University Medical Center. She earned her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed both her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Goodman later obtained an MBA in healthcare from George Washington University. As a clinical researcher, her work focuses on diabetes, infectious diseases, and epidemiology in pregnancy. She has contributed extensively to national and international research efforts through collaborative, multidisciplinary projects and peer-reviewed publications.
Marc Moss, MD – (The University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, USA)
Dr. Marc Moss is the Roger S. Mitchell Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Moss has a longstanding interest in critical care-related research, and he has held continuous NIH funding as a Principal Investigator for over 23 consecutive years. More specifically, Dr. Moss’s research interests include identifying new treatment modalities for patients with the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), exploring the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular dysfunction (including swallowing dysfunction) in critically ill patients who require mechanical ventilation, and studying burnout syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder, and wellness in healthcare professionals. Dr. Moss’s research on wellness was initially funded by the NIH and is currently funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. He also served as the President of the American Thoracic Society from 2017-2018.
Aaron McGuffin, MD – (West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, West Virginia, USA)
Dr. Aaron McGuffin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. He obtained his MD from the Marshall University School of Medicine, specializing in pediatrics. Dr. McGuffin’s research interests include pediatric case reports and medical education.
Zuber D. Mulla, PhD, CPH, FACE – (Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, Texas, USA)
Dr. Zuber D. Mulla serves as a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Assistant Dean for Faculty Development at TTUHSC El Paso. Dr. Mulla earned his Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of South Florida College of Public Health in Tampa. He has published over 80 papers in peer-reviewed journals. He is a recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award from the El Paso Regional Campus of the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston and a recipient of the 2017 University of South Florida College of Public Health Outstanding Alumni Award. Mulla’s professional interests include faculty development, clinical simulation research, women’s health, and perinatal epidemiology. He joined TTUHSC El Paso in 2006.
Aravinda Nanjundappa, MD, FACC, FSCAI, RVT – (Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA)
Dr. Aravinda Nanjundappa is an interventional cardiologist in Cleveland, Ohio, and is affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic. He has training in peripheral vascular interventions, large bore access, treatment of PE and DVT, and focuses on the prevention of heart disease by promoting a healthy plant-based diet, exercise, steps to reduce stress, and meditation. He received his medical degree from the Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and has practiced for over 20 years.
Osama Al-Omar, MD, FACS – (West Virginia University, West Virginia, USA)
Dr. Osama Al-Omar is a Professor and Vice Chair, Chief of Pediatric Urology at WVU Healthcare. Dr. Al-Omar has a special interest in pediatric urology, including: external genitalia reconstructive surgery (hypospadias, undescended testes, hydrocele), fetal evaluation of urological anomalies (prenatal hydronephrosis), vesicoureteral reflux, UTI, ureteropelvic junction obstructions, spina bifida and neurogenic bladder, and kidney and bladder stones. He earned his medical degree at Aleppo University School of Medicine in Aleppo, Syria. Dr. Al-Omar completed a urology residency at Tishreen Military Hospital in Damascus, Syria, and a pediatric urology fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
Stephen Peterson, MD, MACP, FAHA – (New York Methodist Hospital at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA)
Dr. Stephen J. Peterson is a top internist who lends his skills and expertise to serve patients at Park Slope Medicine PC at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. He additionally serves as chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital (2013-present), Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College (2015-present), and Assistant Dean of New York Methodist Hospital at Weill Cornell Medicine (2016-Present). With thirty-five years of experience as an internist, Dr. Peterson specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions, including asthma, anemia, arrhythmia, arthritis, acid reflux, atrial fibrillation, bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, cholesterol management, complementary medicine, congestive heart failure, diabetes, diabetes, hypertension, mitral valve prolapses, and obesity.
Juan Sanabria, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS – (Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, West Virginia, USA)
Dr. Juan Sanabria is a Professor of Surgery as well as the Vice-Chair and Scientific Director at the Marshall University School of Medicine. Dr. Sanabria grew up in South America, where he obtained his M.D., a degree that subsequently was validated at the University of Toronto. During his stay in Toronto, he published more than 20 peer-reviewed papers and was part of the team that started the living-related liver transplantation program, which is now the most successful program of its kind in America. He was also part of the team that started the Mount Sinai Cancer Registry for patients with familial polyposis, which has evolved to become today the Ontario Cancer Registry, the largest in Canada. Dr. Sanabria’s interests include primary liver tumors and liver regeneration, treatments for locally advanced liver and pancreas tumors, and patient/population outcomes.
Errington C. Thompson, MD, FACS, FCCM – (Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, West Virginia, USA)
Dr. Errington Thompson is board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, but grew up in Dallas, Texas, and went to college at Emory University, where he graduated with a BA in Chemistry. Dr. Thompson attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Thompson is an active member of a number of medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Black Academic Surgeons, the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. He has published more than two dozen articles and 5 book chapters. His interests include ventilator management, end-of-life decision making, and invasive patient monitoring.
Wendy L. Ward, PhD, ABPP, FAPA – (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas, USA)
Dr. Wendy L. Ward is a Professor with tenure in the College of Medicine and associate provost for faculty in Academic Affairs at UAMS. She received her doctoral degree in 1996, followed by a residency at Rush-St. Luke's Presbyterian Medical Center in Chicago and a post-doctoral fellowship at UAMS. She oversees the Center for Faculty Excellence, which provides recruitment, onboarding, orientation, faculty development, mentoring, promotion/tenure review, retirement transitioning, and other supportive services across the faculty life cycle. She also oversees the Office of Continuing Education, which provides interprofessional continuing education credits for events throughout the state. She specializes in faculty affairs, development, and integrated team-based care. Dr. Ward is an American Psychological Association Fellow and received the UAMS Chancellor’s Teaching Award in Teaching Excellence in Society and Health for her faculty development efforts. Her clinical practice is focused on coping with chronic illness/injury, adherence to medication protocols, and nonpharmacological pain management.
Tamela J. White, BSN, MPH, JD – (Farrell, White & Legg, PLLC, West Virginia, USA)
Tammy White is a member and one of the founding attorneys of Farrell, White & Legg, PLLC. A premier trial lawyer, she was the first female trial lawyer from West Virginia to be elected to the International Association of Defense Counsel. Chambers USA has recognized her as an outstanding litigator. With a nursing degree from Ohio State University, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, she had ten years of experience as a critical care and oncology nurse and hospital administrator before her distinguished legal career. In 2011, Tammy completed a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health. This achievement substantially enhances her role as an accomplished advocate for clients in the public health industry.
Production Editors
Anna Hughes, M.A., MLIS
Julie Robinson, MPA, MLIS
Mackenzie Fravel, BS
For questions or general inquiries, please get in touch with the MJM Editorial Office at MJM@Marshall.edu
1600 Medical Center Drive Huntington, WV 25701
