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Department of Medicine Heersink School of Medicine

2023 Promotions and Tenure

The Department of Medicine is delighted to congratulate these exemplary faculty on achieving the rank of Associate Professor, Professor, or receiving an award of tenure, effective October 1, 2023. Their outstanding dedication to research, teaching, and service shines a bright light on our University. 

Pilar Acosta-Lara, MD

Pilar Acosta-Lara, MD

Associate Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care 
Promotion in Rank

Puneet Aulakh, MD

Puneet Aulakh, MD

Associate Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Promotion in Rank

Andre Ballesteros-Tato, PhD

Andre Ballesteros-Tato, PhD

Professor
Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology
Promotion in Rank

Hitesh Batra, MBBS

Hitesh Batra, MBBS

Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Award of Tenure

Sushant Bhatnagar, PhD

Sushant Bhatnagar, PhD

Associate Professor
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Award of Tenure

Surya Bhatt, MD

Surya Bhatt, MD

Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Promotion in Rank

Jessy Deshane, PhD

Jessy Deshane, PhD

Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Promotion in Rank

Ellen Eaton, MD

Ellen Eaton, MD

Associate Professor
Infectious Diseases
Award of Tenure

Latesha Elopre, MD

Latesha Elopre, MD

Associate Professor
Infectious Diseases
Award of Tenure

Christian Faul, PhD

Christian Faul, PhD

Professor
Nephrology
Promotion in Rank

Slyvia Huang, PhD

Slyvia Huang, PhD

Associate Professor
Geronotology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care
Promotion in Rank

Chad Hunter, PhD

Chad Hunter, PhD

Professor
Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
Promotion of Rank

Anand Iyer, MD

Anand Iyer, MD

Associate Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Promotion in Rank

Omer Jamy, MD

Omer Jamy, MD

Associate Professor
Hematology and Oncology
Promotion in Rank

Cindy Joiner, PhD

Cindy Joiner, PhD

Associate Professor
Cardiovascular Disease
Promotion in Rank

Julie Kanter, MD

Julie Kanter, MD

Professor
Hematology and Oncology
Promotion in Rank and Award of Tenure

Ryan Kraemer, MD

Ryan Kraemer, MD

Professor
General Internal Medicine
Promotion in Rank 

Rachael Lee, MD

Rachael Lee, MD

Associate Professor
Infectious Diseases
Award of Tenure

Carrie Lenneman, MD

Carrie Lenneman, MD

Professor
Cardiovascular Disease
Promotion of Rank

Tracy Luckhardt, MD

Tracy Luckhardt, MD

Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Promotion in Rank

Claretha Lyas, MD

Claretha Lyas, MD

Associate Professor
Nephrology
Promotion in Rank

Sam McElwee, MD

Sam McElwee, MD

Associate Professor
Cardiovascular Disease
Promotion of Rank

Shikha Mehta, MD

Shikha Mehta, MD

Professor
Nephrology
Promotion in Rank

Christina Muzny, MD

Christina Muzny, MD

Professor
Infectious Diseases
Promotion of Rank

Anoma Nellore, MD

Anoma Nellore, MD

Associate Professor
Infectious Diseases 
Award of Tenure

Anish Patel, MD

Anish Patel, MD

Associate Professor
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Promotion in Rank

Greg Payne, MD, PhD

Greg Payne, MD, PhD

Associate Professor
Cardiovascular Disease
Award of Tenure

Shajan Peter, MD

Shajan Peter, MD

Professor
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Promotion in Rank and Award of Tenure

Aadia Rana, MD

Aadia Rana, MD

Professor
Infectious Diseases
Promotion in Rank

Richard J. Reynolds IV, PhD

Richard J. Reynolds IV, PhD

Associate Professor
Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology
Promotion in Rank

Derek Russell, MD

Derek Russell, MD

Associate Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Award of Tenure

Carlie Somerville, MD

Carlie Somerville, MD

Associate Professor
General Internal Medicine
Promotion of Rank

Steve Stigler, MD

Steve Stigler, MD

Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
Promotion in Rank

Joshua Stripling, MD

Joshua Stripling, MD

Associate Professor
Infectious Diseases
Promotion of Rank

Pankit Vacchani, MD

Pankit Vacchani, MD

Associate Professor
Hematology and Oncology
Promotion in Rank

Rebekah Weil, MD

Rebekah Weil, MD

Associate Professor
General Internal Medicine
Promotion of Rank

Micah Whitson, MD

Micah Whitson, MD

Associate Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
Promotion of Rank

Min Xie, MD, PhD

Min Xie, MD, PhD

Associate Professor
Cardiovascular Disease
Award of Tenure

  • Pilar Acosta-Lara, MD
  • Puneet Aulakh, MD
  • Andre Ballesteros-Tato, PhD
  • Hitesh Batra, MBBS
  • Sushant Bhatnagar, PhD
  • Surya Bhatt, MD
  • Jessy Deshane, PhD
  • Ellen Eaton, MD
  • Latesha Elopre, MD
  • Christian Faul, PhD
  • Slyvia Huang, PhD
  • Chad Hunter, PhD
  • Anand Iyer, MD
  • Omer Jamy, MD
  • Cindy Joiner, PhD
  • Julie Kanter, MD
  • Ryan Kraemer, MD
  • Rachael Lee, MD
  • Carrie Lenneman, MD
  • Tracy Luckhardt, MD
  • Claretha Lyas, MD
  • Sam McElwee, MD
  • Shikha Mehta, MD
  • Christina Muzny, MD
  • Anoma Nellore, MD
  • Anish Patel, MD
  • Greg Payne, MD, PhD
  • Shajan Peter, MD
  • Aadia Rana, MD
  • Richard J. Reynolds IV, PhD
  • Derek Russell, MD
  • Carlie Somerville, MD
  • Steve Stigler, MD
  • Joshua Stripling, MD
  • Pankit Vacchani, MD
  • Rebekah Weil, MD
  • Micah Whitson, MD
  • Min Xie, MD, PhD

