16 New Faculty Members Join 7 Medical School Departments

Anna Blumental-Perry, PhD, is an assistant professor of biochemistry who has expertise in areas including apoptosis and cell death; cell growth, differentiation and development; molecular and cellular biology; molecular basis of disease; and regulation of metabolism.

Blumental-Perry’s research is focused on the adaptive and non-adaptive age-dependent reprogramming of cellular homeostasis in the lungs of smokers. Her laboratory is using exposure to cigarette smoke and to nicotine as model systems for environmentally induced physiological stressors in exposed cells, animals and humans. She completed a fellowship in cell biology and physiology at the University of Pittsburgh, and she earned her doctorate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

David A. Freedman, PhD, is an instructor of pathology and anatomical sciences.

He has expertise in anatomic pathology, neurobiology and molecular and cellular biology. He earned his doctorate at the University at Buffalo.

Michele Lauria, MD, is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology.

She earned her medical degree at UB.

Cale E. O‘Keeffe, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine.

He completed UB’s internal medicine residency and earned his medical degree at Saba University School of Medicine.

Geovanny Perez, MD, is an associate professor of pediatrics who specializes in pediatric pulmonology. He has research expertise in areas including invasive and non-invasive ventilation, neuromuscular disorders and severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

He completed a fellowship in pediatric pulmonology at George Washington University, a pediatrics residency at Miami Children’s Hospital (now called Nicklaus Children’s Hospital) and a pediatric oncology residency at Hospital SOLCA. He earned his medical degree at the Universidad Central del Ecuador.

Yaron Perry, MD, is a clinical professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery.

He has expertise in lung cancer, esophageal and bronchial stents, esophageal tumors and malignancies, minimally invasive approaches to gastroesophageal reflux disease, photodynamic therapy and endoscopic laser treatment. He earned his medical degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and completed an internship at Hadassah University Hospital.

Shauna L. Tarsi, DO, is a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics who specializes in nephrology.

Tarsi completed UB’s pediatric nephrology fellowship and pediatrics residency. She earned her medical degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Megan K. Tracy, MD, is a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics.

Tracy completed a fellowship in neonatology at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital and a pediatrics residency at New York University. She earned her medical degree at the University at Buffalo.

Jeffrey W. Berndtson, MD, is a clinical associate professor of surgery. He has a clinical focus on minimally invasive surgery, with an emphasis on robotic surgery. He completed a general surgery residency at UB and earned his medical degree at Georgetown University.

Michele M. Carr, MD, DMD, PhD, is a clinical professor of otolaryngology.

Richard J. Corbelli, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine.

David L. Crooks, MD, is a clinical assistant professor of surgery.

Amro Elshoury, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine.

Aniqa A. Kohen, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine.

Joseph D. Mills, MD, is a clinical assistant professor of surgery.

Yasmin Yusuf, MD, is a clinical assistant professor of pathology and anatomical sciences.