24 New Faculty Join Medical School

Lori E. Ullman, MD, clinical associate professor and interim chair in the Department of Dermatology, has been associated with the medical school since 2000. Ullman was an assistant professor of clinical dermatology from 2000-2011, clinical assistant professor from 2011-2013 and associate professor since 2014. Ullman is a fellow with the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her medical degree from Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She served a combined residency at Boston University School of Medicine and Tufts University School of Medicine.

Peter A. Abdelmalik, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Neurology, earned his doctoral degree in neuropharmacology/neurophysiology from the University of Toronto and his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine. He completed fellowship training in neurocritical care at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Vijay H. Aswani, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Medicine, specializes in internal medicine and pediatrics. He conducts research on bacteriophages, their role in the microbiome of the respiratory tract and in genomic predictors of pathogenicity in bacteria.

Aswani earned his doctoral degree in biochemistry from the University of Bombay and his medical degree from the Medical University of the Americas.

Elie R. Chemaly, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, has focused his research on cardiovascular disease, mainly cardiac and vascular mechanics. Chemaly did his residency training in internal medicine at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He earned his medical degree from Saint Joseph University of Beirut, where he was first in his class.

Chantel Dockstader, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, earned her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine.

Dockstader did her residency training in internal medicine and pediatrics at Jacobs SMBS.

Eleanor C. Fung, MD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, specializes in gastrointestinal, miniature access and laproscopic surgery.

Fung earned her bachelor’s, medical degree and did her residency training in general surgery at the University of Toronto.

Stephanie R. Karmo, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, specializes in internal medicine.

She earned her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School and completed her residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Juan Liu, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, is an evolutionary biologist and vertebrae paleontologist who studies both living and extinct fishes.

Liu earned her doctoral degree in systematics and evolution at the University of Alberta.

John B. Ortolani, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, specializes in colon and rectal surgery. His research focus is on gastrointestinal issues.

Ortolani earned his medical degree from Jacobs SMBS and did his residency training at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute.

Christina L. Padgett, DO, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, did her residency training in internal medicine and pediatrics at Jacobs SMBS.

Padgett earned her medical degree at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Amanda C. Przespolewski, DO, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, completed a hematology-oncology fellowship at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and did her residency training in internal medicine at Jacobs SMBS. Przespolewski earned her medical degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and her bachelor’s degree in biology from Canisius College. She is a hematologist at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. She also has an active translational research program.

Joshua S. Russell, MD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry, dedicates a significant portion of his work to collaborative care. He provides consultations to pediatricians with the goal of increasing their comfort level in working with children’s psychiatric concerns.

Russell earned his medical degree and did his residency training in psychiatry at Jacobs SMBS. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from UB.

Michael C. O’Brien, MD, clinical instructor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, was chief resident in emergency medicine and completed fellowship training in EMS medicine, both at Jacobs SMBS. As medical director for Erie County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, he provides medical support for local emergency medical services, fire and law enforcement agencies. His research has centered around cardiac arrest outcomes and prehospital resuscitation. O’Brien earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Asher Weiner, MD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, has published multiple peer-reviewed papers and currently focuses on surgical technique in glaucoma surgery, especially in glaucoma tube shunt implantation. He earned his medical degree from the Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School.

Sarah Abdelsayed, MD, clinical instructor in the Department of Family Medicine.

Rohan Bhoir, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine.

Thomas F. Burns, MD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

Nicholas J. Camposeo, DO, clinical instructor in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

Daniel J. Fahey, MD, clinical instructor in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

John H. Lillvis, MD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology.

Michelle E. Rainville, MD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

Jonathan Riley, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery.

John T. Ruffino, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine.

Kyle M. Westerholt, MD, clinical instructor in the Department of Emergency Medicine.