  • Pilar Acosta-Lara, MD

    Associate Professor
    Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care 
    Promotion in Rank

  • Puneet Aulakh, MD

    Associate Professor
    Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
    Promotion in Rank

  • Andre Ballesteros-Tato, PhD

    Professor
    Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology
    Promotion in Rank

  • Hitesh Batra, MBBS

    Professor
    Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
    Award of Tenure

  • Sushant Bhatnagar, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
    Award of Tenure

  • Surya Bhatt, MD

    Professor
    Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
    Promotion in Rank

  • Jessy Deshane, PhD

    Professor
    Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
    Promotion in Rank

  • Ellen Eaton, MD

    Associate Professor
    Infectious Diseases
    Award of Tenure

  • Latesha Elopre, MD

    Associate Professor
    Infectious Diseases
    Award of Tenure

  • Christian Faul, PhD

    Professor
    Nephrology
    Promotion in Rank

  • Slyvia Huang, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Geronotology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care
    Promotion in Rank

  • Chad Hunter, PhD

    Professor
    Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
    Promotion of Rank

  • Anand Iyer, MD

    Associate Professor
    Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
    Promotion in Rank

  • Omer Jamy, MD

    Associate Professor
    Hematology and Oncology
    Promotion in Rank

  • Cindy Joiner, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Cardiovascular Disease
    Promotion in Rank

  • Julie Kanter, MD

    Professor
    Hematology and Oncology
    Promotion in Rank and Award of Tenure

  • Ryan Kraemer, MD

    Professor
    General Internal Medicine
    Promotion in Rank 

  • Rachael Lee, MD

    Associate Professor
    Infectious Diseases
    Award of Tenure

  • Carrie Lenneman, MD

    Professor
    Cardiovascular Disease
    Promotion of Rank

  • Tracy Luckhardt, MD

    Professor
    Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
    Promotion in Rank

  • Claretha Lyas, MD

    Associate Professor
    Nephrology
    Promotion in Rank

  • Sam McElwee, MD

    Associate Professor
    Cardiovascular Disease
    Promotion of Rank

  • Shikha Mehta, MD

    Professor
    Nephrology
    Promotion in Rank

  • Christina Muzny, MD

    Professor
    Infectious Diseases
    Promotion of Rank

  • Anoma Nellore, MD

    Associate Professor
    Infectious Diseases 
    Award of Tenure

  • Anish Patel, MD

    Associate Professor
    Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
    Promotion in Rank

  • Greg Payne, MD, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Cardiovascular Disease
    Award of Tenure

  • Shajan Peter, MD

    Professor
    Gastroenterology and Hepatology
    Promotion in Rank and Award of Tenure

  • Aadia Rana, MD

    Professor
    Infectious Diseases
    Promotion in Rank

  • Richard J. Reynolds IV, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology
    Promotion in Rank

  • Derek Russell, MD

    Associate Professor
    Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
    Award of Tenure

  • Carlie Somerville, MD

    Associate Professor
    General Internal Medicine
    Promotion of Rank

  • Steve Stigler, MD

    Professor
    Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
    Promotion in Rank

  • Joshua Stripling, MD

    Associate Professor
    Infectious Diseases
    Promotion of Rank

  • Pankit Vacchani, MD

    Associate Professor
    Hematology and Oncology
    Promotion in Rank

  • Rebekah Weil, MD

    Associate Professor
    General Internal Medicine
    Promotion of Rank

  • Micah Whitson, MD

    Associate Professor
    Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
    Promotion of Rank

  • Min Xie, MD, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Cardiovascular Disease
    Award of Tenure

  • Pilar Acosta-Lara, MD
  • Puneet Aulakh, MD
  • Andre Ballesteros-Tato, PhD
  • Hitesh Batra, MBBS
  • Sushant Bhatnagar, PhD
  • Surya Bhatt, MD
  • Jessy Deshane, PhD
  • Ellen Eaton, MD
  • Latesha Elopre, MD
  • Christian Faul, PhD
  • Slyvia Huang, PhD
  • Chad Hunter, PhD
  • Anand Iyer, MD
  • Omer Jamy, MD
  • Cindy Joiner, PhD
  • Julie Kanter, MD
  • Ryan Kraemer, MD
  • Rachael Lee, MD
  • Carrie Lenneman, MD
  • Tracy Luckhardt, MD
  • Claretha Lyas, MD
  • Sam McElwee, MD
  • Shikha Mehta, MD
  • Christina Muzny, MD
  • Anoma Nellore, MD
  • Anish Patel, MD
  • Greg Payne, MD, PhD
  • Shajan Peter, MD
  • Aadia Rana, MD
  • Richard J. Reynolds IV, PhD
  • Derek Russell, MD
  • Carlie Somerville, MD
  • Steve Stigler, MD
  • Joshua Stripling, MD
  • Pankit Vacchani, MD
  • Rebekah Weil, MD
  • Micah Whitson, MD
  • Min Xie, MD, PhD